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Behold: The Largest Known Spiral Galaxy

10 Jan , 2013 by

Astronomers have long known that a spectacular barred spiral galaxy named NGC 6872 is a behemoth, but by compiling data from several space- and ground-based observatories and running a few computer simulations, they have now determined this is the largest spiral galaxy we know of. Measuring tip-to-tip across its two outsized spiral arms, NGC 6872 […]

Eye-Like Helix Nebula Turns Blue in New Image

4 Oct , 2012 by

A combined image of the Helix Nebula from the Spitzer Space Telescope,the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) and the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE).. Credit: NASA/Caltech The Helix Nebula has been called the “Eye of God,” or the “Eye of Sauron,” and there’s no denying this object appears to be a cosmic eye looking down on […]

Black Holes are More Like Venus Fly Traps than Vacuum Cleaners

2 May , 2012 by

[/caption] I’m going to try and say this before the Bad Astronomer does: Holy Haleakala! A team of astronomers using the Pan-STARRS1 telescope on Mount Haleakala in Hawaii have found evidence of a black hole ripping a star to shreds. While this isn’t the first time this type of activity has been detected, these new […]

Supernova Explosions, Black Hole Jets Might Cause Galaxies to ‘Age’ Faster

4 Apr , 2012 by

[/caption] Supernova explosions and the jets of a monstrous black hole are scattering one galaxy’s star-making gas, driving a dramatic transformation from spiral galactic youth to elderly elliptical, according to a new study of a recently merged galaxy. Cool gas, the fuel from which new stars form, is essential to the youth and vigor of […]

GALEX Mission Comes to an End

7 Feb , 2012 by

[/caption] A mission which helped map the ultraviolet sky and worked to confirm the nature of dark energy is coming to an end. Galaxy Evolution Explorer, or GALEX, was placed in standby mode today after nearly nine years of service and will be decommissioned later this year. With data from the mission, scientists were able […]

GALEX Confirms Nature of Dark Energy

19 May , 2011 by

[/caption] From a JPL press release: A five-year survey of 200,000 galaxies, stretching back seven billion years in cosmic time, has led to one of the best independent confirmations that dark energy is driving our universe apart at accelerating speeds. The survey used data from NASA’s space-based Galaxy Evolution Explorer and the Anglo-Australian Telescope on […]

Giant Ultraviolet Rings Found Around Ancient Galaxies

11 Aug , 2010 by

[/caption] Title this ‘Zombie Galaxies’ or ‘Night of the Living Galaxies.’ Astronomers have found mysterious, giant loops of ultraviolet light around old, massive galaxies, which were presumed to be “dead,” and these galaxies seem to have come back to life. Somehow these “over-the-hill galaxies” have been infused with fresh gas to form new stars that […]

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