Carnival of Space #240
Published March 14, 2012
Carnival of Space - Image Credit: Jason Major
Carnival of Space #239 is available at Links Through Space!
This edition features great articles about:
Check it out at: http://linksthroughspace.blogspot.com/2012/03/carnival-of-space-240-here-at-links.html
Remember, if you’ve got a space-related blog, you really should consider joining the Carnival. It’s easy to participate – just email an entry to carnivalofspace@gmail.com, and the next host will link to it.
By participating, your writing will get more exposure, and you will also meet other bloggers in the space/astronomy community, after all, community is what blogging is all about.
You can also sign your blog up to host the Carnival of Space by sending an e-mail to the address above.
Stellar Mass Black Hole Consumes Neighboring Star
Published March 13, 2012
This artist's impression shows a binary system containing a stellar-mass black hole called IGR J17091-3624, or IGR J17091 for short.
Image Credit: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss
Scientists were able to calculate their estimates with spectral data (intensity of X-rays at different energies) taken by Chandra in 2011. By studying how ions emit and absorb differently, researchers can better understand their behavior. Additionally, evidence suggests that the wind coming from the disk of gas around the black hole might be carrying more material than the black hole is capturing.
The process to create stellar-mass black holes is thought to be when stars five to ten times the mass of our Sun experience a collapse at the end of their lifetime.
If you’d like to learn more about the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, visit: http://www.chandra.harvard.edu/index.html
Source:Chandra Mission Images
Orion’s Infrared Rainbow
Published March 12, 2012
The above image is comprised of infrared data from the Spitzer Space Telescope (blue) and Herschel Space Observatory (green and red).
Image Credit: NASA/ESA/JPL-Caltech/IRAM
Since Herschel is designed to observe in longer infrared wavelengths than Spitzer, combining the data helps astronomers better understand the processes taking place inside the Orion Nebula. The Spitzer data shows hotter objects in blue, whereas the cooler material (dust) in the Herschel data is shown in green and red.
If you’d like to learn more about the Spitzer Space Telescope, visit: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/mission
Read more about the Herschel Space Observatory at: http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=16
Source: NASA Image of the Day Gallery
Carnival of Space #239
Published March 7, 2012
Carnival of Space
Carnival of Space #239 is available at Vintage Space!
This edition features great articles about:
Check it out at: http://vintagespace.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/carnival-of-space-239/
Remember, if you’ve got a space-related blog, you really should consider joining the Carnival. It’s easy to participate – just email an entry to carnivalofspace@gmail.com, and the next host will link to it.
By participating, your writing will get more exposure, and you will also meet other bloggers in the space/astronomy community, after all, community is what blogging is all about.
You can also sign your blog up to host the Carnival of Space by sending an e-mail to the address above.
On the topic of Exoplanets…
Published March 7, 2012
The histogram summarizes the findings in the Feb. 27, 2012 Kepler Planet Candidate catalog release. Image Credit: NASA Ames/Wendy Stenzel
While we’re on the subject of exoplanets and the habitable zone, I thought I’d share this infographic from the Febuary 27th Kepler Planet Candidate catalog. Containing over 2,300 planet candidates, the catalog is comprised of objects identified between May 2009 and September 2010.
What is of particular interest is that out of 46 candidates found in the habitable zone, ten are nearly the same size as Earth.
Do Moons of Gas Giants Affect the Habitable Zone?
Published March 6, 2012
What a habitable moon orbiting a gas giant may look like.
A while back one of my plusketeers (Google+ follower) asked this question:
Do the parameters for the habitable zone change if we consider moons of gas giants?
I’ve been wondering about this (especially with all of the Kepler news the past couple of months), but can’t figure out how to search the all-knowing Google for an answer.
(related, the Drake Equation doesn’t seem to take habitable moons into account – should it?)
Many thanks!
This is actually a very interesting question, especially with the fact that I’m working VERY hard to specialize in Exoplanetary Science.
If you aren’t familiar with the Drake Equation, or how it may actually apply to exomoons, continue reading to learn more about the famous equation.
Additionally, I’ll discuss what conditions could make a habitable moon like “Pandora” as depicted in the blockbuster movie, Avatar, or the forest Moon of Endor as seen in Return of the Jedi
Continue reading