Monday, April 29, 2024

Close-up View of The Horsehead Nebula | James Webb Space Telescope

Close-up View of The Horsehead Nebula | James Webb Space Telescope

The NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope has captured the sharpest infrared images to date of one of the most distinctive objects in our skies, the Horsehead Nebula. These observations show a part of the iconic nebula in a whole new light, capturing its complexity with unprecedented spatial resolution.

Webb’s new images show part of the sky in the constellation Orion (The Hunter), in the western side of the Orion B molecular cloud. Rising from turbulent waves of dust and gas is the Horsehead Nebula, otherwise known as Barnard 33, which resides roughly 1,300 light-years away. 

The nebula formed from a collapsing interstellar cloud of material, and glows because it is illuminated by a nearby hot star. The gas clouds surrounding the Horsehead have already dissipated, but the jutting pillar is made of thick clumps of material that is harder to erode. Astronomers estimate that the Horsehead has about five million years left before it too disintegrates. Webb’s new view focuses on the illuminated edge of the top of the nebula’s distinctive dust and gas structure.

The Horsehead Nebula is a well-known photon-dominated region, or PDR. In such a region ultraviolet light from young, massive stars creates a mostly neutral, warm area of gas and dust between the fully ionized gas surrounding the massive stars and the clouds in which they are born. This ultraviolet radiation strongly influences the gas chemistry of these regions and acts as the most important source of heat. 

These regions occur where interstellar gas is dense enough to remain neutral, but not dense enough to prevent the penetration of far-ultraviolet light from massive stars. The light emitted from such PDRs provides a unique tool to study the physical and chemical processes that drive the evolution of interstellar matter in our galaxy, and throughout the Universe from the early era of vigorous star formation to the present day.

Owing to its proximity and its nearly edge-on geometry, the Horsehead Nebula is an ideal target for astronomers to study the physical structures of PDRs and the evolution of the chemical characteristics of the gas and dust within their respective environments, and the transition regions between them. It is considered one of the best objects in the sky to study how radiation interacts with interstellar matter.

This image was captured with Webb’s NIRCam (Near-InfraRed Camera) instrument.

Image Description: The image is more than half-filled by a small section of the Horsehead Nebula, from the bottom up. The clouds are seen up close, showing thick, whitish streaks and dark voids, as well as textured, fuzzy-looking patterns of dust and gas. The nebula stops at a spiky edge that follows a slight curve. Above it a small number of distant stars and galaxies lie on a dark but multi-colored background.


Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, K. Misselt (University of Arizona) and A. Abergel (IAS/University Paris-Saclay, CNRS)
Release Date: April 29, 2024

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #StellarNursery #Nebulae #Nebula #Barnard33 #HorseheadNebula #PDR #Orion #Constellation #JamesWebb #SpaceTelescope #JWST #Infrared #Cosmos #Universe #UnfoldTheUniverse #CSA #GSFC #STSc #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

The Horsehead Nebula: Euclid, Hubble & Webb Space Telescope Views

The Horsehead Nebula: Euclid, Hubble & Webb Space Telescope Views


This image showcases three views of one of the most distinctive objects in our skies, the Horsehead Nebula. This object resides in part of the sky in the constellation Orion (The Hunter), in the western side of the Orion B molecular cloud. Rising from turbulent waves of dust and gas is the Horsehead Nebula, otherwise known as Barnard 33, which resides roughly 1,300 light-years away.

The first image (left), released in November 2023, features the Horsehead Nebula as seen by the European Space Agency’s Euclid telescope. Euclid captured this image of the Horsehead in about one hour. It showcases the mission's ability to very quickly image an unprecedented area of the sky in high detail.

The second image (middle) shows the NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope’s infrared view of the Horsehead Nebula, which was featured as the telescope’s 23rd anniversary image in 2013. This image captures plumes of gas in the infrared and reveals a beautiful, delicate structure that is normally obscured by dust. 

The third image (right) features a new view of the Horsehead Nebula from the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam (Near-InfraRed Camera) instrument. It is the sharpest infrared image of the object to date, showing a part of the iconic nebula in a whole new light, and capturing its complexity with unprecedented spatial resolution.

Image Description: A collage of three images of the Horsehead Nebula. In the left image labelled “Euclid (Visible-Infrared)”, the Nebula is seen amongst its surroundings. A small box around it connects to the second image labelled “Hubble (Infrared)”, where the Nebula is zoomed in on. A portion of the Nebula’s head has another box, which leads with a callout to the third image, labelled “Webb (Infrared)”, of that area.


Credit: ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre (CEA Paris-Saclay), G. Anselmi, NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI), ESA/Webb, CSA, K. Misselt (University of Arizona) and A. Abergel (IAS/University Paris-Saclay, CNRS), M. Zamani (ESA/Webb)

Release Date: April 29, 2024

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Nebulae #Nebula #Barnard33 #HorseheadNebula #PDR #Orion #Constellation #JamesWebb #SpaceTelescope #JWST #Infrared #Hubble #Euclid #Universe #UnfoldTheUniverse #CSA #GSFC #STSc #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Webb Space Telescope Captures Iconic Horsehead Nebula in Unprecedented Detail

Webb Space Telescope Captures Iconic Horsehead Nebula in Unprecedented Detail

The NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope has captured the sharpest infrared images to date of one of the most distinctive objects in our skies, the Horsehead Nebula.


Video Credits:

Editing: Nico Bartmann   

Written by: Bethany Downer   

Footage and photos: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, K. Misselt (University of Arizona) and A. Abergel (IAS/University Paris-Saclay, CNRS) N. Bartmann (ESA/Webb)

Duration: 1 minute, 53 seconds

Release Date: April 29, 2024

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Nebulae #Nebula #Barnard33 #HorseheadNebula #PDR #Orion #Constellation #JamesWebb #SpaceTelescope #JWST #Infrared #Hubble #Euclid #Universe #UnfoldTheUniverse #CSA #GSFC #STSc #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Zoom into The Horsehead Nebula | James Webb Space Telescope

Zoom into The Horsehead Nebula | James Webb Space Telescope

This video takes the viewer on a journey through space to reveal a new image from the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope, the Horsehead Nebula. 

This zoom video features three unique views of the Horsehead Nebula, including images from as European Space Agency's Euclid telescope, the NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope’s infrared view of the object, and finally revealing the new image from Webb's NIRCam (Near-InfraRed Camera) instrument. It is the sharpest infrared image of the object to date, showing a part of the iconic nebula in a whole new light, and capturing its complexity with unprecedented spatial resolution. You can learn more about this new image here.


Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, K. Misselt (University of Arizona) and A. Abergel (IAS/University Paris-Saclay, CNRS)  

Duration: 1 minute, 30 seconds

Release Date: April 29, 2024

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Nebulae #Nebula #Barnard33 #HorseheadNebula #PDR #Orion #Constellation #JamesWebb #SpaceTelescope #JWST #Infrared #Hubble #Euclid #Universe #UnfoldTheUniverse #CSA #GSFC #STSc #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Panning over The Horsehead Nebula | James Webb Space Telescope

Panning over The Horsehead Nebula | James Webb Space Telescope


The NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope has captured the sharpest infrared images to date of one of the most distinctive objects in our skies, the Horsehead Nebula. These observations show a part of the iconic nebula in a whole new light, capturing its complexity with unprecedented spatial resolution.

Webb’s new images show part of the sky in the constellation Orion (The Hunter), in the western side of the Orion B molecular cloud. Rising from turbulent waves of dust and gas is the Horsehead Nebula, otherwise known as Barnard 33, which resides roughly 1,300 light-years away. 

The nebula formed from a collapsing interstellar cloud of material, and glows because it is illuminated by a nearby hot star. The gas clouds surrounding the Horsehead have already dissipated, but the jutting pillar is made of thick clumps of material that is harder to erode. Astronomers estimate that the Horsehead has about five million years left before it too disintegrates. Webb’s new view focuses on the illuminated edge of the top of the nebula’s distinctive dust and gas structure.

The Horsehead Nebula is a well-known photon-dominated region, or PDR. In such a region ultraviolet light from young, massive stars creates a mostly neutral, warm area of gas and dust between the fully ionized gas surrounding the massive stars and the clouds in which they are born. This ultraviolet radiation strongly influences the gas chemistry of these regions and acts as the most important source of heat. 

These regions occur where interstellar gas is dense enough to remain neutral, but not dense enough to prevent the penetration of far-ultraviolet light from massive stars. The light emitted from such PDRs provides a unique tool to study the physical and chemical processes that drive the evolution of interstellar matter in our galaxy, and throughout the Universe from the early era of vigorous star formation to the present day.

Owing to its proximity and its nearly edge-on geometry, the Horsehead Nebula is an ideal target for astronomers to study the physical structures of PDRs and the evolution of the chemical characteristics of the gas and dust within their respective environments, and the transition regions between them. It is considered one of the best objects in the sky to study how radiation interacts with interstellar matter.

This image was captured with Webb’s NIRCam (Near-InfraRed Camera) instrument.

Image Description: At the bottom of the image a small portion of the Horsehead Nebula is seen close-in, as a curved wall of thick, smoky gas and dust. Above the nebula various distant stars and galaxies can be seen up to the top of the image. One star is very bright and large, with six long diffraction spikes that cross the image. The background fades from a dark red color above the nebula to black.


Image Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, K. Misselt (University of Arizona) and A. Abergel (IAS/University Paris-Saclay, CNRS)

Duration: 30 seconds

Release Date: April 29, 2024


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #StellarNursery #Nebulae #Nebula #Barnard33 #HorseheadNebula #PDR #Orion #Constellation #JamesWebb #SpaceTelescope #JWST #Infrared #Cosmos #Universe #UnfoldTheUniverse #CSA #GSFC #STSc #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

The Horsehead Nebula | James Webb Space Telescope

The Horsehead Nebula | James Webb Space Telescope


The NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope has captured the sharpest infrared images to date of one of the most distinctive objects in our skies, the Horsehead Nebula. These observations show a part of the iconic nebula in a whole new light, capturing its complexity with unprecedented spatial resolution.

Webb’s new images show part of the sky in the constellation Orion (The Hunter), in the western side of the Orion B molecular cloud. Rising from turbulent waves of dust and gas is the Horsehead Nebula, otherwise known as Barnard 33, which resides roughly 1,300 light-years away. 

The nebula formed from a collapsing interstellar cloud of material, and glows because it is illuminated by a nearby hot star. The gas clouds surrounding the Horsehead have already dissipated, but the jutting pillar is made of thick clumps of material that is harder to erode. Astronomers estimate that the Horsehead has about five million years left before it too disintegrates. Webb’s new view focuses on the illuminated edge of the top of the nebula’s distinctive dust and gas structure.

The Horsehead Nebula is a well-known photon-dominated region, or PDR. In such a region ultraviolet light from young, massive stars creates a mostly neutral, warm area of gas and dust between the fully ionized gas surrounding the massive stars and the clouds in which they are born. This ultraviolet radiation strongly influences the gas chemistry of these regions and acts as the most important source of heat. 

These regions occur where interstellar gas is dense enough to remain neutral, but not dense enough to prevent the penetration of far-ultraviolet light from massive stars. The light emitted from such PDRs provides a unique tool to study the physical and chemical processes that drive the evolution of interstellar matter in our galaxy, and throughout the Universe from the early era of vigorous star formation to the present day.

Owing to its proximity and its nearly edge-on geometry, the Horsehead Nebula is an ideal target for astronomers to study the physical structures of PDRs and the evolution of the chemical characteristics of the gas and dust within their respective environments, and the transition regions between them. It is considered one of the best objects in the sky to study how radiation interacts with interstellar matter.

This image was captured with Webb’s NIRCam (Near-InfraRed Camera) instrument.

Image Description: At the bottom of the image a small portion of the Horsehead Nebula is seen close-in, as a curved wall of thick, smoky gas and dust. Above the nebula various distant stars and galaxies can be seen up to the top of the image. One star is very bright and large, with six long diffraction spikes that cross the image. The background fades from a dark red color above the nebula to black.


Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, K. Misselt (University of Arizona) and A. Abergel (IAS/University Paris-Saclay, CNRS)

Release Date: April 29, 2024


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #StellarNursery #Nebulae #Nebula #Barnard33 #HorseheadNebula #PDR #Orion #Constellation #JamesWebb #SpaceTelescope #JWST #Infrared #Cosmos #Universe #UnfoldTheUniverse #CSA #GSFC #STSc #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

United Arab Emirates Astronaut Hazzaa Al Mansoori | NASA Portrait

United Arab Emirates Astronaut Hazzaa Al Mansoori | NASA Portrait


Hazza Al Mansoori is an Emirati astronaut and was the first person from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in space. In 2019, he embarked on the UAE's first scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission slogan was 'Zayed's Ambition', making the UAE the 19th country worldwide, and the first country in the Arab region, to travel to the International Space Station.  Mansoori was assigned to the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft, alongside Russian commander Oleg Skripochka and American flight engineer Jessica Meir of NASA. They launched to the International Space Station on September 25, 2019. In this picture, Mansouri is wearing the extravehicular mobility unit (EMU) spacesuit used for extravehicular activities (EVAs) or spacewalks.

The Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) is an independent anthropomorphic spacesuit that provides environmental protection, mobility, life support, and communications for astronauts performing extravehicular activity (EVA) in Earth orbit. Introduced in 1981, it is a two-piece semi-rigid suit, and is currently one of two types of EVA spacesuits used by crew members on the International Space Station (ISS), the other being the Russian Orlan space suit.

Image Credit: NASA/JSC/Bill Stafford and Riley McClenaghan

Image Date: July 11, 2023


#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Astronaut #HazzaAlMansoori #UAE #MBRSC #Astronauts #UnitedStates #JSC #Spacesuit #EMU #Spacewalk #EVA #Cosmonauts #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #Expedition61 #Expedition62 #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceLaboratory #InternationalCooperation #Photography #History #STEM #Education

Sunday, April 28, 2024

Star Diary: The Moon Lies in The Teapot (April 29 to May 5, 2024) | BBC

Star Diary: The Moon Lies in The Teapot (April 29 to May 5, 2024) | BBC

Northern Hemisphere Night Sky Highlights: See the Moon sit inside the Teapot asterism this week, while a quartet of asteroids moves across the night sky. Find out how to catch these and more stargazing highlights in this week’s podcast guide, Star Diary, April 29 to May 5, 2024.


Video Credit: BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Duration: 30 minutes

Release Date: April 28, 2024


#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Earth #Moon #Planets #SolarSystem #Asteroids #Comets #Stars #Planets #Constellations #StarClusters #MilkyWayGalaxy #Galaxies #Universe #Skywatching #BBC #UK #Britain #Europe #UnitedStates #Canada #NorthernHemisphere #STEM #Education #HD #Video

China-European Space Agency Science Mission: Einstein Probe’s First X-ray Images

China-European Space Agency Science Mission: Einstein Probe’s First X-ray Images

The first images captured by the Einstein Probe (爱因斯坦探针) were revealed during the 7th Joint Workshop of the Einstein Probe Consortium, held in Beijing, China, from April 24 to 26, 2024. The Einstein Probe (爱因斯坦探针) is a collaboration led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE), Germany. 

The Einstein Probe is equipped with a new generation of X-ray instruments with high sensitivity and a very wide view, designed to observe powerful blasts of X-ray light coming from neutron stars and black holes. China launched the X-ray satellite Einstein Probe (EP) on January 9, 2024. It will help scientists further unlock valuable information about the universe by observing distant flashes from cosmic events.

"The Einstein Probe can capture sudden cosmic burst events, or violent activities of celestial bodies. This kind of celestial body that suddenly appears in the universe, lasts for a few moments, and then disappears quickly is called a transient," said Yuan Weimin, chief scientist of the Einstein Probe.

There are many spectacular transients and bursts in the universe from stellar activities near the solar system to gamma ray bursts from the distant early universe. They can generate huge radioactive energy in a very short period of time, concentrated in the X-ray band, producing complex and changing brightness levels like sparkling fireworks. Such transients and bursts originate from the critical stages of the formation and evolution of celestial bodies, and carry key information for studying the universe. However, due to absorption by the Earth's atmosphere, X-rays containing valuable information cannot reach the ground.

"These transients are relatively far away, and their signals are relatively dim. They appear randomly in space. We don't know when and in what direction they appear. So it is difficult for current satellites to detect them, and we need a monitor with very high sensitivity and large field-of-view. That's why we developed the Einstein Probe—to capture these more remote and dimmer transients and bursts," Yuan said.

Learn more about the international Einstein Probe X-ray Mission: 

https://www.mpe.mpg.de/7984975/news20240109


Credit: EPSC, NAO/CAS; DSS; ESO/China Central Television (CCTV)

Acknowledgement: SciNews

Duration: 1 minute, 47 seconds

Release Date: April 28, 2024


#NASA #ESA #CAS #Space #Astronomy #Science #Earth #Satellite #EinsteinProbe #爱因斯坦探针 #China #中国 #Cosmos #Universe #Xray #Transients #MPE #Germany #Deutschland #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Night Sky Treasures: The Moon, Venus, Jupiter, Regulus Star & Comet C/2014 Q1

Night Sky Treasures: The Moon, Venus, Jupiter, Regulus Star & Comet C/2014 Q1


A treasure trove of jewels are revealed in the night sky. Biggest and brightest, the full Moon is flanked by the planets Venus and Jupiter, the second brightest objects in the photo. While, in the upper right, the star Regulus completes a cosmic cross. Near the horizon, comet C/2014 Q1 (PANSTARRS) displays its two tails as it traverses the Solar System.


Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)/Alberto Ghizzi Panizza

Alberto's website: www.albertoghizzipanizza.com

Release Date: November 24, 2015


#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Planets #Earth #SouthAmerica #Chile #AtacamaDesert #Moon #Venus #Jupiter #Comets #CometC2014Q1 #SolarSystem #Cosmos #Universe #Astrophotography #STEM #Education

Ceremony: Shenzhou-17 Crew Ready for Earth Return | China Space Station

Ceremony: Shenzhou-17 Crew Ready for Earth Return | China Space Station

The Shenzhou-17 astronauts handed over control of the Tiangong space station to the newly arrived Shenzhou-18 crew on Sunday, April 28, 2024, and are ready to return to Earth, said the China Manned Space Agency.

The three Shenzhou-17 astronauts have completed all set tasks for their six-month stay in space.

At around 15:00 (Beijing Time), the two crews held a handover ceremony, with Shenzhou-17 astronauts Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin, and Shenzhou-18 astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu signing their names on handover confirmation documents.

"I hereby pass the hatch key symbolizing the baton to you. Starting from now, you officially take over the operation and management of the space station," said Tang, mission commander of the Shenzhou-17 crew.

"Alright. We, the crew of Shenzhou 18, will surely do our utmost to run our leg of this space relay of the Shenzhou family," said Ye, mission commander of the Shenzhou-18 crew.

The Shenzhou-17 crew are due to return to Earth on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, aboard the Shenzhou-17 spaceship.

The Dongfeng Landing Site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is now preparing for the return of Shenzhou-17 from space.

The Shenzhou-18 crew entered the space station in the early hours of Friday (Beijing Time).

Shenzhou-17 Crew:

Hongbo Tang (汤洪波, Commander)

Shengjie Tang (唐胜杰, Mission Specialist)

Xinlin Jiang (江新林, Mission Specialist)


Shenzhou-18 Crew:

Ye Guangfu (叶光富, commander)

Li Cong (李聪, mission specialist)

Li Guangsu (李广苏, mission specialist)


Video Credit: CCTV

Duration: 1 minute

Release Date: April 28, 2024


#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #Shenzhou18 #神舟十八 #Shenzhou17 #神舟十七号 #CrewSpacecraft #Taikonauts #Astronauts #YeGuangfu #LiCong #LiGuangsu #CSS #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #CMSA #国家航天局 #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Space Environment Simulation Laboratory | NASA's Johnson Space Center

Space Environment Simulation Laboratory | NASA's Johnson Space Center

This is Building 32, Chamber A at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Texas. After it was constructed in 1965, the Space Environment Simulation Laboratory (SESL) tested all Apollo command and service modules, Apollo lunar modules, spacesuits for extra-vehicular activity, the Skylab/Apollo telescope mount system, Space Shuttle systems, the Apollo/Soyuz docking module and various large scale scientific satellite systems, such as the parabolic reflector subsystem of the Applications Technology Satellite. The thermal vacuum testing done at the SESL since 1965 has been a significant factor contributing to the success of both the crewed and uncrewed space program of the United States.

Johnson Space Center’s Chamber A is a 16.8 m (55 ft) diameter x 27.4 m (90 ft) high, thermal-vacuum test facility and is famous for testing the Apollo spacecraft, with and without the mission crew. Its usable test volume and high-fidelity space simulation capabilities are adaptable for thermal-vacuum testing of a wide variety of test articles, including entire space vehicles. Test articles are normally inserted into the chamber by means of a precision, mobile crane. The dual crew-locks, when configured for human testing, provide a means for the test crew to move from ambient air pressure to the thermal-vacuum environment and back. They also provide for the maintenance of rescue personnel at convenient intermediate pressures during crew test operations. When the inner door is bolted, either of the crew-locks can be used as an altitude chamber for independent tests.

Additional test support equipment includes mass spectrometers, infrared cameras and television cameras. The numerous flanges at all levels provide ample pass-throughs for electrical, instrumentation and gasses to support large systems.

Chamber A was upgraded to support the James Webb Space Telescope test program. Additions involved an ultra-clean hydrocarbon-free high vacuum pumping systems and the ability to simulate the extremely low temperatures of deep space (35K) within a 45 foot diameter by 80 foot tall shroud volume. The chamber systems are now able to maintain class 10,000 clean room conditions for ambient operations.


Image Credit: NASA/JSC/Robert Markowitz

Image Date: Aug. 7, 2023


#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Earth #SpaceSimulation #Laboratory #ThermalVacuumChamber #NASAJohnson #JSC #Houston #Texas #UnitedStates #ApolloProgram #SpaceShuttleProgram #STS #JWST #SpaceTelescopes #History #Photography #STEM #Education

Saturday, April 27, 2024

China Shenzhou-18 Rocket Liftoff: Multiple Views | Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center

China Shenzhou-18 Rocket Liftoff: Multiple Views | Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center

China successfully sent a new crew of three astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-18 spaceship into orbit and to the China Space Station on the night of April 25, 2024. The China Media Group has released footage showing multiple angles of the moment the spaceship lifted off.

Shenzhou-18 is the seventh crew of three astronauts on a mission to the China Space Station.

Shenzhou-18 Crew

Ye Guangfu (commander)

Li Cong (mission specialist)

Li Guangsu (mission specialist)


Video Credit: CCTV

Duration: 1 minute, 15 seconds

Release Date: April 25, 2024


#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #JiuquanLaunchCenter #Rocket #LongMarch2FY18 #Shenzhou18 #神舟十八 #CrewSpacecraft #Taikonauts #Astronauts #YeGuangfu #LiCong #LiGuangsu #CSS #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #CMSA #国家航天局 #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Regulus Star & Dwarf Galaxy Leo I

Regulus Star & Dwarf Galaxy Leo I

In northern hemisphere spring, bright star Regulus is easy to spot above the eastern horizon. The alpha star of the constellation Leo, Regulus is the spiky star centered in this telescopic field of view. A mere 79 light-years distant, Regulus is a hot, rapidly spinning star that is known to be part of a multiple star system. Not quite lost in the glare, the fuzzy patch just below Regulus is diffuse starlight from small galaxy Leo I. 

Leo I is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy, a member of the Local Group of galaxies dominated by our Milky Way Galaxy and the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). About 800 thousand light-years away, Leo I is thought to be the most distant of the known small satellite galaxies orbiting the Milky Way. But dwarf galaxy Leo I has shown evidence of a supermassive black hole at its center, comparable in mass to the black hole at the center of the Milky Way.


Image Credit & Copyright: Markus Horn

Markus' website: 

https://astrophoto-hannover.de/index.html

Release Date: April 26, 2024



#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Star #Regulus #LeoI #DwarfGalaxy #Leo #Constellation #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #Optical #Astrophotographer #MarkusHorn #Astrophotography  #Hannover #Germany #Deutschland #STEM #Education #APoD

China Unveils Latest Progress on Moon Exploration Projects & Plans

China Unveils Latest Progress on Moon Exploration Projects & Plans

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, revealed the latest developments in its lunar exploration projects at an event held in Wuhan City, central China's Hubei Province, along with a preview of their plans ahead.

The unveiling of the concept video for the international lunar research base has generated great anticipation, showcasing the diverse range of functions of the base.

The project is envisioned as a comprehensive scientific experimental base capable of conducting interdisciplinary and multi-objective research activities focusing on lunar exploration and utilization. It will be capable of long-term independent operation, either on the lunar surface or in lunar orbit.

With the continuous accumulation of its deep space exploration technology and experience,China has developed research directions for deep space and international lunar scientific research stations.

"We were able to reach the moon in the past, but now our main focus is to conduct scientific experiments and exploration on its surface. We used to go to a certain point, but now we aim for extensive and in-depth exploration. Previously, government initiatives took the lead, but now there is a shift towards actively involving commercial space ventures under government guidance. Multiple countries are joining forces and collaborating to conduct exploration together," said Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program.

Wu further explained that the international lunar research base will be constructed in two phases. The first one aims to establish comprehensive scientific facilities with basic functions and essential supporting elements around the lunar south pole by 2035. The second phase plans to build a well-equipped and stable facility of considerable scale around the lunar orbital station by 2045.

"The moon serves as a starting point, and an international lunar research station will provide a platform for long-term scientific research, work and habitation, paving the way for future human exploration into deeper space. It will serve as a technological, material, and intellectual reservoir, preparing us for future missions to Mars and other distant destinations in space," said Wu.


Video Credit: CCTV

Duration: 2 minutes, 18 seconds

Release Date: April 26, 2024


#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Satellites #Earth #China #中国 #Moon #ILRS #国际月球科研站 #CNSA #CMSA #Astronauts #LunarLanders #LunarRovers #SpaceTechnology #LunarResearch #SpaceExploration #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #InternationalCooperation #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test Astronauts Williams & Wilmore Arrive in Florida

NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test Astronauts Williams & Wilmore Arrive in Florida

NASA astronauts Suni Williams (left) & Butch Wilmore (right)







NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams pose for photos during a news conference at the Launch and Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida following their arrival for the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test on a Northrop T-38 Talon jet. As part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, Williams and Wilmore are the first crew to launch aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft atop a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral in Florida. Liftoff for the International Space Station is currently scheduled for 10:34 p.m. ET on Monday, May 6.

NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams Official Biography

https://www.nasa.gov/people/sunita-l-williams/

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/williams-s.pdf

NASA Astronaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore Official Biography

https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/barry-e-wilmore/biography

For more info on Starliner, visit: 

boeing.com/starliner

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program works with the American aerospace industry to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station on American-made rockets and spacecraft launching from American soil.

Learn more about NASA’s Commercial Crew Program at: https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew


Image Credit: NASA/Frank Michaux

Image Date: April 25, 2024


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