Category: Space-Earth
Stellar nursery: A pocket of star formation
A new view shows a stellar nursery called NGC 3324. It was taken using the Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile. The intense ultraviolet radiation from several of NGC 3324′s hot young stars causes the gas cloud to glow with rich colors and has carved out a cavity in the surrounding gas and dust.
Originally posted here:
Stellar nursery: A pocket of star formation
IBEX probe glimpses interstellar neighborhood
Space scientists have described the first detailed analyses of captured interstellar neutral atoms — raw material for the formation of new stars, planets and even human beings.
Original post:
IBEX probe glimpses interstellar neighborhood
NASA’s THEMIS satellite sees a great electron escape
When scientists discovered two great swaths of radiation encircling Earth in the 1950s, it spawned over-the-top fears about “killer electrons” and space radiation effects on Earthlings. The fears were soon quieted: the radiation doesn’t reach Earth, though it can affect satellites and humans moving through the belts. Nevertheless, many mysteries about the belts — now known as the Van Allen Radiation belts — remain to this day.
View post:
NASA’s THEMIS satellite sees a great electron escape
Glimpses of the interstellar material beyond our solar system
A great magnetic bubble surrounds the solar system as it cruises through the galaxy. The sun pumps the inside of the bubble full of solar particles that stream out to the edge until they collide with the material that fills the rest of the galaxy, at a complex boundary called the heliosheath. On the other side of the boundary, electrically charged particles from the galactic wind blow by, but rebound off the heliosheath, never to enter the solar system. Neutral particles, on the other hand, are a different story. They saunter across the boundary as if it weren’t there, continuing on another 7.5 billion miles for 30 years until they get caught by the sun’s gravity, and sling shot around the star.
Read more here:
Glimpses of the interstellar material beyond our solar system
IBEX spacecraft measures ‘alien’ particles from outside solar system
Using data from NASA’s Interstellar Boundary Explorer spacecraft, an international team of researchers has measured neutral “alien” particles entering our solar system from interstellar space. A suite of studies provides a first look at the constituents of the interstellar medium, the matter between star systems, and how they interact with our heliosphere.
Original post:
IBEX spacecraft measures ‘alien’ particles from outside solar system
‘Cool’ gas may form and strengthen sunspots
Hydrogen molecules may act as a kind of energy sink that strengthens the magnetic grip that causes sunspots, according to scientists using a new infrared instrument on an old telescope.
View original post here:
‘Cool’ gas may form and strengthen sunspots
Scientists see ‘sloshing’ galaxy cluster
Scientists have recently discovered that vast clouds of hot gas are “sloshing” in Abell 2052, a galaxy cluster located about 480 million light years from Earth.
See the original post here:
Scientists see ‘sloshing’ galaxy cluster
Sun unleashes an X1.8 class flare on Jan. 27, 2012
The sun unleashed an X1.8 class flare that began at 1:12 PM ET on January 27, 2012 and peaked at 1:37. The flare immediately caused a strong radio blackout at low-latitudes, which was rated an R3 on NOAA’s scale from R1-5. The blackout soon subsided to a minor R1 storm. Models from NASA’s Goddard Space Weather Center predict that the CME is traveling at over 1500 miles per second. It does not initially appear to be Earth-directed, but Earth may get a glancing blow.
Go here to read the rest:
Sun unleashes an X1.8 class flare on Jan. 27, 2012
Astronomers solve mystery of vanishing electrons in Earth’s outer radiation belt
Researchers have explained the puzzling disappearing act of energetic electrons in Earth’s outer radiation belt using data collected from a fleet of orbiting spacecraft.
Here is the original:
Astronomers solve mystery of vanishing electrons in Earth’s outer radiation belt
Mars-bound instrument detects solar burst’s effects: RAD measures radiation from solar storm
The largest solar particle event since 2005 hit Earth, Mars and the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft traveling in-between, allowing the onboard Radiation Assessment Detector to measure the radiation a human astronaut could be exposed to en route to the Red Planet.
Read more from the original source:
Mars-bound instrument detects solar burst’s effects: RAD measures radiation from solar storm