Archive for August, 2009
Ring around the eye
Credit: The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI/NASA)
One of the most famous of all planetary nebula, the Ring Nebula (M57) glows in our summer skies. This “eye in the sky” is the remains of another sun-like star. The central star has blown off layers of gas and dust to form a bubble in space. Clumps of dark material can be seen near the edges while the dying central star can be seen floating in the bluish hot gas. The image is close to the actual color of the nebula. The blue area represents hot gas while areas farther out become cooler and redder. This shows how the gas in the bubble glows because of ultraviolet radiation from the doomed central star. The surface temperature of the star is a whopping 216,000 degrees Fahrenheit (120,000 Celsius). Our Sun’s surface temperature is about 11,000 degrees Fahrenheit (6,000 Celsius).
A Martian Happy Face
Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)
Every once in a while, something grabs scientists’ attention and makes them smile. The “Happy Face Crater” on Mars is one of them. This crater, also called Galle Crater after German astronomer J.G. Galle, is about 134 miles (215 kilometers) across and sits at the edge of the Argyre Planitia. This smiley face image was taken by a camera aboard the European Space Agency’s Mars Express.
Elephant Trunk
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/W. Reach (SSC/Caltech)
On our starry safari, we’ve encountered fish, bugs, birds and other eyes in the dark. Coming out of the darkness next is an elephant; or a part of an elephant. The Elephant Trunk Nebula is home to new stars. It’s a nursery where young stars start to glow on their own.
Star Horses
Credit: Credit: NASA, ESA, and M. Livio (STScI)
Taken in 2008, the Hubble Space Telescope focused on this area of new star birth in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The stormy looking sea looks to be home to a seahorse, or star horse. Astronomers also call this nebula NGC 2074. The star horse is a dark area floating in background of blues, greens and reds. One day, this dark dusty area will be home to new stars.
Welcome
The ancient peoples saw pictures in the sky. From those patterns in the heavens, ancient storytellers created legends about heroes, maidens, dragons, bears, centaurs, dogs and mythical creatures…Read More
Connect
By The Riviera Times
By CritterKeeper
By Sarah Q. Brett