Wednesday, February 01, 2023

First Kilonova Progenitor System Identified | NOIRLab

First Kilonova Progenitor System Identified | NOIRLab

Cosmoview Episode 61: Astronomers using data from the SMARTS 1.5-meter Telescope at  the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), a Program of the National Science Foundation's NOIRLab, have made the first confirmed detection of a star system that will one day form a kilonova—the ultra-powerful, gold-producing explosion created by merging neutron stars. These systems are so phenomenally rare that only about ten such systems are thought to exist in the entire Milky Way.

This unusual system, known as CPD-29 2176, is located about 11,400 light-years from Earth. It was first identified by NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. Later observations with the SMARTS 1.5-meter Telescope allowed astronomers to deduce the orbital characteristics and types of stars that make up this system—a neutron star created by an ultra-stripped supernova and a closely orbiting massive star that is in the process of becoming an ultra-stripped supernova itself.

An ultra-stripped supernova is the end-of-life explosion of a massive star that has had much of its outer atmosphere stripped away by a companion star. This class of supernova lacks the explosive force of a traditional supernova, which would otherwise “kick” a nearby companion star out of the system. 


Credits:

Images and Videos: CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA, Fermilab, T. Puzia (PUC), J. da Silva/Spaceengine/M. Zamani, P. Marenfeld, N. Bartmann  

Duration: 1 minute, 28 seconds

Release Date: Feb. 1, 2023


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #StarSystem #CPD292176 #Kilonova #NeutronStars #Cosmos #Universe #SMARTS #Telescope #Observatory #NOIRLab #AURA #NSF #CTIO #Chile #SouthAmerica #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA's Orion Spacecraft Breaks Records on Artemis I Moon Mission

NASA's Orion Spacecraft Breaks Records on Artemis I Moon Mission

On Nov. 16, 2022, NASA's Orion spacecraft left Earth for a record-breaking mission—Artemis I. Over the course of 25.5 days, Orion performed two lunar flybys, coming within 80 miles of the lunar surface. At its farthest distance during the mission, Orion traveled nearly 270,000 miles from our home planet, more than 1,000 times farther than where the International Space Station orbits Earth, to intentionally stress systems before flying crew on Artemis II.

During the flight test, Orion stayed in space longer than any spacecraft designed for astronauts has done without docking to a space station. While in a distant lunar orbit, Orion surpassed the record for distance traveled by a spacecraft designed to carry humans, previously set during Apollo 13.

Upon re-entry, Orion performed a skip entry technique that enables the spacecraft to splashdown accurately and consistently at the selected landing site. The spacecraft endured temperatures about half as hot as the surface of the Sun at about 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Within about 20 minutes, Orion slowed from nearly 25,000 mph to about 16 mph for its 11 parachute-assisted splashdown on Dec. 11.


Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Duration: 3 minutes, 18 seconds

Release Date: Feb. 1, 2023


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

NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 Astronauts Awarded Congressional Space Medals of Honor

NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 Astronauts Awarded Congressional Space Medals of Honor

On Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, Vice President Kamala Harris awarded former NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. Hurley and Behnken received the award for bravery in NASA’s SpaceX Demonstration Mission-2 (Demo-2) to the International Space Station in 2020.

NASA's Commercial Crew Program began a new era of human spaceflight as American astronauts launched from American soil on an American rocket to the International Space Station. Behnken and Hurley flew on SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, which lifted off on a Falcon 9 rocket on May 30, 2020, from Launch Complex 39A in Florida. This mission was the final flight test for SpaceX, validating the company's crew transportation system, including the launch pad, rocket, spacecraft, and operational capabilities.

Once in orbit, Behnken and Hurley were welcomed aboard the ISS, and became members of the Expedition 63 crew. They performed tests on Crew Dragon in addition to conducting research and other tasks with the space station crew. Upon conclusion of the mission, the Crew Dragon autonomously undocked, re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and splashed down just off Florida's Atlantic Coast. 

Demo-2 was the final step before NASA's Commercial Crew Program certified Crew Dragon for operational, long-duration missions to the space station, enabling NASA to continue important research and technology investigations onboard the station.

To learn more about NASA’s Commercial Crew Program visit: 

https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/crew/index.html


Credit: NASA

Duration: 2 minutes

Release Date: Jan. 31, 2023


#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #ISS #SpaceX #Astronauts #DouglasHurley #RobertBehnken #HumanSpaceflight #Expedition63 #ElonMusk #CrewDragon #CommercialCrew #LaunchAmerica #Technology #Engineering #KSC #Spaceport #Florida #UnitedStates #History #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

What's Up for February 2023 | Skywatching Tips from NASA

What's Up for February 2023 | Skywatching Tips from NASA

What are some skywatching highlights in February 2023?

See Jupiter and Venus appear nearer each night, as they head for a close conjunction at the start of March. Use bright stars Capella and Elnath to identify the constellation Auriga, and then find your way to two distant star clusters using Sirius as a guidepost.

0:00 Intro

0:12 Moon & planet highlights

0:47 The constellation Auriga

1:52 Easy-to-find star clusters

3:10 February Moon phases


Skywatching resources from NASA: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatching

NASA's Night Sky Network: https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/


Credit: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

Duration: 3 minutes, 32 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 31, 2023

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Skywatching #Earth #Moon #Planets #Venus #Jupiter #Saturn #SolarSystem #Stars #Capella #Elnath #Auriga #StarClusters #Sirius #Constellations #MilkyWayGalaxy #JPL #California #Skywatching #UnitedStates #Canada #Mexico #NorthernHemisphere #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Astra Rocket Launch System 2: First Stage Engine, Mission Duty Cycle Test

Astra Rocket Launch System 2: First Stage Engine, Mission Duty Cycle Test

Footage of a recently completed mission duty cycle (MDC) of a Rocket 4 first stage engine. An MDC is a major engine development milestone for testing hardware reliability. 

"Astra’s mission is to improve life on Earth from space by creating a healthier and more connected planet. Today, Astra offers one of the lowest cost-per-launch dedicated orbital launch services of any operational launch provider in the world, and one of the industry’s first flight-proven electric propulsion systems for satellites, Astra Spacecraft Engine."

"Astra delivered its first commercial launch to low Earth orbit in 2021, making it the fastest company in history to reach this milestone, just five years after it was founded in 2016." 

Visit Astra.com to learn more.


Credit: Astra

Duration: 3 minutes, 11 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 31, 2023


#NASA #Astra #Space #Astronomy #Earth #Satellites #LEO #CommercialSpace #Astra #Rocket #RocketEngine #TestFiring #MDC #Rocket4 #Spacecraft #Technology #Engineering #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

New 2023 Mars Images | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers | JPL

New 2023 Mars Images | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers | JPL


Mars2020 - sol 690 - Mastcam-Z


MSL - sol 3724 - Mastcam


MSL - sol 3725 - Mastcam


MSL - sol 3725 - MAHLI


MSL - sol 3725 - MAHLI


MSL - sol 3725 - Mastcam


Mars2020 - sol 689 - SuperCam


MSL - sol 3723 - Mastcam

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

Celebrating 10 Years+ on Mars! (2012-2023)

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.

Mars Helicopter (Ingenuity)

Launch: July 30, 2020    

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


Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

Processing: Kevin M. Gill

Image Release Dates: Jan. 22-26, 2023


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

A Spiral Galaxy Amongst Thousands: LEDA 2046648 | James Webb Space Telescope

A Spiral Galaxy Amongst Thousands: LEDA 2046648 | James Webb Space Telescope

This video highlights the field of stars and galaxies surrounding the spiral galaxy LEDA 2046648. Webb’s NIRCam instrument has picked out a profusion of smaller, more distant galaxies and bright stars around this galaxy, demonstrating the telescope’s impressive resolution in infrared wavelengths. Calibration images such as this one were critical to verify the telescope’s capabilities as it was prepared for science operations, and this one does not disappoint.

Image Description: Many stars and galaxies lie on a dark background, in a variety of colors but mostly shades of orange. Some galaxies are large enough to make out spiral arms. Along the bottom of the frame is a large, detailed spiral galaxy seen at an oblique angle, with another galaxy about one-quarter the size just beneath it. Both have a brightly glowing core, and areas of star formation which light up their spiral arms.


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

Duration: 30 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 31, 2023


#NASA #JamesWebbSpaceTelescope #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxy #LEDA2046648 #Hercules #Constellation #Galaxies #Cosmos #Universe #JWST #SpaceTelescope #ESA #Europe #CSA #Canada #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

A Spiral Galaxy Amongst Thousands: LEDA 2046648 | James Webb Space Telescope

A Spiral Galaxy Amongst Thousands: LEDA 2046648 | James Webb Space Telescope

A crowded field of galaxies throngs this image from the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope, along with bright stars crowned with Webb’s signature six-pointed diffraction spikes. The large spiral galaxy at the base of this image is accompanied by a profusion of smaller, more distant galaxies which range from fully-fledged spirals to mere bright smudges. Named LEDA 2046648, it is situated a little over a billion light-years from Earth, in the constellation Hercules.

Image Description: Many stars and galaxies lie on a dark background, in a variety of colors but mostly shades of orange. Some galaxies are large enough to make out spiral arms. Along the bottom of the frame is a large, detailed spiral galaxy seen at an oblique angle, with another galaxy about one-quarter the size just beneath it. Both have a brightly glowing core, and areas of star formation which light up their spiral arms.

One of Webb’s principle science goals is to observe distant—and hence ancient—galaxies to understand the details of their formation, evolution, and composition. Webb’s keen infrared vision helps the telescope peer back in time, as the light from older, more distant galaxies is redshifted towards infrared wavelengths. Comparing these galactic fossils to modern galaxies will help astronomers understand how galaxies grew to form the structures we see in the universe today. Webb will also probe the chemical composition of thousands of galaxies to shed light on how heavy elements were formed and built up as galaxies evolved. 

To take full advantage of Webb’s potential for galaxy archeology, astronomers and engineers must first calibrate the telescope’s instruments and systems. Each of Webb’s instruments contains a labyrinthine array of mirrors and other optical elements that redirect and focus starlight gathered by Webb’s main mirror. 

This particular observation was part of the commissioning campaign for Webb’s Near-InfraRed Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS). As well as performing science in its own right, NIRISS supports parallel observations with Webb’s Near-InfraRed Camera (NIRCam). NIRCam captured this galaxy-studded image while NIRISS was observing the white dwarf WD1657+343, a well-studied star. This allows astronomers to interpret and compare data from the two different instruments, and to characterise the performance of NIRISS.


Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)/Webb, NASA & Canadian Space Agency (CSA), A. Martel

Release Date: Jan. 31, 2023


#NASA #JamesWebbSpaceTelescope #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxy #LEDA2046648 #Hercules #Constellation #Galaxies #Cosmos #Universe #JWST #SpaceTelescope #ESA #Europe #CSA #Canada #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Phathom Donald: Hubble Space Telescope Mission Engineer | NASA Goddard

Phathom Donald: Hubble Space Telescope Mission Engineer | NASA Goddard


Phathom Donald Brings Space Closer as a Hubble Mission Engineer

“I'm always proud every time I see a new picture taken by Hubble," said Phathom Donald, a satellite systems engineer for the Hubble Space Telescope. "It feels like an accomplishment and an honor even to be part of a mission that brings those images to people on Earth.”

Name: Phathom Donald

Title: Mission Engineer

Formal Job Classification: Satellite Systems Engineer

Organization: Astrophysics Project Division, Hubble Space Telescope Operations Project

What do you do and what is most interesting about your role here at Goddard? How do you help support Goddard’s mission?

As a member of the flight operations team for the Hubble Space Telescope, I monitor and evaluate the performance of Hubble's subsystems through its telemetry. I send commands to Hubble as needed for routine maintenance, maintaining communication with the spacecraft, and recovery from onboard anomalies. I also support ground system maintenance to ensure that operations run smoothly and uninterrupted.

On the flight software team, I build and run simulations to verify flight software changes before they're installed onto Hubble. Just like how your laptop or your smartphone gets regular updates to add new features or to fix bugs, Hubble gets flight software updates for added capabilities and to address new issues.

Being a flight controller was a dream of mine, so being able to command a spacecraft has been really exciting. I also really enjoy coding, and it's been interesting seeing how all these critical and complicated activities happen at the same time. I think the work I do outside of my flight controller role has helped me become a better flight controller, because I have a better idea of what's happening behind the scenes—things feel a bit more intuitive to me.


How did you find your path to Goddard?

During undergrad, I was on a path to become a power systems engineer. But one day in my senior design class, our professor invited the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) project manager at the time to speak to our class about systems engineering and its applications to the mission. Within five minutes of this presentation, I was on the verge of tears. This presentation alone changed the course of my career because it reminded me that I love the stars and I love space. More importantly, it made me feel like a career at NASA was actually possible.

So, I emailed the speaker and asked him for advice, and he responded with excellent guidance and encouragement. I saved that email and essentially used it as a career guide. After graduating, I worked for a NASA contractor first as a quality engineer, then as a model-based systems engineer. While I was in that role, I pursued my master’s, and about a month after graduating, I saw the job posting for Hubble's flight operations team at Goddard. After a year or so of settling in, I reached out to that same speaker and I let him know I took his advice, I made it to NASA, and that I couldn't be more grateful for his help. He responded beautifully, saying that he was humbled to have played any role in me getting to where I wanted to be.


What first sparked your interest in space?

My dad used to take my brothers and me to the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles all the time. I loved going to those shows in the planetarium and just feeling engrossed in what they were teaching. I'd always wanted to take an astronomy class, but I didn’t get the chance until my last year of undergrad. I'm so glad I did; it just reaffirmed that space is for me.


What is your educational background?

I graduated from Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 2014 with a bachelor's in electrical engineering. I also have a master's in space systems engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. Right now, I'm pursuing a graduate certificate in control systems from the University of Michigan at Dearborn to prepare for a role supporting Hubble's pointing and control subsystems. After I'm done, I plan to pursue a graduate certificate in aerospace for that same reason; I want to pick up and hone skills in order to maximize my contributions to Hubble.


How do you keep a cool head when you have a mission-critical situation?

I think I'm generally a pretty calm person, but in moments where Hubble's mission is at risk, I tend to focus on what is in my power to get done. So I'll look at the situation and think, “OK, what can we do to either fix or mitigate this problem?” And I do what I can with care, I communicate clearly with those I'm working with, and I trust the abilities of my colleagues. I work with really brilliant, dedicated people who love what they do, so I know that they're going to do what’s best for the mission.


What is your proudest accomplishment at Goddard?

To be honest, I'm always proud every time I see a new picture taken by Hubble, especially after we've recovered it from an anomaly. It feels like an accomplishment and an honor even to be part of a mission that brings those images to people on Earth.


Who are your science role models, and how have they shaped your career in science?

Katherine Johnson: she was an African American mathematician who was pivotal in the success of the early human spaceflight missions carried out by NASA. Her complex trajectory calculations got the first man into space and back unharmed. I also admire Dr. Sian Proctor: she was the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft.

As a minority, it can be easy to feel like an outlier in the space industry. Seeing people like Katherine and Dr. Proctor succeed and excel in these fields adds a bit of comfort. They show me that these technically demanding roles are attainable.


How do you like to spend your time outside of work? What are your hobbies?

I spend a lot of time with my tiny dog, Chara. I named her after a yellow star in the Hunting Dogs constellation. Chara is Greek for “joy,” and to say she brings me joy would be an understatement.

I actually have a new obsession with snorkeling and freediving. I went snorkeling for the first time in early 2021 and it completely changed my life. Before snorkeling, I was terrified of water. After snorkeling, I wanted to be a fish. I just love the freedom that comes with the lack of equipment. I love the peace that I feel underwater.


What is your “six-word memoir”? A six-word memoir describes something in just six words.

“The stars are not too far.”


What is some advice you would give your 10-year-old self?

You are capable of more than you know, more than what people might try to make you believe. Do what makes you feel fulfilled and define your own success. Your passion is your strength.


Conversations With Goddard is a collection of Q&A profiles highlighting the breadth and depth of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s talented and diverse workforce. The Conversations have been published twice a month on average since May 2011. Read past editions on Goddard’s “Our People” webpage: 

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/about/people/index.html


Image Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Rob Andreoli

Location: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, United States

Story Credit: Hannah Richter

Release Date: Jan. 31, 2023


#NASA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #MissionEngineer #SatelliteSystemsEngineer #PhathomDonald #Leader #AfricanAmerican #BlackEngineer #HowardUniversity #Cosmos #Universe #HST #SpaceTelescope #Satellite  #STScI #GSFC #GoddardSpaceFlightCenter #Greenbelt #Maryland #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

A Martian Sunrise | NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover

A Martian Sunrise | NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover


Photo captured by NASA's Perseverance Mars rover on sol 691 (January 29, 2023) at 06:13:52 Local Mean Solar Time (LMST) using the left NavCam.

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

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.

Mars Helicopter (Ingenuity)

Launch: July 30, 2020    

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

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/PipploIMP

Image Date: Jan. 29, 2023

Release Date: Feb. 1, 2023


#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Mars #RedPlanet #Planet #Sunrise #Astrobiology #Geology #PerseveranceRover #Mars2020 #JezeroCrater #Robotics #Technology #Engineering #JPL #UnitedStates #MoonToMars #CitizenScience #PipploIMP #STEM #Education

Monday, January 30, 2023

Working at China's Beijing Aerospace Control Center | CGTN

Working at China's Beijing Aerospace Control Center | CGTN

The Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC) has released a trailer about the work of its scientists. It comes after 22 consecutive successes in key Chinese space missions, including the construction of the China Space Station, the Chang'e 4 lunar probe's landing on the dark side of the moon, the Chang'e 5 lunar sample-return, and the dispatch of the Tianwen 1 robotic spacecraft and Zhurong rover to Mars.

The Beiijing Aerospace Command and Control Center (Chinese: 北京航天指挥控制中心) is a command center for the Chinese space program. This includes the Shenzhou crewed missions to the China Space Station. The BACC is located in a suburb northwest of Beijing under the administration of Haidian District.


Credit: China Global Television Network (CGTN)

Duration: 5 minutes, 32 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 30, 2023

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #China #中国 #BeijingAerospaceControlCenter #BACC #北京航天指挥控制中心 #CNSA #CMSA #国家航天局 #Technology #Engineering #Rockets #LongMarch5 #Spacecraft #Robotics #Rovers #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Tonight’s Sky: February 2023 (Northern Hemisphere)

Tonight’s Sky: February 2023  (Northern Hemisphere)

In February 2023, the Winter Triangle is your guide to the night sky: The northern hemisphere is treated to views of the stars Procyon, Sirius, and Betelgeuse. Keep watching for the awe-inspiring space-based views of the Orion Nebula, which is sculpted by the stellar winds of central bright stars.

About this Series

“Tonight’s Sky” is a monthly video of constellations you can observe in the night sky. The series is produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute, home of science operations for the Hubble Space Telescope, in partnership with NASA’s Universe of Learning. 

This product is based on work supported by NASA under award numbers NNX16AC65A to the Space Telescope Science Institute, working in partnership with Caltech/IPAC, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and Sonoma State University. 


Credit: Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)

Duration: 5 minutes, 32 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 30, 2023


#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Earth #Planets #SolarSystem #WinterTriangle #Stars #Procyon #Sirius #Betelgeuse #Constellations #Nebula #OrionNebula #MilkyWayGalaxy #Skywatching #STScI #UnitedStates #Canada #Mexico #NorthernHemisphere #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Pillar of Sunlight over ALMA in Chile | ESO

Pillar of Sunlight over ALMA in Chile | ESO


This image is dominated by a large sky filled with blue, purple, and red clouds. Beneath them is one of ALMA’s antennae, which is pointing directly upwards and appears to be illuminated by a beam of red light.

This Picture of the Week shows the grand skies of the Chajnantor plateau in the Chilean Atacama desert. The rare sight of clouds in this typically dry and arid region creates a dramatic display of reds and blues, as well as a sun pillar––an optical phenomenon caused by ice crystals in the atmosphere––that emanates from the Sun in line with a telescope. This large antenna is a part of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), which is co-owned by the European Southern Observatory (ESO).

ALMA is one of the most powerful observatories in the world for radio astronomy. Its collection of 66 antennae—like the one pictured above—has been responsible for many incredible ground-breaking discoveries, including contributing to the creation of the first image of a black hole.


Credit: C. Duran /European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Release Date: Jan. 30, 2023


#NASA #ESO #ALMA #Astronomy #RadioAstronomy #Space #Science #Sun #Earth #Atmosphere #SunPillar #EarthScience #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #AtacamaDesert #Chile #SouthAmerica #Europe #STEM #Education

Untangling a Knot of Galaxy Clusters | NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory

Untangling a Knot of Galaxy Clusters NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory

Astronomers have captured a spectacular and ongoing collision between at least three galaxy clusters. Data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, ESA’s XMM-Newton and a trio of radio telescopes are helping astronomers sort out what is happening in this jumbled scene.

Galaxy clusters are some of the largest structures in the Universe and contain a mixture of galaxies, hot gas and dark matter. Over time, these colossal objects can collide and merge with each other through their gravitational pull. This is the main way that galaxy clusters can grow into the gigantic cosmic edifices seen today.

Abell 2256, located 780 million light years from Earth, is a scene where this process is taking place. Astronomers studying this object are trying to tease out what has led to this unusual-looking structure. Each telescope tells a different part of the story. For example, Chandra and XMM-Newton can see the multi-million-degree gas from the clusters. The radio emission in this system arises from an even more complex set of sources.

The first are the galaxies themselves, where the radio signal is generated by particles blasting away in jets from supermassive black holes at their centers. Radio waves are also coming from a huge filamentary structure, which was likely generated when the collision created shock waves and accelerated particles in the gas.

Astronomers will continue to study this complex system to untangle this knot of galaxy clusters and the details of the physics taking place there. This will help us learn more about how these cosmic giants came to inhabit the Universe today.


Credit: NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory

Duration: 2 minutes

Release Date: Jan. 30, 2023


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Chandra #Xray #Galaxies #GalaxyClusters #Abell2256 #Cosmos #Universe #SpaceTelescope #Observatory #CXC #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

U.S. Poet Laureate's Poem Will Travel to Jupiter’s Moon Europa on NASA Spacecraft

U.S. Poet Laureate's Poem Will Travel to Jupiter’s Moon Europa on NASA Spacecraft

U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón is writing an original poem dedicated to NASA’s Europa Clipper mission. The poem will be engraved on the spacecraft, as a way to connect the water world of our home planet Earth with another world with water in our solar system (Jupiter’s moon, Europa).

Europa Clipper will travel 1.8 billion miles on its path to the Jupiter system. The poem will be part of an upcoming NASA-led program that will invite international public participation.

The spacecraft is set to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in October 2024, and by 2030, it will be in orbit around Jupiter. It will conduct multiple flybys of the planet’s icy moon Europa to gather detailed measurements and determine if the moon has conditions suitable for life.

Europa, which scientists are confident harbors an internal ocean with twice the amount of water in Earth’s oceans combined, may currently have conditions suitable for supporting life. Europa Clipper will orbit Jupiter and conduct multiple close flybys of Europa to gather data on the moon’s atmosphere, surface, and interior. Its sophisticated payload will investigate everything from the depth and salinity of the ocean to the thickness of the ice crust to the characteristics of potential plumes that may be venting subsurface water into space.

Limón was appointed 24th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry by Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden in 2022. The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States—and extensive materials from around the world—both on site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. 

More information about the Europa Clipper mission is available at europa.nasa.gov/


Credit: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

Duration: 1 minute

Release Date: Jan. 26, 2023


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Poetry #Jupiter #Europa #Moon #Ocean #Astrobiology #Biosignatures #Habitability #Radiation #EuropaClipper #Spacecraft #SolarSystem #Exploration #APL #Marshall #MSFC #JPL #JHUAPL #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Expedition 68: New Jan. 2023 Crew Photos | International Space Station

Expedition 68: New Jan. 2023 Crew Photos | International Space Station

Cosmonaut Anna Kikina (Russia) points a camera outside a space station window

Expedition 68 Flight Engineers Anna Kikina (Russia) and Koichi Wakata (Japan)

Cosmonaut Anna Kikina (Russia) works on electronics hardware maintenance

NASA Astronaut Nicole Mann configures spacewalking hardware

NASA Astronaut Josh Cassada harvests thale cress plants for a space botany study

Cosmonaut Anna Kikina (Russia) installs radiation detectors aboard the station

Astronaut Koichi Wakata (Japan) configures spacewalking hardware

Astronaut Koichi Wakata (Japan) works on orbital plumbing tasks


Follow Expedition 68 crew updates at:

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.


Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Image Dates: Jan. 17-26, 2023


#NASA #Space #Earth #SolomonSea #ISS #Namibia #Africa #Bahamas #AtlanticOcean #Astronauts #NicoleMann #FrankRubio #JoshCassada #KoichiWakata #JAXA #Japan #Cosmonauts #Роскосмос #Russia #Science #HumanSpaceflight #Expedition68 #JSC #UnitedStates #Canada #CSA #Research #Laboratory #STEM #Education