Big new on the new galaxy front.

Hubble finds "blue" galaxies.

http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2010/02/

..."the faintest galaxies are now showing signs of linkage to their origins from the first stars. They are so blue that they must be extremely deficient in heavy elements, thus representing a population that has nearly primordial characteristics."...

We may get more information once the conference is over - when folks get back and review all the new things learned. A lot to look forward to.

Does anyone know how the Jack Webb Telescope will differ from the Hubble wrt its mission and power?

Here is some more WOW from Hubble - not new stuff but samples from a new book. Nice to see several in a row.

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2010/01/a-guide-to-the-cosmos/?utm_source=feedburne...

James Webb Space Telescope
1. infrared-optimized
2. 6.5 meters
3. Named after a former NASA administrator

http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/index.html

Chandra photos of a binary quasar.

http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2010/sdss/

Press release http://chandra.harvard.edu/press/10_releases/press_020310.html

At the latest meeting of my local astronomy society, I heard a discussion about amateur discoveries. Amateur using Galaxy Zoo have discovered a new class of galaxies.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/07/090728-green-pea-galaxy-picture....

I need to find my local astronomy society. :) We do have a local observatory, that I have enjoyed.

The green pea galaxies were new to me. Also the Galazy Zoo venture. Did you follow through to the Galaxy Zoo and Galaxy Zoo 2 websites?

I have not joined the Zoo. I hear there are more coming based on their success. If you go to go to "sky and Telescopes web page they have a club search page.

I had planned to look into the Galaxy Zoo, have not as of yet.

Here is a post from BA with a picture from Hubble on old galaxies rejuvenating through a collision. A lot going on in the photo.

Hubble sees ancient galaxies rejuvenating

BTW, I was able to see the Vesta asteroid last night though my telescope, in Leo. Will look again tonight. It has been about 3 weeks of poor visibility.