Spitzer Telescope Sheds Light On Colony of Baby Stars 34
astroengine writes "NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope had the unprecedented opportunity to observe the heart of the Orion Nebula for 40 days, returning 80 images of the star-forming region. In doing so, the observatory has been keeping track of 1,500 young stars as they undergo rapid variations in brightness, caused by large 'cool spots' on the surface of the stars and obscuring dust. However, the high resolution images Spitzer is returning take center-stage, showing a tight cluster of stellar birth amid the nebulous clouds of dust. This is an incredible achievement considering its primary mission is over (after using up all of its liquid helium coolant in May 2009) and only two instruments are still working."
Amazing (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Direction of light (Score:2, Insightful)
Wouldn't it be a little more accurate to say that a colony of baby stars shed light on the Spitzer Telescope?
I would certainly hope so. Otherwise, the size of the light on the telescope needed for any meaningful lighting on that
scale would double as a very decent planet vaporizer over the range of a couple million kilometers. I wouldn't want that thing
orbiting anywhere near our solar system...