Blog

Some unusual celestial objects, Part 4 – Cepheid variables

Hubble view of a Cepheid variable star     Many stars do not consistently shine with the same magnitude or brightness.  Such stars are called variables, their brightness normally changing in cycles which can last from hours to years.  Some exhibit irregular non-cyclical variation. Stellar variability can have many causes. These include changes caused by …

Some unusual celestial objects, Part 4 – Cepheid variables Read More »

Amazing Astrophotography Lets You See Nebulae in 3D

Stunning photographs of the cosmos, like the wondrous images captured by the Hubble Space telescope, convey the beauty that arises from the simple interactions of dust and light and gas on absolutely massive scales. Missing from photos of the universe, however, is a sense of depth: These stunning nebula are not a paint splatter on …

Amazing Astrophotography Lets You See Nebulae in 3D Read More »

- See more at: http://www.popularmechanics.co.za/science/spotted-an-asteroid-with-six-comet-like-tails/?utm_source=PMWL2013November13&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%2Bwebletter#sthash.GRe3GgT0.dpuf

Spotted – an asteroid with six comet-like tails

This Nasa Hubble Space Telescope set of images reveals a never-before-seen set of six comet-like tails radiating from a body in the asteroid belt, designated P/2013 P5. Credit: Nasa, ESA, and D Jewitt (UCLA) For the first time, Nasa’s Hubble Space Telescope has spotted an asteroid, dubbed P/2013 P5, with six comet-like tails of dust. …

Spotted – an asteroid with six comet-like tails Read More »

ASTRONOMY NEWS August 2013

Other stars show tails that trail behind them like a comet’s tail. Scientists used NASA’s Interstellar Boundary Explorer to confirm that our solar system has one too. From top left and going counter clockwise, the stars shown are: LLOrionis; BZ Cam; and Mira. Image Credit: NASA/HST/R.Casalegno/GALEX FROM STEVE KLEYN Mars rover 10th anniversary 1 July: …

ASTRONOMY NEWS August 2013 Read More »

Star factory in the early universe challenges galaxy evolution theory

The Herschel Space Observatory has discovered an extremely massive early-type galaxy, HFLS3, that shouldn’t be present so soon after the Big Bang. By ESA, Noordwijk, Netherlands — Published: April 18, 2013 The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Herschel Space Observatory has discovered an extremely distant galaxy making stars more than 2,000 times faster than our Milky …

Star factory in the early universe challenges galaxy evolution theory Read More »