NASA is making final preparations to launch its Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, NuSTAR. The goal of this mission, which will use X-ray vision to search for hidden black holes, ultra-dense neutron stars, and supernova remnants, is scheduled to launch from Kwajalein Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean anytime after June 13.
NuSTAR will be the first space telescope of its kind to forge focused images of cosmic X-rays with the highest energies. These are the same types of X-rays that doctors use to see your bones and airports use to search your bags. The telescope will have more than 10 times the resolution, and more than 100 times the sensitivity of any other telescope operating in a similar energy range.
Researching all different types of black holes, NuSTAR will aim to answer questions about the formation and physics behind these wonders of the cosmos. The observatory will also investigate how exploding stars create the elements that make up planets and people, and it will even help us learn about our own sun's atmosphere.
You can leave your comments, as well as be part of a community with discussions on any astronomy subject, such as light pollution, when you join AccuWeather's Astronomy Facebook fan page by clicking here.
We are now well over 3,500 likes on Facebook. Please tell your friends about this Facebook page and blog and have them weigh in on some exciting issues. We encourage open discussion and will never criticize any idea, and no negative conversation will be allowed. We are really trying to make this Facebook page THE place to go to for any astronomy news or discussion and your help would be GREATLY appreciated!
There are a lot of questions about asteroids, meteors, meteorites and meteroids. Hopefully this answers some of them.
A penumbral eclipse of the Moon will occur later this month
The whats, wheres and whens of the upcoming meteor shower. Viewing conditions in the northeastern United States should be terrific with very little in the way of cloudiness and the moon in the waning crescent phase.
We will keeping an Eye on Comet ISON here at AccuWeather Astronomy as 2013 goes on
Light pollution is a major problem for all astronomers. What can we do about it?
Astronomy Blog
Comments
Comments left here should adhere to the AccuWeather.com Community Guidelines. Profanity, personal attacks, and spam will not be tolerated.