Archive | astrophysics

Astronomers Find Rare Supernova by New Means

Astronomers Find Rare Supernova by New Means

For the first time, astronomers have found a supernova explosion with properties similar to a gamma-ray burst, but without seeing any gamma rays from it. [...more]

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Distant, dying star gives astronomers preview of the fate of our Sun

Distant, dying star gives astronomers preview of the fate of our Sun

Chi Cygni pulses once every 408 days. At its smallest diameter of 300 million miles, it becomes mottled with brilliant spots as massive plumes of hot plasma roil its surface. As it expands, Chi Cygni cools and dims, growing to a diameter of 480 million miles—large enough to engulf and cook our solar system out to the asteroid belt. [...more]

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Chandra X-Ray Observatory podcast: The crab nebula

Chandra X-Ray Observatory podcast: The crab nebula

The Crab Nebula is one of the most studied objects in the night sky. First observed by Chinese astronomers in 1054 A.D., and possibly others, this supernova remnant and its neutron star have become favorite targets for amateur and professional astronomers alike. The Chandra X-Ray Observatory is operated for NASA by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, Mass. [...more]

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New Acquisition: Corrective instruments from the Hubble Space Telescope

New Acquisition: Corrective instruments from the Hubble Space Telescope

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum recently obtained two monumental instruments on loan from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. [...more]

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Radio telescopes give astronomers rare glimpse at a young protostar’s formation

Radio telescopes give astronomers rare glimpse at a young protostar’s formation

The way that massive stars form remains mysterious, in part, because massive stars are rare and tend to spend their youth shrouded by dust and gas and hidden from view. [...more]

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Telescope array finds new evidence that exploding stars are sources of cosmic rays

Telescope array finds new evidence that exploding stars are sources of cosmic rays

Nearly 100 years ago, scientists detected the first signs of cosmic rays—subatomic particles (mostly protons) that zip through space at nearly the speed of light. Astronomers questioned what natural force could accelerate particles to such a speed. Now, new evidence from the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) telescope array in Southern Arizona [...] [...more]

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The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum opens new Public Observatory on the Mall in Washington, D.C.

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum opens new Public Observatory on the Mall in Washington, D.C.

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum has opened a new Public Observatory that contains a 16-inch, 3,000-pound Boller and Chivens telescope, on loan from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Through this powerful telescope, museum visitors can now observe the sun (with a special filter), the moon and the brighter stars and planets, such as Venus, Jupiter and Saturn, during daylight hours. Funding for the project was provided by the National Science Foundation. [...more]

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Astronomers solve mystery of dusty foot trails crossing telescope mirrors

Astronomers solve mystery of dusty foot trails crossing telescope mirrors

A mysterious nocturnal animal was leaving its tracks on the delicate mirrors of the telescopes at the Smithsonian's Whipple Observatory in Arizona. With a little ingenuity and a live trap, the mystery was solved. The visitor proved to be a ringtail cat, a member of the raccoon family. [...more]

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Kiwis come to National Zoo. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo will be using a new kiwi pair donated by the New Zealand Embassy to establish a breeding science center. Both birds came from the Ngati Hine people in New Zealand. Adding these animals to the genetic pool in North America is a rare and valuable opportunity. This pair came with another pair that will continue on to Germany and one bird that went to the San Diego Zoo. Kiwis are native to New Zealand and have been there for more than 60 million years, making them New Zealand’s most ancient bird. (Photo by Mehgan Murphy)

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