Stellary Starry Universe

 

Astronomers have observed a planet some 200 light-years from Earth that, for a few hours, becomes 700 ºC hotter every time its elliptical orbit brings it close to its sun.

In a study today in the British journal Nature, the scientists say they have generated the most realistic images ever captured of an exoplanet.

Hotter than molten lava

They used infrared data collected from NASA’s space-based Spitzer telescope to gain pictures of a strange world exposed briefly to a raging inferno. The computer generated images show a thin blue crescent on the dark side of the planet, opposite its star, while the scorched side glows a deep, crimson red.

Known as HD 80606b, the planet is a giant ball of gas that has four times the mass of Jupiter, the biggest planet of our system. [...]

Source: Cosmos Online – click here for full article

 

 

Orion is by far the most brilliant of the constellations and is visible from every inhabited part of the Earth.

The most brilliant of all the constellations dominates our evening sky this week, climbing well up in the south around 9 p.m. local time. It is, of course, Orion, the Hunter. But just exactly who was he?

As is also the case with the mighty Hercules, the figure of Orion has been associated in virtually all-ancient cultures with great national heroes, warriors, or demigods. Yet, in contrast to Hercules, who was credited with a detailed series of exploits, Orion seems to us a vague and shadowy figure.

The ancient mythological stories of Orion are so many and so confused that it is almost impossible to choose among all of them. Even the origin of the name Orion is obscure, though some scholars have suggested a connection with the Greek “Arion,” meaning simply warrior. All, however, agree that he was the mightiest hunter in the world and he is always pictured in the stars with his club upraised in his right hand. [...]

Source: Spacw.com – click here for full article

 

A mock Orion capsule and launch abort tower arrived at NASA’s spaceport Wednesday.

An aerodynamically exact mock-up of the Orion spacecraft of NASA and the accompanying launch abort system all arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This is a milestone toward the launch this year of the Ares I test flight. It will be the first such test flight.

Source: Space.com News – click here for full article

Astronomers used Playstation 3 consoles to study black hole vibrations.

When black holes are perturbed, they vibrate somewhat like a ringing bell. Now astronomers have narrowed down the rotational speed at which that vibration should stop.

As is typical, they did it by running a simulation. But instead of a supercomputer, they used several Sony Playstation 3 gaming consoles wired together.

The so-called PS3 Gravity Grid, a network of 16 Playstation 3 consoles grouped together in a cluster capable of running simulations that rival a dedicated supercomputer at a much lower cost.

“You can get a supercomputer’s capability with relatively little money,” said Lior Burko of the University of Alabama, Huntsville, who led the black hole study, in an interview.

Source: Space.com – click here for full article

 

New research reveals shock-waves storms echoing across an exoplanet.

One extrasolar planet takes heat waves to the extreme: Within six hours, temperatures on the gas giant can soar by more than 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit (555 degrees C).

The intense baking triggers shock-wave storms that whip around the planet quicker than the speed of sound, carrying with them skyrocketing heat and high-speed winds.

Known as HD 80606b, the gaseous planet was discovered in 2001 by a Swiss planet-hunting team led by Dominique Naef of the Geneva Observatory. It is about four times the mass of Jupiter and is located 200 light-years from Earth. [...]

Wild orbit

HD 80606b’s orbit around its host star — it’s year — is 111.4 Earth-days long. Its day — one rotation about its axis — is thought to last about 34 hours (though the scientists don’t measure this value directly). The interesting thing is that its orbit is very elongated, the most eccentric of any known planet.

Source: Space.com – click here for full article