comets tagged posts

NASA’s Flying Observatory SOFIA to Explore Magnetic Universe and Beyond

Image of polarization measurements capturing the structure of the magnetic field in the Orion star forming region.

HAWC+ performed polarization measurements at 89 μm to capture the structure of the magnetic field in the Orion star forming region. Each line segment represents the orientation of the magnetic field at that location, overlaid on an image of the total intensity at the same wavelength. Credits: NASA/SOFIA/Caltech/Darren Dowell

NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, SOFIA, is preparing for its 2018 observing campaign, which will include observations of celestial magnetic fields, star-forming regions, comets, Saturn’s giant moon Titan and more. This will be the fourth year of full operations for SOFIA, with observations planned between February 2018 and January 2019...

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Scientist sees evidence of Planet Formation in Narrow Rings of other Solar Systems

Gemini Planet Imager observations reveal a complex pattern of variations in brightness and polarization around the HR 4796A disk. Credit: Marshall Perrin (Space Telescope Science Institute), Gaspard Duchene (UC Berkeley), Max Millar-Blanchaer (University of Toronto), and the GPI Team

Gemini Planet Imager observations reveal a complex pattern of variations in brightness and polarization around the HR 4796A disk. Credit: Marshall Perrin (Space Telescope Science Institute), Gaspard Duchene (UC Berkeley), Max Millar-Blanchaer (University of Toronto), and the GPI Team

Narrow dense rings of comets are coming together to form planets on the outskirts of at least 3 distant solar systems, astronomers have found in data from a pair of NASA telescopes. Estimating the mass of these rings from the amount of light they reflect shows that each of these developing planets is at least the size of a few Earths, according to Carey Lisse, a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland.

Over the past few decades, using powerful NA...

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Life’s 1st Handshake: Chiral Molecule detected in Interstellar Space

Scientists applaud the first detection of a "handed" molecule, (propylene oxide) in interstellar space. It was detected, primarily with the NSF's Green Bank Telescope, near the center of our Galaxy in Sagittarius (Sgr) B2, a massive star-forming region. Propylene oxide is one of a of so-called "chiral" molecules -- molecules that have an identical chemical composition, but right- and left-handed versions. Chiral molecules are essential for life and their discovery in deep space may help scientists understand why life on Earth relies on a certain handedness to perform key biological functions. Sgr A* in this image indicates the supermassive black hole at the center of our Galaxy. The white features in the composite image are the bright radio sources in the center of our Galaxy as seen with the VLA. The background image is from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The two "handed" versions of propylene oxide are illustrated. The "R" and "S" designations are for the Latin terms rectus (right) and sinister (left). Credit: B. Saxton, NRAO/AUI/NSF from data provided by N.E. Kassim, Naval Research Laboratory, Sloan Digital Sky Survey

Scientists applaud the first detection of a “handed” molecule, (propylene oxide) in interstellar space. It was detected, primarily with the NSF’s Green Bank Telescope, near the center of our Galaxy in Sagittarius (Sgr) B2, a massive star-forming region. Propylene oxide is one of a class of so-called “chiral” molecules — molecules that have an identical chemical composition, but right- and left-handed versions. Chiral molecules are essential for life and their discovery in deep space may help scientists understand why life on Earth relies on a certain handedness to perform key biological functions. Sgr A* in this image indicates the supermassive black hole at the center of our Galaxy...

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New study challenges Jupiter’s Role as Planetary Shield, Protecting Earth from Comet Impacts

Particle fates after 100 My for both (a) planetary embryo and (b) full-mass planet simulations, initially with 10,000 particles per zone.

Particle fates after 100 My for both (a) planetary embryo and (b) full-mass planet simulations, initially with 10,000 particles per zone.

Not only is the “Jupiter as shield” concept, implying that the planet shields Earth from comet impacts, not true, but perhaps Jupiter’s most important role in fostering the development of life on Earth was just the opposite – delivering the volatile materials from the outer Solar System needed for life to form. This new simulation study, and the previously underestimated role that Saturn may have also played in the evolution of life on Earth, are presented in an original research article published in Astrobiology.

The semimajor axes and eccentricities for all particles that survived 100 My of integration time for both (a) planetary embryo and (b) full-mass simulations. (Color graphics available at www.liebertonline.com/ast)

The semimajor axes and eccentricities for all particles that survived 100 My of integration time for both (a) planetary embryo and (b) full-ma...

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