Mystery in the Perseus Cluster

NASA Science News for July 24, 2014

A mysterious X-ray signal from the Perseus cluster of galaxies, which researchers say cannot be explained by known physics, could be a key clue to the nature of Dark Matter.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/24jul_perseuscluster/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3439YtdQZ1Y



 License: Standard YouTube License

Supernovas Slosh Before Exploding

Source - NASA Science News for Feb. 19, 2014

New data from a NASA X-ray observatory shows that the cores of supernovas probably slosh around before detonating. This helps solve a longstanding mystery about how massive stars explode.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/19feb_slosh/

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

Almost-X Flare Illuminates Earth on July 2nd

Source - Space Weather News for July 2, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

STRONG SOLAR FLARE: A big, active sunspot (AR1515) is growing on the Earthside of the sun. This morning it erupted, producing an M5.6-class solar flare that ionized Earth's upper atmosphere with a brief but intense pulse of X-rays and extreme ultraviolet radiation.  More eruptions are in the offing as the sunspot turns to face Earth.  Check http://spaceweather.com for more information and updates.

X-FLARE ALERTS: Would you like a call when solar flares are underway? X-flare alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Orionid Meteor Shower - 2011

Source - Space Weather News for Oct. 21, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

WEEKEND METEOR SHOWER: Today Earth is entering a stream of debris from Halley's comet, source of the annual Orionid meteor shower. Forecasters expect the shower to peak on Saturday morning, Oct. 22nd, with more than 15 meteors per hour. Check http://spaceweather.com for links to a live meteor radar, sky maps and observing tips.

MASSIVE SATELLITE NEARS RE-ENTRY: The massive ROSAT X-ray space telescope is making its final spiralling orbits around Earth. Most experts agree that re-entry will occur during the early hours of Oct. 23rd over a still-unknown region of our planet. Sky watchers report that the descending satellite can be as bright as a first magnitude star and it occasionally "flares" to even greater intensity. For last-chance sightings of ROSAT in your area, please check SpaceWeather's online satellite tracker (http://spaceweather.com/flybys) or turn your smartphone into a ROSAT tracker: http://simpleflybys.com .

Massive X-ray Satellite Set to De-orbit

Source - Space Weather News for Oct. 14, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

ROSAT RE-ENTRY: The ROSAT X-ray observatory, launched in 1990 by NASA and managed for years by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), will return to Earth within the next two weeks. Current best estimates place the re-entry between Oct. 22nd and 24th over an unknown part of Earth. ROSAT will produce a spectacular fireball when it re-enters, but not all of the satellite will disintegrate. According to the DLR, heat-resistant fragments as massive as 1.7 tons could reach Earth's surface. Check http://spaceweather.com for more information.

LAST-CHANCE SIGHTINGS: As ROSAT slowly descends it is growing brighter. During favorable passes, the satellite can now be seen shining as brightly as a first magnitude star in the night sky. Local flyby times may be found using SpaceWeather's Satellite Tracker: http://spaceweather.com/flybys . Or turn your smartphone into a ROSAT tracker using our Simple Flybys app: http://simpleflybys.com .

Strong Solar Activity Continues

Source - Space Weather News for Sept. 24, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

STRONG SOLAR ACTIVITY: New sunspot 1302 is crackling with strong solar flares. This morning it unleashed an X2-class flare--its second X-flare in two days--quickly followed by an M7-class eruption. So far the blasts have not been Earth-directed, but this could change in the days ahead as the sunspot turns toward our planet. The sunspot is growing and there is no sign that it will quiet down soon. Visit http://spaceweather.com for movies and updates.

DON'T MISS THE NEXT FLARE: Would you like a call when X-flares are in progress? Realtime solar activity alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

X-class Solar Flare

Source - Space Weather News for March 10, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: March 9th ended with a powerful solar flare. Less than an hour before midnight (UT), Earth-orbiting satellites detected an X1.5-class explosion from behemoth sunspot 1166. First-look data suggest that the blast did hurl some material toward Earth. Check spaceweather.com for movies of the flare and updates on its possible effects.

SOLAR FLARE ALERTS: Would you like a call when the next X-flare erupts? Sign up for Spaceweather PHONE: http://spaceweatherphone.com . (Text alerts are available, too, from http://spaceweathertext.com .)

SDO Video: X2 C2 Combo - Feb. 15, 2011

On Feb. 15, 2011 an X2 class x-ray solar flare was observed by the Solar Dynamics Observatory. Below is a video from the SDOmission2009 YouTube channel of the of the eruption:



Here is the description of the video from the SDOmission2009 page:

"The X2 flare of Feb. 15, 2011 seen by SDO (in extreme ultraviolet light) enlarged and superimposed on SOHO's coronagraph that shows the faint edge of a "halo" coronal mass ejection as it races away from the Sun. The video covers about 11 hours."

You can find more videos from the Solar Dynamics Observatory at SDOmission2009.

First X-flare of the New Solar Cycle

Souce - Space Weather News for Feb. 15, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

MAJOR FLARE: Earth-orbiting satellites have detected the strongest solar flare in more than four years. At 0156 UT on Feb. 15th, giant sunspot 1158 unleashed an X2-class eruption. X-flares are the strongest type of x-ray flare, and this is the first such eruption of new Solar Cycle 24. The explosion that produced the flare also sent a solar tsunami rippling through the sun's atmosphere and, more importantly, hurled a coronal mass ejection toward Earth. This raises the possibility of geomagnetic storms in the days ahead. Visit http://spaceweather.com for images and updates.

SPACE WEATHER ALERTS: Would you like a call when geomagnetic storms erupt in your area? Sign up for http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice) or http://spaceweathertext.com (text) for space weather alerts.

Bright X-ray Solar Flare

Source - Space Weather News for Nov. 6, 2010: http://spaceweather.com

BRIGHT SOLAR FLARE: Active sunspot 1121 has just unleashed one of the brightest x-ray solar flares in several years, an M5.4-class eruption at 15:36 UT on Nov. 6th. Radiation from the flare created a wave of ionization in Earth's upper atmosphere that altered the propagation of low-frequency radio waves. There was, however, no bright CME (plasma cloud) hurled in our direction, so the event is unlikely to produce auroras in the nights ahead. Visit http://spaceweather.com for a movie of the eruption and more information about this increasingly active sunspot.

SPACE WEATHER ALERTS: Would you like a call when solar storms hit Earth? Sign up for Space Weather Phone: http://spaceweatherphone.com