9 amazing facts about space, we have learned this year

One of the most long-term space missions has allowed interplanetary probe New Horizons Pluto closer to a record close distance. We continue to discover planets similar to Earth. The diet of astronauts appeared fresh herbs grown in space. Even though the reduction in funding, the US space agency managed to make some really brilliant achievements.
We present you the nine facts about space, we have learned this year.

1. Pluto is the "heart"

In July, the automatic interplanetary station (AWS) New Horizons has completed its nearly a decade voyage to Pluto, showing us his hand with unprecedented. We learned that Pluto actually Red and he has a huge icy heart"Consisting of carbon monoxide. What is the coolest - expedition gave us a beautiful picture of the distant dwarf planet.

2. It found "big brother" of the Earth - Kepler-452b

Also in July, NASA announced that the Hubble Space Telescope, "Kepler" has found the planet, dubbed Kepler-452b, at a distance of 1400 light years from Earth. She 60% more

our planet by diameter and is located in the habitable zone of a star similar to the sun. According to scientists from NASA, can be a whole only in our galaxy billion such planets - and the telescope "Kepler" will find them.

3. Astronauts tried the food grown in space

In early August, the astronauts aboard the International Space Station first tried grown in the same red lettuce. System The Veggie, developed by ORBITECIt allowed to arrange the ISS the first "garden". In the future, this system, which does not require the maintenance of a large number of resources can help provide food the first colonists on Mars.

But this achievement is not only important for astronauts. This method of cultivation products can be used in the world - where there is fertile soil, and other conditions for traditional farming.

4. We were shown a new image beautiful nebula

This year space telescope "Hubble", A joint project of NASA and the European Space Agency, demonstrated the new snapshot The Lagoon nebula - delicious shining clouds of hot gas in the constellation Sagittarius. Despite such a peaceful name, in fact we are looking at a strong stellar wind flows, billowing hot gas and the active star formation - all this "veil" of black cosmic dust.

5. Astronomers have discovered the closest to Earth exoplanet

Through Space Telescope "Spitzer" NASA scientists have discovered the closest to us exoplanet, dubbed HD 219134b. It is located at a distance of 21 light years from Earth, and although it is recognized that to reach her physically in any reasonable period of time is simply impossible (1 light-year is 9 460 730 472 580 800 meters), it offers a unique opportunity to study the distant past of our own planet. The only other planet in so "close" - GJ674b - has not the Earth is almost nothing in common.

"Now we have the perfect object of study to the smallest detail, - says Michael Gillon, employee Liege University and lead scientist, using the transit method for detecting exoplanets telescope "Spitzer". - This is the real Rosetta stone in the field of super-Earths. "

6. NASA released new 'epic' image of the Earth

Last month DSCOVR satellite demonstrated what can his special polychromatic camera wearing a resounding name EPIC (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera). From a distance of more than half a million kilometers, she's made this wonderful picture.

Formal assignment Camera - an image capture Earth from different angles, which later will be used for learning, as the light passes through the atmosphere. But it is obvious that the results of the EPIC interest not only to scientists: we all have the opportunity to enjoy our little blue planet.

7. With the help of satellite serious climatic changes were seen

JPL - NASA research center dedicated to the creation and maintenance of unmanned spacecraft - foundThat the remainder of the ice shelf Larsen B, which, according to the researcher Ali Hazendara existed for more than 10 000 years, can vanish within a decade. If this occurs, the fragments of the glacier will be in the open ocean, and melted lead to a significant increase in the water level.

The loss of ice masses are very concerned scientists involved in research in this area. Even Larsen C, «brother» Larsen B, a giant in comparison with neighboring glaciers, shows signs of weakening. According to information Euronews, Glaciologist David Vaughan believes that if the Larsen C is still melted, global sea level by the end of the century rise by 50 centimeters, and it can lead to serious problems for the residents of coastal and low-lying cities.

8. The spacecraft captured the mysterious lights in Ceres

The most curious and almost sci-fi opening This year - two spots of light on the surface of Ceres, a dwarf planet located between Mars and Jupiter. AMC's "Breaking Dawn" fixed them at a distance of more than 45 thousand kilometers - too far away to accurately determine their nature. It is only known that the required items are in a three-meter crater depth and reflect much more sunlight than anything around. Current hypotheses include versions of ice volcanoes or salt areas.

Fortunately, the mission of "Breaking Dawn" - explore Ceres is in its own orbit, so we are waiting for more detailed images that will give scientists a clear view of what is happening on the surface planet.

9. We saw new pictures "Pillars of Creation" in the Eagle Nebula

The first pictures of these giant "pillars" of interstellar gas and dust have been made in 1995. Over the past 20 years, the telescope "Hubble" has continued its work, taking pictures in different ranges - from infrared to visible light - and in the end we got a picture of breathtaking.

There is evidence that the "Pillars of Creation" was destroyed a supernova explosion about 6000 years ago, but due to the fact that the nebula is located 7000 light years from us, we will be able to watch this stunning astronomical object for at least a thousand years.

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In the near future we are waiting for more interesting things. Already in the next year AMC's "Juno" close to the orbit of Jupiter, will launch a research unit InSightWhich will help us to investigate the internal structure and composition of Mars, as well as the mission starts OSIRIS-RExWhose purpose - to deliver soil samples from the asteroid Bennu, which may be the first step to asteroid mining.

As you may have noticed, it has turned out to be a great year NASA. And what's even better - there were four months for new discoveries.

materials: NASA.

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