Category Archives: Astronomy

Astronomy, Multiple media, Simulators

Space Engine simulator update

There is a new version available of the Space Engine simulation program:

SpaceEngine – a free space simulation program that lets you explore the universe in three dimensions, from planet Earth to the most distant galaxies. Areas of the known universe are represented using actual astronomical data, while regions uncharted by astronomy are generated procedurally. Millions of galaxies, trillions of stars, countless planets – all available for exploration. You can land any planet, moon or asteroid and watch alien landscapes and celestial phenomena. You can even pilot starships and atmospheric shuttles.

Version 0.9.7.1 released!

>>> Download now! <<<

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For more such sims, see the HobbySpace Simulations section.

Astronomy, General, SpaceCasts

Video: What’s Up for January 2014

NASA JPL’s “What’s Up for January 1914” describes the night sky for the coming month:

Jupiter at opposition. Venus at conjunction. A Juno mission update. And the Quadrantid meteor shower.

Astronomy, Education, Science and Technology

Sci-Tech: Physics forums

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A reader points me to the Physics Help and Math Help – Physics Forums, which includes a General Astronomy Forum and an Astrophysics Forum.

Lots more physics and science links in the HobbySpace Science & Technology section.

Astronomy, Space Science, Space Systems

ESA Gaia observatory launched successfully

The European Space Agency’s Gaia observatory was put into space today by a Russian Soyuz rocket launched from the Arianespace facility in French Guiana. The goal of the mission:

Gaia will make the largest, most precise three-dimensional map of our Galaxy by surveying more than a thousand million stars.

Some reports on the launch:

Here is a replay of launch highlights:

Here’s are a couple of videos about the Gaia mission:

Astronomy, Space participation, Space Science

Radio Galaxy Zoo – search for supermassive black holes in your spare time

Zooniverse announces a new spinoff of the citizen science program Galaxy Zoo called Radio Galaxy Zoo –

Earlier this year, Galaxy Zoo expanded to include the infrared. Now Radio Galaxy Zoo involves looking at galaxies in yet another light. This time we are asking you to match huge jets – seen in radio emission – to the supermassive black holes at the centre of the galaxy that produced them. This requires looking at the galaxies in infrared and radio wavelengths. These galaxies are nothing like our own, and your classifications will allow scientists to understand the causes of these erupting black holes and how they affect the galaxy surrounding them.

Get involved now at http://radio.galaxyzoo.org – and have fun discovering black holes in our Universe.

More at Welcome to Radio Galaxy Zoo! – Galaxy Zoo

This is a matching & recognition problem that humans are still best at,especially in cases where there are radio jets or multiple sources. And it’s an important task, one that will only become more important as the next generation of radio surveys and instruments come online and start producing enormous amounts of data. So if you’re willing to help, please try out the new Radio Galaxy Zoo and help find some growing black holes — and thank you!

Example image with radio jets and infrared galaxies
Can you see the infrared galaxy between the radio jets?