This week in space
New ‘super-Earth’ is 36 light-years distant, might hold water, astronomers say
This is awesome, I love-love-LOVE that the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy and other groups keep finding these extrasolar planets!
Astronomers on Monday announced the discovery of 50 new planets circling stars beyond the sun, including one “super-Earth” that is the right distance from its star to possibly have water.
The planet, dubbed HD85512b, circles an orange star somewhat smaller and cooler than our sun about 36 light-years away. The star, HD85512, is visible in the southern sky in the constellation Vela.The newly found planet circles this star every 59 days, putting it at the edge of the “habitable zone” where water could exist if atmospheric conditions were right.
The newly found planet circles this star every 59 days, putting it at the edge of the “habitable zone” where water could exist if atmospheric conditions were right.
Read more about it HERE and HERE
50 new exoplanets discovered by HARPS
Again like I said above 'I love-love-LOVE that the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy and other groups keep finding these extrasolar planets!' in this case HARPS at ESO’s La Silla Observatory.
Astronomers using ESO's world-leading exoplanet hunter HARPS have today announced a rich haul of more than 50 new exoplanets, including 16 super-Earths, one of which orbits at the edge of the habitable zone of its star. By studying the properties of all the HARPS planets found so far, the team has found that about 40% of stars similar to the Sun have at least one planet lighter than Saturn.
Read more about it HERE
Russia sets space crew's return after crash
This upstes me, we are basically abandoning the International Space Station.
Russia said Monday it would return three of the six international crew members on board the International Space Station to Earth later this week despite no immediate plans to send up their replacement.
Read more about it HERE
Astronomers find extreme weather on an alien world
I wonder why it has to be a storm, and perhaps not molten surface or even some sort of dyson sphere around it?
A University of Toronto-led team of astronomers has observed extreme brightness changes on a nearby brown dwarf that may indicate a storm grander than any seen yet on a planet. Because old brown dwarfs and giant planets have similar atmospheres, this finding could shed new light on weather phenomena of extra-solar planets.
Read more about it HERE
Deep space capsule comes alive with first weld
Is this a sign of hope of continued manned space flight and exploration?
Construction began this week on the first new NASA spacecraft built to take humans to orbit since space shuttle Endeavour left the factory in 1991, and marked a significant milestone in carrying out the ambitious exploration vision President Obama and Congress have laid out for the nation.
Read more about it HERE
