SkyTips December 2012
Astronomers have used the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) at McDonald Observatory to measure the mass of what may be the most massive black hole yet — 17 billion Suns — in the lenticular galaxy NGC 1277, shown above in a Hubble Space Telescope image.
Stargazing Summary
A lineup of bright stars and planets greets early risers in the eastern sky this month. The brightest of them is Venus, the "morning star," which is low in the sky at first light. Elusive little Mercury, the planet closest to the Sun, rises beneath Venus, never quite climbing as high as its brighter sibling. Giant Saturn is above Venus, with Spica, the brightest star of Virgo, highest of all. The exact configuration changes from night to night. Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, rises earlier each evening and dominates the southern sky for much of the night. It rises below mighty Orion; follow the hunter's three-star belt downward to spot the Dog Star.
More stargazing information »
More stargazing information »
Radio Program Highlights
Support StarDate: Help us keep our date with the stars by making a tax-deductible donation to StarDate.
December 3-9 - Star markers: One of the most important measurements in astronomy is an object's distance, but it's also one of the hardest to make. We’ll talk about one project that's made the job a little easier. Join us for this and much more.
December 10-16 - Explorations: This is a big week in the history of space exploration — the 50th anniversary of the first encounter with another planet, and the 40th anniversary of the final Apollo mission to the Moon. Join us for first and last steps.
December 17-23 - The Sun: The Sun makes itself scarce this week, as winter arrives in the northern hemisphere. But we'll bring it into sharp focus, with stories of how it works, and how a new mission is checking out its influence on Earth. Join us for sunny skies.
December 24-30 - Holiday skies: The night sky offers up some delectable treats this holiday week, from long nights of moonlight to a giant planet to the brightest star in the night sky. Join us for all the beauty of the night sky every day, right here.
December 31, 2012-January 6, 2013 - Ice balls: The sky objects that have inspired the most fear over the ages are also some of the most beautiful: comets. And they leave beautiful reminders after they've gone. Join us for tales of these astronomical ice balls.
December program schedule »
Hear StarDate every day on more than 300 radio stations nationwide.
December 3-9 - Star markers: One of the most important measurements in astronomy is an object's distance, but it's also one of the hardest to make. We’ll talk about one project that's made the job a little easier. Join us for this and much more.
December 10-16 - Explorations: This is a big week in the history of space exploration — the 50th anniversary of the first encounter with another planet, and the 40th anniversary of the final Apollo mission to the Moon. Join us for first and last steps.
December 17-23 - The Sun: The Sun makes itself scarce this week, as winter arrives in the northern hemisphere. But we'll bring it into sharp focus, with stories of how it works, and how a new mission is checking out its influence on Earth. Join us for sunny skies.
December 24-30 - Holiday skies: The night sky offers up some delectable treats this holiday week, from long nights of moonlight to a giant planet to the brightest star in the night sky. Join us for all the beauty of the night sky every day, right here.
December 31, 2012-January 6, 2013 - Ice balls: The sky objects that have inspired the most fear over the ages are also some of the most beautiful: comets. And they leave beautiful reminders after they've gone. Join us for tales of these astronomical ice balls.
December program schedule »
Hear StarDate every day on more than 300 radio stations nationwide.
Telescope and Book Giveaway
Have you heard about StarDate's Universe: The Definitive Visual Guide Giveaway? There are only a few days left. One grand prize winner will receive a NexStar 4SE Computerized Telescope ($499) and a copy ofUniverse: The Definitive Visual Guide ($50) from DK Publishing. Ten runner-up winners will also receive a copy of Universe: The Definitive Visual Guide. No purchase necessary.
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This Month in StarDate Magazine
Coming up in January, we'll bring you our Sky Almanac 2013. Month by month, the almanac will provide skywatching tips, information on star parties and other events nationwide, and highlight the year's anniversaries in the history of astronomy and spaceflight. Don't miss it!
Subscribe today »
Subscribe today »
News From the Observatory
Measuring the Most Massive Black Hole with HET
Astronomers have used the Hobby-Eberly Telescope at The University of Texas at Austin's McDonald Observatory to measure the mass of what may be the most massive black hole yet -- 17 billion Suns -- in galaxy NGC 1277. The unusual black hole makes up 14 percent of its galaxy's mass, rather than the usual 0.1 percent. This galaxy and several more in the same study could change theories of how black holes and galaxies form and evolve. The work appears in the Nov. 29 issue of the journal Nature.
The White Widow
J. Craig Wheeler has studied the exploding stars called supernovae for more than four decades. Now he has a new idea on the identity of the "parents" of one of the most important types of supernovae — the Type Ia, those used as "standard candles" in cosmology studies that led to the discovery of dark energy, the mysterious force causing the universe's expansion to speed up.
Astronomers have used the Hobby-Eberly Telescope at The University of Texas at Austin's McDonald Observatory to measure the mass of what may be the most massive black hole yet -- 17 billion Suns -- in galaxy NGC 1277. The unusual black hole makes up 14 percent of its galaxy's mass, rather than the usual 0.1 percent. This galaxy and several more in the same study could change theories of how black holes and galaxies form and evolve. The work appears in the Nov. 29 issue of the journal Nature.
The White Widow
J. Craig Wheeler has studied the exploding stars called supernovae for more than four decades. Now he has a new idea on the identity of the "parents" of one of the most important types of supernovae — the Type Ia, those used as "standard candles" in cosmology studies that led to the discovery of dark energy, the mysterious force causing the universe's expansion to speed up.
Show Your Support for Science Education
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Join the Friends of McDonald today »
Join the Friends of McDonald today »
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