The data are consistent with the star having an inner warm belt and outer cool belt separated by a gap. By Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. — Published: January 9, 2013 This artist’s concept illustrates an asteroid belt around the bright star Vega. // Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech Astronomers have discovered what …
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This image of NGC 1277 was taken with Hubble Space Telescope. This small, flattened galaxy contains one of the most massive central black holes ever found. At 17 billion solar masses, the black hole weighs an extraordinary 14% of the total galaxy mass. [NASA/ESA/Andrew C. Fabian] 28 November 2012 – Mcdonald Observatory news Fort Davis, …
Abell-399-401 The Planck satellite has discovered a bridge of hot gas that connects galaxy clusters Abell 399 (lower center) and Abell 401 (top left). The galaxy pair is located about a billion light-years from Earth, and the gas bridge extends approximately 10 million light-years between them. The image shows the two galaxy clusters as seen …
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The giant planet puts on its best appearance of 2012 around December 2. By Liz Kruesi of Astronomy Magazine The largest planet in the solar system, Jupiter, reaches maximum brightness the night of December 2. On that date, its configuration puts it opposite the Sun in our sky — this is called opposition. Jupiter then …
Debris from Halley’s Comet gives birth to one of 2012’s best meteor showers. By Michael E. Bakich Prospects look good for the peak of this year’s Orionid meteor shower, which occurs the night of October 20/21. Streaking swiftly across the sky, tiny bits of rock and metal burn up as meteors. Although Earth constantly sweeps …
