2021年12月26日 James Webb Space Telescope over Earth Image Credit: Arianespace, ESA, NASA, CSA, CNES Explanation: There’s a big new telescope in space. This one, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), not only has a mirror over five times larger than Hubble’s in area, but can see better in […]
2021年12月25日 The Tail of a Christmas Comet Image Credit & Copyright: Rolando Ligustri (CARA Project, CAST) and Lukas Demetz Explanation: The tail of a comet streams across this three degree wide telescopic field of view captured under dark Namibian skies on December 21. In outburst only a few da
2021年12月24日 M1: The Crab Nebula Image Credit & Copyright: Michael Sherick Explanation: The Crab Nebula is cataloged as M1, the first object on Charles Messier’s famous 18th century list of things which are not comets. In fact, the Crab is now known to be a supernova remnant, debris from t
2021年12月23日 Three Planets and a Comet Image Credit & Copyright: Tunc Tezel (TWAN) Explanation: Are you still looking for that perfect holiday gift for an astronomer? If your night sky is dark and horizon clear enough, the Solar System may have done your shopping for you. Send them outside after
2021年12月22日 Launch of the IXPE Observatory Image Credit & Copyright: Jordan Sirokie Explanation: Birds don’t fly this high. Airplanes don’t go this fast. The Statue of Liberty weighs less. No species other than human can even comprehend what is going on, nor could any human just a m
2021年12月21日 Solstice Sun and Milky Way Composite Image Credit & Copyright: Stefan Seip (TWAN) Explanation: Welcome to December’s solstice, first day of winter in the north and summer for the southern hemisphere. Astronomical markers of the seasons, solstice and equinox dates are based on
2021年12月20日 The Comet and the Fireball Image Credit & Copyright: Cory Poole Explanation: This picture was supposed to feature a comet. Specifically, a series of images of the brightest comet of 2021 were being captured: Comet Leonard. But the universe had other plans. Within a fraction of a sec
2021年12月19日 Planetary Alignment over Italy Image Credit & Copyright: Antonio Finazzi Explanation: It is not a coincidence that planets line up. That’s because all of the planets orbit the Sun in (nearly) a single sheet called the plane of the ecliptic. When viewed from inside that plane &
2021年12月17日 Geminid of the North Image Credit & Copyright: Alvin Wu Explanation: An arid expanse of the Tengger Desert in north-central China, planet Earth fills the foreground of this starry scene. A widefield panoramic view, it was recorded shortly after moonset in the local predawn hours of
