First black hole discovered finally reveals its distance

Black holes are pretty tough to get accurate measures on. Their activity, and the fact that they absorb light, makes it a difficult process. However the first black hole ever discovered in the Cygnus X-1 revealed, has revealed key measurements such as its distance and mass.

This black hole was first discovered back in 1972. Getting an accurate measurement on its distance has made it difficult to measure other pieces of data such as the weight and rotation.

A team recently using the radio telescopes of the Very Long Baseline Array, found the distance to be around 1.86 kiloparsecs away. Or 6063.6 light years. Shifts in its position were measured in accordance of the Earth’s rotation around the sun. A mass was revealed to be that 14.8 times that of our sun.

Wide-field radio image of the environment of the black hole system Cygnus X-1. The cross marks the location of the black hole.

An X-ray binary system is made up of a companion star and a collapsed star such as a white dwarf, neutron star or black hole which pulls plasma and gas from the companion star.

A Black Hole - Cygnus X-1

Cassini images Saturn’s rings across the moon of Titan

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft has been orbiting Saturn, imagining the planet and its moons for 7 years now. The view in this image (see below) is almost parallel with Saturn’s rings. The angle is just slightly under the ring plane. That is why the rings look so thin.

A 938 nanometers near infrared spectral filter was used with Cassin’s narrow angle camera to snap the shot. Cassini was 1.4 million miles away from Titan when the shot was snapped. For perspective, up on Titan is north.

 

Cassini is a joint project between NASA, ESA, and ISA.

Original image photographed by NASA of Saturn's rings across the moon of Titan

Colorized version of ;Titan based on previous data

NASA Administrator says 50 year mission is on track

NASA says it will continue its leadership in space exploration, despite how they get people there is currently unknown. “The question is not if we’re going to explore, but how we’ll do it.” said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden recently in a speech at the National Press Club Friday.

Commercial space partners are the route NASA seems to be going with. Plans to upgrade facilities at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for commercial use are under way. Until the commercial space programs are ready and can safely transport cargo and crew to the International Space Station (I.S.S.), American astronauts will have to be transported with the help of the Russians and their Soyuz rockets.

In the meantime NASA will be developing a heavy lift rocket that will be capable of reaching places like asteroids and Mars. In laying out NASA’s future, President Barack Obama and Congress disagree what NASA’s priorities are. Obama wants to emphasize on commercial rockets, and Congress wants NASA to emphasize the development of the heavy lift rocket.

Bolden disputed with members of Congress claiming that utilizing the commercial sector is just what NASA needs to dedicate resources to developing their heavy lift rocket. “The station is the pinnacle of our current achievement, a stepping-stone to the rest of the solar system and the tip of what comes next.” he stated.

Mark Kelly, the Commander of Space Shuttle Endeavour’s final mission, and husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (R-Ariz), was in attendance at Friday’s speech. He went on record that he has no plans to run for public office in October when he retires from NASA, despite rumors that have been circulating.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden gets emotional when speaking at the National Press Club on Friday.

The Commander of Space Shuttle Endeavour's final mission, Mark Kelly, addresses the National Press Club on Friday.

Crew Readies for Final Shuttle Mission and Bolden Speaks at Ntl. Press Club on This Week @NASA

Apollo 14 Astronaut Sued for trying to sell Lunar Camera

Dr. Edgar Mitchell, one of the astronauts who walked on the moon during the Apollo 14 mission to the moon, is being sued by the government of the United States. The reason being is that Dr. Mitchell attempted to sell a 16 mm Data Acquisition movie camera which was used on the moon. A camera that NASA says, is still their property.

The former astronaut says that the camera is not government property, and that it was given to him as a memento when he left the program. Mitchell’s home is full of pieces of history from our space program. Many of which were given to him by NASA.

Dr. Mitchell attempted to sell the camera through an auction house. It’s value is believed to be between $60,000 and $80,000 dollars. He says he has yet to be served any court order, but the camera has been pulled from auction.

Dr. Mitchell served as the Lunar Module Pilot on the Apollo 14 mission to the moon in 1971 along with mission Commander Alan Shepard, and Command Module Pilot Stuart Rosa.

Image of Dr. Edgar Mitchell working on the lunar surface during the Apollo 14 mission.

This 16 mm movie camera used during the Apollo 12 mission may be the same type of camera that Dr. Mitchell tried to sell.

Apollo 14 - 40th Anniversary

STS-135 is given a launch date as Atlantis takes off on the final Space Shuttle flight

Space Shuttle Atlantis will launch on July 8^th according to NASA’s Flight Readiness Review. The 12 day mission will be to deliver the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Raffaello and a Lightweight Multi-Purpose Carrier (LMC) to the ISS.

An additional day may be granted but will be determined when the shuttle is at the station. Mission progress will determine if an additional day can be granted, and also if Atlantis is deemed capable. A disadvantage Atlantis has Discovery and Endeavour don’t is the ability to transfer power from the station to the shuttle.

Other items still need to be worked out such as a fuel tanking test and a review of the shuttle’s oxygen system. Both of which need system updates, but neither of which pose a threat to the July 8^th launch date.

In Launch Pad 39A's payload changeout room at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians close space shuttle Atlantis' payload bay doors in preparation for launch. Image credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann 

The sun rises over the Atlantic Ocean silhouetting space shuttle Atlantis' external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida in the image taken on June 23, 2011

NASA Sets Launch Date - July 8th at 1126 EDT, 1526 UTC

Mirrors of Gold: Preparing and polishing the mirrors for the James Webb Space Telescope.

That’s right, kind of. They are actually composed of a material known as beryllium. But after the mirrors are polished, they are coated with a thin layer of gold. What this does is control the absorption of infrared light. Recently NASA finished the process of polishing the mirrors for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Polishing the mirrors is a big step in the process in preparing the telescope. It is challenging, and accuracy is a must. Less than one millionth of an inch. And the mirror array will be much larger than the single Hubble Space Telescope (HST).The 18 hexagonal mirrors, which unfold to form one large mirror after being launched, measure a total of 21.3 feet. The primary HST mirror is 7 ft.

Not bad considering many professional doubted the mirrors would even be able to be constructed.

13 sections of the 18 are complete, and NASA will have the rest completed next year. Its launch will not take place until 2017 or 2018, but the design is telling us that the discoveries that await us will be truly amazing. Galaxies as ancient as the Universe itself.

The flight mirrors being cryogenically by Ball Aerospace at the X-ray and Cryogenic Facility at Marshall Space Flight Center

HST primary mirror compared to JWST mirror.

NASA Sets Launch Date - July 8th at 1126 EDT, 1526 UTC

Unique viewing opportunity as the moon and Jupiter rise together

Observers of the sky in the early morning hours this Sunday have the opportunity to view the moon and the planet Jupiter rise together in the East, North-Eastern sky.

While the distance and brightness isn’t of anything special for either object at this time, their magnitudes will make them both easy to spot. Jupiter will only be dimmer than the moon, and will outshine everything else around it.

This is getting to be a good time to watch Jupiter. It will begin rising earlier and earlier as Earth’s orbit brings the distance between our two worlds closer. By October, it will appear twice as bright as it is now.

The effect of Earthshine will be visible on the moon. The moon will only be close to ¼ illuminated, and the reflection of the Earth will add a hue to the darkened portion, helping it stand out.

Professional astronomer or not, this is a great view. Observing with binoculars will help bring out the Earthshine effect. So go out and have a look at something special this evening.  

This is a simulated view of the east north/eastern sky. Jupiter will be rising above the horizon just below the moon. It’s brightness compared to other stars will make it easy to see.

This snapshot of the moon and Jupiter together in September of 2010. The moon will not be as full. Only about 1/4 illuminated.

Here is how the solar system looks today vs the later part of October this year. Jupiter will be great for viewing as it will begin to gradually rise earlier. By October it will appear twice as bright as it does now as Earth and Jupiter narrow in distance from each other.