PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Hubble watches super star create holiday light show

2013-12-18
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Rob Gutro
Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
301-286-4044
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Hubble watches super star create holiday light show

This festive NASA Hubble Space Telescope image resembles a holiday wreath made of sparkling lights. The bright southern hemisphere star RS Puppis, at the center of the image, is swaddled in a gossamer cocoon of reflective dust illuminated by the glittering star. The super star is ten times more massive than our sun and 200 times larger.

RS Puppis rhythmically brightens and dims over a six-week cycle. It is one of the most luminous in the class of so-called Cepheid variable stars. Its average intrinsic brightness is 15,000 times greater than our sun's luminosity.

The nebula flickers in brightness as pulses of light from the Cepheid propagate outwards. Hubble took a series of photos of light flashes rippling across the nebula in a phenomenon known as a "light echo." Even though light travels through space fast enough to span the gap between Earth and the moon in a little over a second, the nebula is so large that reflected light can actually be photographed traversing the nebula.

By observing the fluctuation of light in RS Puppis itself, as well as recording the faint reflections of light pulses moving across the nebula, astronomers are able to measure these light echoes and pin down a very accurate distance. The distance to RS Puppis has been narrowed down to 6,500 light-years (with a margin of error of only one percent).



INFORMATION:

The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and the European Space Agency. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Md., conducts Hubble science operations. STScI is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., in Washington, D.C.



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

World Health Organization study: Atrial fibrillation is a growing global health concern

2013-12-18
World Health Organization study: Atrial fibrillation is a growing global health concern LOS ANGELES (Dec. 17, 2013) – Atrial fibrillation, long considered the most common condition leading to an irregular heartbeat, is a growing and serious global health ...

Study: Moderate alcohol consumption boosts body's immune system

2013-12-18
Study: Moderate alcohol consumption boosts body's immune system PORTLAND, Ore. — Medical science has known for years that people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol actually have a reduced risk of death. In general, they are healthier and have better cardiovascular ...

Muscle-invasive and non-muscle invasive bladder cancers arise from different stem cells

2013-12-18
Muscle-invasive and non-muscle invasive bladder cancers arise from different stem cells 'Knowing the risk can help doctors and patients make informed treatment decisions,' researcher says Bladder cancer will kill upward of 170,000 people worldwide this year, ...

New hypertension guidelines offer practical, clinical information for doctors and patients around the globe

2013-12-18
New hypertension guidelines offer practical, clinical information for doctors and patients around the globe Presented by the American Society of Hypertension Inc. and the International Society of Hypertension High blood pressure affects approximately ...

Spiders partial to a side order of pollen with their flies

2013-12-18
Spiders partial to a side order of pollen with their flies Spiders may not be the pure predators we generally believe, after a study found that some make up a quarter of their diet by eating pollen. Dr Dirk Sanders of the University of Exeter demonstrated ...

Marijuana consumption in Washington state is higher than previously estimated, study finds

2013-12-18
Marijuana consumption in Washington state is higher than previously estimated, study finds Marijuana consumption in Washington state is about twice as large as previously estimated, according to a new RAND Corporation study. Using federal data and information from a new survey ...

Residents of poorer nations find greater meaning in life

2013-12-18
Residents of poorer nations find greater meaning in life While residents of wealthy nations tend to have greater life satisfaction, new research shows that those living in poorer nations report having greater meaning in life. These ...

Algae to crude oil: Million-year natural process takes minutes in the lab

2013-12-18
Algae to crude oil: Million-year natural process takes minutes in the lab Process simplifies transformation of algae to oil, water and usable byproducts ...

Dust in homes with dogs may protect against allergies, asthma

2013-12-17
Dust in homes with dogs may protect against allergies, asthma NIH-funded study in mice shows beneficial effect of dust microbe WHAT: A new study suggests that exposure to dust from homes with dogs may alter the immune response ...

Oregano oil may help sunflower seeds keep longer

2013-12-17
Oregano oil may help sunflower seeds keep longer CHICAGO— Sunflower seeds and sunflower oils have been shown to decrease risk of cardiovascular disease as well as have potential beneficial effects on obesity, bone health, and blood pressure. However ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Osteoporosis treatment benefits people older than 80

Consuming more protein may protect patients taking anti-obesity drug from muscle loss

Thyroid treatment may improve gut health in people with hypothyroidism

Combination of obesity medication tirzepatide and menopause hormone therapy fuels weight loss

High blood sugar may have a negative impact on men’s sexual health

Emotional health of parents tied to well-being of children with growth hormone deficiency

Oxytocin may reduce mood changes in women with disrupted sleep

Mouse study finds tirzepatide slowed obesity-associated breast cancer growth

CMD-OPT model enables the discovery of a potent and selective RIPK2 inhibitor as preclinical candidate for the treatment of acute liver injury

Melatonin receptor 1a alleviates sleep fragmentation-aggravated testicular injury in T2DM by suppression of TAB1/TAK1 complex through FGFR1

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals Shen-Bai-Jie-Du decoction retards colorectal tumorigenesis by regulating the TMEM131–TNF signaling pathway-mediated differentiation of immunosuppressive dendritic ce

Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B Volume 15, Issue 7 Publishes

New research expands laser technology

Targeted radiation offers promise in patients with metastasized small cell lung cancer to the brain

A high clinically translatable strategy to anti-aging using hyaluronic acid and silk fibroin co-crosslinked hydrogels as dermal regenerative fillers

Mount Sinai researchers uncover differences in how males and females change their mind when reflecting on past mistakes

CTE and normal aging are difficult to distinguish, new study finds

Molecular arms race: How the genome defends itself against internal enemies

Tiny chip speeds up antibody mapping for faster vaccine design

KTU experts reveal why cultural heritage is important for community unity

More misfolded proteins than previously known may contribute to Alzheimer’s and dementia

“Too much going on”: Autistic adults overwhelmed by non-verbal social cues

What’s driving America’s deep freezes in a warming world?

A key role of brain protein in learning and memory is deciphered by scientists

Heart attacks don’t follow a Hollywood script

Erin M. Schuman wins 2026 Nakasone Award for discovery on neural synapse function and change during formation of memories

Global ocean analysis could replace costly in-situ sound speed profiles in seafloor positioning, study finds

Power in numbers: Small group professional coaching reduces rates of physician burnout by nearly 30%

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage: A comprehensive review of CCUS-EOR

New high-temperature stable dispersed particle gel for enhanced profile control in CCUS applications

[Press-News.org] Hubble watches super star create holiday light show