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| Monitoring the impact of extreme solar events |
| Combined observations with six spacecraft have allowed scientists to monitor in detail the impact of extreme solar events on the Earth. The study, based on data from four Cluster and two Double Star spacecraft, demonstrated that the typical ion composition observed in the near-Earth environment was drastically modified by extreme solar events and that the magnetosphere became extremely compressed. In situ observations of such changes provide vital information for models of our near-Earth environment where commercial and military spacecraft orbit. |
| Date: 29 Apr 2009 |
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| Call for Payload Study Consortia for the International X-ray Observatory (IXO) - a Cosmic Vision L-class mission candidate |
| On 28 April ESA issued a "Call for Declarations of Interest in Science Instrumentation" for the L-class Cosmic Vision mission study IXO. Prospective Instrument Study Teams are invited to submit proposals outlining the composition of nationally funded consortia to carry out assessment level studies. |
| Date: 28 Apr 2009 |
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| Herschel and Planck to lift off on 14 May |
| Now that additional checks on the Ariane 5 ECA launcher have been completed, Arianespace and ESA have set the launch date of Herschel and Planck for Thursday 14 May. |
| Date: 28 Apr 2009 |
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| Hubble celebrates 19th anniversary with fountain of youth [heic0906] |
| To commemorate the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope's 19 years of success, the orbiting telescope has photographed a peculiar system of galaxies known as Arp 194. This interacting group contains several galaxies along with a "cosmic fountain" of stars, gas and dust that stretches over 100 000 light years. |
| Date: 21 Apr 2009 |
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| Herschel and Planck launch postponed |
| Due to an anomaly discovered during tests on a subassembly identical to the one on the Ariane 5 launcher, Arianespace has decided to carry out additional checks which will take a few days. |
| Date: 20 Apr 2009 |
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| Titan Fly-by - 20 April 2009 |
| On Monday, 20 April, Cassini returns to Saturn's largest moon for the mission's fifty-fourth targeted encounter with Titan: T53. The closest approach to Titan occurs at 00:20:45 UT at an altitude of 3600 kilometres above the surface and at a speed of 5.8 kilometres per second. The latitude at closest approach is 7.7°S and the encounter occurs on orbit number 109. |
| Date: 20 Apr 2009 |
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| ‘Around the World in 80 Telescopes’ – webcast archive online |
| On 3 April 2009 astronomers from ESA's INTEGRAL and XMM-Newton observatories took part in a marathon 24-hour live webcast, 'Around the World in 80 Telescopes'. The webcast took viewers on a worldwide odyssey visiting telescopes on every continent - and in space, including ESA's European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) near Madrid in Spain. This was part of the 100 Hours of Astronomy cornerstone project of the International Year of Astronomy (IYA). The recorded webcast is now available to view at your leisure. |
| Date: 16 Apr 2009 |
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| Herschel and Planck to lift off on 6 May |
| With the additional checks related to the flight worthiness of the Herschel telescope now completed, ESA and Arianespace have set the launch date of Herschel and Planck for 6 May 2009. |
| Date: 08 Apr 2009 |
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| Magnificent image of M82 from ESA’s XMM-Newton Telescope for the International Year of Astronomy 2009 |
| To celebrate the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) ESA is releasing a magnificent image of the starburst galaxy Messier 82 (M82) obtained with the XMM-Newton space observatory. A dedicated observation of M82 was made with XMM-Newton on 3 April 2009 as part of the IYA 100 Hours of Astronomy cornerstone project. |
| Date: 08 Apr 2009 |
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| Dramatically backlit dust in giant galaxy [heic0905] |
| A new Hubble image highlights striking swirling dust lanes and glittering globular clusters in oddball galaxy NGC 7049. |
| Date: 07 Apr 2009 |
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| Call for White Papers for the Fundamental Physics Roadmap Advisory Team |
| ESA has convened an expert body, the Fundamental Physics Roadmap Advisory Team, with a mandate to draw up a recommendation for the Agency on the scientific and technological roadmap necessary to lead Europe toward the realization of future space missions in the framework of the Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 plan in the field of fundamental physics. The FPR-AT will consult with the broad scientific community in order to solicit input for their report to ESA. The Call for White Papers, issued today, is the first step in this consultation process.
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| Date: 06 Apr 2009 |
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| INTEGRAL sees variable polarization from GRB041219A |
| The polarization of gamma-ray photons encodes information about the environment in which they were produced, and as such is an important element in the theoretical understanding of the physics of gamma-ray sources. In an article to appear in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, Diego Götz and colleagues from CEA/SAp Saclay, APC and IAP Paris report the detection of modulated polarization from the strongest Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) detected by INTEGRAL to date. |
| Date: 03 Apr 2009 |
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| Titan Fly-by - 4 April 2009 |
| On Saturday, 4 April, the Cassini spacecraft returns to Saturn's largest moon for the mission's fifty-third targeted encounter with Titan: T52. The closest approach to Titan occurs at 01:47:47 UT at an altitude of 4150 kilometres above the surface and at a speed of 5.8 kilometres per second. The latitude at closest approach is 2.8°S and the encounter occurs on orbit number 108. |
| Date: 03 Apr 2009 |
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| 'Be an INTEGRAL Astronomer' - an ESA competition for the International Year of Astronomy |
| To mark the International Year of Astronomy ESA is launching a special competition for students in secondary school and University undergraduates. Students will use data taken by the INTEGRAL space observatory to investigate objects in one of the most active regions of our Galaxy and be in with a chance to win a number of great prizes, including a trip to the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) near Madrid, Spain. |
| Date: 02 Apr 2009 |
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| Herschel and Planck launch update |
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| Date: 02 Apr 2009 |
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