Astronomy

Our survey of the sky is uncovering the secrets of how planets are born

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 13, 2024

The very first step in finding out is to understand how special the Earth really is – and, by extension, our entire Solar System.

Key Points: 
  • The very first step in finding out is to understand how special the Earth really is – and, by extension, our entire Solar System.
  • And that’s exactly what my colleagues and I have started to uncover with a new series of studies of star-forming regions.
  • In the past decades, astronomers have spotted more than 5,000 planets around distant stars – so called exoplanets.
  • We now know that planets are so abundant that you can look up to almost any star in the night sky and be near certain that planets are circling around it.
  • This is no mean feat of engineering, with the latest generation of instruments only being available since about a decade.

New findings

  • Our team, consisting of scientists from more than ten countries was able to observe more than 80 of these young stars in amazing detail – with our findings published in a series of papers in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • All the images were taken in near infrared light, invisible to the human eye.
  • They show the light from the distant young stars as it is reflected from the tiny dust particles in the discs.
  • Unlike the Sun, most stars in our galaxy have companions, with two or more stars orbiting a shared centre of mass.
  • When looking at the constellation of Orion, we found that stars in groups of two or more were less likely to have large planet-forming discs than lone stars.
  • Another interesting finding was how uneven the discs in this region were, suggesting they may host massive planets that warp the discs.


Christian Ginski works for the University of Galway and frequently works with ESO facilities.

EQS-News: World's largest radio telescope – Listen to the universe

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Extraordinary: The radio dishes are gradually being integrated into the SKA Square Kilometre Array, an international project to build the world's largest radio telescope with sites in southern Africa and in Australia.

Key Points: 
  • Extraordinary: The radio dishes are gradually being integrated into the SKA Square Kilometre Array, an international project to build the world's largest radio telescope with sites in southern Africa and in Australia.
  • This is an achievement of partners from science and industry, nationally and internationally.
  • We now have our focus on series production," says Fabrice Scheid, Managing Director of OHB Digital Connect's Mainz site.
  • The individual segments of the radio dishes are delivered to Cape Town by ship, transported to the desert with heavy equipment and assembled on site.

Trinity University Receives Largest Gift in the University’s History for Naming of the D. R. Semmes School of Science

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 8, 2024

San Antonio, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the largest gift in Trinity University’s history at $26.5 million, the University is honored to announce the naming of the D. R. Semmes School of Science .

Key Points: 
  • San Antonio, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the largest gift in Trinity University’s history at $26.5 million, the University is honored to announce the naming of the D. R. Semmes School of Science .
  • “This investment by the Semmes Foundation accelerates our goal to deliver the best undergraduate science education in the United States,” said Vanessa B. Beasley, Ph.D., President of Trinity University.
  • “The sciences are at the core of a broad liberal arts education, and Trinity fundamentally understands this.
  • “We look forward to collaborating with Trinity and offering its students real-world experience in the sciences.”
    The history between the Semmes Foundation and Trinity University runs deep.

Don’t Be Left in the Dark! Boerne, TX Still has Room for You!

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 7, 2024

The next time the United States is slated to experience a total solar eclipse isn’t until 2044.

Key Points: 
  • The next time the United States is slated to experience a total solar eclipse isn’t until 2044.
  • Boerne, TX, with its clear skies and panoramic vistas, is an ideal destination to experience this natural phenomenon.
  • As anticipation builds for the April 8th eclipse, now is the perfect time to plan a visit to Boerne, TX.
  • For more information about lodging options, public events, and viewing locations in Boerne, TX, visit www.eclipseboerne.com or contact the Boerne Visitors Center at 830-249-7277.

Intuitive Machines Historic IM-1 Mission Success: American Ingenuity Never Gives Up

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 29, 2024

Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus said, “Spaceflight’s unique challenges are conquered on Earth but mastered in space.

Key Points: 
  • Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus said, “Spaceflight’s unique challenges are conquered on Earth but mastered in space.
  • Our now proven robust lunar program, a national asset, feeds directly into our second and third missions.
  • Mr. Altemus continued, “Before this mission, we had an absolute sense of humility and relied on our technical excellence and years of experience to triumph and persevere throughout all the challenges we faced during the mission.
  • Following our unequivocal success, I am emboldened for the future of the U.S. and international lunar economy and Intuitive Machines' future as we believe we can win, execute, and pioneer the future of the cislunar market.”

What’s with the Extra Day? A College of Charleston Professor Explains Lear Year.

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Our calendar year is based on the time it takes the Earth to complete one full orbit around the Sun.

Key Points: 
  • Our calendar year is based on the time it takes the Earth to complete one full orbit around the Sun.
  • So, in a non-leap year, after 365 days, the Earth would be slightly behind where it started relative to the Sun.
  • The Julian calendar added an extra day at the end of the year every four years.
  • Later on, two extra months were added to the calendar with February being made the last month of the year.

Giant Magellan Telescope Expands Global Science Impact with Taiwanese Partner

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 21, 2024

PASADENA, CA, Feb. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Giant Magellan Telescope today welcomes Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA), a distinguished Taiwanese research institute, into its international consortium.

Key Points: 
  • PASADENA, CA, Feb. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Giant Magellan Telescope today welcomes Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA), a distinguished Taiwanese research institute, into its international consortium.
  • ASIAA's inclusion expands the consortium to 14 international research institutions, underscoring Giant Magellan’s significance to the global astronomy community and the consortium’s commitment to prioritizing global collaboration for the advancement of science.
  • “We are thrilled to welcome ASIAA into our international consortium of distinguished partners,” said Dr. Walter Massey, Board Chair of the Giant Magellan Telescope.
  • This collective investment in the Giant Magellan Telescope is a testament that science can transcend boundaries and bind humanity together for good.”
    The astronomical research and instrumental development capabilities in Taiwan have received international recognition.

Giant Magellan Telescope Expands Global Science Impact with Taiwanese Partner

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 20, 2024

PASADENA, CA, Feb. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Giant Magellan Telescope today welcomes Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA), a distinguished Taiwanese research institute, into its international consortium.

Key Points: 
  • PASADENA, CA, Feb. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Giant Magellan Telescope today welcomes Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA), a distinguished Taiwanese research institute, into its international consortium.
  • ASIAA's inclusion expands the consortium to 14 international research institutions, underscoring Giant Magellan’s significance to the global astronomy community and the consortium’s commitment to prioritizing global collaboration for the advancement of science.
  • “We are thrilled to welcome ASIAA into our international consortium of distinguished partners,” said Dr. Walter Massey, Board Chair of the Giant Magellan Telescope.
  • This collective investment in the Giant Magellan Telescope is a testament that science can transcend boundaries and bind humanity together for good.”
    The astronomical research and instrumental development capabilities in Taiwan have received international recognition.

NVIDIA Accelerates Quantum Computing Exploration at Australia’s Pawsey Supercomputing Centre

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, February 18, 2024

SYDNEY, Australia, Feb. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SCA2024 -- NVIDIA today announced that Australia’s Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre will add the NVIDIA® CUDA Quantum platform accelerated by NVIDIA Grace Hopper™ Superchips to its National Supercomputing and Quantum Computing Innovation Hub, furthering its work driving breakthroughs in quantum computing.

Key Points: 
  • SYDNEY, Australia, Feb. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SCA2024 -- NVIDIA today announced that Australia’s Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre will add the NVIDIA® CUDA Quantum platform accelerated by NVIDIA Grace Hopper™ Superchips to its National Supercomputing and Quantum Computing Innovation Hub, furthering its work driving breakthroughs in quantum computing.
  • The NVIDIA Grace Hopper Superchip — which combines the NVIDIA Grace CPU and Hopper GPU architectures — provides extreme performance to run high-fidelity and scalable quantum simulations on accelerators and seamlessly interface with future quantum hardware infrastructure.
  • “CUDA Quantum, together with the NVIDIA Grace Hopper Superchip, allows innovators such as Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre to achieve these essential breakthroughs and accelerate the timeline to useful quantum-integrated supercomputing.”
    “Pawsey Supercomputing Centre’s research and test-bed facility is helping to advance scientific exploration for all of Australia as well as the world,” said Mark Stickells, executive director at the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre.
  • Pawsey is committed to making the NVIDIA Grace Hopper platform available to the Australian quantum community, as well as its international partners.

Texas Students to Hear from NASA Astronaut Aboard Space Station

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 7, 2024

WASHINGTON, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The San Antonio River Authority and students from the Advanced Learning Academy in San Antonio, Texas, will have an opportunity Friday, March 8, to hear from NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara aboard the International Space Station.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The San Antonio River Authority and students from the Advanced Learning Academy in San Antonio, Texas, will have an opportunity Friday, March 8, to hear from NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara aboard the International Space Station.
  • The space to Earth call will air live at 12:30 p.m. EST March 8, on NASA+ , NASA Television, the NASA app , and the agency's website .
  • Astronauts living in space aboard the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through the Space Communications and Navigation ( SCaN ) Near Space Network.
  • Important research and technology investigations taking place aboard the International Space Station benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future exploration.