Herschel reveals the Milky Way's warm heart 07 May 2013 Observing the Galactic Centre with Herschel, astronomers have detected molecular gas at surprisingly high temperatures - up to 1000 K. The molecules are probably heated up by shocks as gas surges towards Sagittarius A*, the region harbouring the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way. Read more

Observation gives way to examination as Herschel coolant runs out 29 April 2013 The Herschel space observatory has exhausted its supply of liquid helium, after more than three years of observations and revelations about how galaxies, stars, and planets form and evolve. Ground-breaking discoveries are in store for years to come. Read more

Entire galaxies feel the heat from newborn stars - Bursts of star birth can curtail future galaxy growth [heic1308] 25 April 2013 Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have shown for the first time that bursts of star formation have a major impact far beyond the boundaries of their host galaxy. Read more

Planck sees a cosmic journey 13 billion years in the making 02 April 2013 Cosmologists have used data from Planck to reveal the distribution of dark matter across 13 billion years of cosmic history, as seen projected on the sky. This image was created by analysing the gravitational lensing effect imprinted by cosmic structure on the Cosmic Microwave Background. Read more

Simple but challenging: the Universe according to Planck 21 March 2013 Planck's first all-sky image of the Cosmic Microwave Background is the most precise picture of the early Universe so far. Whilst the data agree well with the standard model of cosmology, the great quality of this image highlights significant anomalies challenging the foundations of our current understanding of the Universe. Read more

Announcement of Opportunity for photometry scientist in the Gaia Science Team 20 March 2013 The Director of Science and Robotic Exploration has released an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for membership in the science team of the Gaia mission. The AO is open to all scientists from institutions located in ESA Member States. The deadline for receipt of proposals is 30 April 2013. Read more

Call for White Papers for the definition of the L2 and L3 missions in the ESA Science Programme 05 March 2013 This Call, open to the broad scientific community, solicits White Papers to propose science themes and associated questions to be addressed by ESA's next two large (L-class) missions, L2 and L3. The submission deadline for White Papers is 24 May 2013, 12:00 CEST (noon). Read more

#08: Gaia Flight Model Payload Module thermal testing completed 20 February 2013 Thermal testing of the Gaia flight model payload module was completed at Centre Spatial de Liège. The payload module was then returned to Astrium Toulouse for integration with the service module. Read more

#07: Gaia launcher separation test and Payload Module acceptance vibration tests completed 29 October 2012 Testing of the separation of the Gaia Service Module from its Launch Vehicle Adapter has been completed, as have the acceptance vibration tests on the Payload Module. Read more

#06: Gaia Payload Module integration completed 17 September 2012 Integration of the Flight Model of the Gaia Payload Module has been completed. It has undergone acceptance vibration testing; thermal balance and thermal vacuum testing will be carried out towards the end of this year. Read more

Herschel Status Report - February 2013 27 March 2013 Report for period 5 to 27 February 2013
Mission operations of the Herschel space observatory continued nominally during the reporting period, with the spacecraft and subsystems all performing as expected. Read more

Herschel Status Report - December 2012 and January 2013 27 March 2013 Report for period 6 December 2012 to 4 February 2013
Mission operations of the Herschel space observatory continued nominally during the reporting period, with the spacecraft and subsystems all performing as expected. Read more