A new image from ESO’s APEX instrument shows a cloud of gas and dust in the  Orion region. Image credit: ESO

When astronomers see dark regions in nebula in visible light, they know  there’s something going on. There’s got to be some kind of star forming activity  pumping out material that obscures the view to the newly forming starts. Switch  to infrared and you can peer through that intervening dust to see the young  stars at work.

Astronomers using the European Southern Observatory’s Atacama Pathfinder  Experiment (APEX) telescope in Chile were surprised to see a dark region in the  nebula NGC 1999, even in infrared, when the cause of the dark region should have  been apparent.

Ooo, mystery.

Read more: http://www.universetoday.com/#ixzz2IrQ4OsFR

A new asteroid-mining company will unveil itself to the world on Tuesday (Jan. 22) and is expected to present an ambitious plan to exploit the resources of deep space.

The new private spaceflight company, called Deep Space Industries, Inc., will reveal its plans at 1 p.m. EST (1800 GMT) Tuesday at the Santa Monica Museum of Flying in California. The new company is the second audacious project aimed at tapping the myriad riches that asteroids harbor.

Deep Space seeks to launch “the world’s first fleet of commercial asteroid-prospecting spacecraft,” according to a press advisory the company sent to reporters. “Deep Space is pursuing an aggressive schedule and plans on prospecting, harvesting and processing asteroids for use in space and to benefit Earth.”

The company has revealed few other details thus far. It is led by David Gump, who has been involved in a number of commercial spaceflight ventures. For example, Gump headed up the now-defunct LunaCorp, a privately funded mission that sought to land a rover on the moon.

Deep Space will have some stiff competition in the asteroid-mining business — a firm called Planetary Resources, which had its own unveiling last April.

Read Complete Story Here

By: Dan Brandon, River Bend Astronomy Club

The virtual Star Party hosted by Fraser Cain from Universe Today. is a Google+ Hangout event that happens every Sunday (Weather Permitting) where they bring live video and almost live images of the night sky. Fraser Cain is joined by a panel of astronomy and physics professional and amateurs a like. Some have telescopes and other just bring their knowledge and a very “geeky” but funny sense of humor. They also take questions and request.

So if you enjoy this subscribe to Universe Today’s YouTube channel.