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| Chandra Views the Perseus Cluster |
| Dec 1, 2005 - NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory has gathered 280 hours worth of data on the Perseus galaxy cluster to reveal massive amounts of turmoil in thousands of galaxies. Chandra discovered bright loops, ripples, and jet-like streaks. The supermassive black hole at the heart of galaxy NGC 1275 (Perseus A) is creating low pressure plumes of gas extending out for 300,000 light-years. (Full Story) |
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| Spitzer captured galaxy interaction in this image of NGC 5291. Image credit: NASA/JPL Click to enlarge |
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| Dwarf Galaxies are Ablaze in Star Formation |
Dec 1, 2005 - When galaxies collide, it's a messy affair. Gas, dust and stars are often spun out into space and can form into satellite dwarf galaxies that continue to orbit their parent galaxies. NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has spotted a few dwarf galaxies in the process of formation around a recent merger in NGC 5291. Spitzer found that the dwarf galaxies are ablaze with star formation.
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| Giant Hubble Mosaic of the Crab Nebula |
| Dec 1, 2005 - The Hubble Space Telescope took this amazing picture of the Crab Nebula supernova remnant. The star at the heart of the nebula exploded as a supernova nearly 1,000 years ago, and was recorded by Chinese astronomers as being bright enough to be visible during the day. This photograph was built up from 24 individual Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 exposures taken over several years. (Full Story) |
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| Huygens probe descending through Titan's atmosphere. Image credit: ESA Click to enlarge |
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| Titan's Atmosphere Surprised Scientists |
| Dec 1, 2005 - When ESA's Huygens probe passed through Titan's atmosphere on its way to a successful landing, it was buffeted by turbulence unexpected by scientists. Very little was known about Titan's atmosphere before Huygen's landing because the moon is shrouded by a thick hydrocarbon haze. Huygens found that the upper atmosphere was much thicker than expected, and broken up into several distinct layers. The probe also discovered possible evidence of lightning strikes around it. (Full Story) |
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| Mars Express's OMEGA instrument adds detail to Candor Chasma. Image credit: ESA Click to enlarge |
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| Mars Express Confirms Liquid Water Once Existed on Mars' Surface |
| Dec 1, 2005 - ESA's Mars Express has confirmed findings by the NASA Mars Exploration Rovers that liquid water must have been present on the surface of Mars for long periods. Mars Express gathered evidence with its OMEGA instrument; a visible and infrared spectrometer, which discovered large quantities of hydrated minerals across the surface of the Red Planet. These minerals, such as phyllosilicates and hydrated sulphates are created by the chemical alteration of rocks by liquid water. (Full Story) |
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| Mars Express Finds a Buried Impact Crater |
| Dec 1, 2005 - Now that its MARSIS radar instrument is working perfectly, ESA's Mars Express has turned up evidence of buried impact craters, layered deposits at the Martian north pole, and deep underground water-ice. One unusual discovery is a 250-km diameter (155-mile) circular structure buried under the ground; probably an impact crater which seems to be a rich source of water ice. (Full Story) |
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