Basic Information What is this? Anomalous emission in Rho Ophiuchus Where is it in the sky? In the constellations of Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer How big is it? The image is 5 degrees across How far away is it? Most of the material is hundreds or thousands of light years away What do the colours …
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Cosmic Infrared Background
Basic Information What is this? The Cosmic Infrared Background, the emission from dust galaxies in the early Universe Where is it in the sky? Planck observes it in areas where our own Galaxy is not shining brightly How big is it? If pervades the entire Universe How far away is it? The most distant galaxies …
500 days of scanning
Planck started scanning the sky on 14th August 2009, and is still going 500 days later. Once every minute, Planck has spun on its axis to map rings around the sky. Now well into its third sky survey, Planck is more than half-way through its mission, and is mapping the sky at nine different wavelengths …
Planck image voted 7th best science story of 2010
The release of Planck’s first image of the whole sky has been voted the 7th best science story of 2010 by Discover Magazine. The magazine compiled a list of the best stories from the whole of science – from astronomy to biology, and from robotics to genetics. In July, the first image of the whole sky from Planck was released, combining …
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Coma Cluster
Basic Information What is this? The Coma Cluster, which contains thousands of galaxies Where is it in the sky? In the constellation of Coma Berenices How big is it? The cluster is millions of light years across How far away is it? Around 300 million light years away What do the colours represent? Red and …
Abell 2319
Basic Information What is this? The galaxy cluster Abell 2319 as seen at seven of Planck’s frequencies Where is it in the sky? In the constellation of Cygnus the Swan How big is it? The cluster contains hundreds of galaxies, and each panel is around 2 degrees across How far away is it? The cluster …
First Full-Sky Image
Basic Information What is this? An image of the whole sky as observed by Planck Where is it in the sky? It <em>is</em> the sky! How big is it? This image shows our own galaxy, and also the very early Universe How far away is it? The earliest stages of the Universe are seen as …
Perseus
Basic Information What is this? The sky around the constellation of Perseus, centred on the Californai Nebula Where is it in the sky? in the Constellation of Perseus the Hero How big is it? The image is about 30 degrees across How far away is it? The California Nebula in the centre is about 1500 …
Orion
Basic Information What is this? The constellation of Orion as seen by Planck Where is it in the sky? In the constellation of Orion the Hunter How big is it? The image is about 10 degrees across How far away is it? Much of the material is thousands of light years away What do the …
Ophiuchus and the Galactic Centre
Basic Information What is this? An image towards the centre of our Galaxy Where is it in the sky? The centre of the image is in the constellation of Ophiuchus How big is it? The image is around 50 degrees across How far away is it? Most of the material is hundreds or thousands of …