The Planck satellite provides an unprecedented level of detail about the cosmic microwave background, confirming the standard model of cosmology at exceptional accuracy. Anomalies in the data suggest the Universe may be different on scales larger than those directly observable.
New data from the Hinode mission reveals insights into the Sun's coronal magnetic field structure and an unusual asymmetry in its magnetic field. This finding could impact the behavior and prediction of the next solar cycle, which is critical for understanding our nearest star.
The UK space sector has demonstrated remarkable growth, contributing £9.1 billion to the economy in 2010/11, with an average annual growth rate of 7.5%. The sector's continued success reflects strategic investment in technological innovations and a highly skilled workforce.
The UK Space Agency has launched its Civil Space Strategy, aiming to capture 10% of the global space market by 2030. The strategy focuses on creating new opportunities for industry, bolstering the role of space in the UK's infrastructure, and furthering national space technology.
The Euclid mission, a collaboration of nearly a thousand scientists, aims to study the distribution and evolution of dark matter and dark energy using state-of-the-art instruments. The UK Space Agency has funded £8.5M for the development of scientific instruments and the Science Ground Segment.
The UK Space Agency has invested £11.5M in the Solar Orbiter mission, which will discover how the Sun creates and controls the heliosphere by flying closer than ever before to the Sun. The mission will study the Sun's magnetic field and solar activity, including coronal mass ejections that can affect Earth.
Astronomers using Herschel Space Observatory data show that massive black holes at galaxy centers influence star formation rates. Galaxies with powerful black holes form stars at a thousand times the rate of Milky Way, but fastest-growing black holes shut off star formation in surrounding galaxies.
The Mid InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) has been declared ready for delivery to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. This instrument will allow astronomers to explore the formation of planets around distant stars and could pave the way for investigations into other planetary systems.
The UK Space Agency has granted nearly £6 million to support four major research and development consortium projects led by Astrium Ltd, Avanti Communications Ltd, DMC International Imaging Ltd, and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. The projects focus on developing commercial products and services using space technology and data.
The closest large elliptical galaxy to the Milky Way, Centaurus A has a twisted disc of dust near its centre, formed from a cosmic collision with another galaxy. The galaxy's powerful heart features two massive jets streaming from a massive black hole, emitting strong radio emission and visible in far-infrared images.