Topic: European Southern Observatory
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Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 07/21
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In Pictures: Space photos of the day 07/02
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In Pictures: Space photos of the day 06/30
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In Pictures: Space Photos of the Day 06/23
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Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 04/26
All Content
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Milky Way's neighbor galaxy closer than thought
Astronomers in Chile announced that they are able to measure more accurately the distance to Large Magellanic Cloud, a galaxy adjacent to the Milky Way.
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Telescope spots formation of alien planet
In the first discovery of its kind, a telescope in Chile has detected a baby gas giant forming in the dust cloud around a nearby star.
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Four planets in 'habitable zones' spotted within spitting distance of Earth
Astronomers say they used a new statistical technique to find four possible super-Earths orbiting in the habitable zone of two stars within 22 light-years of Earth, Gliese 667C and tau Ceti.
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Gigantic orphan planet: Homeless world hurtles through space without star (+video)
The free-floating object, called CFBDSIR2149, is likely a gas giant planet four to seven times more massive than Jupiter.
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What sets newly found super Earth apart? It's simple as night and day. (+video)
Scientists say they have found a planet seven times more massive than Earth orbiting in a star's habitable zone 42 light-years away. It could have seas, and perhaps just as important, it could have an Earth-like climate because it has a day-night cycle.
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Newfound 'super-Earth' could be habitable for life
HD 40307g is one of three newly discovered worlds around the parent star, which was already known to host three planets. The finds thus boost the star's total planetary population to six.
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Earth-size Alpha Centauri B planet detected by telltale star wobble
HARPS, as the instrument is called, successfully detected a rocky planet around one of Earth’s closest neighboring stars when other tools missed it.
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Earth-size planet found just next door, in Alpha Centauri system
The planet is not habitable, it is too close to Alpha Centauri B. But rocky planets tend to have siblings, researchers note, raising hopes others could be found in the system just 4.4 light-years distant.
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Earth-sized planet too hot for non-asbestos life forms, but ...
Earth-sized planet: With a mass about 1.1 times that of Earth, it is strikingly similar in size. Could the Alpha Centauri B system hold more Earth-sized, but habitable planets?
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New spiral galaxy image shows pair of supernovae
The European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope in Chile captured a very detailed image of a galaxy that hosted two supernova explosions within the past 30 years.
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Brightest and hottest stars have close, turbulent relationships, study suggets
The brightest and hottest stars in our galaxy tend to have short, violent lives, often drawing gas from each other and frequently merging to form a single star, a new study indicates.
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Multi-telescope view two million times sharper than human eye reveals black hole
Scientists spaced thousands of miles apart discovered a super massive black hole inside a quasar some five billion light-years from Earth
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Astronomers use an old trick to open new window on extrasolar planets
Two teams of astronomers used a technique for finding extrasolar planets to directly measure one such planet. The approach could allow the study of more exoplanets' atmospheres than ever before.
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Amazing photo shows 'swarm' of stars (+video)
Tens of thousands of stars can be seen clustered together in a new image.
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Black hole emits humongous energy burst (+video)
An unusual brightness, documented by NASA's Chandra telescope appears to be coming from a black hole.
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Astronomers say that there are billions of potentially habitable planets in our galaxy (+video)
A team of European astronomers say that about 40 percent of red dwarf stars - the most common type of star in the Milky Way - have at least one planet whose temperatures would allow liquid water on the surface.
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Study indicates existence of billions of habitable alien planets in Milky Way (+video)
A survey of red dwarf stars suggests that, in our galaxy alone, there are tens of billions of planets orbiting their stars' 'habitable zones.'
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Survey: Galaxies become cannibals as teens
Billions of years after the Big Bang, adolescent galaxies seem to be snacking on smaller galaxies.
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How reflections on the moon could aid search for aliens
By studying "earthshine" – the reflection of the Earth on the Moon – scientists may have found a technique they can use to look for life elsewhere.
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Moon acts as mirror, reflecting telltale signs of life (+video)
So-called 'earthshine' observations may pave the way for a similar tool to help spot signs of alien life in the universe, scientists say.
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Breathtaking Carina nebula photo provides window into star nursery
The Very Large Telescope spied the cosmic landscape of gas, dust and young stars in the majestic Carina nebula, which is located about 7,500 light-years away from Earth.
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Newfound alien planet 'best candidate to support liquid water'
A planet recently discovered orbiting a nearby star is located in the star's 'habitable zone,' meaning that it could support life as we know it.
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Humongous 'El Gordo' galaxy cluster packs mass of 2 quadrillion stars
Located some7 billion light-years from Earth, 'El Gordo' is the biggest and hottest cluster of galaxies ever observed in the early universe.
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Fried egg nebula: European telescope captures image of monster star [VIDEO]
Fried egg nebula: The European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope has spotted a massive yellow hypergiant star surrounded by a dusty double shell, prompting astronomers to think of breakfast.
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Super-Earth: Newly discovered planet could potentially support life
Super-Earth: The newfound haul of alien planets includes 16 super-Earths, which are potentially rocky worlds that are more massive than our planet. One in particular has captured astronomers' attention because it orbits at the edge of its star's habitable zone, suggesting conditions could be ripe to support life.
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