Visitors Now:
Total Visits:
Total Stories:

By Alton Parrish (Reporter)
Contributor profile | More stories

Story Views
Now:
Last Hour:
Last 24 Hours:
Total:

Invisible Cosmic Mysteries Made Visible

Wednesday, September 12, 2012 16:20

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.

(Before It's News)

The answers to some of the universe’s greatest cosmic mysteries are written across the night sky, inscribed in light we can’t see with our human eyes — but it won’t be invisible to us forever. “Infrared: Beyond the Visible” explores the wonder of infrared astronomy and the promise of the upcoming Webb Space Telescope.

Get a sense of the sights Webb will capture, with its Hubble-sharp vision and ability to reach into the farthest depths of space and time. Infant galaxies! Just-forming planets! Cosmic Space Storks! (Editor’s Note: Please note that Cosmic Space Storks are probably metaphorical.) Squirrels! (Editor’s Note: Squirrels, while real, are still unlikely to be observed by the Webb Space Telescope.) Join us on our journey of discovery, and when you’re done, check out the links below for more on the infrared universe.

Gallery of Infrared Astronomy

Take a closer look at some of the actual astronomical objects featured in “Infrared: Beyond the Visible,” and enjoy these additional infrared images.

Carina Nebula Pillar

Infrared light penetrates gas and dust clouds, allowing infrared cameras to see the stars within. The infrared view of this pillar reveals young stars, including one firing off a long jet of hot gas. Enlarge Image.

Source: Visible: Hubble | Infrared: Hubble

Andromeda

Starlight in the galaxy’s center dominates this visible-light image of Andromeda. Dust lanes are only faintly seen. In the infrared image, dust blazes with an orange glow, showing arms that reach right into Andromeda’s heart. Enlarge Image.

Source: Visible: Kitt Peak National Observatory |Infrared: Spitzer

Jupiter

Hubble’s visible-light image of Jupiter contrasts with the Gemini Observatory’s glowing infrared view. Infrared images of Jupiter provide information about the chemistry of the gas giant’s clouds. Enlarge Image.

Source: Visible: Hubble | Infrared: Gemini

M101

Spiral galaxy M101 is also called the pinwheel galaxy due to its distinctive shape. The infrared view brings out the galaxy’s delicate dust lanes in yellow-green hues, and shows its warm dust glowing red.Enlarge Image.

Source: Visible: Hubble | Infrared: Spitzer

M82

Starburst galaxy M82 has a bright blue disk, webs of shredded clouds, and plumes of hydrogen streaming from its center. The infrared view also reveals a huge, hidden halo of smoky-looking dust surrounding the galaxy. Enlarge Image.