MessageToEagle.com -
An evocative new image from ESO shows a dark cloud where new stars are forming, along with
a cluster of brilliant stars that have already emerged from their dusty stellar nursery.
The new picture was taken with the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile and is the
best image ever taken in visible light
of this little-known object.
On the left of this new image there is a dark column resembling a cloud of smoke. To the right shines a small group of
brilliant stars.
Click on image to enlarge
The Lupus 3 dark cloud and associated hot young stars. Credits: ESO
At first glance these two features could not be more different, but they are in fact closely linked.
The cloud contains huge amounts of cool cosmic dust and is a nursery where new stars are being born. It is likely that
the Sun formed in a similar star formation region more than four billion years ago.
This cloud is known as Lupus 3 and it lies about 600 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Scorpius (The Scorpion).
The section shown here is about five light-years across.
As the denser parts of such clouds contract under the effects of gravity they heat up and start to shine.
At first this radiation is blocked by the dusty clouds and can only be seen by telescopes observing at longer wavelengths than visible
light, such as the infrared.
But as the stars get hotter and brighter their intense radiation and stellar winds gradually
clear the clouds around them until they emerge in all their glory.
The bright stars right of the centre of this new picture form a perfect example of a small group of such hot young stars.
Some of their brilliant blue light is being scattered off the remaining dust around them. The two brightest stars are
bright enough to be seen easily with a small telescope or binoculars.
Click on image to enlarge
Wide-field view of the Lupus 3 dark cloud and associated hot young stars. Credits: ESO
They are young stars that have not yet started to shine by nuclear fusion in their cores and are still surrounded by
glowing gas. They are probably less than one
million years old.
Although they are less obvious at first glance than the bright blue stars, surveys have found many other very young
stellar objects in this region, which is one of the closest such stellar nurseries to the Sun.
Star formation regions can be huge, such as the
Tarantula Nebula, where hundreds of massive stars are being
formed.
However, most of the stars in our and other galaxies are thought to have formed in much more modest regions
like the one shown here, where only two bright stars are visible and no very heavy stars are formed. For this reason,
the Lupus 3 region is both fascinating for astronomers and a beautiful illustration of the early stages of the life of stars.
Teenage Girl Develops Cell Phone That Tests Your Heart
Catherine Wong is a 17-year-old high school student from New Jersey who she is already making a name for herself in both the science
and technology communities. Wong has developed a Bluetooth-enabled device that allows for remote cardiac examination.
No More Zoo Of Broken 3D Printed Objects -
A New Software Will Give Them Strength!
Objects created using 3-D printing have a common flaw: They are fragile and often fall apart or lose their shape.
"I have an entire zoo of broken 3-D printed objects in my office," said Bedrich Benes, an associate professor of computer graphics at Purdue University.
Become A Rocket Scientist And Space Cargo Pilot
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Have you ever wanted to become a rocket scientist or space cargo pilot? How about mixing space science with a game?
Want to try your hand at landing an inflatable spacecraft? All you need is a smart phone, a computer or a tablet.
MessageToEagle.com -
An evocative new image from ESO shows a dark cloud where new stars are forming, along with
a cluster of brilliant stars that have already emerged from their dusty stellar nursery.
All across the world there are people who love to stand outside and photograph the best our beautiful night sky has to offer.
Sometimes they can wait for hours just to take that one perfect shot! The results of these peoples' efforts...
The possibility of time travel have fascinated mankind for ages. We are all familiar with
the concept of the time machine, from H.G. Wells to current sci-fi writers, and there are physicists who say we cannot rule out time travel.
Catherine Wong is a 17-year-old high school student from New Jersey who she is already making a name for herself in both the science
and technology communities. Wong has developed a Bluetooth-enabled device that allows for remote cardiac examination.
Objects created using 3-D printing have a common flaw: They are fragile and often fall apart or lose their shape.
"I have an entire zoo of broken 3-D printed objects in my office," said Bedrich Benes, an associate professor of computer graphics at Purdue University.
Have you ever wanted to become a rocket scientist or space cargo pilot? How about mixing space science with a game?
Want to try your hand at landing an inflatable spacecraft? All you need is a smart phone, a computer or a tablet.
