Nebula Sh2-239 in Taurus | Mayall Telescope

Nebula Sh2-239 in Taurus | Mayall Telescope

This image was obtained with the wide-field view of the Mosaic camera on the Mayall 4-meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory. Sh2-239 is a distinct reflection nebula in which stars have been forming for quite some time. It contains two clusters of highly embedded very young stars as well as many stars that are more evolved. The many outflows are visible as bright red knots and jets, particularly in the cavity at the center-top of the image. The image was generated with observations in the B (blue), V (green), I (orange) and Hydrogen-Alpha (red) filters. In this image, North is left, East is down.

The Nicholas U. Mayall Telescope is a four-meter (158 inches) reflector telescope in Arizona named after Nicholas U. Mayall. It saw first light on February 27, 1973, and was the second-largest telescope in the world at that time.

Credit: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage) and H. Schweiker (WIYN and NOIRLab/NSF/AURA)

Release Date: June 30, 2020

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Nebulae #Nebula #Sh2239 #EmissionNebula #Taurus #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #MayallTelescope #KittPeakNationalObservatory #KPNO #Arizona #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Colorful Night Sky over Paranal Observatory in Chile's Atacama Desert | ESO

Colorful Night Sky over Paranal Observatory in Chile's Atacama Desert | ESO

Above Paranal Observatory, the skies regularly display a myriad of colors and astronomical sights, from the plane of the Milky Way shining brightly overhead to the orange-hued speck of Mars (left), the starry constellations of Scorpius and Orion, and the magenta splash of the Carina Nebula (upper middle). Despite the remote location there are also occasional signs of human activity, for example the sequence of lamps seen in the center of the frame. These faint lights illuminate the route from the Very Large Telescope (VLT) to the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) where this image was taken.

Due to the highly sensitive camera this photograph also showcases a mysterious phenomenon called airglow. The night sky is ablaze with deep red and eerie green hues, caused by the faint glow of Earth’s atmosphere. Because of airglow, no observatory site on Earth could ever be absolutely, completely dark—although the European Southern Observatory’s do come pretty close.

This image was taken by talented astronomer and photographer Yuri Beletsky,

Credit: Y. Beletsky (LCO)/ESO

Release Date: Sept. 19, 2016

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Planets #Earth #Atmosphere #Airglow #Mars #EarthScience #Planet #Stars #Scorpius #Orion #Constellations #CarinaNebula #MilkyWayGalaxy #LMC #SMC #Cosmos #Universe #ParanalObservatory #Chile #SouthAmerica #Europe #STEM #Education

China's Main Rocket Engine for Crewed Moon Missions Completes New Test

China's Main Rocket Engine for Crewed Moon Missions Completes New Test

China on Saturday, July 22, 2023, completed a new trial run of the Long March-10 main rocket engine for its future crewed lunar missions, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

China’s moon missions, which began with the uncrewed lunar-orbiter Chang’e 1 in 2007, are aimed at building a basic lunar research station by 2028. China plans to land humans on the Moon by 2030.

The 130-tonne class liquid oxygen kerosene rocket engine is an upgraded version of the current high-thrust engine being used in a new generation of carrier rockets such as the Long March-5.

The rocket engine will be used for Long March-10 carrier rockets in the country's crewed lunar missions. It will be used in the first-stage core and boosters of Long March-10.

The July 22, 2023, test verified relevant technical requirements for the engine, providing a solid basis for determining the engine's technologies and enhancing its reliability, according to the 6th Research Institute of the CASC, also known as the Xi'an Aerospace Propulsion Institute.

"The results of the engine's test run today have successfully met relevant requirements. The start and shutdown of the engine and its operation smoothness in high- and low-working conditions have been assessed, and the relevant parameters have been obtained," said Zhou Xianqi, a researcher at the Xi'an Aerospace Propulsion Institute.

"In the second half of this year, we will conduct several high-altitude simulation tests to finally determine the relevant performance and parameters of the engine, so as to make our due contributions to China's manned moon landing mission," said Zhou.

The new carrier rocket Long March-10 is mainly developed for the purpose of sending spacecraft and moon lander into the Earth-moon transfer orbit.

The rocket is expected to prepare for its maiden flight in 2027.

Credit: CCTV Video News Agency

Duration: 1 minute, 25 seconds

Release Date: July 23, 2023

#NASA #Space #Earth #China #中国 #XianCity #Shaanxi #LongMarch10Rocket #RocketEngine #EngineTesting  #CASC #Moon #月亮 #嫦娥 #Taikonauts #Astronauts #HumanSpaceflight #CNSA #CMSA #国家航天局 #Science #SpaceTechnology #SpaceEngineering #STEM #Education #HD #Video

The Gum 29 Nebula in Carina | ESO

The Gum 29 Nebula in Carina | ESO

This image shows the amazing intricacies of the vast stellar nursery Gum 29. At its center lies the cluster of young stars Westerlund 2. One object at the bottom of the cluster is in fact a system of two of most massive stars known to astronomers. The image is based on data obtained with the Wide Field Imager (WFI) camera attached to the 2.2-meter Max-Planck/ESO telescope through four different filters (B, V, R, and H-alpha).

Distance: 25,000 light years

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Release Date: Oct. 21, 2008

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Nebulae #StellarNursery #Gum29 #Gum29Nebula #Carina #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #MaxPlanckESOTelescope #LaSillaObservatory #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education

The Calabash Nebula | Hubble

The Calabash Nebula | Hubble

The Calabash Nebula, pictured here—which has the technical name OH 231.8+04.2—is a spectacular example of the death of a low-mass star like the Sun. This image taken by the NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope shows the star going through a rapid transformation from a red giant to a planetary nebula, during which it blows its outer layers of gas and dust out into the surrounding space. The recently ejected material is spat out in opposite directions with immense speed—the gas shown in yellow is moving close to a million kilometers an hour.

Astronomers rarely capture a star in this phase of its evolution because it occurs within the blink of an eye—in astronomical terms. Over the next thousand years the nebula is expected to evolve into a fully fledged planetary nebula.

The nebula is also known as the Rotten Egg Nebula because it contains a lot of sulphur, an element that, when combined with other elements, smells like a rotten egg—but luckily, it resides over 5,000 light-years away in the constellation of Puppis.

Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)/Hubble & NASA

Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt

Release Date: Jan. 30, 2017

#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Hubble #Nebulae #CalabashNebula #OH23184422 #Sulphur #RottenEggNebula #Puppis #Constellation #MIlkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #HST #SpaceTelescope #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education

Bright Star Clusters Messier 47 & Messier 46: Wide-field view | ESO

Bright Star Clusters Messier 47 & Messier 46: Wide-field view | ESO

This wide-field image shows part of the constellation of Puppis. This region of the sky includes some bright star clusters, chief amongst them Messier 47, in the center, and its contrasting sister cluster Messier 46, near the left-hand edge, which is richer in stars but more distant. This picture was created from images forming part of the Digitized Sky Survey 2.

Distance: ~1,600 light years

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)/Digitized Sky Survey 2

Acknowledgement: Davide De Martin

Releaase Date: Dec. 17, 2014

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #StarClusters #M47 #Messier47 #M46 #Messier46 #Puppis #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Chile #SouthAmerica #Europe #STEM #Education

Zooming in on Star Cluster Messier 47 | ESO

Zooming in on Star Cluster Messier 47 | ESO

This video sequence takes us on a trip to the nearby bright star cluster Messier 47. As we close in, we can also see the contrasting cluster Messier 46, which is richer in stars but more distant. The final close-up view was taken using the Wide Field Imager camera, installed on the MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope at the European Southern Observatory’s La Silla Observatory in Chile. Messier 47 is dominated by a sprinkling of brilliant blue stars, but also contains a few contrasting red giant stars.

Distance: ~1,600 light years

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)/Digitized Sky Survey 2/N. Risinger

Duration: 1 minute

Release Date: Dec. 23, 2014

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #StarClusters #M47 #Messier47 #Puppis #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #MPGESOTelescope #LasSillaObservatory #Chile #SouthAmerica #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Close-up View of Bright Star Cluster Messier 47 in Puppis | ESO

Close-up View of Bright Star Cluster Messier 47 in Puppis | ESO

This close-up video pan sequence gives a detailed look at a spectacular image of the star cluster Messier 47, taken using the Wide Field Imager camera, installed on the MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope at the European Southern Observatory’s La Silla Observatory in Chile. This young open cluster is dominated by a sprinkling of brilliant blue stars but also contains a few contrasting red giant stars.

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Duration: 1 minute

Release Date: Dec. 23, 2014

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #StarClusters #M47 #Messier47 #Puppis #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #MPGESOTelescope #LasSillaObservatory #Chile #SouthAmerica #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

The Star Cluster Messier 47 in Puppis | ESO

The Star Cluster Messier 47 in Puppis | ESO

This spectacular image of the star cluster Messier 47 was taken using the Wide Field Imager camera, installed on the MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope at the European Southern Observatory’s La Silla Observatory in Chile. This young open cluster is dominated by a sprinkling of brilliant blue stars but also contains a few contrasting red giant stars.

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Release Date: Dec. 17, 2014

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #StarClusters #M47 #Messier47 #Puppis #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #MPGESOTelescope #LasSillaObservatory #Chile #SouthAmerica #Europe #STEM #Education

Star Delta Scorpii & Nebulae Sharpless 2-1 and 2-7 | Steward Observatory

Star Delta Scorpii & Nebulae Sharpless 2-1 and 2-7 | Steward Observatory

The Sharpless catalogs, published in 1953 and 1959, contain about 300 objects. Sharpless 2-1 and 2-7, are the subjects of this photo. Sh 2-1, also known as Sharpless 1, is a reflection nebula in the constellation of Scorpius with Pi Scorpii at its center. Sh2-7 is an emission nebula in the Scorpius constellation. This nebula is around the star Delta Scorpii. It lies next to a large reflection nebula, Sh2-1. Delta Scorpii (top left) is a binary star in the constellation of Scorpius. The primary star is named Dschubba.

Astrophotographer Adam Block: "These clouds of amorphous gas are faint, diffuse and rarely have abrupt changes in structure. The bright star near the top left is Delta Scorpii (the southwestern star in the head of Scorpius) and surrounding it are the red glowing clouds of gas that comprise Sh2-7. Near the bottom of the frame is the smaller and brighter cavity of Sh2-1."

Distance: 440 light years

Credit & Copyright: Adam Block/Steward Observatory/University of Arizona

Image Date: April-May 2020

#NASA#Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Star #DeltaScorpii #Dschubba #Nebulae #EmissionNebula #Sh27 #ReflectionNebula #Sh21 #PiScorpii #Scorpius #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #AdamBlock #Astrophotographer #UA #MountLemmonObservatory #SchulmanTelescope #Arizona #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Intergalactic Wanderer: Globular Star Cluster NGC 2419 | Schulman Telescope

Intergalactic Wanderer: Globular Star Cluster NGC 2419 | Schulman Telescope

NGC 2419 (also known as Caldwell 25) is a globular cluster in the constellation Lynx. It was discovered by William Herschel on December 31, 1788. NGC 2419 is at a distance of about 300,000 light years from our solar system and at the same distance from the Galactic Center.

NGC 2419 bears the nickname "the Intergalactic Wanderer," which was bestowed when it was erroneously thought not to be in orbit around the Milky Way. Its orbit takes it further away from the galactic center than the Magellanic Clouds, but it can (with qualifications) be considered as part of the Milky Way. At this great distance it takes three billion years to make one trip around the galaxy.

Technical Details:

Optics: Schulman 32-inch RCOS Telescope

Camera: SBIG STX16803

Image Credit & Copyright: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

Release Date: Sept. 28, 2011

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Stars #StarClusters #GlobularCluster #NGC2419 #Caldwell25 #Lynx #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #AdamBlock #Astrophotographer #UA #MountLemmonObservatory #SchulmanTelescope #Arizona #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

China's Lunar Exploration Milestones in 120 seconds | CGTN

China's Lunar Exploration Milestones in 120 seconds | CGTN

Since its launch in 2004, China's lunar exploration program has made tremendous progress. The Chang'e lunar exploration has seen successful missions in orbiting and landing on the moon as well as in bringing rock samples back to Earth.

Credit: China Global Television Network (CGTN)

Duration: 2 minutes

Release Date: July 20, 2023

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #China #中国 #Earth #Moon #嫦娥 #ChangeMissions #YutuRovers #Change4Mission #Lander #LunarFarSide #LunarSamples #Robotics #CNSA #SpaceTechnology #SpaceEngineering #SpaceExploration #SolarSystem #STEM #Education #History #HD #Video

Sending a Swarm of Small Satellites to Earth Orbit | This Week @NASA

Sending a Swarm of Small Satellites to Earth Orbit | This Week @NASA

Sending a swarm of small satellites into Earth orbit, the first views from our newest storm-watching mission, and making the grade for investing in small business . . . a few of the stories to tell you about—This Week at NASA!

Learn more about NASA's Starling Mission: 

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/small_spacecraft/starling/

Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Video Producer: Andre Valentine

Video Editor: Andre Valentine

Narrator: Andre Valentine

Duration: 2 minutes, 43 seconds

Release Date:  July 21, 2023

#NASA #Space #Satellites #CubeSats #StarlingMission #SwarmTechnologies #SpaceCommunications #SpaceNavigation #Earth #RocketLab #ElectronRocket #CommercialSpace #NASAAmes #ARC #Science #Technology #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Galactic Cirrus Clouds: Mandel Wilson 9

Galactic Cirrus Clouds: Mandel Wilson 9

The combined light of stars along the Milky Way are reflected by these cosmic dust clouds that soar 300 light-years or so above the plane of our galaxy. Known to some as integrated flux nebulae and commonly found at high galactic latitudes, the dusty galactic cirrus clouds are faint. However, they can be traced over large regions of the sky toward the North and South Galactic poles. Along with the reflection of starlight, studies indicate the dust clouds produce a faint reddish luminescence as interstellar dust grains convert invisible ultraviolet radiation to visible red light. 

Also capturing nearby Milky Way stars and distant background galaxies, this remarkably deep, wide-field image explores a complex of faint galactic cirrus known as Mandel Wilson 9. It spans over three degrees across planet Earth's skies toward the far southern constellation Apus.

Image Credit & Copyright: Gabriel Rodrigues Santos

Gabriel's website: https://www.astrobin.com/users/grsotnas/

Release Date: July 21, 2023

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Stars #Galaxies #GalacticCirrusClouds #DustClouds #Apus #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #GabrielRodriguesSantos #Astrophotographer #CitizenScience #Telescope #Brazil #Brasil #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #APoD

Newborn Star V1025 Tauri | Schulman Telescope

Newborn Star V1025 Tauri | Schulman Telescope

Astrophotographer Adam Block: "The brightest star in the center is called a Herbig Ae/Be star. It is captured here in the very earliest stages of stellar evolution as it collapses to become a mature star. Nuclear fusion in its center has started, but the energy output is not yet powerful enough to disperse the natal clouds of dust surrounding it. With wonderful shadow play, these clouds of dust present an intricacy and fragility that is testament to their ephemeral fate. On the time scales of stars this stage is extremely short-lived and few examples look quite like it. It is a mystery as to why these kinds of stars are often born in multiple star systems."

A Herbig Ae/Be star (HAeBe) is a pre-main-sequence star—a young star less than 10 million years old of spectral types A or B. These stars are still embedded in gas-dust envelopes and are sometimes accompanied by circumstellar disks. Hydrogen and calcium emission lines are observed in their spectra. They are typically 2-8 Solar mass objects, still existing in the star formation (gravitational contraction) stage and approaching the main sequence (i.e. they are not burning hydrogen in their center).

Adam Block: "This image, totaling more than 34 hours of exposure time, started from only the hint of something interesting based on available imagery of the region. The Taurus Molecular cloud continues to offer beautiful objects and I consider this image the most interesting one I have taken in years. I didn't know how it would come out since there are no commensurate references to compare it with."

Image Data: 

Optics Schulman 32-inch RCOS Telescope

Camera: SBIG STX16803

Image Credit & Copyright: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

Release Date: Nov. 1, 2015

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Nebulae #ReflectionNebula #Protostars #Star #V1025Tauri #Taurus #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #AdamBlock #Astrophotographer #UA #MountLemmonObservatory #SchulmanTelescope #Arizona #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Stellar Nursery LDN 1768 in Ophiuchus | ESO

Stellar Nursery LDN 1768 in Ophiuchus | ESO

The dark patch snaking across this spectacular image of a field of stars in the constellation of Ophiuchus (The Serpent-bearer) is not quite what it appears to be. Although it looks as if there are no stars here, they are hidden behind this dense cloud of dust that blocks out their light. This particular dark cloud is known as LDN 1768.

Despite their rather dull appearance, dark nebulae like LDN 1768 are of huge interest to astronomers, as it is here that new stars form. Inside these vast stellar nurseries there are protostars—stars at the earliest stage of their lives, still coalescing out of the gas and dust in the cloud.

Protostars are relatively cold and have not yet begun to produce enough energy to emit visible light. Instead, they emit radiation at submillimeter wavelengths, which human eyes cannot see. Luckily, unlike visible light, light at submillimeter wavelengths is not absorbed by the surrounding dust. By using special telescopes that are sensitive to submillimeter radiation, like the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observatory, we can see through the dust and find out more about the protostars within the cloud.

Eventually, the protostars will become dense and hot enough to start the nuclear reactions that will produce visible light and they will start to shine. When this happens, they will blow away the cocoon of dust surrounding them and cause any remaining gas to emit light as well, creating the spectacular light show known as an HII region.

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Release Date: March 21, 2016

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #DarkNebula #StellarNursery #Stars #Protostars #LDN1768 #Ophiuchus #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #MPGESOTelescope #LaSillaObservatory #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education