Friday 19 September 2014

Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2014 - in pictures

Click to enlarge

The Royal Observatory Greenwich has announced the winners of this year’s international astronomy photography competition. The observatory’s annual free exhibition, which opened on Thursday, showcases these dazzling images of the sky, ranging from within our solar system to far into deep space. British photographer James Woodend beat over a thousand amateur and professional photographers to win the top prize.

Inkspot - The only Dark Nebula with it's own wine?


Is it Barnard 86 with it's own wine label or Inkspot 2010 Vin Noir with it's own dark nebula?

- Give that man an Inkspot! From Herschel with love!

Monday 15 September 2014

Space in Images - 2014 - 09 - Philae’s primary landing site





Philae’s primary landing site will target Site J, the centre of which
is indicated by the cross in this OSIRIS narrow-angle image.

Site
J is located on the head of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko and is
close to the candidate site B, the large depression to the right of the
image.

Site J offers the minimum risk to the lander in comparison
to the other candidate sites, and is also scientifically interesting,
with signs of activity nearby. At Site J, the majority of slopes are
less than 30ยบ relative to the local vertical, reducing the chances of
Philae toppling over during touchdown. Site J also appears to have
relatively few boulders and receives sufficient daily illumination to
recharge Philae and continue science operations on the surface beyond
the initial battery-powered phase.



Full story: 'J' marks the spot for Rosetta's lander