Space Images: Herschel Sees Through Ghostly Pillars – NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Space Images: Herschel Sees Through Ghostly Pillars – NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
This Herschel image of the Eagle nebula shows the self-emission of the intensely cold nebula’s gas and dust as never seen before. Each color shows a different temperature of dust, from around 10 degrees above absolute zero (10 Kelvin or minus 442 degrees Fahrenheit) for the red, up to around 40 Kelvin, or minus 388 degrees Fahrenheit, for the blue.
Herschel reveals the nebula’s intricate tendril nature, with vast cavities forming an almost cave-like surrounding to the famous pillars, which appear almost ghostly in this view. The gas and dust provide the material for the star formation that is still under way inside this enigmatic nebula.
Far-infrared light has been color-coded to 70 microns for blue and 160 microns for green using the Photodetector Array Camera, and 250 microns for red using the Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver.
Figure 1 combines data from almost opposite ends of the electromagnetic spectrum. Herschel captured longer-wavelength, or far, infrared light, and the space telescope XMM-Newton imaged X-rays. The X-ray data show the hot young stars in the center of the cloud, which are sculpting and interacting with the surrounding ultra-cool gas and dust, seen in infrared. Both wavelengths would be blocked by Earth’s atmosphere, so space telescopes such as these are critical to our understanding of the life cycle of stars.
Both Herschel and XMM-Newton are European Space Agency missions. NASA plays an important role in Herschel. NASA’s Herschel Project Office is based at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. JPL contributed mission-enabling technology for two of Herschel’s three science instruments. The NASA Herschel Science Center, part of the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, supports the United States astronomical community. Caltech manages JPL for NASA.
Rocket Fox: Part Fifteen
The three pilots stepped off the lift slowly, taking care to haul their gear in without making a ruckus. In the small lounge area there were a few tables and chair, and a pair of couches that faced a view screen. A few Vulpine and Felanus were sitting on the couches, enjoying tea and watching a game of rough ball on the view screen. The favoured sporting past time of Vulpinia. Clarfax offered a wave and asked who was playing, to which he received a tired answer from the viewers. He nodded and moved on, following the other two toward the Colonel’s office.
As the door to the office opened, the three stopped. Captain Trella Marr sat in her chair on the other side, giving each of them a scrutinizing eye. “The new recruits,” she stated in a low voice. She waved them off as they tried to salute. “The formalities of rank aren’t needed here unless we get a dignitary or two that comes by. Come in, agents,” she said as she wheeled her chair back. “And before you ask, no, do not push my chair or ever ask to push my chair.” She stopped and looked to the three. “I’m sure you’d feel the same way if our roles were reversed.”
“While Marr’s advice is sound,” Colonel Chatham called out from behind his desk. “If you give her respect, she’ll offer the same in kind. Sit down, agents,” Chatham said as he motioned to a few chairs on the other side of the desk. The three Vulpine took their seats as Chatham poured each of them a tea. “Just standard tea provisions,” he explained. “We don’t get the good stuff around here that much.” He set the tea pot down and returned to his seat behind his desk. “Impressive ship you’ve got out there. I know a few of the agents that might get jealous, but I think they’ll get over it quickly.” Trella handed him a data pad and he continued with the more formal portion of the greeting. “As you may have surmised by now, I am Colonel Gregory Chatham and this is Captain Trella Marr. We aren’t big on formalities, but I would prefer it if you called myself and Marr by our designated rank.”
The three nodded quickly, and Senia spoke up after she took a sip of her tea. “If I may, Colonel. Captain,” she asked as she nodded to each of them. Chatham motioned for her to continue. “General Gerring gave uth the particularth regarding the rank and file here at the thtation. She gave uth the full report on the thituation of the Main Authority. Though, we did wish to hear it from you firtht.”
“I thought General Gerring might,” Chatham replied. “She also warned you that I wouldn’t be going easy on you simply because you’re recent graduates, correct?” The three nodded in unison. “Good. From the look of things, you’ve done your homework, which means your already half way ahead of most who come here. A quick refresher for you, then. I hand out the duty reports in station. I give leave when it’s warranted. You won’t have standard rest periods, that I can tell you for certain. But I’ll make sure that you get them. I have quarters set aside for you,” he said as he reached across the desk and held out the data pad. “They aren’t palatial by any means, but they work as a place to rest, spend time alone if you wish.” He sat back down and took a deep breath. “From what I’ve read, however, you three are close. That’s good. Stay close and work together. Besides you three, the only others who work in any kind of partnership are myself and Trella.”
“And, if I might add,” Trella spoke up as she looked to Chatham. “We aren’t going in the field anytime soon. Not unless any of you three want to give us lessons in the Nighthawk.” The three Vulpine looked to each other for a moment, Hardy having the look like she was about to say good bye to a lover. Trella saw the look and chuckled. “No need to worry, Corporal. I’m not going to steal your ship.” She looked to Chatham and added with a smile. “But maybe we can requisition the next model for this stations purposes.” Trella and Chatham chuckled, soon followed by the three pilots. They were starting to feel more at ease. The Main Authority, while still intimidating, at least wasn’t a nightmarish place.
“You three will have the rest of the day to familiarize yourself with your new surroundings,” Chatham stated as he turned the discussion to more serious matters. “Make sure that you stay away from the red areas of the facility, though. Those lead toward the main prison proper, and while the prisoners are behind lock and key, that doesn’t mean they won’t try and goad you into a fight. They don’t care who you are, all they see is that uniform. For now, rest. Meet back here at 0600 hours tomorrow. I may have an assignment for you.” He looked to the three as they finished their tea. “Alright, dismissed.”
The three rose to their feet, gave a smart salute and gathered together their gear and hurried on their way. Chatham leaned back in his chair and rubbed his thigh again as he watched after them. “What do you think, Trella?”
“So they sent her here because she had a handicap,” Trella stated as she wheeled her chair beside the desk. “She’s got a minor speech impediment, but it’s not that bad. I think she’s attempting to cover it as it is.” Trella sighed and rolled her shoulders, letting her muscles work a bit as she sat in the chair. “Aside from that, they seem fresh, a little skittish but that’s to be expected around here for newcomers. But they had a look in their eyes.”
“They’re fighter pilots,” Chatham explained. “They may be skittish just by being here, but they do something that no agent would want to unless they had the metal of those three.” He pointed out the window to the shuttle bay, toward the Nighthawk. “They climb into the belly of that ship, one of the most powerful fighter craft ever created by the RVA. If they can do that, then they have something valuable. They might have fear, but they know how to swallow it and get the job done.”
