Category Astronomy/Space

The view from above in the furnace interior shows the glass beads which are produced by the Fraunhofer ISC and which are used for experiments in space research. Credit: © Fraunhofer ISC

How are asteroids and planets formed from stony particles? Fraunhofer researchers have developed beads made of a special type of glass. They form the composition of the rock particles as naturally as possible on a small scale. Earth is 4.57Byo. To understand how the blue planet was first formed long ago, scientists are analyzing fragments of asteroids etc that have arrived on Earth as meteorites after space collisions.

According to current knowledge, many planetary bodies were formed through the merger of chondrules – silicate beads 0.1 – 3 mm wide...

This artist’s concept depicts a planetary system. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

HAT-P-26b is an inflated, Neptune-mass exoplanet 437 light years from Earth, which orbits its parent star HAT-P-26 every 4.23 days. The planet has a relatively low surface gravity that is well suited for atmospheric characterization. To determine composition of HAT-P-26b’s atmosphere and finding traces of water vapor in it, the scientists made use of data provided by the Low Dispersion Survey Spectrograph 3C (LDSS-3C) instrument and NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope. LDSS-3C is an optical imager and (multi-) slit spectrograph on the 6.5m Magellan II (Clay) telescope, Chile.

They observed the primary transit of HAT-P-26b with LDSS-3C on Apr...

An Earth observation taken from the International Space Station during a day pass. Also in view is the Cygnus cargo spacecraft, which arrived on Dec. 9, carrying science and other supplies. Credits: NASA

Completion of critical ocular health testing, notable developments with the OASIS liquid crystal study and an intriguing find inside the Veggie planter punctuated the holiday week aboard the International Space Station.

Astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko completed comprehensive testing for their Ocular Health suite of exams, which comprise vision testing, BP, tonometry (determining the fluid pressure inside the eye), and ocular and cardiac ultrasound...

Quadrantid Meteor Shower

A meteor shower, a binocular comet and the winter circle of stars. Here are the details:
~Quadrantid Meteor Shower: The Quadrantid meteor shower on Jan. 4 will either sizzle or fizzle for observers in the U.S. The shower may favor the U.S. or it could favor Europe depending on which prediction turns out to be correct. For viewing in the US observers should start at 3 a.m. EST. The peak should last about 2 hrs with rates of 120 meteors per hour predicted in areas with a dark sky.

Comet Catalina

~Comet Catalina: In the middle of the month, midnight to predawn will be primetime for viewing Comet Catalina. It should be visible with binoculars if you have a dark sky, but a telescope would be ideal...