An amazing week for astronomy

14 May 2009

There are many incredible events occurring during the International Year of Astronomy 2009, but this week in particular has seen a flurry of high-profile astronomy stories!

First, the NASA / ESA Hubble Space Telescope is undergoing repairs and upgrades to equip it with the latest instruments. The Space Shuttle Atlantis launched on 11 May, and astronauts are now in the process of performing five spacewalks to the orbiting observatory. Colleen Sharkey, ESA / Hubble Outreach Coordinator and friend of IYA2009, is keeping a blog of events available to read here.

There's also good news from NASA's Kepler spacecraft, which began its search for Earth-like worlds on 13 May. Kepler will spend the next three-and-a-half years observing more than 100,000 stars to spot the slight dimming that occurs when a planet passes in front of a star. The first discoveries are likely to be large gas planets, but hopes are high that Kepler will locate worlds like our own Earth. Kepler's official website has more information.

14 May saw another lift-off: this time an Ariane 5 rocket proudly displaying the IYA2009 logo, carrying two European Space Agency missions called Herschel and Planck.. Herschel has a 3.5-meter diameter mirror, making it the largest telescope in space. It will observe far-infrared and sub-millimetre wavelengths, and aims to study the formation and evolution of stars and galaxies. Launched with Herschel was Planck, the first European space observatory whose main mission is studying the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation, which is left-over from the Big Bang. Herschel's official website is available here, and Planck's is here.

IYA2009 wishes these missions and all those working on them the very best of luck!

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