This Week @NASA: Commemorating the Worm, Unprecedented Black Hole Discovery, and Inaugural Euclid Images
Launched on July 1, the Euclid mission’s primary objective is to investigate the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, providing insights into the accelerating expansion of our universe. On November 7, the Euclid mission unveiled its inaugural scientific images.
In Honor of the NASA Worm Logo…
A special event took place on November 6 at NASA headquarters, where a panel discussion delved into the design and cultural significance of the NASA worm logotype. Richard Danne, the original designer of the iconic worm, participated in the discussion. Although retired in 1992, the worm logo has been reintroduced for limited usage alongside NASA’s official insignia, known as the meatball.
Richard Danne expressed his heartfelt sentiments, stating, “I can’t adequately convey the rewarding feeling of witnessing its return. NASA will always hold a special place in my heart.”
To learn more about the history of the “worm,” you can listen to the episode dated July 24, 2020, of “Houston We Have a Podcast,” NASA’s official podcast from the Johnson Space Center.
NASA Telescopes Unearth a Record-Breaking Black Hole
Astronomers utilizing NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and James Webb Space Telescope have uncovered the most distant black hole ever observed in X-rays. This black hole is in the early stages of development, a phenomenon never before witnessed, with a mass comparable to that of its host galaxy. This discovery may shed light on the formation of some of the earliest supermassive black holes in the universe.
First Glimpse of Science Images from the Euclid Mission
On November 7, the Euclid mission presented its inaugural science images, including a captivating view of the Perseus cluster, comprising thousands of galaxies located approximately 240 million light-years from Earth. The Euclid mission, led by the European Space Agency (ESA) with contributions from NASA, is set to commence its routine scientific operations in early 2024, dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy.
Introducing NASA+ On-Demand Streaming Service
NASA has launched its new on-demand streaming service, NASA+, along with an enhanced app now available for download. These digital platforms offer a range of original video series, live coverage of launches, engaging content for children, and the latest updates from NASA. Accessible through the NASA App on iOS and Android devices, as well as streaming media players such as Roku and Apple TV, NASA+ provides ad-free streaming without requiring a subscription.
That concludes the highlights for this week at NASA.
