New Space Economy’s Post

Carbon-rich dust shells forming & expanding in binary star system | Webb Telescope FriendsofNASA.org | Full-size image+article: https://lnkd.in/gQYCU6ez Astronomers using the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope have identified two stars responsible for generating carbon-rich dust a mere 5,000 light-years away in our own Milky Way galaxy. As the massive stars in Wolf-Rayet 140 swing past one another on their elongated orbits, their winds collide and produce the carbon-rich dust. For a few months every eight years, the stars form a new shell of dust that expands outward—and may eventually go on to become part of stars that form elsewhere in our galaxy. Astronomers have long tried to track down how elements like carbon that are essential for life. It has become widely distributed across the Universe. Now, the James Webb Space Telescope has examined one ongoing source of carbon-rich dust in our own Milky Way galaxy in greater detail: Wolf-Rayet 140—a system of two massive stars that follow a tight, elongated orbit. As they swing past one another (within the central white dot in the Webb images), the stellar winds from each star slam together, the material compresses, and carbon-rich dust forms. Webb’s latest observations show 17 dust shells shining in mid-infrared light that are expanding at regular intervals into the surrounding space. “The telescope confirmed that these dust shells are real, and its data also showed that the dust shells are moving outward at consistent velocities, revealing visible changes over incredibly short periods of time,” said Emma Lieb, the lead author of the new paper and a doctoral student at the University of Denver in Colorado. Every shell is racing away from the stars at more than 2,600 kilometres per second, almost 1% the speed of light. “We are used to thinking about events in space taking place slowly, over millions or billions of years,” added Jennifer Hoffman, a co-author and a professor at the University of Denver. “In this system, the observatory is showing that the dust shells are expanding from one year to the next.” “Seeing the real-time movement of these shells between Webb’s observations that were taken only 13 months apart is truly remarkable,” said Olivia Jones, a co-author at the UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh. “These new results are giving us a first glimpse of the potential role of such massive binaries as factories of dust in the Universe.” Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, E. Lieb (University of Denver), R. Lau (NSF NOIRLab), J. Hoffman (University of Denver) Release Date: Jan. 13, 2025 ESA Hubble and Webb Space Telescopes NASA Goddard Space Flight Center #NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #WolfRayet140 #CarbonDustShells #CarbonDustRings #StellarWinds #JamesWebb #WebbSpaceTelescope #JWST #Cosmos #Universe #UnfoldTheUniverse #ESA #Europe #CSA #Canada #JPL #Caltech #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Infographic #STEM #Education

Carbon-rich dust shells forming & expanding in binary star system | Webb Telescope FriendsofNASA.org | Full-size image+article: https://lnkd.in/gQYCU6ez Astronomers using the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope have identified two stars responsible for generating carbon-rich dust a mere 5,000 light-years away in our own Milky Way galaxy. As the massive stars in Wolf-Rayet 140 swing past one another on their elongated orbits, their winds collide and produce the carbon-rich dust. For a few months every eight years, the stars form a new shell of dust that expands outward—and may eventually go on to become part of stars that form elsewhere in our galaxy. Astronomers have long tried to track down how elements like carbon that are essential for life. It has become widely distributed across the Universe. Now, the James Webb Space Telescope has examined one ongoing source of carbon-rich dust in our own Milky Way galaxy in greater detail: Wolf-Rayet 140—a system of two massive stars that follow a tight, elongated orbit. As they swing past one another (within the central white dot in the Webb images), the stellar winds from each star slam together, the material compresses, and carbon-rich dust forms. Webb’s latest observations show 17 dust shells shining in mid-infrared light that are expanding at regular intervals into the surrounding space. “The telescope confirmed that these dust shells are real, and its data also showed that the dust shells are moving outward at consistent velocities, revealing visible changes over incredibly short periods of time,” said Emma Lieb, the lead author of the new paper and a doctoral student at the University of Denver in Colorado. Every shell is racing away from the stars at more than 2,600 kilometres per second, almost 1% the speed of light. “We are used to thinking about events in space taking place slowly, over millions or billions of years,” added Jennifer Hoffman, a co-author and a professor at the University of Denver. “In this system, the observatory is showing that the dust shells are expanding from one year to the next.” “Seeing the real-time movement of these shells between Webb’s observations that were taken only 13 months apart is truly remarkable,” said Olivia Jones, a co-author at the UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh. “These new results are giving us a first glimpse of the potential role of such massive binaries as factories of dust in the Universe.” Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, E. Lieb (University of Denver), R. Lau (NSF NOIRLab), J. Hoffman (University of Denver) Release Date: Jan. 13, 2025 #NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #WolfRayet140 #CarbonDustShells #CarbonDustRings #StellarWinds #JamesWebb #WebbSpaceTelescope #JWST #Cosmos #Universe #UnfoldTheUniverse #ESA #Europe #CSA #Canada #JPL #Caltech #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Infographic #STEM #Education

Five reasons why astronomy is important to our future in space.

New Coordination System Allows Satellite Internet and Radio Astronomy to Share the Sky, Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 10, 2024 Astronomers rely on clear skies and undisturbed frequencies to explore the universe. But as satellite technology grows, so does the potential for interference with these sensitive observations. A new collaboration between the U.S. National Science Foundation's National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) and SpaceX demonstrates how radio astronomers and satellite internet providers

Breakthrough in Daytime Astronomy with the Huntsman Telescope 🌞🔭 Astronomers at Macquarie University have achieved a significant breakthrough: observing stars, satellites, and more during daylight hours! Using innovative light filters on the Huntsman Telescope, they’ve overcome the challenge of sunlight washing out celestial objects. Why It's Cool: 🌟 24/7 Observation: No more waiting for nightfall to study the stars. 🛰️ Satellite Tracking: Helps prevent space collisions with continuous monitoring. Why It Matters: 🌌 Continuous Monitoring: Enables long-term studies of stars like Betelgeuse, which is nearing a supernova. 📡 Satellite Tracking: Essential for tracking 10,000+ active satellites and preventing collisions. This breakthrough opens new doors for uninterrupted, 24/7 observation of the cosmos. 🌠✨ The action happening at Siding Springs Observatory in Coonabarabran, Australia is changing the game for astronomy! Are you excited about the future of astronomy? Reshare ♻️ if you think this is awesome! #Astronomy #Innovation #HuntsmanTelescope #DaytimeObservation #SpaceExploration #Astrophotography

Proposed budget cuts put NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory in jeopardy of an uncertain future #NASA The future of the Chandra X-ray spacecraft, a vital tool in modern astronomy, is in jeopardy due to NASA's proposed budget cuts for FY25. Chandra's nested mirrors, with a precision of a few atoms, allow it to record high-resolution X-ray images, revealing details of the universe's darkest objects. Read More: https://lnkd.in/g5DYfvCh

#Infrared astronomy revolutionized space exploration, revealing hidden cosmic phenomena. From early discoveries to advanced space telescopes, it enables the study of cool objects, distant galaxies, and exoplanets. https://lnkd.in/eDtHTSBn

SARAO's Groundbreaking Digitizer Technology: Advancing Radio Astronomy At the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), we are constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation in radio astronomy. Our cutting-edge Digitizer technology is a key component of the MeerKAT telescope, transforming signals from outer space into digital data for in-depth analysis. #Astronomy #Innovation #MeerKAT #SARAO #Digitizer #RadioAstronomy #ScienceAndTech #SpaceExploration #SARAOCommercialisationOffice

Padayatchi.Foundation TargetGroup.Ltd: NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration is planning to create an artificial Star and launch it into Space Matrix. https://lnkd.in/gQzyenUJ BlockSys.ME or BlockSysIO.IN NASA is set to embark on an innovative mission to launch an artificial star into space, aiming to enhance the accuracy of astronomical measurements. This mission, named Landolt, involves a device about the size of a toaster, equipped with eight lasers. Its primary function is to simulate the light from stars and other celestial objects, such as supernovas, by directing laser beams towards instruments on Earth. The $19.5 million Landolt mission seeks to help scientists achieve more precise measurements of real stars. Researchers believe the data gathered could also contribute to the study of dark energy, the mysterious force thought to be driving the accelerated expansion of the universe. David Ciardi, deputy director of the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute and an astronomer at Caltech, emphasized the mission's significance. He explained that current instruments can only measure the true brightness of stars to within a few per cent. The Landolt mission aims to improve this accuracy by more than tenfold, which will enhance our understanding of stars and the planets orbiting them. Accurate measurements of stellar brightness are crucial for a better understanding of these distant worlds and their potential to host life. The mission is named in honour of the late astronomer Arlo Landolt, known for his extensive catalogues of stellar brightness, which have been a cornerstone in astronomy since 1973. Daniel Huber, an associate astronomer and professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, highlighted LANDOLT AND BROWN's lasting impact on the astronomy. The artificial star created by the Landolt mission will serve as a reference point. By comparing its known brightness to that of distant stars, scientists can develop new, more accurate catalogues of stellar brightness. Although the artificial star won't be visible to the naked eye, it can be observed through a telescope. In addition to improving stellar measurements, the SCI LANDLOTmission aims to enhance our understanding of the universe's expansion. By studying the brightness of distant stars, researchers hope to gain insights into dark energy, one of the most significant mysteries in astronomy today. The spacecraft carrying the artificial star is scheduled to launch in 2029. It will orbit the Earth.Org at a geostationary altitude of 22,236 miles, allowing it to remain fixed over a single point on the planet's surface. Brice Tayar, an assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Florida and a member of the mission team, stressed the mission's fundamental importance. Mahindra.Group #Riser🌱