Herschel Spectroscopy of Future Supernova 21
davecl writes "ESA's Herschel Space Telescope has released its first spectroscopic results. These include observations of VYCMa, a star 50 times as massive as the sun and soon to become a supernova, as well as a nearby galaxy, more distant colliding starburst galaxies and a comet in our own solar system. The spectra show more lines than have ever been seen in these objects in the far-infrared and will allow astronomers to work out the detailed chemistry and physics behind star and planet formation as well as the last stages of stellar evolution before VYCMa's eventual collapse into a supernova. More coverage is available at the Herschel Mission Blog, which I run."
VYCMa (Score:5, Funny)
Planet, there's a place you can go,
I said, planet, when your velocity's low,
You can orbit, and I'm sure you will see,
A supernova for you and me.
It's fun to orbit VYCMa,
It's fun to orbit VYCMa,
They have everything that you need to enjoy,
Being utterly destroyed.
Only one place where you can get this answer... (Score:3, Funny)