Panning across Galaxy Cluster SDSS J1226+2152 | Webb Telescope

Panning across Galaxy Cluster SDSS J1226+2152 | Webb Telescope

The vast galaxy cluster SDSS J1226+2152 in the constellation Coma Berenices is distorting the images of distant background galaxies into streaks and smears of light in this image from the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope. This is a spectacular example of gravitational lensing, a phenomenon that occurs when a massive celestial object such as a galaxy cluster deforms spacetime and causes the path of light from more distant galaxies to be deflected, almost as if a monumental lens was redirecting it. This image is from a set of early science observations with Webb.

One of the most notable lensed galaxies in this rich field is named SGAS J12265.3+215220. In this image, it is the innermost lensed galaxy, just above and to the right of the central galaxy. This lies far beyond the foreground cluster in distance, giving us a view into the galaxy roughly two billion years after the big bang. Astronomers are now using this eagerly-awaited hoard of bright, gravitationally-lensed galaxies from Webb to explore star formation in distant galaxies.

Just like their optical namesakes, gravitational lenses can magnify as well as distort distant galaxies. This allows astronomers to observe the finer details of galaxies that would usually be too distant to clearly resolve. In the case of SGAS J122651.3+215220, the combination of gravitational lensing and Webb’s unprecedented observational capabilities will allow astronomers to measure where, and how fast, stars are forming and also to gain an insight into the environments which support star formation in lensed galaxies.

Amid this spectacular display of gravitational lensing, a menagerie of spiral and elliptical galaxies in all shapes and sizes surround the galaxy cluster. Webb’s sensitive infrared instruments have proven prodigious in picking out distant galaxies from the darkness of space. None of the tiny pinpricks in the patch of sky captured here is a star: each one is a galaxy. The variety of colors of the small, dim galaxies gives us hints at what we are seeing: many of the paler white galaxies will date back to the period of intense star formation known as cosmic noon, around two to three billion years after the big bang, while the few small orange and red systems are probably from even earlier in the Universe's history.

Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. Rigby and the JWST Templates team

Release Date: Dec. 19, 2023

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #GalaxyCluster #SDSSJ12262152 #Galaxy #GravitationalLensing #ComaBerenices #Constellation #JamesWebb #SpaceTelescope #JWST #Universe #UnfoldTheUniverse #ESA #Europe #CSA #Canada #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Galaxy Cluster SDSS J1226+2152: A Galactic Gathering | Webb Telescope

Galaxy Cluster SDSS J1226+2152: A Galactic Gathering | Webb Telescope

The vast galaxy cluster SDSS J1226+2152 in the constellation Coma Berenices is distorting the images of distant background galaxies into streaks and smears of light in this image from the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope. This is a spectacular example of gravitational lensing, a phenomenon that occurs when a massive celestial object such as a galaxy cluster deforms spacetime and causes the path of light from more distant galaxies to be deflected, almost as if a monumental lens was redirecting it. This image is from a set of early science observations with Webb.

One of the most notable lensed galaxies in this rich field is named SGAS J12265.3+215220. In this image, it is the innermost lensed galaxy, just above and to the right of the central galaxy. This lies far beyond the foreground cluster in distance, giving us a view into the galaxy roughly two billion years after the big bang. Astronomers are now using this eagerly-awaited hoard of bright, gravitationally-lensed galaxies from Webb to explore star formation in distant galaxies.

Just like their optical namesakes, gravitational lenses can magnify as well as distort distant galaxies. This allows astronomers to observe the finer details of galaxies that would usually be too distant to clearly resolve. In the case of SGAS J122651.3+215220, the combination of gravitational lensing and Webb’s unprecedented observational capabilities will allow astronomers to measure where, and how fast, stars are forming and also to gain an insight into the environments which support star formation in lensed galaxies.

Amid this spectacular display of gravitational lensing, a menagerie of spiral and elliptical galaxies in all shapes and sizes surround the galaxy cluster. Webb’s sensitive infrared instruments have proven prodigious in picking out distant galaxies from the darkness of space. None of the tiny pinpricks in the patch of sky captured here is a star: each one is a galaxy. The variety of colors of the small, dim galaxies gives us hints at what we are seeing: many of the paler white galaxies will date back to the period of intense star formation known as cosmic noon, around two to three billion years after the big bang, while the few small orange and red systems are probably from even earlier in the Universe's history.

Image Description: A cluster of galaxies. Most of the visible galaxies are oval-shaped and smooth. A few have spiral arms in various orientations. The largest galaxy is directly in the center, and close by it are several images of background galaxies, stretched and warped into long arcs by gravitational lensing. The background is black and contains many very small galaxies, but no stars.

Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. Rigby and the JWST TEMPLATES team

Release Date: Dec. 19, 2023

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #GalaxyCluster #SDSSJ12262152 #Galaxy #GravitationalLensing #ComaBerenices #Constellation #JamesWebb #SpaceTelescope #JWST #Cosmos #Universe #UnfoldTheUniverse #ESA #Europe #CSA #Canada #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

The Waning Gibbous Moon above the Swiss Alps | International Space Station

The Waning Gibbous Moon above the Swiss Alps | International Space Station

The waning gibbous Moon is pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 262 miles above the Swiss Alps. The Alpine region of Switzerland, is generally referred to as the Swiss Alps. The Alps cover 60% of Switzerland's total 41,285 square kilometers (15,940 sq mi) surface area, making it one of the most alpine countries. The Swiss Alps has almost all the highest mountains of the Alps, such as Dufourspitze (4,634 m), the Dom (4,545 m), the Liskamm (4,527 m), the Weisshorn (4,506 m) and the Matterhorn (4,478 m). 

Follow Expedition 70 Updates: https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 70 Crew

Station Commander: Andreas Mogensen of the European Space Agency (Denmark)

Roscosmos (Russia): Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub, Konstantin Borisov

JAXA: Flight Engineer Satoshi Furukawa (Japan)

NASA: Jasmin Moghbeli, Loral O'Hara (USA)

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.

Image Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Caption Acknowledgements: JSC, Wikipedia

Image Date: Nov. 30, 2023

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #ISS #Earth #Moon #WaningGibbous #SwissAlps #Switzerland #HumanSpaceflight #Astronauts #JAXA #Japan #日本 #ESA #Europe #UnitedStates #Cosmonauts #Russia #Россия #Роскосмос #MicrogravityResearch #SpaceLaboratory #Expedition70 #InternationalCooperation #STEM #Education

2023: The European Space Agency’s Year in Space

2023: The European Space Agency’s Year in Space

2023’s highlight was the much anticipated launch of Europe’s Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer (Juice). The Juice spacecraft was placed on course to Jupiter on the second-to-last Ariane 5 launch vehicle in April 2023. After an eight-year journey, Juice will begin observing the giant gas planet and its three large ocean-bearing moons—Ganymede, Calisto and Europa.

The Euclid space telescope was launched in July 2023 with the aim of unravelling the enigmas of ‘dark matter’ and ‘dark energy’. Euclid’s first images were released in November, revealing razor-sharp astronomical images with detail never before seen by a telescope across such a large patch of the sky.

After almost five years in space, the European Space Agency’s Aeolus wind mission was retired. This trailblazing mission was tasked with observing wind patterns from space thereby improving weather forecasts and climate models. Aeolus data and technology will have an important role to play in the accuracy of future weather forecasting. On July 28, 2023, it burned up in an assisted re-entry—the first assisted re-entry by a mission which was not designed to do so.

As space debris becomes an increasingly serious issue, the European Space Agency (ESA) is determined to search for solutions. Together with its commercial and institutional partners, ESA has developed the ‘Zero Debris Charter’, launched this year. By signing the Charter, space entities worldwide can register their intent to work together towards the sustainable use of Earth’s orbital environment.

Earlier in in 2023, MTG-I1, the first of the Meteosat Third Generation missions, sent back its first images. The satellite was launched in 2022 and carries two instruments: a flexible combined imager and a lighting imager. Both instruments performed beyond expectation and a stunning combined image from both was revealed.

Earth observation is key to keeping our planet and the population as a whole, safe. Today, monitoring earthquakes, forest fires or flooding from space already helps to coordinate rescue response but the data can also be used to better understand phenomena such as climate change and support the IPCC climate reports.

Last year, NASA’s Dart mission impacted on a small moonlet of the asteroid Didymos, changing its course. We will soon be launching ESA’s Hera spacecraft to collect data on the aftermath of this collision. The Hera spacecraft was integrated and underwent testing this year in ESA ESTEC’s test center in the Netherlands.

2023 also saw the first hardware tests for the second generation of Galileo satellites but even more importantly the Galileo High Accuracy Service was launched in January. This new service delivers centimeter accuracy from space further cementing Galileo’s reputation as the most accurate satellite navigation system in the world.

Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.

Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)

Duration: 8 minutes, 26 seconds

Release Date: Dec. 18, 2023

#NASA #ESA #EuropeanSpaceAgency #Astronomy #Space #Science #Planet #Jupiter #JuiceMission  #DartMission #DidymosAsteroid #EuclidSpaceTelescope #Satellites #Highlights2023 #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Chinese Scientists Planning to Build 3D-Printed Moon Buildings

Chinese Scientists Planning to Build 3D-Printed Moon Buildings

Chinese scientists are exploring the concept of building "egg-shaped" houses made of 3D-printed bricks on its future international lunar research station to offer astronauts a warm and stable living and working environment on the lunar surface.

According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the country plans to carry out lunar exploration in the future Chang'e-6, Chang'e-7 and Chang'e-8 missions during the first phase of construction of the research station. As planned, Chang'e-6 will be launched around 2024 to collect samples from the far side of the moon while Chang'e-7 will be launched around 2026 to carry out a detailed investigation into the environment and resources of the lunar south pole. Chang'e-8 will be launched around 2028 to conduct experiments on lunar resource utilization and to build a basic model of the International Lunar Research Station.

A blueprint for the station is taking shape at the National Center of Technology Innovation for Digital Construction in central China's Hubei Province. The innovative egg-shaped buildings named "Yuehuzun", or Moon Pot Vessel, designed by the Chinese scientists here are expected to host important space experiments in the long run.

The novel two-story structure features a design devoid of load-bearing beams or columns. At the apex of the "egg" structure sits a dome, while the "eggshell" body itself is divided into internal and external layers, between which a layer of ribbed structure is incorporated to enhance stability.

Credit: CCTV Video News Agency

Duration: 1 minute, 51 seconds

Release Date: Dec. 16, 2023

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #China #中国 #Earth #Moon #AdditiveManufacturing #3DPrinting #MaterialsScience #LunarConstruction #LunarModel #ExtremeEnvironments #Robotics #CNSA #HumanSpaceflight #CMSA #LunarResearch #SpaceTechnology #SpaceEngineering  #STEM #Education #Animation #HD #Video

Planet Uranus: Wide & Close-up Views | James Webb Space Telescope

Planet Uranus: Wide & Close-up Views | James Webb Space Telescope

This image of Uranus from the near-infrared camera (NIRCam) on the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope shows the planet and its rings in new clarity. The planet’s seasonal north polar cap gleams in a bright white, and Webb’s exquisite sensitivity resolves Uranus’ dim inner and outer rings, including the Zeta ring—the extremely faint and diffuse ring closest to the planet.

This Webb image also shows 14 of the planet’s 27 moons: Oberon, Titania, Umbriel, Juliet, Perdita, Rosalind, Puck, Belinda, Desdemona, Cressida, Ariel, Miranda, Bianca, and Portia.

One day on Uranus is about 17 hours, so the planet’s rotation is relatively quick. This makes it supremely difficult for observatories with a sharp eye like Webb to capture one simple image of the entire planet—storms and other atmospheric features, and the planet’s moons, move visibly within minutes. This image combines several longer and shorter exposures of this dynamic system to correct for those slight changes throughout the observing time.

Webb’s extreme sensitivity also picks up a smattering of background galaxies—most appear as orange smudges, and there are two larger, fuzzy white galaxies to the right of the planet in this field of view.

Credit: NASA, European Space Agency (ESA), Canadian Space Agency (CSA), STScI, N. Bartmann (ESA/Webb)  

Duration: 30 seconds

Release Date: Dec. 18, 2023

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #SolarSystem #Planets #Planet #Uranus #Rings #Moons #JamesWebb #WebbTelescope #JWST #InfraredTelescope #Cosmos #Universe #UnfoldTheUniverse #ESA #Europe #CSA #Canada #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Planet Uranus | James Webb Space Telescope

Planet Uranus | James Webb Space Telescope

This image of Uranus from the near-infrared camera (NIRCam) on the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope shows the planet and its rings in new clarity. The planet’s seasonal north polar cap gleams in a bright white, and Webb’s exquisite sensitivity resolves Uranus’ dim inner and outer rings, including the Zeta ring—the extremely faint and diffuse ring closest to the planet.

This Webb image also shows 14 of the planet’s 27 moons: Oberon, Titania, Umbriel, Juliet, Perdita, Rosalind, Puck, Belinda, Desdemona, Cressida, Ariel, Miranda, Bianca, and Portia.

One day on Uranus is about 17 hours, so the planet’s rotation is relatively quick. This makes it supremely difficult for observatories with a sharp eye like Webb to capture one simple image of the entire planet—storms and other atmospheric features, and the planet’s moons, move visibly within minutes. This image combines several longer and shorter exposures of this dynamic system to correct for those slight changes throughout the observing time.

Webb’s extreme sensitivity also picks up a smattering of background galaxies—most appear as orange smudges, and there are two larger, fuzzy white galaxies to the right of the planet in this field of view.

Credit: NASA, European Space Agency (ESA), Canadian Space Agency (CSA), STScI, N. Bartmann (ESA/Webb)  

Duration: 30 seconds

Release Date: Dec. 18, 2023

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #SolarSystem #Planets #Planet #Uranus #Rings #Moons #JamesWebb #WebbTelescope #JWST #InfraredTelescope #Cosmos #Universe #UnfoldTheUniverse #ESA #Europe #CSA #Canada #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Spiral Galaxy MCG-01-24-014 in Hydra | Hubble

Spiral Galaxy MCG-01-24-014 in Hydra | Hubble

This whirling image features a bright spiral galaxy known as MCG-01-24-014. It is located about 275 million light-years from Earth. In addition to being a well-defined spiral galaxy, MCG-01-24-014 has an extremely energetic core, known as an active galactic nucleus (AGN), so it is referred to as an active galaxy. Even more specifically, it is categorized as a Type-2 Seyfert galaxy. Seyfert galaxies host one of the most common subclasses of AGN, alongside quasars. While the precise categorization of AGNs is nuanced, Seyfert galaxies tend to be relatively nearby ones where the host galaxy remains plainly detectable alongside its central AGN, while quasars are invariably very distant AGNs whose incredible luminosities outshine their host galaxies.

Image Description: A spiral galaxy. It appears to be almost circular and seen face-on, with two prominent spiral arms winding out from a glowing core. It is centered in the frame as if a portrait. Most of the background is black, with only tiny, distant galaxies, but there are two large bright stars in the foreground, one blue and one red, directly above the galaxy.

There are further subclasses of both Seyfert galaxies and quasars. In the case of Seyfert galaxies, the predominant subcategories are Type-1 and Type-2. These are differentiated from one another by their spectra—the pattern that results when light is split into its constituent wavelengths—where the spectral lines that Type-2 Seyfert galaxies emit are particularly associated with specific so-called ‘forbidden’ emission. To understand why emitted light from a galaxy could be considered forbidden, it helps to understand why spectra exist in the first place. Spectra look the way they do because certain atoms and molecules will absorb and emit light very reliably at very specific wavelengths. The reason for this is quantum physics: electrons (the tiny particles that orbit the nuclei of atoms and molecules) can only exist at very specific energies, and therefore electrons can only lose or gain very specific amounts of energy. These very specific amounts of energy correspond to certain light wavelengths being absorbed or emitted.

Forbidden emission lines, therefore, are spectral emission lines that should not exist according to certain rules of quantum physics. Nevertheless, quantum physics is complex, and the rules adopted to predict it use assumptions that suit laboratory conditions here on Earth. Under those rules, this emission is ‘forbidden’—so improbable that it’s disregarded. However, in space, in the midst of an incredibly energetic galactic core, those assumptions do not hold anymore, and the ‘forbidden’ light gets a chance to shine out towards us.

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, C. Kilpatrick

Release Date: Dec. 18, 2023

#NASA #ESA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #Galaxy #MCG0124014 #SeyfertGalaxy #AGN #Hydra #Constellation #Cosmos #Universe #HST #HubbleSpaceTelescope #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education

'The Moon God Awakens' Launch: Japanese Earth Imaging Satellite | Rocket Lab

'The Moon God Awakens' Launch: Japanese Earth Imaging Satellite | Rocket Lab

iQPS Tsukuyomi I satellite in orbit

iQPS Tsukuyomi I satellite payload integration

Rocket Lab successfully launched its 42nd mission, 'The Moon God Awakens', on an Electron rocket for Japan-based company iQPS at 17:05 NZDT, December 15, 2023, from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. The mission was Rocket Lab’s 10th Electron launch for the year, surpassing its previous annual record of nine launches in 2022. 

Learn more about Rocket Lab: 

https://www.rocketlabusa.com

Learn more about iQPS: https://i-qps.net/en/

Image Credit: Rocket Lab

Image Date: Dec. 15, 2023

#NASA #Space #Satellites #Earth #RocketLab #ElectronRocket #RocketLaunch #TheMoonGodAwakens #iQPS #Japan #日本 #NewZealand #MahiaPeninsula #CommercialSpace #RemoteSensing #EarthObservation #PeterBeck #STEM #Education

3D Visualization of Variable Star RS Puppis (Artist's Impression)

3D Visualization of Variable Star RS Puppis (Artist's Impression)

This 3D visualization shows Hubble observations of variable star RS Puppis. A stunning example of a phenomenon known as a light echo can be seen around the star, creating the illusion of gas clouds expanding out from RS Puppis.

Credit: NASA, European Space Agency, M. Kornmesser

Duration: 21 seconds

Release Date: Dec. 17, 2013

#NASA #ESA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Hubble #Star #CepheidVariableStar #Puppis #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #HST #SpaceTelescope #STScI #GSFC #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #Art #3D #Visualization #HD #Video

Visible Light Echoes around Variable Star RS Puppis Explained | Hubble

Visible Light Echoes around Variable Star RS Puppis Explained | Hubble

Hubblecast 71: This episode of the Hubblecast explores striking new Hubble observations of a variable star known as RS Puppis. This star is growing brighter and dimmer as it pulsates over a period of five weeks. These pulsations have created a stunning example of a phenomenon known as a light echo, where light appears to reverberate through the foggy environment around the star.

Distance: 6,500 light years

Credit: European Space Agency/Hubble

Directed by: Nicola Guttridge

Visual design and editing: Martin Kornmesser

Written by: Nicola Guttridge & Georgia Bladon

Presented by: Joe Liske (Dr J)

Narration: Sara Mendes da Costa

Images: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-Hubble/Europe Collaboration

Acknowledgment: H. Bond (STScI and Penn State University)

View of Milky Way: Nick Risinger

Videos: ESA/Hubble (M. Kornmesser, L. Calçada), G. Bacon (STScI)

Cinematography: Peter Rixner

Executive producer: Lars Lindberg Christensen

Duration: 5 minutes

Release Date: Dec. 17, 2013

#NASA #ESA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Hubble #Star #CepheidVariableStar #Puppis #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #HST #SpaceTelescope #STScI #GSFC #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Zooming in on Variable Star RS Puppis | Hubble

Zooming in on Variable Star RS Puppis | Hubble

This video zooms in on the variable star RS Puppis. The sequence begins with a view of the night sky near the southern constellation of Puppis. It then zooms through observations from the Digitized Sky Survey 2, and ends with a view of the star as obtained by Hubble. 

RS Puppis is unusual. This variable star is shrouded by thick, dark clouds of dust enabling a phenomenon known as a light echo to be shown with stunning clarity.

Distance: 6,500 light years

Video Credit: NASA, European Space Agency, Digitized Sky Survey 2, Nick Risinger

Duration: 1 minute

Release Date: Dec. 17, 2013

#NASA #ESA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Hubble #Star #CepheidVariableStar #Puppis #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #HST #SpaceTelescope #STScI #GSFC #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Panning across Variable Star RS Puppis | Hubble

Panning across Variable Star RS Puppis | Hubble

This video pans across Hubble observations of variable star RS Puppis. These observations show the ethereal object embedded in its dusty environment, set against a dark sky filled with background galaxies. RS Puppis is unusual. This variable star is shrouded by thick, dark clouds of dust enabling a phenomenon known as a light echo to be shown with stunning clarity.

Distance: 6,500 light years

Credit: NASA, European Space Agency, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration, and H. Bond (STScI and Pennsylvania State University)

Duration: 1 minute

Release Date: Dec. 17, 2013

#NASA #ESA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Hubble #Star #CepheidVariableStar #Puppis #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #HST #SpaceTelescope #STScI #GSFC #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Variable Star RS Puppis | Hubble Space Telescope

Variable Star RS Puppis | Hubble Space Telescope

This Hubble image shows RS Puppis, a type of variable star known as a Cepheid variable. As variable stars go, Cepheids have comparatively long periods—RS Puppis, for example, varies in brightness by almost a factor of five every 40 or so days.

Distance: 6,500 light years

RS Puppis is unusual. This variable star is shrouded by thick, dark clouds of dust enabling a phenomenon known as a light echo to be shown with stunning clarity.

These Hubble observations show the ethereal object embedded in its dusty environment, set against a dark sky filled with background galaxies.

Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-Hubble/Europe Collaboration

Acknowledgment: H. Bond (STScI and Penn State University)

Release Date: Dec. 17, 2013

#NASA #ESA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Hubble #Nebulae #Stars #Star #CepheidVariableStar #LightEcho #Dust #Nebula #Puppis #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #HST #SpaceTelescope #STScI #GSFC #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education

Cepheid Variable Star RS Puppis | Hubble’s Inside The Image | NASA Goddard

Cepheid Variable Star RS Puppis | Hubble’s Inside The Image | NASA Goddard

The Hubble Space Telescope has taken over 1.5 million observations over the years. One of them is the incredible image of RS Puppis.

RS Puppis is a remarkable and highly luminous Cepheid variable star located in the constellation Puppis, known for its regular pulsations and dramatic changes in brightness.

In this video, Dr. Padi Boyd explains this breathtaking image and how important Hubble is to exploring the mysteries of the universe.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

Producer, Director & Editor: James Leigh

Director of Photography: James Ball

Executive Producers: James Leigh & Matthew Duncan

Production & Post: Origin Films 

Video Credits:

Hubble Space Telescope Animation

ESA/Hubble (M. Kornmesser & L. L. Christensen) 

Duration: 4 minutes

Release Dates: Dec. 17, 2023

#NASA #ESA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Hubble #Star #CepheidVariableStar #Puppis #Constellation #Cosmos #Universe #HST #SpaceTelescope #STScI #GSFC #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Fireball over Pennsylvania | Geminid Meteor Shower 2023

Fireball over Pennsylvania | Geminid Meteor Shower 2023

Astrophotographer Tom Wildoner: "Snagged this beauty early in the morning on December 16, 2023 while testing a ZWO ASI071MC and Samyang Lens. You can still capture some Geminid meteors before and after the peak dates."

Every December we have a chance to see one of our favorite meteor showers—the Geminids. All meteors appear to come from the same place in the sky called the radiant. The Geminids appear to radiate from a point in the constellation Gemini, hence the name “Geminids.”

The Geminids are typically rich in green-colored fireballs like this one!

The Geminids are caused by debris from a celestial object known as 3200 Phaethon, whose origin is the subject of debate. A number of astronomers consider it to be an extinct comet, based on observations showing a small amount of material leaving Phaethon’s surface. Others argue that it has to be an asteroid because of its orbit and its similarity to the main-belt asteroid Pallas.

Whatever the nature of Phaethon, observations show that the Geminids are denser than meteors belonging to other showers, enabling them to get as low as 29 miles above Earth’s surface before burning up. Meteors belonging to other showers, like the Perseids, burn up much higher.

The Geminids can be seen by most of the world. Yet, it is best viewed by observers in the Northern Hemisphere. As you enter the Southern Hemisphere and move towards the South Pole, the altitude of the Geminid radiant—the celestial point in the sky where the Geminid meteors appear to originate—gets lower and lower above the horizon. Thus, observers in these locations see fewer Geminids than their northern counterparts.

Besides the weather, the phase of the Moon is a major factor in determining whether a meteor shower will have good rates during any given year.

Meteors can be colorful. While the human eye usually cannot discern many colors, cameras often can. Colors in meteors usually originate from ionized chemical elements released as the meteor disintegrates. Blue-green colors typically originate from magnesium, calcium radiates violet, and nickel glows green. Red, however, typically originates from energized nitrogen and oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere. This bright meteoric fireball was gone in a flash—less than a second—but it left a wind-blown ionization trail that remained visible.

Learn more about meteors and meteorites:

https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/

Image Technical Specs: ZWO ASI071MC Camera (not cooled), Samyang Lens f/2.8, 45-second exposure, tripod mounted, unguided, using AllSkEye software

Image Credit: Tom Wildoner

Tom's website: https://sites.google.com/view/thedarksideobservatory

Location: near Weatherly, Pennsylvania, United States

Image Date: Dec. 16, 2023

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Planet #Earth #Atmosphere #Meteors #Bolides #Fireballs #Astrophotography #TomWildoner #Astrophotographer #CitizenScience #SolarSystem #Pennsylvania #UnitedStates #NorthernHemisphere #STEM #Education