Cool astronomy photos

Fid · Post by **Fid** » Wed Feb 16, 2022 4:12 pm

There is still plenty of time for catastrophic failure. Be patient.

Anaxagoras · Post by **Anaxagoras** » Thu Mar 17, 2022 3:47 am

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/telescope_alignment_evaluation_image_labeled.png

This is from the Webb. You can click to embiggen.

It's basically in pretty good focus now although there is more fine tuning and calibration of the various instruments to be done.

Amazing that nothing really went wrong. Has Murphy taken a holiday? :notsure:

The star in the center of the image is 100 times dimmer than anything that could be discerned with the naked eye, even under the most favorable stargazing conditions. Here, it's almost too bright.

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa ... ccessfully

Anaxagoras · Post by **Anaxagoras** » Sun Mar 27, 2022 9:32 am

https://www.universetoday.com/wp-conten ... 0x1200.jpg

New Radio Images of Bizarre “Odd Radio Circles” Which are Vastly Bigger Than the Milky Way

Known as Odd Radio Circles, or ORCs, they are roughly a million light-years across, which is about ten times wider than the Milky Way. Observations show that ORCs are centered around an elliptical galaxy, which suggests a galactic connection. It has been suggested that ORCs are formed by shock waves triggered by a powerful event such as a gamma-ray burst or fast radio burst, but given the size of ORCs, these events would need to have been triggered very far in the past. And shock waves can typically be seen in other wavelengths such as infrared and x-rays, but ORCs are only seen in radio light.

But a new study suggests other possible origins. Using the MeerKAT radio telescope, the team captured new data from one of the six confirmed ORCs, creating the highest resolution image so far. This revealed ring structures not previously seen. The team also measured the polarization of light from the ORC, which helped them narrow down possible causes.

Based on the observations, the light is consistent with that of synchrotron radiation. This occurs when charged particles are caught within a magnetic field. As the particles spiral along magnetic field lines, they emit a faint radio light. This often occurs with diffuse plasma, and it suggests a spherical shell gas was pushed away from the galaxy either through a rapid period of star production or the merger of supermassive black holes.

Bruce · Post by **Bruce** » Fri Apr 01, 2022 10:46 am

No one wants to say it, but I will.

Those look like plasma arcs following magnetic field lines, except the magnetic field surrounds a galaxy, making it profoundly huge.

I don't mind calling out what I see. I remember telling my high school science teacher that spiral galaxies looked just like water going down a drain and asking if that could mean there is a huge black hole in the center of each spiral galaxy. This was before anyone was taking black holes seriously as real objects. The teacher and my classmates all laughed, but who's laughing now?

No one. No one is laughing because super massive black holes and super huge magnetic fields surrounding galaxies still don't pay the bills, which is why I didn't pursue astro physics as a career.

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/disne ... tzFull.jpg

And unlike Heinz Doofenshmirtz, I don't have alimony from a rich ex-wife to fund my mad scientist interests, but I wish I did. :(

sparks · Post by **sparks** » Fri Apr 01, 2022 2:43 pm

Always good to hear from you Bruce! Thanks.

robinson · Post by **robinson** » Fri Apr 01, 2022 2:55 pm

Bruce wrote: ↑Fri Apr 01, 2022 10:46 am No one is laughing because super massive black holes and super huge magnetic fields surrounding galaxies still don't pay the bills, which is why I didn't pursue astro physics as a career.

Same here.

My "most hated" hypothesis was that unseen dust and gas was the real dark matter, and of course my objection to the solution to Olber's paradox did not make me popular with my betters.

https://spaceinsider.com/wp-content/upl ... 90x490.jpg

robinson · Post by **robinson** » Sat Apr 23, 2022 7:01 pm

https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/godd ... ctic-wings

Anaxagoras · Post by **Anaxagoras** » Fri Apr 29, 2022 7:54 am

https://archive.ph/MyWrW

Doctor X · Post by **Doctor X** » Thu May 12, 2022 5:17 pm

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpspr ... 85_top.jpg

– J.D.

Pyrrho · Post by **Pyrrho** » Thu May 12, 2022 9:21 pm

I am sure someone has already 'shopped it into goatse.

Ben Trovado · Post by **Ben Trovado** » Thu May 12, 2022 10:10 pm

Doctor X wrote: ↑Thu May 12, 2022 5:17 pm https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpspr ... 85_top.jpg

– J.D.

Big deal. ALL the pictures at my eye doctor's place look like that.

They have for the last 6-7 years. Before that, he had nice ones.

Hotarubi · Post by **Hotarubi** » Fri May 13, 2022 1:03 am

Pyrrho wrote: ↑Thu May 12, 2022 9:21 pm I am sure someone has already 'shopped it into goatse.

Challenge accept'd.

https://i.ibb.co/kHyHXdg/BySOiyW.png

Doctor X · Post by **Doctor X** » Fri May 13, 2022 1:44 am

All you did was take a self-portrait.

– J.D.

Hotarubi · Post by **Hotarubi** » Fri May 13, 2022 1:46 am

Only the internet generation feels a sense of superiority and pride about posting a goatsee first.

Hotarubi · Post by **Hotarubi** » Fri May 13, 2022 1:47 am

Doctor X wrote: ↑Fri May 13, 2022 1:44 am All you did was take a self-portrait.

– J.D.

You never complained about my gaseous ring.

Doctor X · Post by **Doctor X** » Fri May 13, 2022 6:47 pm

Except when you lit it.

– J.D.

Hotarubi · Post by **Hotarubi** » Fri May 13, 2022 6:54 pm

It wasn't my fault. It was the gravity in ma cavity.

Hotarubi · Post by **Hotarubi** » Fri May 13, 2022 6:56 pm

Yessssss. I thought of that one last night.

I was hoping...hoping someone would answer.

Anaxagoras · Post by **Anaxagoras** » Thu Jun 02, 2022 1:31 pm

First Images From NASA’s Webb Space Telescope Coming Soon

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, a partnership with ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), will release its first full-color images and spectroscopic data on July 12, 2022. As the largest and most complex observatory ever launched into space, Webb has been going through a six-month period of preparation before it can begin science work, calibrating its instruments to its space environment and aligning its mirrors. This careful process, not to mention years of new technology development and mission planning, has built up to the first images and data: a demonstration of Webb at its full power, ready to begin its science mission and unfold the infrared universe.

“As we near the end of preparing the observatory for science, we are on the precipice of an incredibly exciting period of discovery about our universe. The release of Webb’s first full-color images will offer a unique moment for us all to stop and marvel at a view humanity has never seen before,” said Eric Smith, Webb program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “These images will be the culmination of decades of dedication, talent, and dreams – but they will also be just the beginning.”

What Will We See?

While careful planning for Webb’s first full-color images has been underway for a long time, the new telescope is so powerful that it is difficult to predict exactly how the first images will look. “Of course, there are things we are expecting and hoping to see, but with a new telescope and this new high-resolution infrared data, we just won’t know until we see it,” said STScI’s lead science visuals developer Joseph DePasquale.

Early alignment imagery has already demonstrated the unprecedented sharpness of Webb’s infrared view. However, these new images will be the first in full color and the first to showcase Webb’s full science capabilities. In addition to imagery, Webb will be capturing spectroscopic data – detailed information astronomers can read in light. The first images package of materials will highlight the science themes that inspired the mission and will be the focus of its work: the early universe, the evolution of galaxies through time, the lifecycle of stars, and other worlds. All of Webb’s commissioning data – the data taken while aligning the telescope and preparing the instruments – will also be made publicly available.

Now we have a specific date to put on our calendars! Full color showcase images coming!

Hotarubi · Post by **Hotarubi** » Mon Jun 27, 2022 2:21 am

https://www.universetoday.com/156411/re ... on-nebula/

Anaxagoras · Post by **Anaxagoras** » Tue Jul 12, 2022 3:42 am

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/file ... 23-5mb.jpg

Details

Doctor X · Post by **Doctor X** » Tue Jul 12, 2022 4:28 am

*Must . . . not . . . make picture of Uranus joke. . . .*

– J.D.

Hotarubi · Post by **Hotarubi** » Tue Jul 12, 2022 1:24 pm

Webb V Hubble intergalactic showdown.

https://twitter.com/jason4short/status/ ... 43rI6KeKNQ

Looks like an upgraded smartphone.

Pyrrho · Post by **Pyrrho** » Wed Jul 13, 2022 4:19 pm

Twit: https://twitter.com/minskycharlotte/status/1547010999890640896

Pyrrho · Post by **Pyrrho** » Wed Jul 13, 2022 4:30 pm

I will not post any of the multitude of goatse adaptations of the new photos of the Ring Nebula. For my own good.

Hotarubi · Post by **Hotarubi** » Thu Jul 14, 2022 6:48 pm

Too easy.

Anaxagoras · Post by **Anaxagoras** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 2:40 pm

Anaxagoras · Post by **Anaxagoras** » Sat Aug 13, 2022 8:15 am

Anaxagoras · Post by **Anaxagoras** » Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:25 am

Anaxagoras · Post by **Anaxagoras** » Sun Aug 28, 2022 5:46 am

Some new images here:

https://ceers.github.io/ceers-first-images-release.html

Anaxagoras · Post by **Anaxagoras** » Sun Aug 28, 2022 2:50 pm

robinson · Post by **robinson** » Mon Aug 29, 2022 11:20 pm

Panic

Hotarubi · Post by **Hotarubi** » Tue Sep 27, 2022 10:47 am

Skip to 1:10:00 for the real fun. Sorta.

@ 1:16:26 I saw a grey. Prove me wrong.

Bruce · Post by **Bruce** » Thu Sep 29, 2022 3:23 am

Hotarubi wrote: ↑Tue Sep 27, 2022 10:47 am @ 1:16:26 I saw a grey. Prove me wrong.

(Sigh)

Zed, we"re going to need a containment unit, and get the kid a weapon.

If I could have your attention, I know you have a lit of questions, but all the answers you're looking for are right here in this little red dot.

Doctor X · Post by **Doctor X** » Thu Sep 29, 2022 3:27 am

Just so long as there is no Aerosmith "power ballad."

– J.D.

Hotarubi · Post by **Hotarubi** » Fri Sep 30, 2022 11:58 pm

Hotarubi wrote: ↑Tue Sep 27, 2022 10:47 am
@ 1:16:26 I saw a grey. Prove me wrong.

https://mobile.twitter.com/SenBillNelso ... 4827183104

Told you.

N.b. I just adore the first 6 seconds of this. For some reason it induces uncontrollable laughter.

Anaxagoras · Post by **Anaxagoras** » Sat Oct 01, 2022 11:23 am

Bill Nelson is a fossil. I thought you meant an alien.

Anaxagoras · Post by **Anaxagoras** » Sat Oct 01, 2022 11:25 am

Mysterious Europa Gets an Extreme Closeup From NASA’s Juno Probe

https://www.universetoday.com/wp-conten ... 0x1200.jpg

Doctor X · Post by **Doctor X** » Sat Oct 01, 2022 3:38 pm

Is the Juno Probe going to probe . . .

. . . *snicker snicker* . . .

. . . Uranus?

– J.D.

shemp · Post by **shemp** » Sat Oct 01, 2022 5:46 pm

Uranus has been probed many times by aliens.