Astronomy
When Galaxies Collide
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| Image credit: Chandra |
A new image taken by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory has provided one of the best views of two galaxies similar to our own Milky Way in the midst of a collision. All galaxies, including our own, have gone through this kind of merger in the past, so this image helps astronomers understand how the Universe came to look like it does today. The galaxies began their slow collision 10-million years ago and have already created regions of intense star formation and may eventually create a supermassive black hole.
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Apr 24, 2002, 11:15pm
Space Flight
ESA Plans Another Look at the Moon
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| Image credit: ESA |
The European Space Agency is working on a new spacecraft that will visit the Moon and map its surface in great detail. The SMART-1, due for launch in 2002 will arrive at the Moon and begin a detailed analysis of the surface from different angles, in regular light, infrared and X-ray and then produce a three-dimensional map. Smart-1 will visit the dark southern pole of the Moon for the first time and help investigate areas which have never been touched by the Sun.
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Apr 24, 2002, 10:55pm
Space Flight
NASA Approves Shuttleworth's Visit
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| Image credit: Africaninspace.com |
NASA has given its blessing for millionaire space tourist Mark Shuttleworth to visit the International Space Station. The previous paying visitor, Dennis Tito, was permitted into the station, but required constant supervision. Shuttleworth will lift off Thursday on board a Russian Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and dock with the station Saturday.
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Apr 24, 2002, 10:43pm
Astronomy
Hubble Helps with New Measurement for Universe's Age
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| Image credit: Hubble |
Thanks to the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers are using ancient stars in the Milky Way to come up with an independent estimate about the age of the Universe. In the past, astronomers have calculated this age using its rate of expansion, and pegged it between 13-14 billion years old. Under this new method, the astronomers targeted ancient white dwarf stars which cool down at a very predictable rate. These stars were formed near the beginning of the Universe, and the astronomers were able to estimate that they are between 12-13 billion years old. Close enough.
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Apr 24, 2002, 9:54pm
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