Astronomy Now – Page 249

Two families of comets found around nearby star

24 October 2014 Astronomy Now

ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile has been used to make the most complete census of comets around another star ever created.

Ring of Stellar Fire

24 October 2014 Astronomy Now

An image from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, taken in infrared light, shows where the action is taking place in the galaxy NGC 1291.

Latest images show spectacular streams of dust from Rosetta’s comet

24 October 2014 Astronomy Now

A new image from the European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission show a clearly visible increase in activity from comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

Live coverage of the partial solar eclipse

23 October 2014 Astronomy Now

Live coverage of the partial solar eclipse from NASA Television.

Hubble creates view of Comet Siding Spring alongside the red planet

23 October 2014 Astronomy Now

This composite Hubble Space Telescope image captures the positions of comet Siding Spring and Mars in a never-before-seen close passage of a comet.

North America gets ready for a partial solar eclipse

23 October 2014 Astronomy Now

A partial eclipse of the Sun is set to wow North Americans this afternoon (23 October) as the Moon’s silhouette will be seen to cover as much as 50 percent of the Sun from the USA, and up to 80 percent of the Sun in northern Canada.

Saturn’s moon Tethys ‘hangs like a droplet’ on the planet’s rings

18 October 2014 Astronomy Now

Like a drop of dew hanging on a leaf, Saturn’s moon Tethys appears to be stuck to the planet’s A and F rings in this view from the Cassini probe.

Observing the Moon: The Modern Astronomer’s Guide

18 October 2014 Astronomy Now

In this newly updated book, Gerald North gently walks the reader though the fascinating world that is our nearest neighbour in space.

Comet Siding Spring Animation

16 October 2014 Astronomy Now

This animation shows Comet Siding Spring’s path as it comes within 132,000 kilometres (82,000 miles) of Mars on 19 October 2014.

Rosetta captures a ‘selfie’ with comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko

15 October 2014 Astronomy Now

The camera on Rosetta’s Philae lander has snapped a ‘selfie’ with comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in the distance about 16 km away. The image was taken on 7 October and also captures the side of the Rosetta spacecraft and one of the 14 metre-long solar wings. Two images with different exposure times were combined to bring out the faint details in this very high contrast situation. The comet’s active ‘neck’ region is clearly visible, with streams of dust and gas extending away from the surface. Image: ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA.