Evidence of Planetary Collision Observed by NASA, Rebel Force Wanted for Questioning

Rosa Golijan — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:30:00 EDT

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has picked up on what seems to be evidence of two planets impacting and then exploding in a oh-dear-God-it's-like-the-Death-Stars-all-over-again-no-no-nooooooooooo way. The artist's animation of the event looks phenomenal, but sadly lacks any kablooey! sounds.

The infrared detectors of the Spitzer Space Telescope spotted "signatures of the vaporized rock, along with pieces of refrozen lava," which imply that a planetary collision may have occurred. The remaining debris is very similar to that which formed Earth's moon after an object the size of Mars impacted with the planet and could result in another moon forming.

No word on which planet is at fault as they were both speeding at 22,400 miles per hour. [YouTube via SpaceRef]

Spitzer Space Telescope Celebrates 5th Birthday With Portrait of Stellar Nursery

Elaine Chow — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EDT

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, the last of the space agency's Great Observatories satellites to launch, celebrated its fifth birthday recently... giving me the opportunity to post this amazing multigenerational picture of star-forming region in the constellation Cassiopeia, 6,500 light-years from Earth. The photo takes in an area equivalent to four full moons and puts on show how one generation of massive stars can give birth to the next.

The $800 million telescope, which was named after the first man to propose putting telescopes in space, Dr. Lyman Spitzer Jr., launched on August 25 2003 from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Its mission will conclude when its onboard helium supply is exhausted—estimates from 2007 put that date at April 2009. So happy birthday, Spitzer Space Telescope! May you continue to provide us with awesome pictures for the last leg of your journey! [Cosmiclog]

Gizmodo: spitzer space telescope

Evidence of Planetary Collision Observed by NASA, Rebel Force Wanted for Questioning

Spitzer Space Telescope Celebrates 5th Birthday With Portrait of Stellar Nursery