Features on Space - European Southern Observatory

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Gas infall and outflow processes in six baby stars revealed
New high-resolution observations with the VLT (Very Large Telescope) Interferometer of the European Southern Observatory in Chile reveal gas infall and outflow processes in the direct environment of six young stars. ANI

Sharpest whole-planet picture of Jupiter obtained
New image-correction technique in an instrument on the ESOs (European Southern Observatorys) Very Large Telescope (VLT) has delivered the sharpest whole-planet ground-based picture ever of Jupiter. ANI

NASAs Swift satellite finds most distant gamma-ray burst ever detected
NASAs Swift satellite has found the most distant gamma-ray burst ever detected, designated GRB 080913, which arose from an exploding star 12.8 billion light-years away. ANI

Rotation of the Milky Way is simpler than previously thought
New, very precise measurements, taken by the ESO (European Southern Observatory) instrument HARPS, have shown that the rotation of the Milky Way is simpler than previously thought. ANI

ESOs new instrument would search for exoplanets
The new instrument of the ESOs (European Southern Observatorys) Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) has passed its first test, and would soon start searching for exoplanets. ANI

Astronomers detect presence of planets in young gas discs
Using ESOs (European Southern Observatorys) Very Large Telescope, astronomers have been able to study planet-forming discs around young Sun-like stars in unsurpassed detail, clearly revealing the motion and distribution of the gas in the inner parts of the disc, which implies the presence of giant planets. ANI

Laser frequency comb to measure the acceleration of the Universe
Scientists have demonstrated a Noble Prize-winning technology called a laser frequency comb, which may be used to measure the acceleration of the Universe. ANI

ESOs camera spots smaller look-alike of Milky Way
The European Southern Observatorys (ESOs) Wide Field Imager has captured the intricate swirls of a spiral galaxy, which is a smaller look-alike of our own Milky Way. ANI

Astronomers observe for the first time how dust forms around an erupting star
Using the ESOs (European Southern Observatorys) Very Large Telescope Interferometer, astronomers were able for the first time to witness the appearance of a shell of dusty gas around a star that had just erupted, and follow its evolution for more than 100 days.This provides the astronomers with a new way to estimate the distance of this object and obtain invaluable information on the operating mode of dense stars that suck material from a companion. ANI

Ancient galactic magnetic fields were just as strong as those existing today
A team of scientists has proposed that magnetic fields of ancient galaxies like ours were just as strong as those existing today, prompting a rethinking of how our galaxy and others may have formed. ANI

Smallest extra-solar planet is three times more massive than Earth
Astronomers have discovered an extra-solar planet that is only three times more massive than our own, the smallest yet detected outside our solar system and has the smallest host star yet detected. ANI

Hunt for super-Earths unveil huge haul of exoplanets in Milky Way
A landmark meeting of astronomers has announced the discovery of a huge haul of exoplanets in our galaxy, which hold great significance in the hunt for super-Earths - rocky alien worlds a few times more massive than our own. ANI

Jupiters Little Red Spot has some of the highest planetary wind speeds
Using data from NASAs New Horizons spacecraft and two telescopes at Earth, an international team of scientists has found that Jupiters Little Red Spot (LRS) has some of the highest wind speeds ever detected on any planet. ANI

Astronomers make first accurate measurement of cosmic temperature
Astronomers have detected for the first time in the ultraviolet the carbon monoxide molecule in a galaxy located almost 11 billion light-years away, which has allowed them to obtain the most precise measurement of the cosmic temperature at such a remote epoch. ANI

The Antennae Galaxies are much closer than previously thought
A new research by astronomers using the Advanced Camera for Surveys onboard the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, has shown that the Antennae Galaxies, which are a pair of interacting galaxies, are much closer than previously thought - 45 million light-years instead of 65 million light-years. ANI

Ringing of star leads astronomers to find its birthplace
A team of astronomers using ESOs (European Southern Observatory) 3.6-m telescope have studied the ringing of a planet-harbouring star, and have thus found its place of origin. ANI

Mapping the interior of interstellar clouds might shed light on stellar nurseries
Astronomers have measured the distribution of mass inside a dark filament in a molecular cloud with an amazing level of detail and to great depth, which would allow them to better understand the cradles of newborn stars. ANI

Astronomers use light echoes to measure the distance to a star
A team of astronomers have used an ESO (European Southern Observatory) telescope to measure the distance to a star, using the help of light echoes. ANI

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