Announcements 2017

21 December 2017: The December issue of the ESA/Hubble/JWST Science Newsletter is now available. Within the newsletter you can find articles about Søren Larsen’s experience as an ESA representative on the Space Telescope User’s Committee (STUC), a call for early release observations with the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, an analysis of the hot astronomical topics with respect to the publishing of papers using Hubble data, and a brief report by ESA/JWST Project Scientist Pierre Ferruit about the European contribution to James Webb and the next major milestones. In other exciting news, ESA/Hubble Project Scientist Antonella Nota announces her new additional role as a Project Scientist for James Webb. One of the first direct consequences is that this Hubble Science Newsletter will bring you news about James Webb as well. The newsletter also contains a short video with the best images from Hubble released by ESA in 2017. The ESA/Hubble/JWST Science Newsletter promotes …

19 December 2017: Many things in astronomy are very difficult to directly observe, like black holes, dark matter and planets orbiting distant stars. Astronomical timescales also present a problem as we cannot watch in real time as planets form or stars ignite — these processes often take millions of years. As such, a lot of what we know has been inferred from indirect observations, theory and computer models. It takes imagination and creativity, as well as a deep understanding of physics and astronomy, for artists like Luis Calçada to create the beautiful images that add to our ever-expanding knowledge of the Universe. We speak to Luis to find out about his work as a visual artist with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, what inspires him and how he got here. You can subscribe to the Hubblecasts in iTunes, receive future episodes on YouTube or follow us on Vimeo. Many other Hubblecast episodes are …

16 October 2017: For the first time, Hubble has observed the source of gravitational waves: the merging of two neutron stars. This merger created a visible counterpart known as a kilonova — an object first predicted by theory more than 30 ago. This event also provides the strongest evidence yet that short duration gamma-ray bursts are caused by mergers of neutron stars. These observations may help solve another long-standing question in astronomy: the origin of heavy chemical elements, like gold and platinum. In the merger of two neutron stars, the conditions appear just right for their production. You can subscribe to the Hubblecasts in iTunes, receive future episodes on YouTube or follow us on Vimeo. Many other Hubblecast episodes are also available. Find out how to view and contribute subtitles for the Hubblecast in multiple languages, or translate this video on YouTube.

11 October 2017: The atmosphere of an exoplanet can reveal a wealth of information, such as the planet’s temperature, its air pressure, and whether it is suitable for life. However, studying exoplanet atmospheres is one of the most challenging tasks in modern astronomy — and a challenge for Hubble too. This new episode of the Hubblecast describes how exoplanet atmospheres are analysed and what makes it such a challenge. You can subscribe to the Hubblecasts in iTunes, receive future episodes on YouTube or follow us on Vimeo. Many other Hubblecast episodes are also available. Find out how to view and contribute subtitles for the Hubblecast in multiple languages, or translate this video on YouTube.

26 September 2017: The 22nd issue of the Communicating Astronomy with the Public journal is out now! In this issue you will find articles exploring the value and challenges of communicating in venues we do not usually associate with science — our libraries and airport lounges — and what this can mean for outreach and diversifying our audience. The latest issue also highlights uses of 3D printing and virtual reality to bring people closer to large astronomical objects. All of this, and more, is featured in this free, peer-reviewed journal for astronomy communicators — available now for download.

28 June 2017: In February 2017 the Hubble travelling exhibition Our Place in Space was launched in Venice, Italy. In the exhibition both astronomers and artists present their own interpretations of where we are, where we belong, what our past might have been and what our future might look like, by using Hubble images, artworks and installations. Combining the different perspectives by bringing together art and science gives a unique, and more complete, view of the Universe we live in and the research, both in science and the arts, being done to understand it. This episode of the Hubblecast takes the viewer on a journey through the exhibition and presents both the art and the stunning Hubble images within it, and combines them with written comments left by visitors to the exhibitions. You can subscribe to the Hubblecasts in iTunes, receive future episodes on YouTube or follow us on Vimeo. Many other Hubblecast …

27 June 2017: To celebrate the display of the Hubble travelling exhibition Our Place in Space, an Astro Day was organised in the city of Chiavenna, Italy. Held on 24 June 2017 at the Teatro Società Operaia di Chiavenna, invited guests from the European Space Agency (ESA), the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) and from the European Southern Observatory (ESO) spoke to the public about Hubble’s achievements, their work with Hubble, how Hubble images are made and about the upcoming NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope. Among the speakers were Danny Lennon and Antonella Nota (ESA), Hussein Jirdeh and Carol Christian (STScI), and Lars Lindberg Christensen (ESO & ESA/Hubble). Despite the soaring summer heat, more than 100 people attended the talks and took the opportunity to ask questions about Hubble and other work done at NASA, ESA and ESO. After the talks, the Astro Day finished in Montespluga, in Madesimo, with observations of the …

18 May 2017: The May 2017 issue of the ESA/Hubble Science Newsletter is now available, bringing information and interviews about the successful travelling exhibition Our Place in Space and an overview of the press releases produced by ESA/Hubble in 2016. Further topics include the latest improvements on the European Hubble archive eHST and a look back on the latest Science with the Hubble Space Telescope conference, which took place in Venice earlier this year. The ESA/Hubble Science Newsletter promotes technical and operational news for the Hubble Space Telescope to European users and the scientific community. It is also intended to create a communication channel between the European Hubble user community, and the staff scientists at ESA who support Hubble science operations. You can subscribe to the ESA/Hubble Science Newsletter here, or get in touch at [email protected]. If you are a media representative we recommend subscribing to the ESA/Hubble Media Newsletter, a weekly embargoed …

27 April 2017: After a successful few weeks in Venice, Italy, with more than 29 000 visitors, the Hubble travelling exhibition Our Place in Space is now moving on to the city of Chiavenna. Chiavenna is a medieval town in northern Italy, which will host the exhibition from 13 May 2017 until 20 August 2017 at the Convento dei Cappuccini, Piazza Bertacchi. The exhibition will be open 6 days a week, from Tuesday to Sunday. The opening hours are 10:30 to 12:30 in the morning and 15:00 to 18:00 in the afternoon. Entrance to the exhibition is free. As in Venice, the exhibition will show stunning images captured with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and display the work of contemporary Italian artists inspired by these images. Together they take the visitors on a breathtaking visual journey, through our Solar System and out to the edge of the known Universe. By seamlessly integrating perspectives …

20 April 2017: Throughout its 27-year history, Hubble has seen enough of the Universe to fill 100 episodes of the Hubblecast — 10 hours worth! These episodes have captured the science, culture, trials, and successes of Hubble, ranging from its spectacular images to its cutting-edge discoveries to its impact on society. This special 100th Hubblecast reflects on the past 99 episodes, and includes the smartest, funniest, weirdest and most creative moments. You can subscribe to the Hubblecasts in iTunes, receive future episodes on YouTube or follow us on Vimeo. Many other Hubblecast episodes are also available. Find out how to view and contribute subtitles for the Hubblecast in multiple languages, or translate this video on dotSUB. Credits: Directed by: Mathias JägerVisual design and editing: Martin KornmesserWritten by: Georgia Bladon, Mathias JägerNarration: Jochen LiskePresented: Dr J (Jochen Liske)Images: NASA, ESA/HubbleVideos: NASA, ESA/HubbleAnimations: NASA, ESA/Hubble, M. KornmesserMusic: Johan B. Monell (www.johanmonell.com)Web and technical support: Mathias …

22 March 2017: To many, Hubble is best known for its stunning images of celestial objects, but among astronomers it is admired for the valuable data it delivers. Hubble has helped revolutionise astronomy, including shedding light on dark matter and dark energy, lifting the veil on black holes, and peering into the dusty regions around stars to image exoplanets. This new Hubblecast is the second part of an exploration of some of Hubble’s most important discoveries throughout its history. You can subscribe to the Hubblecasts in iTunes, receive future episodes on YouTube or follow us on Vimeo. Many other Hubblecast episodes are also available. Find out how to view and contribute subtitles for the Hubblecast in multiple languages, or translate this video on dotSUB. Credits: Directed by: Mathias JägerVisual design and editing: Martin KornmesserWritten by: Lauren Fuge, Tom Barratt, Mathias JägerNarration: Sara Mendes da CostaImages: NASA, ESA/Hubble, M. Kornmesser, HST Frontier Fields team …

23 February 2017: Since its launch in 1990, Hubble has revolutionised our knowledge of astronomy. From imaging the most stunning phenomena in the cosmos, to the study of the invisible parts of the Universe, to observing the most distant objects ever seen. Hubble’s sharp eye has been at the forefront of astronomical exploration. This new Hubblecast is the first part of an exploration of some of Hubble’s most important discoveries in its almost 27-year history. You can subscribe to the Hubblecasts in iTunes, receive future episodes on YouTube or follow us on Vimeo. Many other Hubblecast episodes are also available. Find out how to view and contribute subtitles for the Hubblecast in multiple languages, or translate this video on dotSUB. Credits: Directed by: Mathias JägerVisual design and editing: Martin KornmesserWritten by: Tom Barratt, Lauren Fuge, Mathias JägerNarration: Sara Mendes da CostaImages: NASA, ESA/Hubble, M. Kornmesser, HST Frontier Fields team (STScI), HUDF09 Team, HUDF …

22 February 2017: Astronomers using telescopes in space and on the ground have found a total of seven Earth-sized, potentially habitable exoplanets orbiting the ultracool dwarf star TRAPPIST-1, 40 light-years away. This makes TRAPPIST-1 the solar system with the largest number of Earth-sized planets so far discovered. The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has also scrutinised this interesting planet system. Following up on the discovery, Hubble is screening the six innermost planets looking for evidence for atmospheres. These observations, in the infrared and performed with the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3), will provide further information about the nature of the planets. The analysis of the data and the publication process are currently in progress. In addition, Hubble’s Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) already observed the two innermost planets in the ultraviolet to determine the amount of irradiation they receive from their parent star. However, the first results gathered with STIS, published in a new …

7 February 2017: The grand opening of the stunning new Hubble travelling exhibition Our Place in Space was a great success. Held on Saturday 4 February in Venice, Italy, it brought scientists, artists, and journalists together to experience the beauty and wonder of not only images taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope but also sculptures, paintings and installations inspired by the ground-breaking telescope. In the morning, journalists were taken on a guided tour of the exhibition and given the chance to speak with its curators, ESA/Hubble project scientist Antonella Nota and Anna Caterina Bellati. In the afternoon were several talks introducing the exhibition. Among the speakers were Martin Kessler (ESA), Kenneth Carpenter (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center), Roger Davies (Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Oxford), Rebecca Alban Hoffberger (founder, director and principal curator of the American Visionary Art Museum), and Matt Mountain (AURA). Our Place in Space is sponsored and …

20 January 2017: On 4 February 2017 at 11:00 CET, ESA/Hubble invites national Italian and international media representatives to the formal opening of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope travelling exhibition Our Place in Space. The exhibition is hosted in the Instituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti, on the banks of the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. The exhibition presents a breathtaking journey through our Solar System and out to the edge of the known Universe, alongside Hubble-inspired works by contemporary Italian artists. Registered journalists will not only have a chance to visit the exhibition but also to talk with ESA/Hubble project scientist Antonella Nota and the curator of the exhibition, Anna Caterina Bellati. To participate in the opening, bona fide members of the media must first register by completing this online form by 3 February 2017. Please indicate “Our Place in Space” for the first question.