Space

Artist's impression of the hottest tango in the universe--a torus formed from the debris of a star spins around a rotating black hole. The black hole leads the torus around, feeding it energy which the torus radiates away as unseen gravitational waves. At the same time, jets of energy are released along the black hole's axis of rotation and may later be detected by satellites as gamma-ray bursts.

Black hole/star tangos may explain cosmic explosions

February 27, 2002

An artist's impression of the hottest tango in the universe. The remnants of a star, now really a donut-shaped ring or torus, spin around a rotating black hole in a sort of cosmic tango. The black hole leads its passive torus-partner around, feeding it energy through the many magnetic field lines entangling the two cosmic bodies like entwined arms. The torus in t...

Tango between black hole and star remnant may explain cosmic explosion

February 21, 2002

Hewitt takes controls as director of Center for Space Research

February 6, 2002

Slated for launch in 2006, the Space Interferometry Mission will focus on stellar dynamics.

MIT professor discusses life after Hubble

Coming observatories to be more specialized

February 1, 2002

Hewitt takes the controls at Center for Space Research

January 23, 2002

Measurements of seasonal snow depth on Mars obtained

December 12, 2001

Researchers provide first measurements of seasonal snow depth on Mars

December 7, 2001

An artist's rendering of the New Horizons spacecraft.

MIT researcher on team for possible 2006 Pluto mission

December 5, 2001

Artist's rendition of the New Horizons spacecraft. The craft's miniature cameras, radio science experiment, ultraviolet and infrared spectrometers and space plasma experiments will characterize the global geology and geomorphology of Pluto and Charon, map their surface compositions and temperatures, and examine Pluto's atmosphere in detail. The spacecraft's most prominent design feature is an 8-fo...

MIT researcher on team for possible 2006 Pluto mission

December 4, 2001

Satellite detects optical afterglow of gamma-ray burst

November 14, 2001

Optical counterpart found for HETE-detected gamma-ray burst

November 7, 2001

Kids and teachers get asteroid namesakes

October 31, 2001

The atmospheric science department at Haystack Observatory just moved into a newly built wing, after having "temporary" quarters in trailers for the last 30 years. John C. Foster, associate director of the department, shows his office.

Haystack dedicates new office wing

October 31, 2001

MIT Lincoln Laboratory names asteroids for top kids, teachers

October 23, 2001

This Chandra image shows the M87 jet as seen in X-ray wavelengths.

Chandra sheds light on knotty problem of jet

October 17, 2001

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Black hole/star tangos may explain cosmic explosions

Tango between black hole and star remnant may explain cosmic explosion

Hewitt takes controls as director of Center for Space Research

MIT professor discusses life after Hubble

Hewitt takes the controls at Center for Space Research

Measurements of seasonal snow depth on Mars obtained

Researchers provide first measurements of seasonal snow depth on Mars

MIT researcher on team for possible 2006 Pluto mission

MIT researcher on team for possible 2006 Pluto mission

Satellite detects optical afterglow of gamma-ray burst

Optical counterpart found for HETE-detected gamma-ray burst

Kids and teachers get asteroid namesakes

Haystack dedicates new office wing

MIT Lincoln Laboratory names asteroids for top kids, teachers

Chandra sheds light on knotty problem of jet

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