Environmental Graffiti

Peering into the Beginnings of the Universe

Scheduled to launch in April 2009, the Herschel and Planck space telescopes bring capabilities never before available to study the origins of stars, galaxies and the universe. The expected data might revolutionize both astrophysics and philosophy.

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Massive Exo-Planet 63 Light-Years Away Photographed

Beta Pictoris is a fascinating star not far from our sun. It has two discs within which planetesimals collide and planets form. Its largest planet, is hot, young and the first close orbit planet to be photographed. First images of Beta Pictoris's disc were obtained in 1984. Such stellar discs are 'young' by astronomical standards and inside the disc of Beta Pictoris is a clear zone about the diameter of our solar system.

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