... Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2004 December 23 . 3C58: Pulsar Power . ... CXC , NASA . ... While adding 3C58 to the list of pulsar powered nebulae explored with Chandra, astronomers have deduced that the pulsar itself is much too cool for its tender years, citing 3C58 as a show case of extreme physics not well understood. ... About APOD | ... NASA Official: Jay Norris. ...

... 2000 December 20 . Sgr A*: Fast Stars Near the Galactic Center . ... Explanation: Why are these stars moving so fast? Shown above is a time-lapse movie in infrared light detailing how stars in the central light-year of our Galaxy have moved over the past eight years. ... If these fast stars are held to the Galactic Center by gravity, then the central object exerting this gravity must be both compact and massive. ... About APOD | ...

... At present, he is a Leading researcher at the Department of Non-Stationary Stars and Stellar Spectroscopy, heading the group of the General Catalogue of Variable Stars, and a Leading researcher at the Department of Variable Stars and Galactic Astronomy of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute, heading the group of Variable Stars. ... P.P. Parenago, B.V. Kukarkin, P.N. Kholopov leaded the team of variable star catalogue compilers at Astronomical Council/INASAN and at Sternberg Institute through years....

... Here is a brief outline of the current theory of the events in the early history of the solar system: . A cloud of interstellar gas and/or dust (the "solar nebula") is disturbed and collapses under its own gravity. ... The gas cools off enough for the metal, rock and (far enough from the forming star) ice to condense out into tiny particles. (i.e. some of the gas turns back into dust). ... Once the larger of these particles get big enough to have a nontrivial gravity, their growth accelerates. ...