Category Archives: Astronomy

Astronomy, Space Science

Colorful life on other planets

The colors of exoplanets may tell us if they possess life: Extreme life might be visible on colourful exoplanets – New Scientist

Astronomy, In Space Infrastructure

Animation of flyby of asteroid 2012 DA14

Here is an animation of the flyby of asteroid 2012 DA14. On February 15th,  the 45 meter diameter asteroid will pass just 27,700 kilometers (17,200 mi) above the Earth’s surface.

The simulation was made with NASA’s Eyes on the Solar System program by Adrian Wenz of BINARY SPACE.  It shows the flyby from the viewpoint of the asteroid and includes the positions of a number of satellites.

Astronomy

Five amateur astronomers honored for comet finding

Sky and Telescope reports on five amateur astronomers being recognized for their comet discoveries: Five Amateurs Share Edgar Wilson Award: Discovering a comet remains one of amateur astronomy’s greatest accomplishments, and five individuals are being honored for doing just that. – SkyandTelescope.com

Recently five amateurs were honored with the 2012 Edgar Wilson Award. Established in 1998, this award goes to those dedicated observers lucky enough to spot a comet using amateur-grade equipment. Below is the list of winners:

  • Leonid Elenin of Russia, who spotted comet P/2011 NO1 on July 7, 2011
  • Artyom Novichonok and Vladimir Gerke of Russia, co-discoverers of comet P/2011 R3 on September 7, 2011
  • Terry Lovejoy of Australia, for his discovery of comet C/2011 W3 on November 27, 2011
  • Fred Bruenjes of Warrenburg, Missouri, for his discovery of comet C/2012 C2 on February 11, 2012
Astronomy, Space participation

Galaxy Zoo live chat on Galactic Rings, Secular Evolution and more

The science team of the citizen science project Galaxy Zoo answered questions from viewers this week on their Google+ Hangout: Live Chat: Galactic Rings, Secular Evolution and The Good Old Days – Galaxy Zoo

Astronomy, Space participation

Team of amateur and professional astronomers creates beautiful galaxy portrait

A collaboration between an amateur and a professional astronomer creates a grand image of a spiral galaxy using a mosaic of Hubble images:

February 5, 2013: Working with astronomical image processors at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Md., renowned astrophotographer Robert Gendler has taken science data from the Hubble Space Telescope archive and combined it with his own ground-based observations to assemble a photo illustration of the magnificent spiral galaxy M106.

Gendler retrieved archival Hubble images of M106 to assemble a mosaic of the center of the galaxy. He then used his own and fellow astrophotographer Jay GaBany’s observations of M106 to combine with the Hubble data in areas where there was less coverage, and finally, to fill in the holes and gaps where no Hubble data existed.

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