Patterns in the Noise<\/h2>
Gamma rays are the highest-energy form of light, but we can’t see them with our own eyes. That means the gamma-ray sky depicted in Fermi’s maps looks a lot different from the sky we see when we look upward.<\/p>
To date, Fermi has located about 3,000 sources of gamma rays, which include everything from rotating neutron stars to supermassive black holes. To celebrate the device’s 10 years of hard work, the Fermi team decided to create a set of 21 constellations from among these 3,000 sources.<\/p>
“Developing these unofficial constellations was a fun way to highlight a decade of Fermi’s accomplishments,” said Fermi project scientist Julie McEnery in a NASA news release<\/a>. “One way or another, all of the gamma-ray constellations have a tie-in to Fermi science.”<\/p> The team had some fun with the project. They drew inspiration from everything from pop culture (the TARDIS from “Doctor Who, Star Trek’s U.S.S. Enterprise) to science (Schrödinger’s Cat, Albert Einstein) while conjuring up this new set of constellations.<\/p> You can view these newly identified constellations via an interactive<\/a> website featuring artwork by illustrator Aurore Simonnet. Click on a constellation, and you’ll find a link to a page with information about the gamma ray sources within it, giving you a chance to bone up on your science while indulging in a little culture.<\/p> READ MORE:<\/strong> NASA’s Fermi Mission Energizes the Sky With Gamma-Ray Constellations<\/a> [NASA]<\/p> More on gamma rays: Energy That’s out of This World: NASA Just Found a Gamma Ray Star System<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p> More: Astrology vs. Astronomy On a clear night, you might be able to point out a few constellations\u00a0\u2014 maybe the Big Dipper, Orion\u2019s Belt, and your Zodiac sign. Continue reading Science Meets Art<\/h2>
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NASA Unveils 21 New Constellations Formed by Black Holes and Other Brutal Space Stuff<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"