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    Category Astronomy/Space

    A Superwind Blown from the Heart of a Galaxy Tells the Tale of a Merger

    February 4, 2016, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    Blue, green, and red colors are attributed to the B-band, R-band, and H-alpha (emission line from ionized hydrogen gas) images, respectively. The giant ionized gas blown out from the galaxy is seen in red. Credit: Hiroshima University / NAOJ

    Blue, green, and red colors are attributed to the B-band, R-band, and H-alpha (emission line from ionized hydrogen gas) images, respectively. The giant ionized gas blown out from the galaxy is seen in red. Credit: Hiroshima University / NAOJ

    Astronomers have revealed the detailed structure of a massive 300,000 light-yr long ionized gas outflow streaming from starburst galaxy NGC 6240. The light-collecting power and high spatial resolution of Subaru Telescope made it possible to study, for the first time, the complex structure of one of the largest known superwinds being driven by starbirth – and star death.

    The term “starburst” indicates large-scale intensive star-forming activity, making a “starburst galaxy” one where starbirth is occurring on a grand scale...

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    The Frigid ‘Flying Saucer’: Unexpectedly Cold Grains in Planet-Forming Disc

    February 4, 2016, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    The young star 2MASS J16281370-2431391 lies in the spectacular Rho Ophiuchi star formation region, about 400 light-years from Earth. It is surrounded by a disc of gas and dust -- such discs are called protoplanetary discs as they are the early stages in the creation of planetary systems. This particular disc is seen nearly edge-on, and its appearance in visible light pictures has led to its being nicknamed the Flying Saucer. The main image shows part of the Rho Ophiuchi region and a much enlarged close-up infrared view of the Flying Saucer from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope is shown as an insert. Credit: Digitized Sky Survey 2/NASA/ESA

    The young star 2MASS J16281370-2431391 lies in the spectacular Rho Ophiuchi star formation region, about 400 light-years from Earth. It is surrounded by a disc of gas and dust — such discs are called protoplanetary discs as they are the early stages in the creation of planetary systems. This particular disc is seen nearly edge-on, and its appearance in visible light pictures has led to its being nicknamed the Flying Saucer. The main image shows part of the Rho Ophiuchi region and a much enlarged close-up infrared view of the Flying Saucer from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope is shown as an insert. Credit: Digitized Sky Survey 2/NASA/ESA

    An international team measured the temperature of large dust grains around the young star 2MASS J16281370-2431391 in the spectacular Rho Ophiuchi star ...

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    Researchers Weigh the Central Parts of Saturn’s most Massive Ring for the 1st time

    February 3, 2016, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    Researchers weigh the central parts of Saturn's most massive ring for the first time

    Saturn’s B ring is the most opaque of the main rings, appearing almost black in this Cassini image taken from the unlit side of the ringplane. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

    It seems intuitive opaque material should contain more stuff than a more translucent substance. But this does not always apply, according to a recent study of the rings using data from NASA’s Cassini mission. Saturn’s B ring is the brightest and most opaque of Saturn’s rings, and are consistent with previous studies that found similar results for Saturn’s other main rings.

    Researchers weigh the central parts of Saturn's most massive ring for the first time

    Some parts of Saturn’s B ring are up to 10 times more opaque than the neighboring A ring, but the B ring may weigh in at only two to three times the A ring’s mass. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

    While opacity of B ...

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    Pictor A: Blast from Black Hole in a Galaxy far away

    February 3, 2016, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    Pictor A: Иlast from black hole in a galaxy far, far away

    Chandra’s X-ray data (blue) have been combined with radio data from the Australia Telescope Compact Array (red) in this new composite image. The labeled image shows the location of the supermassive black hole, the jet and the counterjet. Also labeled is a “radio lobe” where the jet is pushing into surrounding gas and a “hotspot” caused by shock waves – akin to sonic booms from a supersonic aircraft – near the tip of the jet.

    Star Wars featured the “Death Star,” which can shoot powerful beams of radiation across space. The Universe, however, produces phenomena that often surpass what science fiction can conjure. The Pictor A galaxy lies 500 million light years from Earth with a supermassive black hole at its center...

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