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NASA is celebrating the Hubble Space Telescope's 30 years of unlocking the beauty and mystery of space by unveiling a stunning new portrait of a firestorm of starbirth in a neighboring galaxy.
In this Hubble portrait, the giant red nebula (NGC 2014) and its smaller blue neighbor (NGC 2020) are part of a vast star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, located 163,000 light-years away. The image is nicknamed the "Cosmic Reef," because it resembles an undersea world.
Thirty years ago, on April 24, 1990, Hubble was carried aloft from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard the space shuttle Discovery, along with a five-astronaut crew. Deployed into Earth orbit a day later, the telescope opened a new eye onto the cosmos that has been transformative for our civilization.
Hubble is revolutionizing modern astronomy, not only for scientists, but also by taking the public on a wondrous journey of exploration and discovery. Hubble's never-ending, breathtaking celestial snapshots provide a visual shorthand for Hubble's top scientific achievements.
Unlike any space telescope before it, Hubble made astronomy relevant, engaging and accessible for people of all ages. The space telescope's iconic imagery has redefined our view of the universe and our place in time and space.
"Hubble has given us stunning insights about the universe, from nearby planets to the farthest galaxies we have seen so far," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for science at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. "It was revolutionary to launch such a large telescope 30 years ago, and this astronomy powerhouse is still delivering revolutionary science today. Its spectacular images have captured the imagination for decades, and will continue to inspire humanity for years to come."
Unencumbered by Earth's blurring atmosphere, the space observatory unveils the universe in unprecedented crystal-clear sharpness across a broad range of wavelengths, from ultraviolet to near-infrared light.
Download this video in HD formats from NASA Goddard's Scientific Visualization Studio
Hubble's top accomplishments include measuring the expansion and acceleration rate of the universe; finding that black holes are common among galaxies; characterizing the atmospheres of planets around other stars; monitoring weather changes on planets across our solar system; and looking back in time across 97% of the universe to chronicle the birth and evolution of stars and galaxies.
Hubble has yielded to date 1.4 million observations and provided data that astronomers around the world have used to write more than 17,000 peer-reviewed scientific publications, making it the most prolific space observatory in history. Its archival data alone will fuel future astronomy research for generations to come.
Hubble's longevity can be attributed to five space shuttle servicing missions, from 1993 to 2009, in which astronauts upgraded the telescope with advanced instruments, new electronics and on-orbit repairs. The venerable observatory, with its suite of cameras and other instruments, is expected to stay operational through the 2020s, in synergy with the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope.
The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and ESA (the European Space Agency). NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore conducts Hubble science operations. STScI is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy in Washington, D.C.
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The American Lung Association released its 21st annual “State of the Air” report this week.
“The report finds the air quality in some communities has improved, but the ‘State of the Air’ finds that far too many people are still breathing unhealthy air,” said American Lung Association President and CEO Harold Wimmer.
“This year’s report shows that climate change continues to degrade air quality and increase the risk of air pollution harming health. To protect the advances in air quality we fought for 50 years ago through the Clean Air Act, we must again act today, implementing effective policies to protect our air quality and lung health against the threat of climate change,” Wimmer said.
Wimmer added that air pollution is linked to a greater risk of lung infection. “Protecting everyone from COVID-19 and other lung infections is an urgent reminder of the importance of clean air.”
In creating the report, the association analyzed data from 2016, 2017 and 2018, the three years with the most recent quality-assured air pollution data.
The report found that nearly half of the nation’s population – 150 million people – lived with and breathed polluted air, placing their health and lives at risk.
The association said climate change continues to make air pollution worse, with many western communities again experiencing record-breaking spikes in particle pollution due to wildfires.
Lake County is one of the areas that has been heavily impacted by wildland fires over the past several years.
In 2016, the Clayton fire ravaged Lower Lake, the Sulphur fire hit Clearlake and Clearlake Oaks in 2017, and in 2018, the Mendocino Complex – a combination of the Ranch and River fires – became the largest wildland fire since California began keeping records.
In past years, Lake County has been among the top-ranked areas in the nation. However, because of the wildland fire impacts – particularly in 2017 and 2018 – this year’s report is the first since 2007 that doesn’t rank Lake County, according to Lake County Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart.
“We didn’t miss it by much even with the fires, there were only 4 days in 3 years (during the fires) that made our average high enough to miss the top 25,” Gearhart said.
Gearhart said that, because the report relies on three years of data, he believes it will take at least two years for Lake County to get back to the top 25, especially since 2017 had the highest particulate matter levels from the fires.
“Additionally, with the shelter in place orders all around the US right now, there are a number of counties that are in the top 25 that will see even better numbers in 2020 due to the reduced activity in their area, so it will be a challenge to get there in the next two years,” said Gearhart, who is working to develop a picture of the shelter in place’s impacts on Lake County’s air quality.
How the rankings work
Each year, the State of the Air reports on the two most widespread outdoor air pollutants, ozone pollution and particle pollution. Each is dangerous to public health and can be lethal, the association reported.
Particle pollution comes from sources like wildfires, wood-burning stoves, coal-fired power plants, diesel engines and other sources. Technically known as PM2.5, these microscopic particles lodge deep in the lungs and can even enter the bloodstream.
The report said particle pollution can trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes and cause lung cancer. New research also links air pollution to the development of serious diseases, such as asthma and dementia.
The report has two grades for particle pollution: one for “short-term” particle pollution, or daily spikes, and one for the annual average, “year-round” level that represents the concentration of particles day-in and day-out in each location.
Lake County registered a “D” grade for particle pollution.
Neighboring Yolo county received a “C,” and other counties around the region registered even worse grades, with Colusa, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma all receiving an “F.” No monitoring was collected for Glenn County.
Lake County got an “A” for ozone pollution, also known as smog, as did Colusa, Glenn and Mendocino counties. Napa and Sonoma counties received a “B” and Yolo County a “D.”
The report said ozone pollution is a powerful respiratory irritant whose effects have been likened to a sunburn of the lung. Inhaling ozone can cause shortness of breath, trigger coughing and asthma attacks, and may shorten life.
Additional findings
The report also made the following findings:
– More than 20.8 million people lived in counties that had unhealthy levels of air pollution in all categories from 2016 to 2018.
– More cities experienced more days with spikes in particle pollution, with nine western cities reaching their most days ever reported. Those notable spikes were driven in large part by smoke from major wildfires in 2018, especially in California, and some locations also saw spikes from woodsmoke from heating homes.
– Twenty-four of the 25 most polluted cities were located in the western region of the U.S.
– Nationwide, more than 53.3 million people experienced these unhealthy spikes in particle pollution.
– More than 21.2 million people lived in counties with unhealthy levels of year-round particle pollution, which is more than in the last three “State of the Air” reports.
– Thirteen of the 26 most polluted cities faced worse levels of year-round particle pollution. Some cities had so many days of short-term particle pollution spikes that the sheer number led to them having higher annual averages as well.
– Many cities experienced their cleanest ever annual average, yet remained on the nation’s most polluted list. Despite making the top 10 most polluted list, both Fresno-Madera-Hanford, California and Pittsburgh metro area tied with their previous record of cleanest air in the 21-year history of the report. And while Chicago, Cincinnati and Indianapolis made the top 25 most polluted list, each hit their cleanest ever annual average.
– Significantly more people suffered unhealthy ozone pollution in the 2020 report than in the last three “State of the Air” reports.
– More than 137 million people lived in an area earning a failing grade for ozone pollution. This shows the changing climate’s impact on air quality, as ozone pollution worsened during the global record-breaking heat years tracked in the 2020 report. However, despite making the top ten list of most ozone-polluted cities, San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, California experienced its best-ever air quality for ozone.
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The most recent response information available from the bureau said that, so far, 51.8 percent of households nationwide have responded, while the response rate in California is 53.2 percent.
The national Internet response is 44.8 percent as of the latest available data on April 22, with 47.6 percent of Californians filling out the questionnaire online.
The Census Bureau said Lake County’s response rate is below the state and national averages.
Lake’s total response rate is 34 percent, while its online response rate is 23.6 percent, the Census Bureau reported.
Within the county, the city of Clearlake’s total response rate is 30.5 percent, while 17.6 percent of Clearlake residents have responded online.
The city of Lakeport has a 55.2 percent overall response rate, with an Internet response rate of 22 percent.
To take the 2020 Census, visit https://2020census.gov/ .
Much of the bureau’s work has gone online over the past month.
In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. Census Bureau adjusted its 2020 Census operations to temporarily suspend field data collection activities in March.
However, earlier this month it announced that it is taking steps to reactivate field offices beginning June 1, in preparation for the resumption of field data collection operations as quickly as possible following that date.
The agency is seeking statutory relief from Congress of 120 additional calendar days to deliver final apportionment counts.
The bureau’s plan calls for extending the window for field data collection and self-response to Oct. 31.
Once the 2020 Census data collection is complete, the Census Bureau said it begins “a lengthy, thorough and scientifically rigorous process” to produce the apportionment counts, redistricting information and other statistical data products that help guide hundreds of billions of dollars in public and private sector spending per year.
The extended deadline will allow the Census Bureau to deliver apportionment counts to President Donald Trump by April 30, 2021, and redistricting data to be delivered to the states no later than July 31, 2021.
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City Manager Alan Flora, acting as the director of emergency services for the city of Clearlake, announced the lifting of certain restrictions to permit fishing along open park shorelines and hiking and jogging within open parks in the city.
The rule changes will be effective at 8 a.m. Friday, April 24, at Redbud Park, Highlands Park and Austin Beach, Flora reported.
City parks have been closed since late March as part of the effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Clearlake’s announcement follows revisions to the Lake County Health Officer’s shelter in place order, released on Thursday afternoon.
“We are happy to see the Lake County Public Health officer announce the relaxation of some restrictions of public activities,” said Flora. “Social distancing, frequent hand washing and wearing a mask in public are still recommended. We hope that the community enjoys this opportunity to spend some time outside while remaining diligent against the spread of COVID-19.”
The order does not apply to the Austin Park playground, basketball courts and skatepark, or the areas of Austin Park that are still currently under construction or Thompson Harbor, as access to Clear Lake by boat has not been authorized by the Public Health officer. Flora said those areas remain closed to the public.
No person shall enter any closed park or park area. No person shall remain in a closed park or closed area of a park after having been notified of the closure and having been requested to leave by any peace officer or other person so designated by the city manager or chief of police, Flora said.
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