The sun. It's big, hot, and apparently, occasionally subject to some serious turbulence.
Scientists at NASA have confirmed earlier observations of wavelike events on the solar surface as being truly stellar tsunamis. NASA is good at putting out really great press releases, and they know a heck of a lot more about this than I do, so I’m just going to point you to their site. Make sure you check out the videos!
The sun is awesome. “Some matter in a ball,” indeed.
-Neil
Just look at him. As majestic as the Milky Way.
Holy Moley did I cry with joy when I learned this. Our friends at Hulu have put up all thirteen episodes of Carl Sagan’s magnum opus, Cosmos. If you’re unfamiliar with Cosmos, it’s an awesome series. Sagan explores a different topic each episode, outlining a particular feature of our wonderful universe with his characteristic awe and infectious enthusiasm. Stars, galaxies, the formation of the Earth? The origins of the elements, the subtleties of star death? You’ll find it here! I whole heartedly recommend you watch every single episode. Dang, it’s just so cool!
Go now! Go and be entertained and educated!
-Neil
This spectacular image of a jet of gas and dust in the constellation Carina was just released by the Hubble team.
Is it Christmas already? Hubble has recovered from a May 2009 service mission and its attendant scientists have released new data and images. Go check it out on the Hubble website, here.
The Earth, my home and yours. It looks lonely, doesn't it?
I recently received an email. It’s a good one, and the discussion it concerns is important.
Sam writes:
Hey guys,
I really enjoyed the Hubble post. That was a pretty amazing video! Between that, and seeing “District 9″ this weekend, I was wondering what you thought the odds are that we are alone in the universe?
Thanks,
Sam
The Hubble Space Telescope. It's a telescope, in space, named after a guy called Hubble. What more do you need to know?
Did you know that the Hubble Space Telescope is awesome? Probably. But did you know you have access to a huge gallery of amazing images taken with everyone’s favorite orbiting telescope? Maybe not! Well now you do! Go here for a hugenormous gallery of stellar photographs of celestial bodies that are truly out of this world. Check below the break for a sampling.
The Crab Nebula, the remains of a supernova which exploded in 1054 AD. This picture was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.
You are a star.
I am too. Every single one of us is. Every single living thing on Earth- not to mention the Earth itself- is made from materials forged in the furnace of a red super-giant star that lived more than four and a half billion years ago.
