Haunting portrait: Webb reveals dust and structure in Pillars of Creation
Friday, 28 October 2022 13:00
This is not an ethereal landscape of time-forgotten tombs. Nor are these soot-tinged fingers reaching out. These pillars, flush with gas and dust, ‘bury’ stars that are slowly forming over many millennia. The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has snapped this eerie, extremely dusty view of the Pillars of Creation in mid-infrared light – showing us a new view of a familiar landscape.
Webb’s instruments showcase the Pillars of Creation (slider)
Friday, 28 October 2022 13:00
The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has revealed two new views of the Pillars of Creation, which was made famous by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope in 1995, and again in 2014.
On the left is Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) image. Interstellar dust cloaks the scene. And while mid-infrared light specialises in detailing where dust is, the stars aren’t bright enough at these wavelengths to appear. Instead, these looming, leaden-hued pillars of gas and dust gleam at their edges, hinting at the activity within. Learn more about this image here.
On the right is Webb’s
Webb's portrait of the Pillars of Creation (MIRI)
Friday, 28 October 2022 13:00
The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope’s mid-infrared view of the Pillars of Creation strikes a chilling tone. Thousands of stars that exist in this region disappear from view — and seemingly endless layers of gas and dust become the centrepiece.
The detection of dust by Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) is extremely important — dust is a major ingredient for star formation. Many stars are actively forming in these dense blue-grey pillars. When knots of gas and dust with sufficient mass form in these regions, they begin to collapse under their own gravitational attraction, slowly heat up, and eventually
Week in images: 24-28 October 2022
Friday, 28 October 2022 12:15
Week in images: 24-28 October 2022
Discover our week through the lens
Next Artemis 1 launch attempt on schedule for mid-November
Friday, 28 October 2022 10:27
Preparations for the next attempt to launch the Space Launch System rocket on the Artemis 1 mission remain on schedule for the middle of November, but agency officials said launch opportunities may be limited if it slips to later in the month because of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Chinese commercial remote sensing satellite firm to double size of constellation
Friday, 28 October 2022 09:31
Chinese commercial firm Changguang Satellite Technology says it will expand its under-construction Jilin-1 constellation from 138 to 300 satellites.
The post Chinese commercial remote sensing satellite firm to double size of constellation appeared first on SpaceNews.
US to 'hold Russia accountable' if satellites attacked: W.House
Friday, 28 October 2022 09:26
NASA generated $71 billion in economic impact in 2021
Friday, 28 October 2022 09:26
Meteorite that smashed into Mars shook planet
Friday, 28 October 2022 09:26
Sidus Space signs MOU with Mission Space for Space Weather Intelligence Data Partnership
Friday, 28 October 2022 09:26
Mini-radar for asteroid CubeSat
Friday, 28 October 2022 08:37
SOLARIS Industry Day - update
Friday, 28 October 2022 08:34
To support the preparation of the SOLARIS initiative on Space-Based Solar Power, to be proposed at ESA's Ministerial Council next month, the Agency organised the first SOLARIS Industry Day.
The event took place at the ESTEC technical centre in the Netherlands and online on 18 October 2022.
Presentations from SOLARIS Industry Day
Friday, 28 October 2022 08:34
To support the preparation of the SOLARIS initiative on Space-Based Solar Power, to be proposed at ESA's Ministerial Council next month, the Agency organised the first SOLARIS Industry Day.
The event took place at the ESTEC technical centre in the Netherlands and online on 18 October 2022.
Earth from Space: Svalbard
Friday, 28 October 2022 07:00
Extremely high temperatures recorded this summer caused record melting across Svalbard – one of the fastest warming places on the planet. The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission captured this rare, cloud-free acquisition of the Norwegian archipelago in August 2022.
Scientists choose first Mars samples worthy of return to Earth
Friday, 28 October 2022 05:40
The first samples to be taken from Mars and sent to Earth will be sourced from Jezero Crater, where the Perseverance rover has been exploring the crater floor and nearby ancient delta. The location of an initial cache of samples, called Three Forks, is flat and free of obstacles – an ideal spot for a Mars Sample Return landing and pickup operations.