European Space Agency News - SciTechDaily

Celestial Beauty: Exploring a “Ring Galaxy” That Defies Expectations

ESA/Hubble — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 07:15:42 +0000

In the Perseus Cluster lies the galaxy MCG+07-07-072, a barred spiral with an unusual near-circular structure. Its classification as an SBc(r) galaxy reveals the complexity of galactic forms. The subject of this mesmerizing circular Hubble Space Telescope image is situated in the Perseus Cluster, also known as Abell 426, 320 million light-years from Earth. It’s [...]

The Mind-Bending Phenomenon of the Einstein Ring

ESA/Hubble — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 07:04:53 +0000

Studying a Mysterious Image: A Multitude of Galaxies What are we looking at when we study this Hubble Space Telescope image? A very distant galaxy that lies 19.5 billion light-years from Earth? Or a much closer luminous red galaxy that is a (relatively) small 2.7 billion light-years away? Or a third galaxy that appears to [...]

Hubble’s Latest Marvel: A Supernova Lights Up an Unknown Galaxy

ESA/Hubble — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 07:07:08 +0000

This ethereal Hubble Space Telescope image features the galaxy LEDA 857074, located in the constellation Eridanus. LEDA 857074 is a barred spiral galaxy, with partially broken spiral arms. It also has a particularly bright spot right in its bar: this is a supernova snapped by Hubble, named SN 2022ADQZ. From galaxies to nebulae and star [...]

Galaxies in Miniature: Hubble Uncovers a Puzzling Case of Star Birth

ESA/Hubble — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 07:30:24 +0000

IC 3430, a dwarf elliptical galaxy in the Virgo cluster, stands out due to its core of hot blue stars, indicative of recent star formation—a rare feature for its kind, likely caused by its movement through the cluster. This majestic Hubble Space Telescope image reveals the subtle glow of the galaxy named IC 3430, located [...]

Hubble’s Legacy: Unraveling the Spiral Wonders of the Universe

ESA/Hubble — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 07:31:54 +0000

NGC 3430, a spiral galaxy in Leo Minor, is spotlighted in this New Hubble Image In this stunning Hubble Space Telescope image, we are treated to a wonderfully detailed snapshot of NGC 3430. A spiral galaxy, it lies 100 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Leo Minor. Several other galaxies are located relatively near [...]

Beyond the Milky Way: Edwin Hubble’s Universe-Altering Discoveries

ESA/Hubble — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 07:20:46 +0000

Edwin Hubble revolutionized astronomy by demonstrating that the universe is expanding and identifying galaxies beyond the Milky Way. His research laid the groundwork for Hubble’s Law, reshaping our cosmic perspective. His legacy persists through the Hubble Space Telescope. “I knew that even if I were second or third rate, it was astronomy that mattered.” This [...]

Assembling the Cosmos: Hubble Reveals How Dwarf Galaxies Shape the Largest Galaxies

ESA/Hubble — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 07:20:51 +0000

NGC 5238, a dwarf irregular galaxy imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope, displays a complex structure despite its unassuming appearance. Located in the constellation Canes Venatici, it is theorized to have undergone a significant interaction with a satellite galaxy, providing insights into the process of galaxy formation and evolution. The galaxy featured in this Hubble [...]

Ariane 6 Ignites a New Era in Next-Gen Space Launch Technology

European Space Agency (ESA) — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 08:15:42 +0000

Ariane 6, Europe’s new heavy-lift rocket, made its inaugural flight from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana at 16:00 local time on July 9 (20:00 BST, 21:00 CEST). Ariane 6 is the latest in Europe’s Ariane rocket series, taking over from Ariane 5, and featuring a modular and versatile design that can launch missions from low-Earth [...]

Webb’s Infrared Eyes Expose Black Hole Mysteries in Vivid Detail

European Space Agency (ESA) — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 06:14:30 +0000

Webb’s image of RX J1131-1231 uses gravitational lensing to explore the quasar’s black hole and dark matter, revealing details about its growth and the universe’s mass composition. This new James Webb Space Telescope image features the gravitational lensing of the quasar known as RX J1131-1231, located roughly six billion light-years from Earth in the constellation [...]

How Hubble Sees Through Cosmic Dust to Map Galaxies

ESA/Hubble — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 07:10:13 +0000

Measuring cosmic distances is essential in astrophysics, with the Hubble Space Telescope being key through its observations of Type Ia supernovae. These supernovae, known for their consistent brightness, help calibrate distances after accounting for intergalactic dust, as seen with galaxy NGC 3810. A crucial task in astrophysics is measuring the distance to truly remote objects [...]

Webb Uncovers Unexpected Phenomena Above Jupiter’s Great Red Spot

European Space Agency (ESA) — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 10:27:29 +0000

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists observed the region above Jupiter’s iconic Great Red Spot to discover a range of previously unseen features. The region, previously believed to be unremarkable in nature, hosts a variety of intricate structures and activity. Recent observations by Webb’s NIRSpec revealed surprising details about Jupiter’s upper atmosphere, particularly above [...]

A Snaking Scar Across Mars: The Mystery of Aganippe Fossa

European Space Agency (ESA) — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 07:01:13 +0000

A fascinating feature takes center stage in this new image from ESA’s Mars Express: a dark, uneven scar slicing through marbled ground at the foot of a giant volcano. This scar, known as Aganippe Fossa, is a patchy, roughly 600-km-long feature known as a ‘graben’: a ditch-like groove with steep walls on either side. Aganippe [...]

Quick-Cooling Oddballs Rewrite Neutron Star Physics

European Space Agency (ESA) — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 22:03:20 +0000

Recent observations by ESA’s XMM-Newton and NASA’s Chandra have revealed three unusually cold, young neutron stars, challenging current models by showing they cool much faster than expected. This finding has significant implications, suggesting that only a few of the many proposed neutron star models are viable, and pointing to a potential breakthrough in linking the [...]

Surprising Discovery of Frost on Martian Volcanoes Near Equator – “Thought Impossible”

European Space Agency (ESA) — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 00:16:54 +0000

ESA missions discovered frost near Mars’s equator, a surprising find given the area’s typically higher temperatures. This frost, appearing temporarily on the Tharsis volcanoes, suggests a unique microclimate and air circulation at high altitudes. The finding, facilitated by ESA’s orbiters ExoMars TGO and Mars Express, marks a significant step in understanding Martian atmospheric dynamics and [...]

ESA’s LEGO Space Bricks: From Meteorites to Moon Bases

European Space Agency (ESA) — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 14:01:20 +0000

ESA developed LEGO-style space bricks using meteorite dust to simulate lunar regolith, enabling the testing of construction techniques for potential Moon bases. European Space Agency (ESA) scientists have been exploring how a future Moon base might be built from materials on the lunar surface. Inspired by LEGO building, they have used dust from a meteorite [...]

Hubble Captures a Maelstrom of Matter and Energy 49 Million Light-Years Away

ESA/Hubble — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 07:20:33 +0000

NGC 4951, imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope, illustrates the dynamic processes of star formation and energy dynamics in Seyfert galaxies. This remarkable image from the Hubble Space Telescope showcases NGC 4951, a spiral galaxy located about 49 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. Captured as part of a study on the movement of [...]

Asteroid Day Revelation: Explore the Massive Meteor Crater in Arizona From Space

European Space Agency (ESA) — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 07:14:42 +0000

The Meteor Crater in Arizona, formed by a meteorite impact 50,000 years ago, provides valuable insights into the geological processes of planetary bodies. Preserved by its desert climate, the crater is a key site for studying impact craters. For Asteroid Day (June 30), the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission takes us over the Meteor Crater, also known [...]

Close Encounter: Two Large Asteroids Will Skim Past Earth Just 42 Hours Apart

European Space Agency (ESA) — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 02:08:38 +0000

Two asteroids, including the newly detected 2024 MK, will pass Earth safely this week, coinciding with Asteroid Day. The event highlights efforts such as the European Space Agency’s asteroid deflection mission and their new Flyeye telescope system aimed at improving our detection and response to these celestial threats. Two large asteroids will safely pass Earth [...]

Hubble’s Deep Dive Into a Starburst Galaxy: Exploring NGC 5253’s Stellar Furnace

ESA/Hubble — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 10:26:10 +0000

NGC 5253, a blue compact dwarf galaxy, is highlighted in this week’s Hubble Picture of the Week. About 11 million light-years away, it shows significant star formation, being studied using data from Hubble’s cameras. Its intense starburst activities make it crucial for understanding stellar evolution. This exquisite image from the Hubble Space Telescope features the [...]

Starburst Spectacle: Hubble’s Rare Glimpse at Star Formation in a Distant Galaxy’s Core

ESA/Hubble — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 07:27:36 +0000

This newly released Hubble Space Telescope image depicts the blue compact dwarf galaxy NGC 5253, as seen by the High Resolution Channel (HRC) of Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). ACS is a third-generation scientific instrument on Hubble, and was installed in 2002 as part of Servicing Mission 3B. It originally had three sub-instruments or [...]

Uncovering Adam’s Bridge: The Lost Land Link Between India and Sri Lanka

European Space Agency (ESA) — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 22:36:53 +0000

Adam’s Bridge connects India and Sri Lanka through a series of limestone shoals extending from Rameswaram Island to Mannar Island. Once a solid land bridge, it has eroded over time but still supports rich biodiversity and provides critical habitat for marine and bird species. This Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite image shows Adam’s Bridge, a chain of [...]

Advanced Telescopes Reveal Hidden Worlds Orbiting Bright Stars

European Space Agency (ESA) — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 16:34:21 +0000

Astronomers combined Gaia and GRAVITY data to image dim objects near bright stars, potentially revolutionizing the search for nearby exoplanets. Detecting faint objects close to bright stars is incredibly difficult. Yet, by combining data from ESA’s Gaia space telescope with ESO’s GRAVITY instrument on the ground, scientists managed just that. They captured the first light [...]

A Peek Inside a Transforming Star Factory: Hubble’s Breathtaking View

ESA/Hubble — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 07:11:35 +0000

Hubble’s image of RCW 7 reveals massive protostars in the Puppis constellation transforming a molecular cloud into a glowing H II region, showcasing the birth and evolution of stars. A visually striking collection of interstellar gas and dust is the focus of this stunning Hubble Space Telescope image. Named RCW 7, the nebula is located [...]

A Portal to the Past: Hubble Reveals an Ancient Witness to a Galactic Merger

ESA/Hubble — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 07:36:44 +0000

NGC 2005, a globular cluster in the Large Magellanic Cloud, serves as a crucial piece of evidence supporting the theory of galaxies evolving through mergers. This mesmerizing image from the Hubble Space Telescope features the globular cluster NGC 2005. While it is not unusual in and of itself, it is a peculiarity in relation to [...]