For the first time, astronomers have discovered the solid form of tiny carbon spheres in deep space in vast cloud of particles locked in orbit around two distant stars.

The carbon spheres, known as buckyballs, are formed from 60 carbon atoms linked together to form a hollow sphere, “like a soccer ball,” NASA announced in a statement Wednesday. Astronomers spotted vast quantities of the tiny space balls, enough to create 10,000 Mount Everests, circling a pair of stars 6,500 light-years from Earth.

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      Science editor Alan Boyle’s blog: A rocket experiment has sampled the stuff of the northern lights, adding some scientific substance to the great views we’re getting from Earth and orbit.
      
      

   
   

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“These buckyballs are stacked together to form a solid, like oranges in a crate,” said the study’s lead author Nye Evans of Keele University in England in a statement. “The particles we detected are miniscule, far smaller than the width of a hair, but each one would contain stacks of millions of buckyballs.”

NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, a space-based infrared observatory, spotted the buckyballs around the double-star system XX Ophiuchi. The light emitted by the carbon spheres is different than that seen in the gaseous form of buckyballs previously seen in space, allowing scientists to conclude that Spitzer had detected the material in its solid form, researchers said.

Buckyballs are also known as buckminsterfullerene. They take their name from the geometric arrangement of their carbon atoms, which resembles the geodesic dome designs of the late architect Buckminster Fuller.

On Earth, buckyballs can be used in superconductors, medicines, water purifiers and armor, NASA officials explained. They can form naturally as a gas from burning candles and appear in solid form in rock minerals.

Buckyballs can also be created artificially and appear as a solid dark “goo” in test tubes, NASA officials said.

But astronomers had never seen the solid form of buckyballs in space until now.

NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope detected the first signs of gaseous buckyballs in space in 2010, and ultimately found enough of the material to fill 15 of Earth’s moons inside the Small Magellanic Cloud, a small neighboring galaxy to our own Milky Way.

However, knowing that gaseous material can coalesce into solid buckyballs such as those spotted by Spitzer takes the cake, researchers said.

“This exciting result suggests that buckyballs are even more widespread in space than the earlier Spitzer results showed,” said Mike Werner, NASA’s Spitzer telescope project scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. “They may be an important form of carbon, an essential building block for life, throughout the cosmos.”

The research is detailed in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

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• Tiny Grandeur: Stunning Photos of the Very Small
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Anyone out under the stars in the early evening lately likely cannot help but notice two brilliant objects dominating the western sky: the planets Venus and Jupiter.

Venus, because it is closer to the sun than Earth, never strays far from the sun in our sky. Jupiter, being outside the Earth’s orbit, can appear anywhere along the ecliptic — the path of the sun, moon, and planets across the sky. Venus and Jupiter are gradually growing closer, and will pass each other on March 13.

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      Science editor Alan Boyle’s blog: A rocket experiment has sampled the stuff of the northern lights, adding some scientific substance to the great views we’re getting from Earth and orbit.
      
      

   
   

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The moon, meanwhile, is making its monthly trip around the Earth and will pass these two planets on Saturday and Sunday this week (Feb. 25 and 26). The moon appears close to Venus on Saturday night, and then near Jupiter on Sunday night. The view on either night will be what astronomers call a triple conjunction.

The sky map of Venus, Jupiter and the moon for this story shows how they will appear during the celestial triple play.

In addition, for anyone observing both nights, it will be a spectacular demonstration of just how far the moon moves in a single night. We don’t often have two such brilliant mileposts along the moon’s path.

When observing this triple conjunction, be sure to pay close attention to the narrow crescent moon. If you look just above and to the left of the crescent, you will see the rest of the moon illuminated by the ghostly light of the planet Earth. With binoculars or a small telescope you can even see the seas and craters on the so-called “dark side” of the moon, lit by earthlight.

Some people are surprised by the angle of the moon’s crescent at this time of year. Because of the angle the ecliptic makes with the horizon, the moon appears to be lit “from below” instead of from the side, like you see in textbooks.

If you are ever puzzled by the way the moon is lit, try to visualize where the sun is located below the horizon, and the moon’s orientation should become clear. In our graphic, the sun is somewhat below and to the left of the “W” marker on the horizon, illuminating the moon from below and behind.

If you snap an amazing photo of Jupiter, Venus the moon or any other skywatching target and would like to share it for a possible story or image gallery, please contact Space.com managing editor Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com.

This article was provided to Space.com by Starry Night Education, the leader in space science curriculum solutions. Follow Starry Night on Twitter @StarryNightEdu.

• Planets Venus and Jupiter Own the Night (Infographic)
• Bright Lights in the Night Sky: Jupiter & Venus Loom Large This Winter
• More Night Sky Features from Starry Night Education

© 2012 Space.com. All rights reserved. More from Space.com.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Astronaut Chris Hadfield will become the first Canadian ever to command a spaceship when he takes the helm of the International Space Station in 2013.

Hadfield currently is spending most of his time in Russia preparing for the mission, but he took a couple of days off to return to his native country and meet the public here at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

“I’m trying to get people to maybe expand their horizon a little bit and to look at some of the stuff that’s going on now that’s new in the human experience and what it can mean to them,” Hadfield told reporters after his public session Saturday. “I want them to come out of there with new thoughts.”

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Hadfield, 52, a veteran of two space shuttle flights, will launch on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in November 2012 and take over control of the space station’s Expedition 35 mission the following March. One of nine Canadians to fly to space, he will be the first to serve as commander.

“It’s important for Canada: We have reached a level where we’re not just respected but intrinsically counted on,” Hadfield told Space.com. “There is no higher responsibility on the space station than commanding it. The trust is there, and the route that got us there has been established.”

The spaceflyer is a native of Milton, Ontario, and is a retired colonel in the Canadian Air Force. He was chosen as one of four new Canadian astronauts in 1992.

In addition to flying on two NASA space shuttle missions — in 1995 and 2001 — Hadfield commanded a 13-day underwater mission off Key Largo, Fla., in 2010 that trained astronauts for spaceflight.

Hadfield, who moonlights as the lead singer in two bands when he’s not flying in space, plans to record a full album during his six months on the orbiting outpost.

“I want to write some lullabies up there — a space lullaby would be nice,” Hadfield said. “The first guys on the way to Mars will hopefully be listening to some of the music we write.”

He will be leading a crew that also includes three Russian cosmonauts and two NASA astronauts.

“My No. 1 goal of this flight is for this to be the best six months of their life,” Hadfield said. “I want them to stay healthy and happy the whole time. We have a guitar onboard and we have poetry onboard, and the photographic capability to capture the experience. That is the part of it I want to promote and support, and bring back a group of people that absolutely treasure the time we have.”

Hadfield is looking forward to viewing the Earth, and especially the auroras — the northern and southern lights — from space. He recalled a particularly vivid memory of the auroras during a spacewalk he made on the STS-100 flight of the space shuttle Endeavour in 2001.

“I was riding on Canadarm, going from one side of the space station to the other,” Hadfield said, referring to the space station’s 57-foot (17-meter) mechanical arm. “I shut off the lights on my helmet to let my eyes adjust so I could see Australia in the darkness. As we came across the Indian Ocean I started looking for Australia, but instead I saw the southern lights. They were rippling and pouring. Normally you just see green. I saw reds and oranges and yellows and green. They were just pouring out of the world and coming up under my feet.”

You can follow Space.com Assistant Managing Editor Clara Moskowitz onTwitter @ClaraMoskowitz.Follow Spacecom for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter@Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

• Building the International Space Station
• Inside and Out: The International Space Station
• Gallery: Space Station’s Expedition 30 Mission

© 2012 Space.com. All rights reserved. More from Space.com.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Astronaut Chris Hadfield will become the first Canadian ever to command a spaceship when he takes the helm of the International Space Station in 2013.

Hadfield currently is spending most of his time in Russia preparing for the mission, but he took a couple of days off to return to his native country and meet the public here at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

“I’m trying to get people to maybe expand their horizon a little bit and to look at some of the stuff that’s going on now that’s new in the human experience and what it can mean to them,” Hadfield told reporters after his public session Saturday. “I want them to come out of there with new thoughts.”

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      Science editor Alan Boyle’s blog: A rocket experiment has sampled the stuff of the northern lights, adding some scientific substance to the great views we’re getting from Earth and orbit.
      
      

   
   

   2. 
      
      
      
      
      See a solar eclipse from outer space
      
      
      

   
   

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      Rolling rocks hint at powerful quakes on Red Planet
      
      
      

   
   

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Hadfield, 52, a veteran of two space shuttle flights, will launch on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in November 2012 and take over control of the space station’s Expedition 35 mission the following March. One of nine Canadians to fly to space, he will be the first to serve as commander.

“It’s important for Canada: We have reached a level where we’re not just respected but intrinsically counted on,” Hadfield told Space.com. “There is no higher responsibility on the space station than commanding it. The trust is there, and the route that got us there has been established.”

The spaceflyer is a native of Milton, Ontario, and is a retired colonel in the Canadian Air Force. He was chosen as one of four new Canadian astronauts in 1992.

In addition to flying on two NASA space shuttle missions — in 1995 and 2001 — Hadfield commanded a 13-day underwater mission off Key Largo, Fla., in 2010 that trained astronauts for spaceflight.

Hadfield, who moonlights as the lead singer in two bands when he’s not flying in space, plans to record a full album during his six months on the orbiting outpost.

“I want to write some lullabies up there — a space lullaby would be nice,” Hadfield said. “The first guys on the way to Mars will hopefully be listening to some of the music we write.”

He will be leading a crew that also includes three Russian cosmonauts and two NASA astronauts.

“My No. 1 goal of this flight is for this to be the best six months of their life,” Hadfield said. “I want them to stay healthy and happy the whole time. We have a guitar onboard and we have poetry onboard, and the photographic capability to capture the experience. That is the part of it I want to promote and support, and bring back a group of people that absolutely treasure the time we have.”

Hadfield is looking forward to viewing the Earth, and especially the auroras — the northern and southern lights — from space. He recalled a particularly vivid memory of the auroras during a spacewalk he made on the STS-100 flight of the space shuttle Endeavour in 2001.

“I was riding on Canadarm, going from one side of the space station to the other,” Hadfield said, referring to the space station’s 57-foot (17-meter) mechanical arm. “I shut off the lights on my helmet to let my eyes adjust so I could see Australia in the darkness. As we came across the Indian Ocean I started looking for Australia, but instead I saw the southern lights. They were rippling and pouring. Normally you just see green. I saw reds and oranges and yellows and green. They were just pouring out of the world and coming up under my feet.”

You can follow Space.com Assistant Managing Editor Clara Moskowitz onTwitter @ClaraMoskowitz.Follow Spacecom for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter@Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

• Building the International Space Station
• Inside and Out: The International Space Station
• Gallery: Space Station’s Expedition 30 Mission

© 2012 Space.com. All rights reserved. More from Space.com.

Likewise, NASA still plans to join the European Space Agency on the Solar Orbiter Collaboration. NASA’s share of that 2017 mission, which includes providing the launch and two instruments, is expected to top $400 million.

Spending on the $860 million Magnetospheric Multiscale mission is also slated to rise in 2013, although not as much as previously projected, as NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center works to complete development of the four identical spacecraft in time for a 2015 launch. 

NASA also plans to launch the $680 million Radiation Storm Belt Probes mission in September followed by the $170 million Iris satellite in mid-2013. The agency also plans to select and begin development on the next Heliospheric Explorer mission next year.

Overall, the heliophysics budget would rise to $647 million — a 4 percent increase  — and remain at about that level for several years.

Human Spaceflight

William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, said his nearly $8 billion portion of the agency’s budget includes more money for International Space Station operations, space communications networks upgrades and the purchase of a third Tracking and Data Relay Satellite from Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems.

Nearly half of Gerstenmaier’s 2013 budget is set aside for the SLS, Orion and the Commercial Crew Program, which is soliciting proposals for a 21-month effort aimed at keeping at least two competing spacecraft on track to enter service in 2017.

Of the $3 billion requested for SLS and Orion, roughly 10 percent would be spent on related ground systems, infrastructure and other activities. As a result, the funding directly available for SLS and Orion vehicle development would be down about $325 million from the level Congress approved for 2012. Gerstenmaier said the budget is sufficient to keep both on track for a 2017 unmanned test launch.

The Commercial Crew Program budget, meanwhile, would rise by more than $420 million, approaching the level NASA requested for the program last year without success.

Phil McAlister, NASA’s director of commercial spaceflight development, said if Congress halves the commercial crew request, as it did last year, the program may not be worth pursuing since the vehicles might not be ready in time to support the space station.

“I would say it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to do this program,” McAlister told reporters Feb. 14 in Cocoa Beach, Fla. “Just one test flight is going to be a couple hundred million dollars, probably. So that’s your whole year’s funding, right? So it really doesn’t make sense at that kind of funding level. If we felt like that’s all we could get, we would definitely need to re-evaluate the program.”

Commercial crew’s big increase was not lost on Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a strong backer of SLS and Orion. “The Administration remains insistent on cutting SLS and Orion to pay for commercial crew rather than accommodating both,” Hutchison said in a Feb. 13 press release.

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), a frequent Hutchison ally on NASA matters, cast the administration’s request as a “balanced approach” to human spaceflight. He told attendees of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Commercial Space Transportation Conference on Feb. 16 he would like to see the Commercial Crew Program funded above the $406 million it received for 2012.

Nelson said a successful launch of SpaceX’s unmanned Dragon capsule to the space station this spring would help make the case for increased funding. “If that occurs in April, that is going to be right at the right time, because that’s about the time that the decisions are starting to be made with regard to appropriations,” he said.

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      Science editor Alan Boyle’s blog: A rocket experiment has sampled the stuff of the northern lights, adding some scientific substance to the great views we’re getting from Earth and orbit.
      
      

   
   

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Whether Congress finishes the appropriations process before November’s general election is another matter.

“I think the most likely outcome is no budget and maybe a continuing resolution for all of fiscal 2013, because it’s all tied up in election-year politics,” said John Logsdon, a space policy expert at George Washington University.

Howard McCurdy, a public policy professor at American University, agreed. “I doubt that any of the controversial bills will be enacted before November,” he told Space News.

If Congress fails, as it has repeatedly in recent years, to enact spending legislation by the Oct. 1 start of the new fiscal year, NASA and other federal agencies would remain funded at current levels until a reshaped Congress and whoever wins the White House can reach agreement on a new budget.

McCurdy, for one, doubts that NASA would come out ahead under this scenario.

“If anything, NASA’s budget will head down,” he said. “Welcome to the new reality.”

Space News correspondent Irene Klotz contributed from Cocoa Beach, Fla.

This article was provided by Space News, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.

• NASA’s 2013 Budget: What Will It Buy?
• Gallery: President Obama and NASA
• 50 Years of Presidential Visions for Space Exploration

© 2012 Space.com. All rights reserved. More from Space.com.

Scientists have measured the fastest winds yet observed from a stellar-mass black hole, shedding light on the behavior of these curious cosmic objects.

The winds, clocked by astronomers using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, are racing through space at 20 million mph (32 million kph), or about 3 percent the speed of light. That’s nearly 10 times faster than had ever been seen from a stellar-mass black hole, researchers said.

“This is like the cosmic equivalent of winds from a Category 5 hurricane,” study lead author Ashley King, of the University of Michigan, said in a statement. “We weren’t expecting to see such powerful winds from a black hole like this.”

A stellar-mass black hole, which is born when an extremely massive star collapses, typically contains about five to 10 times the mass of our sun. The stellar-mass black hole powering this super wind is known as IGR J17091-3624, or IGR J17091 for short. [ Photos: Black Holes of the Universe ]

IGR J17091 is a binary system in which a sun-like star orbits a black hole. It’s found in the central bulge of our Milky Way galaxy, about 28,000 light-years from Earth.

IGR J17091′s wind matches some of the fastest generated by supermassive black holes, which are millions or billions of times more massive. Supermassive black holes are thought to reside at the heart of most if not all active galaxies, including our own Milky Way.

“It’s a surprise this small black hole is able to muster the wind speeds we typically only see in the giant black holes,” said co-author Jon Miller, also from the University of Michigan. “In other words, this black hole is performing well above its weight class.”

Another surprising finding from the new study is that the wind, which comes from a disk of gas surrounding the black hole, may be blasting more material into space than the black hole is capturing.

“Contrary to the popular perception of black holes pulling in all of the material that gets close, we estimate up to 95 percent of the matter in the disk around IGR J17091 is expelled by the wind,” King said.

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      Science editor Alan Boyle’s blog: A rocket experiment has sampled the stuff of the northern lights, adding some scientific substance to the great views we’re getting from Earth and orbit.
      
      

   
   

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Unlike hurricane winds on Earth, the wind from IGR J17091 is blowing in many different directions at once. This pattern distinguishes it from a jet, in which material flows in focused beams perpendicular to a black hole’s disk, often at nearly the speed of light.

Jets have been seen coming from IGR J17091 before. But observations made with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s Expanded Very Large Array in New Mexico showed that a radio jet from the system was not present when the super-fast wind was blowing.

This agrees with observations of other stellar-mass black holes, suggesting that ultra-speedy winds can quash jet production, researchers said.

Scientists estimated IGR J17091′s wind speeds using a spectrum made by Chandra in 2011. Observations made by the space telescope two months earlier showed no such winds, meaning the black hole’s gale likely switches on and off over time.

Astronomers think that magnetic fields in the accretion disks of black holes are responsible for producing both winds and jets. Characteristics of the magnetic fields and the rate at which material falls toward the black hole are thought to determine whether jets or winds are produced, researchers said.

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• Top 10 Strangest Things in Space
• BLACK HOLES: Warping Space and Time
• Supernova Photos: Great Images of Star Explosions

© 2012 Space.com. All rights reserved. More from Space.com.