23
Oct 11

Spitzer snaps a picture of the coolest of companions

Source: NASA Spitzer


Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Penn State.

These two infrared images were taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope in 2004 and 2009. They show a faint object moving through space together with a dead star called a white dwarf. The object, thought to be a "failed" star, or brown dwarf, is the coldest stellar companion to be directly imaged outside our solar system. (read source)

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23
Oct 11

Comet storm in a nearby Star System

Source: NASA Science News and NASA News


Artist's impression of comet storm around Eta Corvi. Image credit: NASA.

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has detected signs of icy bodies raining down in an alien solar system. The downpour resembles our own solar system several billion years ago during a period known as the "Late Heavy Bombardment." (read more)

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