Archive for May, 2007

Spitzer Photograph shows new star birth

Baby Stars Hatching in Orion’s Head

A new image from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope shows infant stars “hatching” in the head of Orion, the famous hunter constellation visible from northern hemispheres during winter nights. Astronomers suspect that shockwaves from a 3-million-year-old explosion of a massive star may have initiated this newfound birth.

The region featured in the Spitzer image is called Barnard 30. It is located approximately 1,300 light-years away and sits on the right side of Orion’s head, just north of the massive star Lambda Orionis.

For the full article and hi-res image, click here

Baby Stars…

Your new photograph

250px-pahoeoe_fountain_original.jpg

An arching fountain of p?hoehoe lava, approximately 10 m (33 ft) high, issuing from a spatter cone of Pu‘u Kahaualea, Hawaii. P?hoehoe is basaltic lava that has a smooth, billowy, undulating, or ropy surface. These surface features are due to the movement of very fluid lava under a congealing surface crust. P?hoehoe lavas typically have a temperature of 1100°C–1200°C.

None of that boring Vesuvius dust!