Project News

Gravity-Bending Find Leads to Kepler Meeting Einstein

Kepler • Project News • April 4th, 2013

NASA's Kepler space telescope has witnessed the effects of a dead star bending the light of its companion star. The findings are among the first detections of this phenomenon -- a result of Einstein's theory of general relativity -- in binary, or double, star systems.

Hunting Massive Stars with Herschel

Herschel • Feature • March 28th, 2013

In a new view of a vast star-forming cloud called W3, the Herschel space observatory tells the story of how massive stars are born.

Planck Mission Brings Universe Into Sharp Focus

Planck • News Release • March 21st, 2013

The Planck space mission has released the most accurate and detailed map ever made of the oldest light in the universe, revealing new information about its age, contents and origins.

Herschel Discovers Some of the Youngest Stars Ever Seen

Herschel • News Release • March 19th, 2013

The 15 newly observed protostars turned up by surprise in a survey of the biggest site of star formation near our solar system, located in the constellation Orion.

Herschel to Complete Its Mission Soon

Herschel • News Release • March 5th, 2013

The Herschel space observatory is expected to exhaust its supply of liquid helium coolant in the coming weeks, after spending more than three years studying the cool universe and surpassing the expectations of the international team of scientists involved.

A Cool Discovery About the Sun's Next-door Twin

Herschel • Feature • February 20th, 2013

The Herschel Space Observatory has detected a cool layer in the atmosphere of Alpha Centauri A, the first time this has been seen in a star beyond our own Sun. The finding is not only important for understanding the Sun's activity, but could also help in the quest to discover proto-planetary...

Black Holes and Star Formation: A Herschel Perspective

Herschel • News Release • February 13th, 2013

The possible effects of supermassive black holes on star formation in their host galaxies pose a tricky puzzle. Galaxy surveys from Herschel are being used to try to understand this complex interaction.

Herschel Finds Star Past its Prime Possibly Making Planets

Herschel • News Release • January 30th, 2013

A star thought to have passed the age at which it can form planets may, in fact, be creating new worlds. The disk of material surrounding the surprising star called TW Hydrae may be massive enough to make even more planets than we have in our own solar system.

Cool, New Views of Andromeda Galaxy

Herschel • Feature • January 28th, 2013

Two new eye-catching views from the Herschel space observatory are fit for a princess. They show the elegant spiral galaxy Andromeda, named after the mythical Greek princess known for her beauty.

Betelgeuse Star Braces for Crash with Strange Bar

Herschel • Feature • January 22nd, 2013

Orion, the famous hunter presiding over northern winter skies, may experience a stellar crash in its future. The red star at its shoulder, called Betelgeuse, appears to be set to collide with a dusty "wall" in 5,000 years.

Gravity-Bending Find Leads to Kepler Meeting Einstein

Kepler • April 4th, 2013

NASA's Kepler space telescope has witnessed the effects of a dead star bending the light of its companion star. The findings are among the first detections of this phenomenon --...

Hunting Massive Stars with Herschel

Herschel • March 28th, 2013

In a new view of a vast star-forming cloud called W3, the Herschel space observatory tells the story of how massive stars are born.

Planck Mission Brings Universe Into Sharp Focus

Planck • March 21st, 2013

The Planck space mission has released the most accurate and detailed map ever made of the oldest light in the universe, revealing new information about its age, contents and...

Herschel Discovers Some of the Youngest Stars Ever Seen

Herschel • March 19th, 2013

The 15 newly observed protostars turned up by surprise in a survey of the biggest site of star formation near our solar system, located in the constellation Orion.

Herschel to Complete Its Mission Soon

Herschel • March 5th, 2013

The Herschel space observatory is expected to exhaust its supply of liquid helium coolant in the coming weeks, after spending more than three years studying the cool universe...

A Cool Discovery About the Sun's Next-door Twin

Herschel • February 20th, 2013

The Herschel Space Observatory has detected a cool layer in the atmosphere of Alpha Centauri A, the first time this has been seen in a star beyond our own Sun. The finding is...

Black Holes and Star Formation: A Herschel Perspective

Herschel • February 13th, 2013

The possible effects of supermassive black holes on star formation in their host galaxies pose a tricky puzzle. Galaxy surveys from Herschel are being used to try to understand...

Herschel Finds Star Past its Prime Possibly Making Planets

Herschel • January 30th, 2013

A star thought to have passed the age at which it can form planets may, in fact, be creating new worlds. The disk of material surrounding the surprising star called TW Hydrae...

Cool, New Views of Andromeda Galaxy

Herschel • January 28th, 2013

Two new eye-catching views from the Herschel space observatory are fit for a princess. They show the elegant spiral galaxy Andromeda, named after the mythical Greek princess...

Betelgeuse Star Braces for Crash with Strange Bar

Herschel • January 22nd, 2013

Orion, the famous hunter presiding over northern winter skies, may experience a stellar crash in its future. The red star at its shoulder, called Betelgeuse, appears to be set...