Thanksgiving Dinner at the Center of the Galaxy

Source - NASA Science News for Nov. 22, 2012

NASA's NuSTAR spacecraft has detected X-ray flares coming from the center of the galaxy--a signal that the Milky Way's supermassive black hole is having dinner. Astronomers are not sure, however, what's on the menu.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/22nov_backholesnacks/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP7ig8Gxftw





License: Standard YouTube License

Astronomers Predict Titanic Collision: Milky Way vs. Andromeda

Source - NASA Science News for May 31, 2012

NASA astronomers announced today they can now predict with certainty the next major cosmic event to affect our galaxy, sun, and solar system: the titanic collision of our Milky Way galaxy with neighboring Andromeda.

FULL STORY: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/31may_andromed

Alien Planet Safari

Source - NASA Science News for January 14, 2010

NASA's next great observatory, the James Webb Space Telescope, is designed to study stars and galaxies. Astronomers are beginning to realize, however, that Webb will make a great planet hunter too.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/14jan_planetsafari.htm?list894285

Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml

Are We Alone for 12/21/09 - Journey to a Black Hole

Are We Alone - Journey to a Black Hole

A massive black hole lies at the center of our galaxy, a monster hunkered down in the Milky Way’s innermost sanctum. Here, the bizarre laws of General Relativity take over, as the physics we know break down. And our spaceship is headed straight for it.

Join us on a special dramatized 26,000 light-year adventure to the Galaxy’s hulking heart of darkness. We explore a cosmos held together by gravity – discover why it’s not really a force – and try to avoid getting too close to a black hole, the ultimate expression of gravity.

This program is part of the traveling exhibit: “Black Holes, Space Warps and Time Twists,” a production of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Find out more at:

http://web-bh.cfa.harvard.edu/

Voices: Roland Pease, Lilia Roman, Roe DeVasto, Doug Vakoch, Patrick Porter, Gary Niederhoff

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.