Space and Astronomy Megathread (MERGED) - Part 1

[:eek:]

Artemis 2 moon mission is on track, but questions remain about Artemis 3 | Space

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

NASA - Webb Reveals Colors of Earendel, Most Distant Star Ever Detected

 

[:eek:]

Exoplanets in Trappist-1 system may be more habitable than previously thought, new study suggests | Space

 

[squeekness]

Mars is rotating more quickly, NASA mission finds | CNN

 

[Brutikus]

Arp 93: A Cosmic Embrace
Image Credit & Copyright: Mike Selby, Observatorio El Sauce

Explanation: Locked in a cosmic embrace, two large galaxies are merging at the center of this sharp telescopic field of view. The interacting system cataloged as Arp 93 is some 200 million light-years distant toward the constellation Aquarius in planet Earth's sky. Individually the galaxies are identified as NGC 7285 (right) and NGC 7284. Their bright cores are still separated by about 20,000 light-years or so, but a massive tidal stream, a result of their ongoing gravitational interaction, extends over 200,000 light-years toward the bottom of the frame. Interacting galaxies do lookpeculiar, but are now understood to be common in the Universe. In fact, closer to home, the large spiral Andromeda Galaxy is known to be approaching the Milky Way. Arp 93 may well present an analog of their distant future cosmic embrace.

 

[Brutikus]

A Cosmic Zoo in Cepheus
Image Credit & Copyright: Yann Sainty

Explanation: Sprawling emission nebulae IC 1396 and Sh2-129 mix glowing interstellar gas and dark dust clouds in this nearly 12 degree wide field of view toward the northern constellation Cepheus the King. Energized by its central star IC 1396 (left), is hundreds of light-years across and some 3,000 light-years distant. The nebula's intriguing dark shapes include a winding dark cloud popularly known as the Elephant's Trunk below and right of center. Tens of light-years long, it holds the raw material for star formation and is known to hide protostars within. Located a similar distance from planet Earth, the bright knots and swept back ridges of emission of Sh2-129 on the right suggest its popular name, the Flying Bat Nebula. Within the Flying Bat, the most recently recognized addition to this royal cosmic zoo is the faint bluish emission from Ou4, the Giant Squid Nebula. Near the lower right edge of the frame, the suggestive dark marking on the sky cataloged as Barnard 150 is also known as the dark Seahorse Nebula.

 

[squeekness]

Lol, I love how they use animals to name such cool things.

 

[Morg]

Russia's first lunar mission in 47 years smashes into the moon in failure

 

[Dr.]

Russia's first lunar mission in 47 years smashes into the moon in failure

That’s too bad. A successful mission would have been a nice precedent for the American Artemis program — showing that the dynamics of lunar landings are understood relatively well. India will attempt a similar robotic landing in a couple of days. Hope that goes better. (Their last attempt, in 2019, crashed.)

 

[squeekness]

It is a bummer. I'm genuinely surprised we haven't had a significant presence on our moon by now.

 

[:eek:]

Artemis 3 rocket hardware arrives in Florida for crewed moon mission | Space

 

[Dr.]

Chandrayaan-3 landing: India becomes the fourth country ever to land a spacecraft on the moon | CNN

And the first craft to land in the Moon's south pole region.

 

[squeekness]

At least someone is making progress.

 

[Brutikus]

The Meteor and the Galaxy
Credit & Copyright: Jose Pedrero

Explanation: It came from outer space. It -- in this case a sand-sized bit of a comet nucleus -- was likely ejected many years ago from Sun-orbiting Comet Swift-Tuttle, but then continued to orbit the Sun alone. When the Earth crossed through this orbit, the piece of comet debris impacted the atmosphere of our fair planet and was seen as a meteor. This meteor deteriorated, causing gases to be emitted that glowed in colors emitted by its component elements. The featured image was taken last week from Castilla La Mancha, Spain, during the peak night of the Perseids meteor shower. The picturesque meteor streak happened to appear in the only one of 50 frames that also included the Andromeda galaxy. Stars dot the frame, each much further away than the meteor. Compared to the stars, the Andromeda galaxy (M31) is, again, much further away.

 

[:eek:]

Just 22 people are needed to colonize Mars — as long as they are the right personality type, study claims | Live Science

 

[squeekness]

Seems an awfully small number......

 

[:eek:]

India's Chandrayaan-3 moon rover reveals surprising sulfur find in lunar south pole soil | Space

 

[Iceman]

Just 22 people are needed to colonize Mars — as long as they are the right personality type, study claims | Live Science

Good to hear more “agreeables” and less “neurotics” gets better results.

 

[Dr.]

NASA’s LRO Observes Crater Likely from Luna 25 Impact

A comparison of photos from June 2020 and August 24 of this year. The new crater (dead center of image) could be a natural meteor impact. But it's much more likely to be the doomed Russian lander.

 

[squeekness]

Well, at least the Russians can say they left their mark on the moon, lol. :P

 

[:eek:]

Top Russian space scientist dies after being ‘poisoned by mushrooms’

 

[Brutikus]

The Crew-7 Nebula
Image Credit & Copyright: Michael Seeley

Explanation: Not the James Webb Space Telescope's latest view of a distant galactic nebula, this illuminated cloud of gas and dust dazzled early morning spacecoast skygazers on August 26. The snapshot was taken about 2 minutes after the launch of of a Falcon 9 rocket on the SpaceX Crew-7 mission, the seventh commercial crew rotation mission for the International Space Station. It captures drifting plumes and exhaust from the separated first and second stage illuminated against the still dark skies. Near the center of the image, within the ragged blueish ring, are two bright points of light. The lower one is the second stage of the rocket carrying 4 humans to space in a Crew Dragon spacecraft. The bright point above is the Falcon 9 first stage booster orienting itself for the trip back to Landing Zone-1 at Cape Canaveral, planet Earth.

 

[Iceman]

Mars is rotating more quickly, NASA mission finds | CNN

Very interesting how things like changes in ice can have knock on effects to planet orbits over time.

 

[Brutikus]

NGC 7023: The Iris Nebula
Image Credit & Copyright: Lorand Fenyes

Explanation: These cosmic clouds have blossomed 1,300 light-years away in the fertile starfields of the constellation Cepheus. Called the Iris Nebula, NGC 7023 is not the only nebula to evoke the imagery of flowers. Still, this deep telescopic image shows off the Iris Nebula's range of colors and symmetries embedded in surrounding fields of interstellar dust. Within the Iris itself, dusty nebular material surrounds a hot, young star. The dominant color of the brighter reflection nebula is blue, characteristic of dust grains reflecting starlight. Central filaments of the reflection nebula glow with a faint reddish photoluminescence as some dust grains effectively convert the star's invisible ultraviolet radiation to visible red light. Infrared observations indicate that this nebula contains complex carbon molecules known as PAHs. The dusty blue petals of the Iris Nebula span about six light-years.

 

[:eek:]

Up to half black holes that rip apart stars and devour them 'burp back up' stellar remains years later | Live Science