Thursday 19 May 2016

Hubble takes Mars portrait near close approach

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On May 12, 2016, astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured this striking image of Mars, when the planet was 50 million miles from Earth. The photo reveals details as small as 20 miles to 30 miles across. This observation was made just a few days before Mars opposition on May 22, when the sun and Mars will be on exact opposite sides of Earth, and Mars will be 47 million miles from Earth.
via Science Daily
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Cosmic heavy metals help scientists trace the history of galaxies

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The origin of many of the most precious elements on the periodic table, such as gold, silver and platinum, has perplexed scientists for more than six decades. Recently, however, a team of astrophysicists has provided an answer.
via Science Daily
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Hubble Takes Mars Portrait Near Close Approach


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On May 12, 2016, astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured this striking image of Mars, when the planet was 50 million miles from Earth. The photo reveals details as small as 20 miles to 30 miles across. This observation was made just a few days before Mars opposition on May 22, when the sun and Mars will be on exact opposite sides of Earth. Mars also will be 47.4 million miles from Earth. On May 30, Mars will be the closest it has been to Earth in 11 years, at a distance of 46.8 million miles. Mars is especially photogenic during opposition because it can be seen fully illuminated by the sun as viewed from Earth.


via HubbleSite NewsCenter -- Latest News Releases
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2016/15/

NASA’s Van Allen probes reveal long-term behavior of Earth’s ring current

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New findings have revealed that the ring current -- an electrical current carried by energetic ions that encircles our planet -- behaves in a much different way than previously understood.
via Science Daily
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Ancient tsunami evidence on Mars reveals life potential

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The geologic shape of what were once shorelines through Mars' northern plains convinces scientists that two large meteorites -- hitting the planet millions of years apart -- triggered a pair of mega-tsunamis. These gigantic waves forever scarred the Martian landscape and yielded evidence of cold, salty oceans conducive to sustaining life.
via Science Daily
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Extraterrestrial oceans: Beneath the surface

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Icy objects in our solar system have large oceans under their surfaces and here life could evolve and flourish, according to recent research.
via Science Daily
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First evidence of icy comets orbiting a sun-like star

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Astronomers have found the first evidence of comets around a star similar to the sun, providing an opportunity to study what our solar system was like as a 'baby.'
via Science Daily
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The Surface of Europa

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An enhanced-color view, this image covers a 350 by 750 kilometer swath across the surface of Jupiter's tantalizing moon Europa. The close-up combines high-resolution image data with lower resolution color data from observations made in 1998 by the Galileo spacecraft. Smooth ice plains, long fractures, and jumbled blocks of chaos terrain are thought to hide a deep ocean of salty liquid water beneath. Though the ice-covered alien ocean world is outside the Solar System's habitable zone, new studies show the potential chemistry driving its oxygen and hydrogen production, a key indicator of the energy available for life, could produce amounts comparable in scale to planet Earth. Hydrogen would be generated by chemical reactions of the salty water in contact with the rocky ocean floor. Oxygen and other compounds that react with hydrogen would come from Europa's surface. There water ice molecules would be split apart by the intense flux of high-energy radiation from Jupiter and cycled into the Europan ocean from above.

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You were right: Rotational motion is relative, too, Mr. Einstein!

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It has been one hundred100 years since the publication of Einstein's general theory of relativity in May 1916. Physicists have now demonstrated that the rotational motion in the universe is also subject to the theory of relativity.
via Science Daily
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Stellar mystery deepens: Large group of stars found dying prematurely

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Astronomers have made an unexpected discovery that a large group of stars are dying prematurely, challenging our accepted view of stellar evolution.
via Science Daily
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