Comments on: Voorwerp fever

By: Richard Berthelsdorf

Richard Berthelsdorf — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:11:11 +0000

Very well written, on a fascinating object.
Good job!
From an ex-X-ray astronomer
– Richard

By: luis hernandez

luis hernandez — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:06:17 +0000

hi my name is luis IM FROM MEXICO CITY A LIKE THE GALAXY PICTURS THAKS FOR EVIRNTIN LOKKS NICE ANDA BIUTIFUL PICTURS SE YOU HAPYY GREYT DAY

By: x12

x12 — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:20:49 +0000

i’m sure we should have to build some more upgraded battlecruisers to counter the zerg scum!

By: Sander

Sander — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:30:54 +0000

You are all wrong.

Compare this:
http://www.astr.ua.edu/keel/research/voorwerp_wht_gri_rot.jpg

To this:
http://qtan.homestead.com/files/hydralisk.jpg

It’s a holographic image of a hydralisk!
Our Terran friends out there are warning us, beware.

By: Steven

Steven — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:17:21 +0000

A pulsar is the remnant of a single, fairly normal, star. The energy they put out is fairly puny on the scales of galaxies, and even compared with other, normal, stars. A quasar, on the other hand, is powered by matter falling into an enormous black hole, as massive as millions of stars. The energy a quasar puts out is over a billion times more than a pulsar. By working out the amount of energy it would take to heat up the gas in the Voorwerp to the temperature we measure, we can tell that the illuminating source must have been something as bright as a quasar.

By: Ariel

Ariel — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:38:35 +0000

Is it possible some kind of pulsar is illuminating it from off to the side?

i.e. we can’t see the beam from the pulsar because it’s not pointed at us?

By: Bob Dickson

Bob Dickson — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:29:22 +0000

It might be interesting to see a spectral plot rescaled to show the continuum emission. Might show scattered quasar features?

By: peter cadogan

peter cadogan — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:28:45 +0000

This is a fascinating story and we all look forward to future developments. I am particularly interested in the geometry of the situation here. For the nebula to be visible after the quasar has switched off, the light path via the nebula must be somewhat longer than the direct path from the quasar. As the nebula is an extended object, the various parts of it will be receiving radiation from the quasar at slightly different different stages of its death throes. The part that has the closest angular separation from the quasar will presumably start to fade first.

By: Joseph K. H. Cheng

Joseph K. H. Cheng — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:45:07 +0000

This illuminating account of Hanny’s Woorwerp actually summarizes the hard work, dedication and close co-operation of all sectors of the astronomy community in the quest for endless knowledge and mysteries of the universe. Most of all, it symbolizes the beginning of a new era in scientific research involving professionals and amateurs on a caring and sharing basis. I raise my hat to Hanny, the zookeepers, all the enthusiastic professional astronomers and, last but not least, all Zooists. Let the GALAXY ZOO spirit advance forever more !

By: Thomas Jennings

Thomas Jennings — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 01:38:53 +0000

This is a testament to Galaxy Zoo and all those involed. The people that created it, those who manage it and those volunteers who spend hours of their spare time classifying galaxies and looking out for for something new. I am very proud to be part of this project and am certain that Galaxy Zoo will be recorded in the history books for what it has achieved and will achieve in the future. Well done Hanny and Long live GZ
Thomas Jennings