Gaia star mapper to lift off from Europe's Spaceport on a Soyuz launcher

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Dec 16, 2009 | 5 / 5 (3) | 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- Gaia, ESA's next-generation star mapper, will be carried into space by a Soyuz-STB/Fregat launch vehicle from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. David Southwood, ESA's Director of Science ...

Supernova explosions stay in shape

Space & Earth / Astronomy

Dec 17, 2009 | 4.8 / 5 (6) | 1

At a very early age, children learn how to classify objects according to their shape. Now, new research suggests studying the shape of the aftermath of supernovas may allow astronomers to do the same.

Hubble's Festive View of a Grand Star-Forming Region (w/ Video)

Space & Earth / Astronomy

Dec 15, 2009 | 4.5 / 5 (4) | 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Just in time for the holidays: a Hubble Space Telescope picture postcard of hundreds of brilliant blue stars wreathed by warm, glowing clouds. The festive portrait is the most detailed view of the largest ...

A star is born? Herschel space observatory captures the birth of stars

Space & Earth / Astronomy

3 hours ago | 4.5 / 5 (2) | 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- The European Space Agency has released a preview of the first science results from the Herschel Space Observatory, including the UK-led SPIRE instrument. The new data which include images ...

VISTA: Pioneering new survey telescope starts work

Space & Earth / Astronomy

Dec 11, 2009 | 4.9 / 5 (11) | 1

VISTA is the latest telescope to be added to ESO's Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. It is housed on the peak adjacent to the one hosting the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) and shares ...

Studying how black holes grow

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

23 hours ago | 5 / 5 (2) | 1

Black holes are some of the most exotic objects in the universe. They are the final evolutionary stage of giant stars much larger than the sun. When these stars explode, their cores collapse down to the size ...

Herschel Space Telescope uncovers the sources of the Cosmic Infrared Background

Space & Earth / Astronomy

Dec 16, 2009 | 5 / 5 (9) | 4

(PhysOrg.com) -- Using first observations with the PACS Instrument on board ESA’s Herschel Space Telescope, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics and other institutions have ...

Black Holes in Star Clusters stir up Time and Space (w/ Video)

Space & Earth / Astronomy

Dec 16, 2009 | 4.7 / 5 (15) | 5

(PhysOrg.com) -- Within a decade scientists could be able to detect the merger of tens of pairs of black holes every year, according to a team of astronomers at the University of Bonn’s Argelander-Institut ...