Infinity Cosmos

This image captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope showcases the spiral galaxy IC 1954, located 45 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Horologium.    A captivating image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope showcases the spiral galaxy IC 1954, situated 45 million light-years away in the constellation Horologium. The galaxy features a glowing central bar, elegantly spiraling arms, and dark dust clouds, with vibrant pink regions indicating areas of active star formation. These H-alpha regions highlight nebulae that emit red light, providing critical insights into stellar birth processes. Some researchers speculate that the prominent bar may represent an energetic star-forming zone aligned with the galaxy's center. This image is part of a collaborative effort involving Hubble, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. By observing IC 1954 and over 50 nearby galaxies across multiple wavelengths—radio, infrared...

  NASA's Mars Perseverance rover captured this image of a black-and-white striped rock using its Left Mastcam-Z camera on September 13, 2024 (Sol 1268) at 12:40:29 local mean solar time. Last week, scientists and space enthusiasts alike were captivated when NASA's Perseverance rover discovered an unusual black-and-white striped rock, dubbed ‘Freya Castle,’ on the Martian surface. This remarkable find has sparked speculation about the geological history of Mars and potential future discoveries. As Perseverance continues its ascent up the steep slopes of Jezero Crater, the rover has shifted to flatter terrain, allowing for improved progress in its quest to uncover ancient rocks that could shed light on Mars' early history. From its elevated position, the rover can now observe notable landmarks, including the 'Kodiak' butte, partially obscured by Martian dust. While navigating seemingly mundane pebbly ground, eagle-eyed mission team members noticed a cobble in the dist...

  The supermassive black hole at the center of the giant elliptical galaxy M87 is not only known for its astonishing size—6.5 billion solar masses—but also for its breathtakingly powerful jet of plasma that shoots out into space at nearly the speed of light. This jet, reminiscent of the "Death Star" beam from Star Wars, has now been found to create a perilous environment for nearby stars. Recent observations from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have revealed an intriguing phenomenon: the jet seems to be linked to an increased frequency of nova eruptions along its 3,000-light-year trajectory. Novae occur in binary star systems, where an aging star transfers hydrogen to a white dwarf companion. When enough hydrogen accumulates, it detonates in a spectacular explosion. While novae are common throughout the universe, Hubble's data shows that they occur twice as often near the M87 jet compared to other regions of the galaxy. A Curious Correlation. The connection between the ...

What looks like a faint dot in this James Webb Space Telescope image could be a groundbreaking discovery. Detailed data on galaxy GS-NDG-9422 from Webb’s NIRSpec shows that the light originates from the galaxy’s hot gas, which outshines its extremely hot stars (over 140,000 degrees Fahrenheit). This heating effect allows the gas to glow more brightly than the stars themselves.   Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to explore the early universe, astronomers have discovered a remarkable galaxy with an unusual light signature, suggesting that its gas outshines its stars. This galaxy, designated GS-NDG-9422, was formed around one billion years after the Big Bang and could represent a crucial transitional phase in galactic evolution, bridging the gap between the universe's first stars and the more established galaxies we recognize today. My first thought upon examining the galaxy’s spectrum was, ‘that’s weird,’ which is precisely what the Webb telescope was designed to uncover: new ...

  In a breathtaking cosmic dance, two young protostars in the DQ Tau system draw perilously close every two weeks, reaching within just 10 stellar radii of each other. This artist's illustration captures the intense fireworks that erupt during these close encounters, showcasing the dynamic interactions and stellar flares that characterize their rapid orbit.  Taurus Constellation, 650 Light-Years Away – Astronomers are turning their attention to DQ Tau, a remarkable binary system that features two young protostars still in the process of formation. Located approximately 650 light-years from Earth in the Taurus constellation, DQ Tau is a dynamic laboratory for studying the early stages of star and planet formation. The two protostars, each about half the mass of the Sun and twice its radius, are locked in a highly elongated orbit, coming within a mere 8-10 stellar radii of each other every 15.8 days. During these close encounters, known as periastron, the stars release significa...

  Dive into the new Exoasteroids project and help us search for white dwarfs actively devouring planetary systems. Contribute to groundbreaking research as we uncover the remnants of worlds being consumed by these fascinating stellar remnants.   In   a few billion years, our solar system will undergo dramatic changes, and we’re inviting you to be part of the exploration. The Exoasteroids project is a new citizen science initiative aimed at investigating variable white dwarfs—remarkable remnants of stars that can provide insights into the fate of planetary systems. White dwarfs, which contain the mass of a star condensed into a sphere the size of a planet, represent the eventual evolution of our Sun. As it transforms into a red giant and ultimately a white dwarf, it will consume the inner planets and countless asteroids, leaving behind a cosmic remnant. By participating in the Exoasteroids project, you can help search for white dwarfs that fluctuate in brightness. The...

  This captivating image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope showcases the galaxy NGC 1559, a barred spiral located approximately 35 million light-years away in the constellation Reticulum.  A breathtaking new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope showcases the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1559, located about 35 million light-years away in the constellation Reticulum. This vibrant photograph is a composite of ten separate Hubble images, each filtered to capture specific wavelengths of light, ranging from ultraviolet to near-infrared. The image highlights regions of active star formation, particularly in the bright red and pink patches indicative of H II regions, where ionized hydrogen emits H-alpha light. This glow results from newly formed stars in dense molecular clouds, which emit ultraviolet light that ionizes surrounding hydrogen gas. These observations stem from six different Hubble programs, conducted from 2009 to 2024. Astronomers have utilized this data to e...

  NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled a breathtaking image of the Coma Cluster of galaxies, one of the densest galaxy collections known in the universe. This cluster, also referred to as Abell 1656, is located over 300 million light-years away and spans more than 20 million light-years in diameter, housing thousands of galaxies in a spherical formation. A Closer Look at the Coma Cluster. Situated in the constellation Coma Berenices, the Coma Cluster is positioned near the Milky Way's north pole, providing astronomers with a clear view, free from the obscuring dust and gas of our galaxy. The Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys captured a significant portion of the cluster, revealing a rich tapestry of galaxy types. Galaxy Diversity. The central region of the Coma Cluster is dominated by elliptical galaxies, often described as "featureless fuzz-balls." These galaxies, with their pale goldish-brown hues, contain populations of older stars, including both dwar...

  Astronomers using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory have made a remarkable discovery in the galaxy cluster Zwicky 8338, identifying two streams of superheated gas that intersect. This interaction suggests that crossing streams could lead to the formation of new structures.  Among their findings is an enormous, comet-like tail of hot gas extending over 1.6 million light-years behind a galaxy, created as the galaxy loses some of its gas while moving through a hot medium. Interestingly, this is the second pair of gas tails identified in the cluster; a previous observation revealed a shorter pair from another nearby galaxy. The newer, longer streams became visible thanks to a deeper Chandra observation that highlighted fainter X-ray emissions. In the intricate landscape of the Zwicky 8338 galaxy cluster, astronomers have uncovered fascinating structures in the form of gas tails trailing behind rapidly moving galaxies. These tails, shaped by interactions within the cluster, offer ...

Arp 107 (NIRCam and MIRI  Image ). This composite image of Arp 107, captured by the James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam and MIRI, reveals insights into star formation and the collision of these two galaxies hundreds of millions of years ago. Smile for the camera! The interaction between the elliptical galaxy and the spiral galaxy, known as Arp 107, creates a striking visual reminiscent of a happy face, complete with bright “eyes” and a wide semicircular “smile.” This region was previously observed in infrared by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope in 2005, but the James Webb Space Telescope offers much higher resolution.  The image is a composite of data from Webb’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) and NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera). NIRCam highlights the stars in both galaxies and reveals a translucent bridge of stars and gas connecting them, formed during their encounter. MIRI data, shown in orange-red, identifies star-forming regions and dust made up of polycyclic aromatic hydrocar...

  This artist’s concept illustrates NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft as it prepares to orbit Jupiter. The mission, which aims to explore the icy moon Europa for signs of potential habitability, is scheduled for launch on October 10, 2024. NASA’s Europa Clipper, the agency's largest spacecraft ever built for a planetary mission, is set to embark on an ambitious journey to Jupiter’s moon Europa. Scheduled to launch on October 10, 2024, this mission aims to determine if the icy moon could support life. Europa Clipper will travel approximately 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion kilometers) from its launch site at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, to Jupiter. Once there, the spacecraft will orbit the gas giant and conduct 49 close flybys of Europa to gather crucial data about its potential habitability. Key Mission Details. Potential for Life: Europa is a top candidate for searching for life beyond Earth due to its subsurface ocean, which may contain more water than all of Earth's oceans c...

  A Survey of Hubble’s Deepest Look Back into Time Uncovers New Clues. The universe seems to be teeming with black holes—cosmic phenomena that devour anything that ventures too close. The most enormous of these, with masses millions or even billions of times greater than our Sun, are found at the centers of galaxies. When these supermassive black holes actively consume nearby matter, they can shine brightly as active galactic nuclei. However, not all black holes exhibit constant activity; some show variability, flickering in and out of brightness like erratic holiday lights. Astronomers have used this variability to track down black holes, with the Hubble Ultra Deep Field proving to be an exceptional site for such investigations. This region, captured in a profound image released in 2004, revealed faint galaxies from shortly after the Big Bang. By analyzing more recent images of this field, a team from Stockholm University observed fluctuations in brightness among certain galaxies,...

  NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare — the bright flash near the center — on Sept. 14, 2024, in extreme ultraviolet light, colorized in gold and red to highlight the hot material. On September 14, 2024, at 11:29 a.m. ET, the Sun unleashed a significant solar flare, peaking at an intensity classified as X4.5. The Solar Dynamics Observatory, operated by NASA, recorded the momentous event, showcasing the immense energy burst from our star. Solar flares, such as this X-class flare, are among the most powerful phenomena in our solar system. They can disrupt radio communications, impact electric power grids, affect navigation systems, and pose risks to both spacecraft and astronauts. For detailed information on how this solar event might influence Earth, visit the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center at spaceweather.gov . NASA continues to monitor solar activity and space weather, providing crucial data and research to help mitigate the effects of such...

  On August 18, 2024, the Goldstone Solar System Radar, located near Barstow, California, captured a series of radar images of asteroid 2024 JV33 as it neared Earth. At the time of observation, the asteroid was 2.8 million miles (4.6 million kilometers) away—approximately 12 times the distance between the Moon and Earth. Discovered by the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey in Tucson, Arizona, on May 4, the asteroid is notably shaped like a peanut, with two distinct lobes, one larger than the other. Radar imaging revealed that 2024 JV33 is about 980 feet (300 meters) long and twice as long as it is wide. It completes a rotation every seven hours. Radar technology is pivotal in identifying such "contact binary" asteroids. The Goldstone radar, part of NASA's Deep Space Network, has imaged dozens of these objects. Notably, about 14% of near-Earth asteroids larger than 660 feet (200 meters) are contact binaries. With an elongated orbit similar to many comets, influenced by Jupite...

This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image showcases the spiral galaxy NGC 5668, a striking celestial object located approximately 90 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo.   The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has once again turned its gaze to the cosmos, unveiling a stunning image of NGC 5668, a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Virgo. Positioned approximately 90 million light-years from Earth, NGC 5668 is relatively close in astronomical terms, making it an ideal subject for both space- and ground-based observations. At first glance, NGC 5668 may seem unremarkable. Spanning about 90,000 light-years, it is comparable in size and mass to our Milky Way galaxy. Its nearly face-on perspective reveals a classic spiral structure, with arms that appear as cloudy, irregular patches. However, the galaxy's true intrigue lies in its rapid rate of star formation, which exceeds that of the Milky Way by 60%. This heightened activity can be attributed to two main factors....

  NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare, visible as the bright flash on the left, on Sept. 12, 2024. The image shows extremely hot material in flares, highlighted in gold through extreme ultraviolet light. HOn September 12, 2024, at 5:43 a.m. ET, the Sun released a powerful solar flare, reaching an intensity classified as X1.3. The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) of NASA captured a dramatic image of this significant event.  Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation that can disrupt various technologies on Earth, including radio communications, power grids, and navigation systems. They also pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. The X-class designation represents the most severe category of solar flares, with the number indicating its relative strength. For more information on how such solar activity could impact Earth, visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center at [spaceweather.gov](https://spaceweather.gov/). NASA, which continually mo...

  Scientists used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to examine star-forming regions in the Extreme Outer Galaxy, including Digel Cloud 2S, revealing young stars, their jets, and a backdrop of galaxies and red nebulous structures. Webb’s MIRI and NIRCam filters assigned red, green, and blue colors to various wavelengths for this image. Astronomers have utilized NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to probe the Extreme Outer Galaxy, a distant region of the Milky Way located over 58,000 light-years from the Galactic Center. This area is more remote compared to Earth’s position, which is about 26,000 light-years from the center. Employing Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument), scientists have imaged the Digel Clouds 1 and 2, two molecular clouds within this far-flung region. Webb’s high sensitivity and resolution have provided unprecedented detail on these star-forming regions, revealing components such as very young (Class 0) protostars, their outflows a...

  In a groundbreaking discovery, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory have captured the closest known pair of supermassive black holes in the local universe. This remarkable find, located in the galaxy MCG-03-34-64, reveals two supermassive black holes about 300 light-years apart, orbiting within the heart of their colliding host galaxies. Despite the vast distances between individual stars, collisions between galaxies are not uncommon. Our own Milky Way is on a collision course with the Andromeda galaxy, a cosmic event that will culminate in a merger of these two galactic giants. When such galactic collisions occur, their supermassive black holes typically merge into a single, enormous black hole. The newly discovered AGN (Active Galactic Nucleus) pair stands out due to its proximity and brightness in visible and X-ray wavelengths. Previous discoveries of dual black holes often showed them at much greater distances. The observation team, led by Anna Trin...

  Eclipsing binary stars are key to uncovering exoplanets and advancing astronomical knowledge. Be among the pioneers in the new Eclipsing Binary Patrol project, where you can help identify these intriguing star systems. HNASA’s latest citizen science initiative, Eclipsing Binary Patrol, invites enthusiasts to help uncover pairs of stars that periodically obscure each other as they orbit. These celestial duos, known as eclipsing binaries, are crucial for understanding stellar behavior and potentially discovering new worlds. Participants will analyze real data from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which monitors the brightness of stars to detect potential exoplanets and other phenomena. While TESS gathers extensive information, distinguishing genuine eclipsing binaries from noise or unrelated objects can be challenging for automated systems. That’s where volunteers come in. Aline Fornear, a volunteer from Brazil, shared her excitement: “I've never worked as a pro...

  NASA announced on Friday that it will not proceed with fueling the ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecraft, thereby deferring the mission's planned launch window in October. The next potential launch date is now projected for spring 2025, as the agency reviews future opportunities. The decision follows consultations with Blue Origin, the Federal Aviation Administration, Space Launch Delta 45 Range Safety Organization, NASA’s Launch Services Program, and the Science Mission Directorate. The postponement aims to avoid the significant costs and technical challenges associated with potentially de-fueling the spacecraft if a launch delay occurs. “This mission will provide crucial insights into Mars’ atmosphere and space weather interactions,” said Nicky Fox, NASA’s associate administrator for science. “We are dedicated to ensuring ESCAPADE’s successful launch and are optimistic about future opportunities to send it to Mars.” The mission's timing...

  Scientists have long debated the fate of the water that once covered Mars. While some of it has seeped deep underground, a significant portion has vanished into space. Evidence indicates that water molecules broke apart into hydrogen and oxygen atoms, with hydrogen escaping through the Martian atmosphere. By analyzing data from Hubble and MAVEN, researchers measured the rates at which hydrogen and deuterium (heavy hydrogen) are lost to space.  They found that these escape rates fluctuate significantly depending on Mars' proximity to the Sun, challenging the previous assumption that atoms slowly diffused upward before escaping. This new understanding allows scientists to better reconstruct the history of water on Mars by tracing the escape rates over time. Mars was once covered in water, as shown by its surface features. Over the last 3 billion years, some of this water likely seeped underground, but scientists are still investigating the fate of the remaining water. NASA’s H...

  In 2018, A image from the Hubble Space Telescope reveals the striking beauty of NGC 5033, an unbarred spiral galaxy located approximately 40 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici. With a diameter of over 100,000 light-years, NGC 5033 is comparable in size to our Milky Way galaxy. The galaxy’s spiral arms are punctuated with vivid blue regions, signaling active star formation. These areas are home to young, hot stars, while the galaxy's center, populated by older stars, gives it a reddish hue. Unlike the Milky Way, NGC 5033 lacks a central bar and features a dynamic core known as an active galactic nucleus. This nucleus is fueled by a supermassive black hole, making NGC 5033 a Seyfert galaxy. The galaxy’s core is exceptionally bright and emits across the entire electromagnetic spectrum due to the intense activity of the central black hole, which is currently consuming nearby stars, dust, and gas. This process generates radiation in various wavelengths. NGC ...