Copernical Team
An accidental discovery hints at a hidden population of cosmic objects
A new study offers a tantalizing explanation for how a peculiar cosmic object called WISEA J153429.75-104303.3 - nicknamed "The Accident" - came to be. The Accident is a brown dwarf. Though they form like stars, these objects don't have enough mass to kickstart nuclear fusion, the process that causes stars to shine. And while brown dwarfs sometimes defy characterization, astronomers have a good X-ray magnifying glass enhances view of distant black holes
A new technique using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has allowed astronomers to obtain an unprecedented look at a black hole system in the early Universe, as reported in our latest press release. This is providing a way for astronomers to look at faint and distant X-ray objects in more detail than had previously been possible.
Astronomers used an alignment in space that shows "gravitatio NASA prompts companies for Artemis Lunar Terrain Vehicle Solutions
NASA is asking American companies for additional input on approaches and solutions for a vehicle to transport Artemis astronauts around the lunar South Pole later this decade. The lunar terrain vehicle (LTV), an unenclosed rover that astronauts can drive on the Moon while wearing their spacesuits, will need to last at least 10 years, spanning multiple Artemis missions.
Through a request fo Application of fission-powered spacecraft in solar system exploration missions
The universe, and everything it encompasses, has kindled the curious human mind for ages, leading to numerous "eureka" moments in understanding the intricacies of "outer space." Several manned and unmanned space explorations have been successfully deployed to date, using chemical energy and solar energy as the primary sources of energy. However, these sources may not be very energy-efficient or Air Force rescue crews ready in case of SpaceX, Boeing launch malfunctions
U.S. Air Force rescue teams have completed training in preparation for possible emergency bailouts of space launches by SpaceX and Boeing.
The training took place last week in the Atlantic Ocean and the Banana River near the Florida-based Patrick Space Force Base, the Air Force said Monday in a press release.
The teams included pararescuemen, airmen and maritime operations from t Inspiration4 crew will conduct health research during three day mission
The crew of Inspiration4 will partake in a first-of-its-kind health research initiative to increase humanity's knowledge on the impact of spaceflight on the human body. Once in orbit, the crew will perform carefully selected research experiments on human health and performance, which will have potential applications for human health on Earth and during future spaceflights.
Additionally, Sp Spacecraft deorbiting device ready for upcoming test launch
A drag sail that a team at Purdue University developed to pull launch vehicles in space back to Earth is scheduled to undergo a test launch on Thursday (Sept. 2).
The mission, set to take off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, will evaluate how well the prototype helps its vehicle deorbit from space after mission completion. A livestream of the launch will be available through Everyday Astronaut.
Faster deorbiting times may prevent spacecraft and launch vehicles from turning into hazardous space debris as they wait to deorbit naturally, a process that could take days, months or years without assistance. Abandoned, lost or post-mission space vehicles are part of the more than nine thousand tons of space debris currently traveling through Earth's lower orbit at dangerous speeds.
Geologists propose theory about a famous asteroid
The asteroid Vesta is the second largest asteroid in our Solar System. With a diameter of about 330 miles, it orbits the sun between the planets Mars and Jupiter.
Asteroids have long played a part in building popular fascination with space. "Marooned off Vesta" was the first story published by American writer Isaac Asimov, the third story he wrote, appearing in the March 1939 issue of the science fiction magazine Amazing Stories.
"When we think of asteroid belts, we probably picture Han Solo maneuvering the millennium falcon through a dense set of irregularly shaped gray rocks in space," Christian Klimczak, associate professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department of geology. "While most rocks are indeed irregularly shaped and gray, they are far apart and NASA's Dawn spacecraft did not have to maneuver around any other asteroids to reach and explore Vesta."
Dawn was the space probe launched by NASA in September 2007 with the mission of studying two of the three known protoplanets of the asteroid belt, Vesta and Ceres.
Vesta, like Earth, is composed of rock in its crust and mantle, and it has an iron core.
Dark Energy Camera captures detailed view of striking peculiar galaxy
'X-ray magnifying glass' enhances view of distant black holes
By taking advantage of a natural lens in space, astronomers have captured an unprecedented look at X-rays from a black hole system in the early universe.
This magnifying glass was used to sharpen X-ray images for the first time using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. It captured details about black holes that would normally be too distant to study using existing X-ray telescopes.
Astronomers applied a phenomenon known as "gravitational lensing" that occurs when the path taken by light from distant objects is bent by a large concentration of mass, such as a galaxy, that lies along the line of sight. This lensing can magnify and amplify the light by large amounts and create duplicate images of the same object. The configuration of these duplicate images can be used to decipher the complexity of the object and sharpen images.
The gravitationally-lensed system in the new study is called MG B2016+112.
