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Watch our videos commercial free on the SpaceRip app, available in the Apple and Google Play stores. From ESOcast, explore the state-of-the-art technology behind the Very Large telescope, which has provided astronomers with an unequalled view of the Universe. To obtain the sharpest images of the sky, the VLT has to cope with two major effects that distort the images of celestial objects. The first one is mirror deformations due to their large sizes. This problem is corrected using a computer-controlled support system — active optics — that ensures that the mirrors keep their desired shapes under all circumstances. The second effect is produced by Earth’s atmosphere, which makes stars appear blurry, even with the largest telescopes. Adaptive optics is a real-time correction of the distortions produced by the atmosphere using computer-controlled mirrors that deform hundreds of times per second to counteract the atmospheric effects. As one demonstration of its power the VLT’s sensitive infrared cameras, helped by adaptive optics, have been able to peer through the massive dust clouds that block our view to Milky Way’s core. The images, taken over many years, have allowed astronomers to actually watch stars orbiting around the monstrous black hole that lies in the center of our galaxy. It was even possible to detect energetic flares from gas clouds falling into the black hole.

DECEMBER 8. 2011 OUR CONSTELLATIONS – OUR UNIVERSE HAWAII TELESCOPE CLOUDCAM TIME LAPSE TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE: Mark your calendar. On Saturday, Dec. 10th, the full Moon will glide through the coppery shadow of Earth, producing a total lunar eclipse visible from the Pacific side of our planet. For residents of the western USA and Canada, the event unfolds at dawn and will be magnified to super-sized proportions by the Moon illusion. Full Oak Moon One of the more interesting names for December’s full moon is the Oak Moon. In Europe durning and before medieval times this moon was considered a time of mystery, magic and rituals. The ancient druid priests of the British Isles held the oak tree very sacred and would preform rituals in the December full moon using acorns and candles to renew there commitment to the gods. The December full moon is the closest to the winter solstice. For this reason some cultures call it the Long Night Moon. The Chinese call it the Bitter moon while the Cherokee Indians referred to it as the Snow moon. Friday, December 9, 2011 Four hours before sunrise, look for Saturn and Jupiter on opposite horizons. Both planets will be about two degrees above the horizon, Jupiter in the WNW and Saturn in the ESE. Highlights •A partial lunar eclipse is visible in the UK from around 3pm GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) on the 10th, although the Moon will only be up for an hour or so before it begins to leave the Earth’s shadow. •The Geminid meteor shower peaks in the …