NASA’s Fermi, Swift Capture Revolutionary Gamma-Ray Burst

NASA’s Fermi, Swift Capture Revolutionary Gamma-Ray Burst

On Dec. 11, 2021, NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detected a blast of high-energy light from the outskirts of a galaxy around 1 billion light-years away. The event has rattled scientists’ understanding of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), the most powerful events in the universe. This burst is called GRB 211211A.

Many research groups have delved into the observations collected by Swift, Fermi, the Hubble Space Telescope, and others. Some have suggested the burst’s oddities could be explained by the merger of a neutron star with another massive object, like a black hole.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center 

Sophia Roberts (AIMM): Lead Producer

Jeanette Kazmierczak (University of Maryland College Park): Lead Science Writer

Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park): Science Writer

Aurore Simonet (Sonoma State University): Artist

Scott Wiessinger (KBRwyle): Animator

Duration: 2 minutes, 21 seconds

Release Date: Dec. 7, 2022

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #GRB #GammaRayBursts #GRB211211A #Astrophysics #Fermi #FGST #SpaceTelescope #SwiftObservatory #NeilGehrels #Cosmos #Universe #GSFC #DOE #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

New Mars Images: Dec. 2022 | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers | JPL

 New Mars Images: Dec. 2022 | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers | JPL

MSL - sol 3672 - MastCam

MSL - sol 712 - Mastcam - Decorrelated Color

MSL - sol 712 - Mastcam

Mars2020 - sol 641 - Mastcam-Z

MSL - sol 3672 - MastCam

MSL - sol 3674 - Mastcam - Stretched

Mars2020 - sol 635 - Mastcam-Z

Mars2020 - sol 641 - MastCam-Z

Celebrating 10 Years on Mars! (2012-2022)

Mission Name: Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

Rover Name: Curiosity

Main Job: To determine if Mars was ever habitable to microbial life. 

Launch: Nov. 6, 2011

Landing Date: Aug. 5, 2012, Gale Crater, Mars

Mission Name: Mars 2020

Rover Name: Perseverance

Main Job: Seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and soil) for possible return to Earth.

Launch: July 30, 2020    

Landing: Feb. 18, 2021, Jezero Crater, Mars

For more information on NASA's Mars missions, visit: mars.nasa.gov

Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill

Image Release Dates: Dec. 6-9, 2022

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Mars #RedPlanet #Planet #Astrobiology #Geology #CuriosityRover #MSL #MountSharp #GaleCrater #PerseveranceRover #Mars2020 #JezeroCrater #Robotics #Technology #Engineering #JPL #UnitedStates #JourneyToMars #MoonToMars #CitizenScience #KevinGill #STEM #Education

Mystic Mountain | Hubble’s Inside The Image

Mystic Mountain | Hubble’s Inside The Image

The Hubble Space Telescope has taken over 1.5 million observations over the past 32 years. One of them is the breathtaking Nebula known as Mystic Mountain.

This image, which is even more dramatic than fiction, captures the chaotic activity atop a pillar of gas and dust, three light-years tall, which is being eaten away by the brilliant light from nearby bright stars. The pillar is also being assaulted from within, as infant stars buried inside it fire off jets of gas that can be seen streaming from towering peaks.

In this video, Dr. Ken Carpenter takes us on a journey through the Nebula, teaching us some of the interesting science behind this famous Hubble image.

Video Credit: Hubble Space Telescope Animation

Credit: ESA/Hubble (M. Kornmesser & L. L. Christensen), A. Fujii, Robert Gendler, Digitized Sky Survey 2, Panther Observatory, Steve Cannistra, Michael Pierce, Robert Berrington (Indiana University), Nigel Sharp, Mark Hanna (NOAO)/WIYN/NSF

Producer & Director: James Leigh

Editor: Lucy Lund

Director of Photography: James Ball

Additional Editing & Photography: Matthew Duncan

Executive Producers: James Leigh & Matthew Duncan

Production & Post: Origin Films 

Duration: 2 minutes, 31 seconds

Release Date: Dec. 9, 2022

#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Hubble #MysticMountain #Infrared #CarinaNebula #Carina #Constellation #Cosmos #Universe #SpaceTelescope #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Orion’s Earthbound Journey: Updates | NASA's Artemis I Moon Mission

Orion’s Earthbound Journey: Updates | NASA's Artemis I Moon Mission

Artemis All Access – Episode 6: Artemis All Access is your look at the latest in Artemis I, the people and technology behind the mission, and what is coming up next. This uncrewed flight test around the Moon will pave the way for a crewed flight test and future human lunar exploration as part of Artemis.  

NASA's Orion spacecraft is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 12:40 p.m. EST (17:40 UTC) on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. The exploration ground systems recovery team from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, working with the U.S. Navy, will recover the spacecraft. Live coverage for this event begins at 11 a.m. EST (16:00 UTC).

The first in a series of increasingly complex missions, Artemis I is an uncrewed flight test that will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration. It will demonstrate NASA's commitment and capability to extend human existence to the Moon and beyond. Orion is completing a 25-day test of all key systems. It will travel 280,000 miles from Earth, thousands of miles beyond the Moon. Orion will stay in space longer than any ship for astronauts has done without docking to a space station and return home faster and hotter than ever before.

Learn more about Artemis I: 

https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-i

Track the Orion spacecraft’s current position at www.nasa.gov/trackartemis/

Live coverage of major events will air on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website at www.nasa.gov/live 

Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Duration: 5 minutes, 26 seconds

Release Date: Dec. 9, 2022

#NASA #ESA #Space #Earth #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisI #Orion #Spacecraft #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #JourneyToMars #Science #Engineering #Technology #Exploration #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #UnitedStates #Europe #International #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Parachutes: Bringing the Orion Spacecraft Home | NASA's Artemis I Moon Mission

Parachutes: Bringing the Orion Spacecraft Home | NASA's Artemis I Moon Mission

After NASA's Orion spacecraft enters the Earth’s atmosphere at the conclusion of its 25.5-day mission, the spacecraft will rely on its rigorously tested parachute system to slow its speed and allow for a gentle splashdown. Koki Machin, chief engineer of Orion’s parachute assembly system, describes the process and the path to certification of the system.

Orion is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 12:40 p.m. EST (17:40 UTC) on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. The exploration ground systems recovery team from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, working with the U.S. Navy, will recover the spacecraft. Live coverage for this event begins at 11 a.m. EST (16:00 UTC).

Earth’s atmosphere initially will slow the spacecraft to 325 mph, then the parachutes will slow Orion to a splashdown speed in about 10 minutes as it descends through Earth’s atmosphere. Parachute deployment begins at an altitude of about five miles with three small parachutes pulling the forward bay covers away. Once the forward bay cover separates, two drogue parachutes will slow and stabilize the crew module for main parachute deployment. At an altitude of 9,500 feet and a spacecraft speed of 130 mph, three pilot parachutes will lift and deploy the main parachutes. Those 116-foot-diameter parachutes of nylon broadcloth, or “silk,” will slow the Orion crew module to a splashdown speed of 20 mph or less.

The parachute system includes 11 parachutes made of 36,000 square feet of canopy material. The canopy is attached to the top of the spacecraft with more than 13 miles of Kevlar lines that are deployed in series using cannon-like mortars and pyrotechnic thrusters and bolt cutters. Learn more about Orion’s parachute system in the Artemis I reference guide.

NASA TV coverage of Artemis I’s return to Earth begins at 11 a.m. EST on Sunday, Dec. 11. The Orion spacecraft is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean at 12:40 p.m. near Guadalupe Island.

Watch here: 

https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/NASATV

Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Duration: 3 minutes

Release Date: Dec. 9, 2022

#NASA #ESA #Space #Earth #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisI #Orion #Spacecraft #Parachutes #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #Science #Engineering #Technology #Exploration #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #UnitedStates #Europe #International #STEM #Education #HD #Video

To The Moon and Back: The Journey of Artemis I | NASA STEM Education

To The Moon and Back: The Journey of Artemis I | NASA STEM Education

On November 16, 2022, NASA’s Artemis I mission began a new era of spaceflight testing systems that will take humans back to the Moon and beyond!

It takes a powerful system of engines and boosters to get this massive rocket off the launchpad and to propel the Orion spacecraft all the way  to the Moon. This video explains the parts of Artemis I and their functions during the mission. Watch a play-by-play of actual launch footage and Artemis I’s journey to the Moon!

The first in a series of increasingly complex missions, Artemis I is an uncrewed flight test that will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration. It will demonstrate NASA's commitment and capability to extend human existence to the Moon and beyond. Orion is completing a 25-day test of all key systems. It will travel 280,000 miles from Earth, thousands of miles beyond the Moon. Orion will stay in space longer than any ship for astronauts has done without docking to a space station and return home faster and hotter than ever before.

Learn more about Artemis I: 

https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-i

We’re launching STEM Engagement to new heights with learning resources that connect teachers, students, parents and caregivers to the inspiring work at NASA. Join us as we apply science, technology, engineering and mathematics to explore space, improve aeronautics, examine Earth and strive to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon with the Artemis program. 

NASA STEM resources: STEM.NASA.gov

Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Duration: 6 minutes

Release Date: Dec. 9, 2022

#NASA #ESA #Space #Earth #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisGeneration #ArtemisI #Orion #Spacecraft #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #Science #Engineering #Technology #Exploration #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #UnitedStates #Europe #International #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA Preview of Artemis I Orion Spacecraft Splashdown

On Dec. 8, 2022, NASA experts previewed the upcoming entry, descent, and splashdown of the Orion spacecraft, which will conclude the Artemis I mission. After 25.5 days in space, Orion is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 12:40 p.m. EST (17:40 UTC) on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. The exploration ground systems recovery team from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, working with the U.S. Navy, will recover the spacecraft. Live coverage for this event begins at 11 a.m. EST (16:00 UTC).

Just before re-entry, the crew module and service module will separate and only the crew module will return to Earth while the service module burns up in Earth’s atmosphere upon re-entry over the Pacific Ocean. The Artemis I trajectory is designed to ensure any remaining parts do not pose a hazard to land, people, or shipping lanes.

After separating from the service module, the crew module will prepare to perform a skip entry technique that enables the spacecraft to accurately and consistently splash down at the selected landing site. Orion will dip into the upper part of Earth’s atmosphere and use that atmosphere, along with the lift of the capsule, to skip back out of the atmosphere, then reenter for final descent under parachutes and splash down. This technique will allow a safe re-entry for future Artemis missions regardless of when and where they return from the Moon.

Earth’s atmosphere initially will slow the spacecraft to 325 mph, then the parachutes will slow Orion to a splashdown speed in about 10 minutes as it descends through Earth’s atmosphere. Parachute deployment begins at an altitude of about five miles with three small parachutes pulling the forward bay covers away. Once the forward bay cover separates, two drogue parachutes will slow and stabilize the crew module for main parachute deployment. At an altitude of 9,500 feet and a spacecraft speed of 130 mph, three pilot parachutes will lift and deploy the main parachutes. Those 116-foot-diameter parachutes of nylon broadcloth, or “silk,” will slow the Orion crew module to a splashdown speed of 20 mph or less.

The parachute system includes 11 parachutes made of 36,000 square feet of canopy material. The canopy is attached to the top of the spacecraft with more than 13 miles of Kevlar lines that are deployed in series using cannon-like mortars and pyrotechnic thrusters and bolt cutters. Learn more about Orion’s parachute system in the Artemis I reference guide.

NASA TV coverage of Artemis I’s return to Earth begins at 11 a.m. EST on Sunday, Dec. 11. The Orion spacecraft is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean at 12:40 p.m. near Guadalupe Island.

Watch here: 

https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/NASATV

The first in a series of increasingly complex missions, Artemis I is an uncrewed flight test that will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration. It will demonstrate NASA's commitment and capability to extend human existence to the Moon and beyond. Orion is completing a 25-day test of all key systems. It will travel 280,000 miles from Earth, thousands of miles beyond the Moon. Orion will stay in space longer than any ship for astronauts has done without docking to a space station and return home faster and hotter than ever before.

On the Artemis III Mission, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the surface of the Moon, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone on the way to Mars. 

Orion launched aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket at 1:47 am EST (6:47 UTC) on Nov. 16, 2022, from historic Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

The Artemis I mission is the first integrated test of NASA’s deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, the SLS rocket, and Kennedy Space Center's Exploration Ground Systems.

Learn more about Artemis I: https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-i

Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Duration: 57 minutes

Release Date: Nov. 8, 2022

#NASA #ESA #Space #Earth #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisI #Orion #Spacecraft #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #JourneyToMars #Science #Engineering #Technology #Exploration #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #UnitedStates #Europe #International #STEM #Education

NASA's Space to Ground: The Power of Teamwork | Week of Dec. 9, 2022

NASA's Space to Ground: The Power of Teamwork | Week of Dec. 9, 2022

NASA's Space to Ground is your weekly update on what's happening aboard the International Space Station. 

Follow the International Space Station blog for updates: https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 68 Crew

Station Commander Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos (Russia)

Roscosmos (Russia): Flight Engineers Anna Kikina & Dmitri Petelin

NASA: Flight Engineers Nicole Mann, Frank Rubio & Josh Cassada

JAXA (Japan): Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the  International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.

Learn more about the important research being operated on Station:

https://www.nasa.gov/iss-science 

For more information about STEM on Station:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation

Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Duration: 2 minutes, 34 seconds

Release Date: Dec. 9, 2022

#NASA #Space #ISS #ESA #CubeSats #iROSA #SolarArray #Spacewalk #EVA #Astronauts #FlightEngineers #FrankRubio #JoshCassada #NicoleMann #KoichiWakata #JAXA #Science #Technology #HumanSpaceflight #Expedition68 #UnitedStates #Russia #Japan #日本 #International #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Planet Mars Plays "Peekaboo" with The Moon

Planet Mars Plays "Peekaboo" with The Moon

The Lunar Occultation of Mars: An occultation is an event that occurs when one object is hidden from the observer by another object that passes between them.

During the early hours of December 8, 2022, the almost Full Moon occulted the planet Mars from the viewpoint of Earth.

Mary: "I imaged it with a William Optics 70mm refractor, Celestron 3x Barlow, ZWO ASI120MC camera. I used my portable Skywatcher AZGTi mount because I wasn't sure if I'd get the egress from my permanent pier as there are trees in that direction. Additionally I took some widefield photos with a Canon 1100D with 30mm zoom lens."

"I shot 2 or 3 thousand frame videos and had to two separate stacking processes on them, one for the Moon and one for Mars because they were moving so quickly relative to each other. I then processed the images in Lightroom and Fast Stone Image Viewer. I'm slightly astounded to have captured surface features on Mars with such a small refractor, but this amazing telescope often surprises me with how versatile it is! The Celestron 3x Barlow is excellent quality too, which really helped with this."

Credit: Mary McIntyre, Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (FRAS)

Mary's Flickr Page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/spicey_spiney/ 

Image Capture Date: December 8, 2022

Location: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (UK)

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Mars #Planet #Moon #Occultation #Astrophotography #MaryMcIntyre #FRAS #RoyalAstronomicalSociety #Oxfordshire #UK #Telescope #Celestron #Astrophotography #CitizenScience #SolarSystem #STEM #Education

Orion: "Goodbye Moon! Hello Earth!" | NASA's Artemis I Moon Mission

Orion: "Goodbye Moon! Hello Earth!" | NASA's Artemis I Moon Mission

NASA's Orion spacecraft continues its journey home to Earth, which appears in these images from December 7, 2022, as a crescent, still 234,000 miles away. The Moon appears smaller in these images from Orion’s perspective on flight day 22 as the Artemis I spacecraft continues distancing itself from our lunar neighbor, over 125,000 miles away at this point.

The Artemis I spacecraft is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday, Dec. 11. 

Orion launched on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022. Artemis I is an uncrewed flight test of our SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, and exploration ground systems for future Artemis missions—which will provide the foundation to send humans to the lunar surface, develop a long-term presence on and around the Moon, and pave the way for humanity to set foot on Mars.

More on Artemis I: https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-i

Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Image Capture Date: Dec. 7, 2022

#NASA #ESA #Space #Earth #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisI #Orion #Spacecraft #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #JourneyToMars #Science #Engineering #Technology #Exploration #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #UnitedStates #Europe #International #STEM #Education

Orion's Lunar Close Flyby Images | NASA's Artemis I Moon Mission

Orion's Lunar Close Flyby Images | NASA's Artemis I Moon Mission

Cameras mounted on the crew module of NASA's Orion spacecraft captured these views of the Moon’s surface. On flight day 20 of the Artemis I mission, the spacecraft made its second and final close approach to the Moon before its returned powered flyby burn. Orion is expected to splashdown off the coast of San Diego at 12:40 p.m. EST (17:30 UTC) on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

Orion launched on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022. Artemis I is an uncrewed flight test of our SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, and exploration ground systems for future Artemis missions—which will provide the foundation to send humans to the lunar surface, develop a long-term presence on and around the Moon, and pave the way for humanity to set foot on Mars.

More on Artemis I: https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-i

Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Image Capture Date: Dec. 5, 2022

#NASA #ESA #Space #Earth #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisI #Orion #Spacecraft #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #JourneyToMars #Science #Engineering #Technology #Exploration #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #UnitedStates #Europe #International #STEM #Education

Are Wildfires Getting Worse? – We Asked a NASA Scientist

Are Wildfires Getting Worse? – We Asked a NASA Scientist

Are wildfires getting worse? Unfortunately, yes. 

Changes in our climate, along with other factors, have led to wildfires increasing in intensity, severity, size and duration. NASA climate and wildfire expert Liz Hoy explains how and why NASA studies these events from the ground, air, and space to better understand the impacts they have on both a local and global scale. 

Learn more: https://www.nasa.gov/fires

Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Producers: Jessica Wilde, Scott Bednar

Editor: Daniel Salazar 

Duration: 1 minute, 42 seconds

Release Date: Dec. 7, 2022

#NASA #NOAA #Space #Satellites #Science #Earth #Planet #Atmosphere #EarthObservation #RemoteSensing #Environment #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming #GlobalHeating #GHG #Climate #Weather #Wildfires #GSFC #UnitedStates #Technology #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Explore NASA's Orion Crew Capsule with Astronaut Randy Bresnik

Explore NASA's Orion Crew Capsule with Astronaut Randy Bresnik

The focus of the flight of Artemis I is to test Orion’s systems ahead of crewed missions.  Starting with Artemis II, human crew members will be on board. You may be thinking, “what is it like inside?”  I’m glad you asked . . . follow along as NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik guides us through the interior of the Orion spacecraft and a close up look at elements that will support a crew on humankind’s next trip to the Moon.

Though Artemis I is an uncrewed mission, what we've learned from our flight test of Orion and NASA's Space Launch System will help us get ready for future Artemis missions, which will build a long-term human presence on the Moon—and prepare us to land the first NASA Astronauts on Mars.

With Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before.

More on Artemis I: https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-i

Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Duration: 2 minutes

Release Date: Dec. 7, 2022

#NASA #ESA #Space #Earth #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisI #ArtemisII #ArtemisIII #Orion #Spacecraft #Astronauts #RandyBresnik #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #Science #Engineering #Technology #Exploration #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Reflections on NASA's Artemis I Mission: Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Reflections on NASA's Artemis I Mission: Henry Louis Gates Jr. 

Henry Louis Gates Jr. reflects on the Artemis I mission around the Moon:

"These images reveal with stunning, humbling sublimity, the triumph of the human spirit in breaking beyond the confines of the Earth. Let us hope that this milestone will inspire us to transcend 'all possible manner of differences,' as the great Du Bois once put it, and keep foremost in mind all that we have in common as human beings; as sisters and brothers here on Earth." 

Though Artemis I is an uncrewed mission, what we've learned from our flight test of Orion and NASA's Space Launch System will help us get ready for future Artemis missions, which will build a long-term human presence on the Moon—and prepare us to land the first NASA Astronauts on Mars.

With Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before.

More on Artemis I: https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-i

Credit: NASA/Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Duration: 1 minute

Release Date: Dec. 8, 2022

#NASA #ESA #Space #Earth #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisI #Orion #Spacecraft #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #Science #Engineering #Technology #Exploration #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #UnitedStates #Europe #International #Humanity #Future #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Kilonova Discovery Challenges our Understanding of Gamma-Ray Bursts | NOIRLab

Kilonova Discovery Challenges our Understanding of Gamma-Ray Bursts | NOIRLab

Episode#58 While studying the aftermath of a long gamma-ray burst (GRB), two independent teams of astronomers using a host of telescopes in space and on Earth, including the Gemini North telescope on Hawai‘i and the Gemini South telescope in Chile, have uncovered the unexpected hallmarks of a kilonova, the colossal explosion triggered by colliding neutron stars. This discovery challenges the prevailing theory that long GRBs exclusively come from supernovae, the end-of-life explosions of massive stars.

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs)—the most energetic explosions in the Universe—come in two varieties, long and short. Long GRBs, which last a couple of seconds to one minute, form when a star at least 10 times the mass of our Sun explodes as a supernova. Short GRBs, which last less than two seconds, occur when two compact objects, like two neutron stars or a neutron star and a black hole, collide to form a kilonova. 

Credit: NOIRLab

Images and Videos:   

International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA, Fermilab, M. Zamani, NASA/ESA, J. da Silva/Spaceengine, CI Lab, N. Bartmann  

Duration: 1 minute, 22 seconds

Release Date: Dec. 5, 2022

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #NeutronStars #Kilonova #GRB #GammaRayBursts #Astrophysics #Cosmos #Universe #NOIRLab #AURA #NSF #GeminiSouthTelescope #Chile #SouthAmerica  #GeminiNorthTelescope #Hawaii #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Orion Captures Crescent Earthrise | NASA's Artemis I Moon Mission

Orion Captures Crescent Earthrise | NASA's Artemis I Moon Mission

On flight day 20, Dec. 5, 2022, NASA's Orion spacecraft captured the crescent Earth in the distance as the spacecraft regained communications with the Deep Space Network (DSN) following its return powered flyby on the far side of the Moon. The spacecraft will splash down on Sunday, Dec. 11.

Orion launched on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022. Artemis I is an uncrewed flight test of our SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, and exploration ground systems for future Artemis missions—which will provide the foundation to send humans to the lunar surface, develop a long-term presence on and around the Moon, and pave the way for humanity to set foot on Mars.

More on Artemis I: https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-i

Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Duration: 4 minutes

Release Date: Dec. 5, 2022

#NASA #ESA #Space #Earth #Earthrise #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisI #Orion #Spacecraft #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #JourneyToMars #Science #Engineering #Technology #Exploration #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #UnitedStates #Europe #International #STEM #Education #HD #Video