SDSS J1254+0846 in x-rays (blue), and optical (yellow)
(Credits: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO/Green et al Optical: Carnegie Obs/Magellan/Baade Telescope/Mulchaey et al)

"This is really the first case in which you see two separate galaxies, both with quasars, that are clearly interacting," says Carnegie astronomer John Mulchaey who made observations crucial to understanding the galaxy merger.

"The model verifies the merger origin for this binary quasar system," Thomas Cox, now a fellow at the Carnegie Observatories, says, referring to computer simulations of the merging galaxies he produced. When Cox's model galaxies merged, they showed features remarkably similar to what Mulchaey observed in the Magellan images. "It also hints that this kind of galaxy interaction is a key component of the growth of black holes and production of quasars throughout our universe," Cox added.
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Read the rest of Caught in the Act! Merging Galaxies Create a Binary Quasar (457 words)

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Post tags: accretion disks, quasars, tidal streams

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STS 130 Crew of Endeavour poses for group portrait as they pause to smile and wave to well wishers prior to boarding Astrovan for transport to Launch Pad 39 A. They are dressed in their orange launch-and-entry suits, otherwise known as “pumpkin suits”. From left are Mission Specialists Robert Behnken, Nicholas Patrick, Stephen Robinson and Kathryn Hire; Pilot Terry Virts; and Commander George Zamka. Credit: Ken Kremer

(Editor's Note: Ken Kremer is in Florida for Universe Today covering the launch of Endeavour launch.)

Night literally turned to day as shuttle Endeavour roared off the pad early this morning Feb.8 at 4:14 AM beginning a 2 day chase to link up with the International Space Station and commence the STS 130 mission. It was like Endeavour had set the sky on fire !

Endeavour and her brave crew will deliver two new rooms that will provide a spectacular view of the Earth and cosmos as a fitting legacy to rival the spectacular light show put on today by NASA. Believe me, You must be beyond brave to voluntarily sit on top of such a terrifying beast and lie just a few meters distant from the fuel tanks providing the source of the scorching flames shooting out from the rocket engine nozzles beneath you. (...)
Read the rest of Sky on Fire as Endeavour Blasts to Space (750 words)

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Image Credit: NASA

That's the conclusion from a recent study of Ward and Brownlee's Rare Earth hypothesis by Duncan Forgan and Ken Rice, in which they made a toy galaxy, simulating the real one we live in, and ran it 30 times. In their toy galaxy, intelligent life formed on Earth-like planets only, just as it does in the Rare Earth hypothesis.

While the Forgan and Rice simulations are still limited and somewhat unrealistic, they give a better handle on SETI's chances for success than either the Drake equation or Fermi's "Where are they?"
(...)
Read the rest of If the Earth is Rare, We May Not Hear from ET (555 words)

© Jean Tate for Universe Today, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: aliens, life in the universe, Search for Life

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Pre-launch image of the Shuttle Training Aircraft doing weather reconnaissance over launchpad 39A. Credit: Romeo Durscher

During the early morning countdown for the launch of space shuttle Endeavour today, it was back and forth, yes and no, red and green, no and no-go. And all because of weather. As per standard procedure, an astronaut flies the Shuttle Training Aircraft to monitor weather conditions around the launchpad. Today it was especially important in helping make the decision if the weather was acceptable for launching the shuttle. Amazingly, photographer Romeo Durscher captured this beautiful shot as astronaut Chris Ferguson flew the STA right over launchpad 39A and shuttle Endeavour. Not only is the image gorgeous in its own right, but it also captures a pivotal moment in the launch countdown. The skies had just cleared of the low clouds that had been drifting in and out of the area all night, clearing the way for a spectacular night launch. This image and the memory of the fickle weather will stay with me always. New desktop! Get a larger version here.

Durscher is with the Solar Dynamics Observatory- Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager instrument team, and is looking forward to the upcoming launch of SDO on February 10th.

© nancy for Universe Today, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Space Shuttle

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Launch of STS-130. Credit: Rich Yaeger

I am still shaking. I just witnessed my first rocket launch and my first space shuttle launch which also happens to be the last night launch for the space shuttle program. It was absolutely the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed. When the SRB's lit, night literally turned into day. The shuttle moved silently upward until the sound wave reached — and hit me — a couple of seconds later. I could feel the power of the launch from 3 miles away. So, so, so absolutely incredible! I wish I could better relate the awesomeness of seeing a shuttle launch! The crackling and popping was amazingly loud, and the noise endured a very long time.

I was going to try and take a couple of pictures, but I ended up instead taking NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden's advice to just suck it up and enjoy the experience of the launch and not try to capture it on film — just let the professionals do that. (And yes, Charlie, I cried, too!) So the image above was taken by fellow journalist Rich Yaeger who graciously shared his image with Universe Today. Thanks Rich! Check out Rich's blog.

© nancy for Universe Today, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Space Shuttle

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