Credits: NASA SCience News
On Nov. 18-19, two comets (ISON and Encke) are going to fly by the planet Mercury in quick succession. NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft will have a front-row seat for the rare double encounter.
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Nov 13
Two Comets to Fly By Mercury on Nov. 18-19
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Nov 13
Hubble views an old and mysterious cluster
Source: ESA/Hubble
New Hubble image of star cluster Messier 15.
Image credits:ESA and NASA
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured the best ever image of the globular cluster Messier 15, a gathering of very old stars that orbits the centre of the Milky Way. This glittering cluster contains over 100 000 stars, and could also hide a rare type of black hole at its centre.(read more)
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Nov 13
Young Stars Paint Spectacular Stellar Landscape
Source: ESO Photo Release eso1347
The star cluster NGC 3572 and its dramatic surroundings.
Image credits: ESO/G. Beccari.
Astronomers at ESO have captured the best image so far of the curious clouds around the star cluster NGC 3572. This new image shows how these clouds of gas and dust have been sculpted into whimsical bubbles, arcs and the odd features known as elephant trunks by the stellar winds flowing from this gathering of hot young stars. The brightest of these cluster stars are much heavier than the Sun and will end their short lives as supernova explosions. (read more)
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Nov 13
When a comet is not a comet— a bizarre six-tailed asteroid
Source: ESA/Hubble
Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have observed a unique and baffling object in the asteroid belt that looks like a rotating lawn sprinkler or badminton shuttlecock. While this object is on an asteroid-like orbit, it looks like a comet, and is sending out tails of dust into space. (read more)
