Articles tagged with Observatory Telescopes
Comprehensive exploration of living organisms, biological systems, and life processes across all scales from molecules to ecosystems. Encompasses cutting-edge research in biology, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, biochemistry, microbiology, botany, zoology, evolutionary biology, genomics, and biotechnology. Investigates cellular mechanisms, organism development, genetic inheritance, biodiversity conservation, metabolic processes, protein synthesis, DNA sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, stem cell research, and the fundamental principles governing all forms of life on Earth.
Comprehensive medical research, clinical studies, and healthcare sciences focused on disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Encompasses clinical medicine, public health, pharmacology, epidemiology, medical specialties, disease mechanisms, therapeutic interventions, healthcare innovation, precision medicine, telemedicine, medical devices, drug development, clinical trials, patient care, mental health, nutrition science, health policy, and the application of medical science to improve human health, wellbeing, and quality of life across diverse populations.
Comprehensive investigation of human society, behavior, relationships, and social structures through systematic research and analysis. Encompasses psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, linguistics, education, demography, communications, and social research methodologies. Examines human cognition, social interactions, cultural phenomena, economic systems, political institutions, language and communication, educational processes, population dynamics, and the complex social, cultural, economic, and political forces shaping human societies, communities, and civilizations throughout history and across the contemporary world.
Fundamental study of the non-living natural world, matter, energy, and physical phenomena governing the universe. Encompasses physics, chemistry, earth sciences, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, materials science, and the investigation of physical laws, chemical reactions, geological processes, climate systems, and planetary dynamics. Explores everything from subatomic particles and quantum mechanics to planetary systems and cosmic phenomena, including energy transformations, molecular interactions, elemental properties, weather patterns, tectonic activity, and the fundamental forces and principles underlying the physical nature of reality.
Practical application of scientific knowledge and engineering principles to solve real-world problems and develop innovative technologies. Encompasses all engineering disciplines, technology development, computer science, artificial intelligence, environmental sciences, agriculture, materials applications, energy systems, and industrial innovation. Bridges theoretical research with tangible solutions for infrastructure, manufacturing, computing, communications, transportation, construction, sustainable development, and emerging technologies that advance human capabilities, improve quality of life, and address societal challenges through scientific innovation and technological progress.
Study of the practice, culture, infrastructure, and social dimensions of science itself. Addresses how science is conducted, organized, communicated, and integrated into society. Encompasses research funding mechanisms, scientific publishing systems, peer review processes, academic ethics, science policy, research institutions, scientific collaboration networks, science education, career development, research programs, scientific methods, science communication, and the sociology of scientific discovery. Examines the human, institutional, and cultural aspects of scientific enterprise, knowledge production, and the translation of research into societal benefit.
Comprehensive study of the universe beyond Earth, encompassing celestial objects, cosmic phenomena, and space exploration. Includes astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, cosmology, space physics, astrobiology, and space technology. Investigates stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, black holes, nebulae, exoplanets, dark matter, dark energy, cosmic microwave background, stellar evolution, planetary formation, space weather, solar system dynamics, the search for extraterrestrial life, and humanity's efforts to explore, understand, and unlock the mysteries of the cosmos through observation, theory, and space missions.
Comprehensive examination of tools, techniques, methodologies, and approaches used across scientific disciplines to conduct research, collect data, and analyze results. Encompasses experimental procedures, analytical methods, measurement techniques, instrumentation, imaging technologies, spectroscopic methods, laboratory protocols, observational studies, statistical analysis, computational methods, data visualization, quality control, and methodological innovations. Addresses the practical techniques and theoretical frameworks enabling scientists to investigate phenomena, test hypotheses, gather evidence, ensure reproducibility, and generate reliable knowledge through systematic, rigorous investigation across all areas of scientific inquiry.
Study of abstract structures, patterns, quantities, relationships, and logical reasoning through pure and applied mathematical disciplines. Encompasses algebra, calculus, geometry, topology, number theory, analysis, discrete mathematics, mathematical logic, set theory, probability, statistics, and computational mathematics. Investigates mathematical structures, theorems, proofs, algorithms, functions, equations, and the rigorous logical frameworks underlying quantitative reasoning. Provides the foundational language and tools for all scientific fields, enabling precise description of natural phenomena, modeling of complex systems, and the development of technologies across physics, engineering, computer science, economics, and all quantitative sciences.
The Skynet Junior Scholars program will train middle school educators to engage youths in telescopic observations of planets, asteroids, and galaxies. The program aims to introduce students to potential STEM careers during the critical middle school years.
The Las Cumbres Observatory's Network of Robotic Echelle Spectrograph (NRES) prototype has achieved its first light, primarily designed to support the study of exoplanets. The NRES will extend the capabilities of the LCOGT 1-meter network with six high-resolution spectrographs.
Researchers used a dying star's light to probe the gas conditions in a distant galaxy, revealing 'reassuringly normal' interstellar conditions. The study also provided insights into the formation of galaxies like our Milky Way.
Astronomers have discovered the first multi-planet system orbiting a binary star, characterized by the University of Texas at Austin's McDonald Observatory. The system, Kepler-47, features an outer planet within the habitable zone, where liquid water could exist.
The Phoenix cluster holds the record for the fastest star formation rate in a galaxy cluster's center, breaking previous assumptions about cosmic evolution. The cluster's high star birth rate and rapid cooling of hot gas are expected to be short-lived due to unsustainable growth.
The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) camera has received 'Critical Decision 1' approval, moving forward with detailed engineering design and construction. The LSST will capture the widest, fastest, and deepest view of the night sky, aiding studies of dark energy, near-Earth asteroids, and the structure of our galaxy.
The Allen Telescope Array will continue searching for intelligent life in space and monitoring space debris under new management by SRI International. The facility will also support the SETI Institute's efforts to detect signals from newly discovered exoplanets.
Researchers have used a 'light echo' technique to demonstrate that Eta Carinae's Great Eruption was significantly cooler than expected, differing from previously thought supernova impostors. The team's findings suggest the eruption may have been triggered by alternative models, warranting further investigation.
Researchers analyze light echoes from the 1837-1858 Great Eruption of Eta Carinae, revealing unexpected results and forcing them to modify physical models. The study provides a unique look at the outburst, shedding light on the behavior of massive stars near detonation.
A team led by UCLA researcher Michael Rich has discovered a previously unknown dwarf galaxy near NGC 4449, which is 12.5 million light years from Earth. The newly found galaxy, NGC 4449B, is the largest known dwarf galaxy in the local group and has been stretched into a 'S' shape due to gravitational encounter.
Astronomers propose two exotic scenarios for the unusual cosmic explosion: a novel supernova billions of light-years away or an unusual collision within our own galaxy. The 'Christmas burst' was caused by either event, with observations suggesting a neutron star and rapid tightening of its orbit.
The Crab pulsar generates beams of radiation from its spinning magnetic field, detected as rapid pulses of gamma-ray radiation. Researchers have detected these pulses with unprecedented energies, exceeding 100 billion electron-volts, putting new constraints on the mechanism for how this emission is generated.
The Giant Magellan Telescope will be built with seven 8.4-meter primary mirrors and is expected to begin science operations in northern Chile in 2019, allowing astronomers to study dark matter and dark energy. The telescope's resolving power will be larger than any other ever built, enabling groundbreaking discoveries about the universe.
A CU-Boulder scientist is using data gathered by a world-class telescope flying aboard a modified Boeing 747 to observe a distant star-forming region. The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) allows scientists to study stellar targets in wavelengths that can't be observed by ground-based telescopes.
Researchers found compelling evidence for the birth of a stellar mass black hole in the type IIL supernova SN 1979C. The study proposes that the late time glow of the supernova is consistent with a black hole accreting material from either a fallback disk or a binary companion.
Roger Angel will receive the Kavli Prize for his pioneering work on telescope design, which has allowed astronomers to observe distant and ancient objects. His innovative approach has resulted in lightweight and rigid mirrors that can be used in larger telescopes, enabling more compact and cost-effective designs.
Astronomers discovered a runaway star in the Large Magellanic Cloud's 30 Doradus Nebula, with a speed of over 400,000 km/h. The star is estimated to be around 10 times hotter than the Sun and has been ejected from its home cluster through dynamical interaction.
Astronomers have discovered a temperate exoplanet, Corot-9b, with a mass about 80% that of Jupiter and an orbit similar to Mercury's. The planet is thought to have a temperature range of -20°C to 160°C, making it a significant finding in the study of exoplanets.
An international team of scientists has discovered a new planet called CoRoT-9b, similar in size to Jupiter. Located 1500 light-years from Earth, the planet orbits a star similar to our sun and is considered temperate.
Researchers have found conclusive evidence of a binary quasar formed by the merger of two galaxies. The discovery uses images from the Carnegie Institution's Magellan telescope in Chile to show tidal tails produced by gravitational attraction, confirming the merger origin for the binary quasar system.
A team led by Professor Stephen Eikenberry captured the first images of the cosmos using a UF-designed camera/spectrometer attached to the Gemini South telescope in Chile. The instrument, FLAMINGOS-2, will enable accurate tracking of black hole growth and evolution over 4 billion years.
Researchers pinpointed Ridge A as the ideal location due to its extreme cold and dryness, averaging -70°C in winter, and minimal atmospheric turbulence, making it suitable for high-quality astronomical images.
The Palomar Transient Factory (PTF) utilizes NERSC's tools to uncover relatively rare cosmic events like supernovae and gamma ray bursts, discovering over 40 in its commissioning phase. The survey combines automated analysis with high-end systems and networks, enabling rapid follow-up observations.
Scientists are synchronizing lenses of the Whole Earth Telescope network to monitor a white dwarf, shedding light on its composition and applying knowledge to Earth's weather. The star, WDJ1524-0030, is losing brightness as it cools, with astronomers studying its pulses to understand internal movements.
Astronomers have used the world's biggest radio telescope to study the brightest galaxies that NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope can see. The team found a correlation between active galaxies with the brightest gamma-ray emission and those with the fastest jets.
The Extended Submillimeter Array (eSMA) enables the study of the formation of new stars and planets using submillimetre light. Post-doc Sandrine Bottinelli used the telescope to determine the ratio of atomic to molecular carbon in an extremely distant galaxy.
Gemini Observatory's groundbreaking discovery reveals two planets orbiting a young, massive star called HR 8799. The system consists of three planets, including the 'first family' member, which are still glowing from heat released as they contracted, and are about seven and ten times the mass of Jupiter.
A team of astronomers has discovered a potential 'wild cousin' of the infamous exploding star supernova 1987A in a nearby galaxy. The newly found supernova, SN1996cr, exhibits similar characteristics to '87A and is an impressive 1,000 times brighter.
A team of astronomers has obtained the closest views ever of a super-massive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. The new observations revealed the highest density yet for the concentration of matter at the galaxy's center, supporting the existence of black holes.
Astronomers captured X-ray outburst from supernova SN 2008D, shedding light on early processes. The explosion was likely from a massive star with retained helium layer, providing valuable information for understanding stellar deaths.
Astronomers have observed a rare 'normal' supernova for the first time at its moment of birth, thanks to NASA's Swift satellite. The discovery provides unique insights into how these massive star explosions occur, with the radiation pattern giving scientists the clearest picture ever.
Astronomers used VLBA to watch material winding a corkscrew path and confirm twisted magnetic fields accelerate particles. The team observed BL Lac, a blazar, with unprecedented view of the innermost portion of its jet.
Researchers found two star systems with yellow supergiant eclipsing binary characteristics, which may be the progenitors of rare supernovae. The discovery was made using the Large Binocular Telescope and suggests that these systems could explain the unusual nature of certain supernovae.
The University of Arizona is a dominant force in Arizona's astronomy and planetary research endeavors. A new study reveals that these industries have a significant impact on the state's economy, generating more than $252 million and creating over 3,300 jobs in the 2006 fiscal year.
A study by scientists has found that the most energetic particles in the universe – ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays – are correlated with the centers of active galaxies hosting violent black holes. The sources are thought to be within 326 million light years, our local neighborhood in cosmic terms.
Researchers at Yale University have discovered a massive stellar black hole, located in a distant galaxy, which challenges the current understanding of how these objects form. The black hole has a mass of 15.65 times that of the sun and was detected using precise measurements of its gravitational effects on nearby stars.
The Giant Magellan Telescope will be constructed at Cerro Las Campanas, Chile, providing unparalleled seeing quality and access to the southern skies. The telescope will help answer scientific questions on planetary systems, star formation, galaxies, black holes, dark matter, and dark energy.
The NASA-NOAO partnership will facilitate major discoveries by enabling simultaneous observations of objects in vastly different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. This agreement streamlines the approval process, allowing researchers to submit one peer-review proposal for funding from GLAST and observing time on NOAO telescopes.
TrES-4 is the largest known exoplanet, about 70% bigger than Jupiter but less massive, making it a planet of extremely low density. It orbits its host star in three and a half days and is very hot due to its close proximity.
Astronomers can now compete for coordinated observing time on both GLAST and NRAO radio telescopes to study celestial objects in multiple wavelengths. This collaboration enables the study of flares from blazars, a key area of research to understanding supermassive black holes.
Astronomers have discovered a massive transiting planet, TrES-3, with a 31-hour year, orbiting its parent star about 1,500 light-years away. The planet is twice the mass of Jupiter and one of the planets with the shortest known periods.
Cornell astronomers have confirmed that solar radiation and an asteroid's shape determine its rotation rate, a phenomenon known as the Yarkovsky-O'Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack Effect. This effect can help explain the formation of binary asteroids by creating strong centrifugal forces.
Researchers have taken deep pictures of two ancient galaxies, weighing them for the first time. The galaxies are estimated to be around 50-300 million years old, with masses similar to our Milky Way's, but were much lighter when they formed.
The University of Utah will build a 32-inch research-class optical telescope in southern Utah with the help of a $600,000 donation from the Willard L. Eccles Foundation. The telescope will be used for research, education, and public outreach, including star-gazing parties and astronomy camps.
A team of astronomers has found nearly 300 new galaxy clusters and groups, including 100 at extreme distances of eight to 10 billion light years. This discovery will allow scientists to study very young galaxies two-thirds of the way back to the Big Bang.
Astronomers have discovered a planet orbiting a 600-million-year-old star using the Exoplanet Tracker, a faster and cheaper instrument. The new method allows for more efficient search of distant stars, potentially uncovering planets capable of supporting life.
Researchers have observed that less energetic infrared flares coincide with more energetic X-ray and submillimeter flares, suggesting accelerated particles give rise to emission. The study also found that flare activity is driven by the infrared wavelength, with 40% of observations detected in this range.
Case Western Reserve University astronomers have captured a deep, wide-field image of the Virgo Cluster, revealing a complex web of intracluster starlight. The faint starlight is made up of stars ripped out of galaxies as they collide, providing an 'archaeological record' of violent cluster galaxy lives.
The MIT-Williams team successfully observed the occultation of a star by Charon, Pluto's moon, using multiple telescopes in Chile. The data will help determine Charon's radius and whether it has an atmosphere, with implications for understanding the moon's composition and potential habitability.
A team of astronomers suggests that Type Ic supernovae could produce gamma-ray bursts through the collapsar model, which proposes an asymmetric explosion mechanism and a jet of particles and energy. The theory is supported by observations with Keck and Subaru telescopes in Hawaii.
The National Science Board has awarded Cornell University a $70 million contract to manage the Arecibo Observatory until March 31, 2010. This renewal will enable further scientific research capabilities at the observatory, with plans to develop new instruments and expand user access.
A Cornell University-led team has discovered a mysterious population of distant galaxies radiating in the infrared spectrum with hundreds of times more power than our Milky Way galaxy. The galaxies are thought to be ultraluminous infrared galaxies powered by massive starbursts or active galactic nuclei, and their discovery is published...
Radio astronomers have demonstrated a new technique called e-VLBI, which allows them to combine data from multiple telescopes worldwide and produce high-quality images of the sky in real-time. This enables the observation of distant objects like IRC+10420, a supergiant star surrounded by dusty gas and emitting strong radio waves.
Astronomers have successfully taken high-quality images using a ground-based telescope at Dome C, Antarctica, which rivals the capabilities of the Hubble Space Telescope. The site offers excellent seeing conditions and low atmospheric interference, making it an attractive alternative to space-based astronomy.
Astronomers at Yale University have discovered the most distant object in our solar system, Sedna, which is approximately 10 billion miles away from the sun. Sedna's orbit ranges from seven to 100 billion miles from the sun and its characteristics are consistent with it residing in the Oort cloud.
The Gemini Deep Deep Survey has revealed a greater abundance of more massive and older galaxies than expected, dating back to the early universe. The discovery challenges current models of galaxy formation and suggests an accelerated growth phase for galaxies.
Researchers studied two binary star systems, predicting regular flare cycles similar to the Sun's magnetic cycle. The team used continuous monitoring of radio waves to discover patterns in flare strength, indicating active and inactive cycles every 50-120 days.
The $18 million SALT Observatory is nearing completion and will feature the largest optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere. The observatory's primary scientific instrument, a spectrograph, will break light down into its constituent wavelengths to study stars and galaxies outside of the Milky Way.
The SIRTF is designed to peer into deep regions of the universe not visible optically, providing clues to star and galaxy formation. With its infrared spectrograph, it will observe ultrafrigid stars and penetrate obscuring dust in the cosmos.
The University of California, Berkeley's robotic telescope has captured the earliest image of a gamma-ray burst's optical afterglow, offering unprecedented data for theorists to study. The data provides key constraints for physical models of gamma-ray bursts and will help astronomers better understand these enigmatic events.