August 8, 2011 - Washington Post
Ever wonder what makes meteor showers splash across the sky? Or what makes them so consistent? Or why they were dubbed "shooting stars"?
Join professional astronomer Scott Fisher as he discusses the latest phenomenon, the Persieds Meteor Shower - an annual summer phenomenon that is expected to producer 20 to 25 meteors (shooting stars) per hour. He will be online Monday, Aug. 8, at 1 p.m. ET, to chat about the meteor shower, when the best time to view the shooting stars are and more.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Cosmic Pyrotechnics from a Celestial Belch
July 29, 2011 - Time
The universe is capable of some pretty spectacular displays, but few things approach the cosmic grandeur of a planetary nebula. The "planetary" part has to do with the formation's shape, which is roughly spherical, like a planet. But these objects are a lot bigger than any planet or even any star. They're enormous clouds of gas — like smoke rings, but bubble-shaped — puffed out by sun-like stars undergoing their death throes. In 5 billion years or so, our own sun may well emit a gorgeous belch of its own, perhaps to be noted by alien astronomers somewhere out in the Milky Way.
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The universe is capable of some pretty spectacular displays, but few things approach the cosmic grandeur of a planetary nebula. The "planetary" part has to do with the formation's shape, which is roughly spherical, like a planet. But these objects are a lot bigger than any planet or even any star. They're enormous clouds of gas — like smoke rings, but bubble-shaped — puffed out by sun-like stars undergoing their death throes. In 5 billion years or so, our own sun may well emit a gorgeous belch of its own, perhaps to be noted by alien astronomers somewhere out in the Milky Way.
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Wednesday, July 27, 2011
A glowing bubbly bauble in space
July 25, 2011 - Discover (Bad Astronomy Blog)
Look, I’ve been around the block a few times. I’ve spent my whole life as an astronomer, so I’ve seen pretty much every big, bright object there is in the sky.
However, "pretty much" != "all". It’s still possible to surprise me, and folks, let me tell you: the Gemini telescope’s observation of the nebula Kronberger 61 did just that!
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Look, I’ve been around the block a few times. I’ve spent my whole life as an astronomer, so I’ve seen pretty much every big, bright object there is in the sky.
However, "pretty much" != "all". It’s still possible to surprise me, and folks, let me tell you: the Gemini telescope’s observation of the nebula Kronberger 61 did just that!
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"Soccer Ball" Nebula Discovered by Amateur Astronomer
July 25, 2011 - National Geographic
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Amateur astronomer Matthias Kronberger discovered the soccer-ball nebula, called Kronberger 61, in January 2011 after poring over digitized photos of sky surveys from the 1980s. After he alerted professional astronomers, the Gemini Observatory in Hawaii zoomed in on the region to create the new, color-composite image.
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Amateur astronomer Matthias Kronberger discovered the soccer-ball nebula, called Kronberger 61, in January 2011 after poring over digitized photos of sky surveys from the 1980s. After he alerted professional astronomers, the Gemini Observatory in Hawaii zoomed in on the region to create the new, color-composite image.
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What happens when a star dies?
July 25, 2011 - West Hawaii Today
This nebula could clear up some questions astronomers have about what happens when a star dies.
Astronomers at the Gemini Observatory, working with an amateur astronomer, have made a discovery that could help the astronomical community learn about planetary nebulae, the large gas clouds scientists say are likely formed at the end of stars' lives, similar to the sun. Scientists believe the nebulae form when the aging stars become unstable and discharge gas from their outer layers.
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This nebula could clear up some questions astronomers have about what happens when a star dies.
Astronomers at the Gemini Observatory, working with an amateur astronomer, have made a discovery that could help the astronomical community learn about planetary nebulae, the large gas clouds scientists say are likely formed at the end of stars' lives, similar to the sun. Scientists believe the nebulae form when the aging stars become unstable and discharge gas from their outer layers.
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Amateur Astronomer Discovers Blue-Raspberry-Shaped Planetary Nebula
July 26, 2011 - Popular Science
Combing through the night sky and looking for possible planetary nebulae is tough, tedious work. NASA actually works with several amateur astronomy groups to examine the findings from its Kepler space observatory, so sometimes, the big discoveries are made by amateurs--including this one, the newest known planetary nebula, named Kronberger 61.
This image, provided by the Gemini Observatory, shows the "ionized shell of expelled gas," colored blue due to the double-ionization of the oxygen. If you look closely, you can see the star at the center of the system--it's the bright bluish dot near the center of the blue-raspberry-like shell.
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Combing through the night sky and looking for possible planetary nebulae is tough, tedious work. NASA actually works with several amateur astronomy groups to examine the findings from its Kepler space observatory, so sometimes, the big discoveries are made by amateurs--including this one, the newest known planetary nebula, named Kronberger 61.
This image, provided by the Gemini Observatory, shows the "ionized shell of expelled gas," colored blue due to the double-ionization of the oxygen. If you look closely, you can see the star at the center of the system--it's the bright bluish dot near the center of the blue-raspberry-like shell.
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In a partnership between amateur and professional astronomers, the recent discovery of a dying star’s last gasps could help resolve a decades-old deba
July 25, 2011 - Honolulu Star Advertiser
A striking image of a planetary nebula taken by the Gemini Observatory on Mauna Kea is adding fuel to a fiery debate about the last gasps of dying stars.
Nebulae form after nuclear fusion in a late-life star can no longer counter the pressure of gravity and the star becomes unstable, pulsates and throws off a shell of gas. The expanding gas is ionized and glows due to the radiation still emitted by the central star.
Some scientists say our sun will share this fate.
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A striking image of a planetary nebula taken by the Gemini Observatory on Mauna Kea is adding fuel to a fiery debate about the last gasps of dying stars.
Nebulae form after nuclear fusion in a late-life star can no longer counter the pressure of gravity and the star becomes unstable, pulsates and throws off a shell of gas. The expanding gas is ionized and glows due to the radiation still emitted by the central star.
Some scientists say our sun will share this fate.
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