cwnl:
M6: The Butterfly Cluster
To some, the outline of the open cluster of stars M6 resembles a butterfly. M6, also known as NGC 6405, spans about 20 light-years and lies about 2,000 light years distant. M6 can best be seen in a dark sky with binoculars towards the constellation of Scorpius, coving about as much of the sky as the full moon.
(via scinerds)
Vast Web of Dark Matter Mapped
Astronomers have created a vast cosmic map revealing an intricate web of dark matter and galaxies spanning a distance of one billion light-years.
cwnl:
Amazing Archive of High-Res Photos from NASA’s Gemini Missions
There’s something about old photographs. The perfect combination of faded light, outdated coloring, and nostalgia seems to make them more beautiful with age.
Perhaps that’s why this collection of images from NASA’s Gemini Program is so great. The Project Gemini Online Digital Archive, released this weekend by NASA and Arizona State University, features high-resolution digital scans from the original Gemini flight films.
As NASA’s second human spaceflight program, which had 10 manned flights between 1965 and 1966, Gemini saw such milestones as the first American spacewalk, first week-long spaceflight, and the first docking maneuver with another vehicle in space. The success of these objectives paved the way for the Apollo program, which immediately followed Gemini and landed the first men on the moon.
Follow the source for more gorgeous imagery highlighting the Gemini missions and the serene perspectives caught through it.
(via sagansense)
(via abcstarstuff)
The Most Anticipated Space Missions of 2012
It’s not just GRAIL probes, secret spacecraft and a new Mars rover. We’ve got solar-sailships to look forward to, as well!
(via Boing Boing)
(via itsfullofstars)
(via cro-magno)
Quadrantid Meteor Shower 2012 peaks tonight.
Photo above credit to: mikesastrophotos.comFor anyone living in the Northern Hemisphere, tonight be sure to keeps yours eyes open for the Quadrantids, which will peak tonight at around 2-3 a.m. EST, Wednesday January 4th. This will be an amazing and short show, averaging with 100 meteors per hour (max).
Named after an extinct constellation, Quadrans Muralis, it is not as well known like the other ones we hear about during the year, but this is a shower you will definitely want to stay up for!
The Quadrantids will occur between the constellations Draco and Boötes, close to the tail of Ursa Major (Great Bear aka handle of The Big Dipper). Below is a diagram of where you will need to look:
Constellation photo from jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk.
(via astrotastic)
A clash among members of a famous galaxy quintet reveals an assortment of stars across a wide color range, from young blue stars to aging red stars.
This portrait of Stephan’s Quintet, also known as Hickson Compact Group 92, was taken by the new Wide Field Camera 3. Stephan’s Quintet, as the name implies, is a group of five galaxies. The name, however, is a bit of a misnomer. Studies have shown that group member NGC 7320, at upper left, is actually a foreground galaxy about seven times closer to Earth than the rest of the group.
Image and caption: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team
Supercomputers Give Inside Look at Sunspots
The simulation shows the interface between a sunspot’s umbra (dark center) and penumbra (outer region) shows a complex structure with narrow, almost horizontal (lighter to white) filaments embedded in a background with more vertical (darker to black) magnetic field.
Credit: UCAR/ Matthias Rempel, NCAR
cwnl:
Rare Slow-Spinning Star Reveals Space Oddity
Imaged Above: The slow-spinning X-ray pulsar SXP 1062 shines brightly from within the shell of gas and dust rushing away from the supernova that formed it. Image Credit: ESA/XMM-Newton/ L.Oskinova/ M.Guerrero; CTIO/R.Gruendl/Y.H.Chu
Astronomers have discovered a strange spinning star that appears to be older than the explosion that gave birth to it, scientists say.
The star is a pulsar, a rotating, super-dense core left behind after a massive star goes supernova. This pulsar, known as SXP 1062, is spinning quite slowly, suggesting an advanced age.
But the pulsar can’t be as old as it looks, because the star probably exploded less than 40,000 years ago, researchers said. They’ve just now begun delving into this newly discovered cosmic mystery.
(via project-argus)
In the Center of the Trifid Nebula
Credit & Copyright: Daniel Lopez
Christmas Solar Eruption to Hit Earth and Mars
All predictions suggested the CME would likely hit us on Dec. 28 (Wednesday) and it appears that is going to happen.
Depending on the orientation of the magnetic field wrapped around the CME bubble of highly charged solar particles when it hits the Earth’s geomagnetic field, there will be a chance of some auroral activity.
50 Years of Space Travel In One Beautiful Solar System Map
(via abcstarstuff)
Saturn’s Hyperion: A Moon with Odd Craters
Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA
