Articles tagged with Space Telescopes
New study reveals that the temperatures on the dark sides of hot Jupiters are remarkably uniform, suggesting the presence of clouds made of minerals and rocks. This discovery could provide insights into cloud formation elsewhere in the universe, including on Earth.
The TEMPLATES team will study four galaxies using gravitational lensing to magnify light and gain insights into star formation. They aim to measure star-formation rates, map galaxy distributions, compare young and old stellar populations, and reveal how galaxies grow over time.
Scientists analyze NASA's Fermi data to understand cosmic rays and the lunar environment. The research shows the Moon's gamma-ray glow varies by 20% over the Sun's 11-year activity cycle, with implications for future human missions.
NASA successfully deployed its secondary mirror in a crucial testing step, paving the way for the James Webb Space Telescope's groundbreaking science. The successful test demonstrates the telescope's electronic connection and prepares it for integration into its final form.
University of Arizona researchers have developed a new lens technology that can collect more light and search for signs of life on 1,000 exoplanets. The Nautilus telescope array will be powerful enough to characterize planets from 1,000 light years away, providing valuable insights into the complexity of exo-earths.
The James Webb Space Telescope is the result of a nationwide collaboration, with components manufactured across 29 US states. The telescope will explore cosmic history, solve mysteries in our solar system, and probe the origins of the universe.
Astronomers have made a new measurement of the Hubble constant using red giant stars, indicating an expansion rate of around 70 km/sec/Mpc. This measurement falls in the center of a hotly debated question and may lead to a new interpretation of the universe's fundamental properties.
Researchers observed a supermassive black hole in galaxy NGC 3147 with an unusual thin disk of gas swirling around it, contrary to predictions. The team used Hubble Space Telescope's STIS instrument to study the disk, revealing unique features that can only be explained by Einstein's theories of relativity.
Astronomers have identified the atmospheric composition of a mid-size planet between Earth and Neptune for the first time using NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes. The planet, Gliese 3470 b, has a large rocky core surrounded by a deep crushing atmosphere mostly composed of hydrogen and helium.
Scientists confirm electrically-charged molecules shaped like soccer balls in space, shedding light on the mysterious contents of interstellar medium. The discovery points toward a strong likelihood for other complex carbon-bearing molecules arising spontaneously in space.
The James Webb Space Telescope successfully completed its final thermal vacuum test, with the spacecraft element exposed to extreme temperatures and conditions. The test paves the way for the integration of the telescope and spacecraft elements, a crucial step towards launch.
A nearby galaxy, NGC 4485, is experiencing a surge in star birth due to its gravitational interaction with NGC 4490. The collision triggered the creation of young blue stars and nebulae on the right side of the galaxy.
Researchers discovered that almost all blue supergiants shimmer in brightness due to waves on their surface, enabling the study of their internal physics and chemistry. This breakthrough enables astronomers to probe the progenitors of supernovae from a novel perspective.
Astronomers created a comprehensive 'history book' of galaxies using 16 years' worth of Hubble observations, covering 265,000 galaxies that stretch back 13.3 billion years. The new image mosaic provides a wide portrait of the distant universe, chronicling galaxy assembly over time.
A new study using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope confirms the universe is expanding about 9% faster than expected. The measurements, published April 25 in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, strengthen the cosmic distance ladder and calculate the Hubble constant with increased precision.
SwRI leads largest-ever Hubble survey of the Kuiper Belt, focusing on binary populations and testing planetesimal formation theories. The Solar System Origins Legacy Survey aims to understand solar system architecture and planetary evolution.
Asteroid Gault, a well-known space rock, has begun slowly disintegrating as it develops comet-like tails. The newly observed event suggests that asteroids are dynamic and active worlds, prone to spin-up processes that can lead to disintegration.
Astronomers have observed the disintegration of asteroid 6478 Gault using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and other observatories. The asteroid's rapid spinning has caused it to shed material, resulting in two narrow tails of dusty debris streaming from its surface.
Researchers found an error in active galactic nuclei measured by Gaia space telescope and corrected it. The findings rely on a new way of indirectly studying quasar optical emission using radio telescopes.
The Milky Way weighs approximately 1.5 trillion solar masses, with dark matter making up the majority of its mass. Globular star clusters were used to measure the galaxy's movement, providing a more accurate estimate of its mass.
Astronomers combined data from Hubble and Gaia to estimate Milky Way's mass, reducing uncertainty from decades of research. The galaxy is found to weigh approximately 1.5 trillion solar masses within a radius of 129,000 light-years.
The study predicts that WFIRST will find about 100 of those not-yet-discovered planets could have the same or lower mass as Earth. The telescope will map the Milky Way and other galaxies 100 times faster than Hubble Space Telescope, scanning a small piece of the universe with high resolution.
A study discovered a group of massive stars with high iron dust and low metal content in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The stars have unique spectral properties, and their environment allows for the formation of large quantities of iron dust.
Researchers propose using tiny satellites with lasers to provide a steady reference light for massive space telescopes, relaxing the need for precision in segmented telescope designs. This approach aims to reduce costs and enable more flexible telescope designs.
Astronomers have developed a revolutionary method to detect dark matter using faint starlight in Hubble images. The technique accurately studies the distribution of dark matter and has been confirmed in galaxy clusters. Future studies will survey more clusters and analyze additional data with the James Webb Space Telescope.
An international team of astronomers has confirmed over 100 exoplanets using a combination of space-based and ground-based telescopes. The discovery includes ultra-short orbital period planets and low-mass rocky exoplanets, offering insights into their formation processes.
Two teams of astronomers uncovered the presumed precursor star in pre-explosion photos taken in 2007, shedding light on stellar evolution and mass distribution. The discovery suggests two possible scenarios: a single massive star or a binary-star system.
Astronomers have found the first compelling evidence for a moon outside our own Solar System, using data from the Hubble Space Telescope and Kepler Space Telescope. The exomoon, Kepler-1625b-i, is comparable in diameter to Neptune and orbits a gas giant planet at a distance similar to Earth's orbit around the Sun.
Researchers detected extended infrared emissions around RX J0806.4-4123, suggesting a 'fallback disk' of material or a pulsar wind nebula. The findings challenge current understanding of neutron star evolution and offer new avenues for study with the NASA James Webb Space Telescope.
The flight operations team at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center conducted two successful communications tests, simulating the complex exchange of command and telemetry data among multiple service providers during the first six hours of flight. The team successfully communicated with the telescope and demonstrated their ability to comm...
The James Webb Space Telescope relies on innovative components like the 'Spider', a thermally isolating device with Kevlar fibers, to accurately detect light from distant galaxies and celestial objects. This cutting-edge technology enables the telescope to observe objects in the Kuiper Belt and study the universe's origins.
Scientists have found that many exoplanets, especially those between two to four times the size of Earth, are likely to be water-rich. This suggests that water worlds may be common, with implications for the search for life in our Galaxy.
Engineers installed small metal rods into premade holes of the sunshield to maintain alignment and reduce repair time by months. This technique eliminates the need for full deployment and refolding of the large sunshield layers.
A team of astronomers has unveiled 44 extrasolar planets, dwarfing typical confirmation numbers. Novel techniques validated the find, enabling precise determination of planet sizes and temperatures.
The James Webb Space Telescope boasts unparalleled capabilities, including a revolutionary lightweight carbon-composite material and exceptional load-bearing capability in extreme temperatures. Its advanced design enables it to unfold flawlessly by remote control and operate at extremely low temperatures.
Using Hawaii-based telescopes, scientists have identified TXS 0506+056 as a known blazar source of high-energy neutrinos. The discovery uses a combination of ground and space-based observatories to pinpoint the source's location.
The study using data from NASA's NuSTAR space telescope reveals that Eta Carinae accelerates particles to high energies, some of which may reach Earth as cosmic rays. The team's analysis suggests that the accelerated electrons and other particles are ejected in violent shock waves along the boundary of the colliding stellar winds.
Scientists led by Roland Wester have confirmed the presence of molecules in space using terahertz spectroscopy, a method that allows for accurate measurement of spectral lines. The study's findings provide new insights into the chemical composition of interstellar medium and may aid in detecting unknown species in space.
The James Webb Space Telescope will create multispectral maps of the Great Red Spot, analyzing its thermal, chemical, and cloud structures. Scientists hope to observe unique chemical byproducts of the storm, which could reveal its composition.
Researchers have found a rare galaxy, NGC 1277, that has remained unchanged since its formation in the early universe. The discovery provides valuable information about galaxy evolution, as it has preserved its original composition and structure over billions of years.
The James Webb Space Telescope's instruments are shielded from excessive heat using specially designed baffles that reflect infrared radiation outward. The baffles, coated with gold to maximize reflectivity, are reinstalled before the observatory's integration at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.
The James Webb Space Telescope has the potential to observe the first stars in the universe, which formed about 200-400 million years after the Big Bang. The telescope can capture light from single stars with a massive amount of gravitational lensing, amplifying it up to 10,000 times.
Researchers used a deep learning algorithm to classify real galaxies in Hubble images, achieving remarkable consistency in its classifications. The study found that the algorithm identified a specific mass range for the 'blue nugget' phase of galaxy evolution, which is followed by quenching of star formation in the central region.
Researchers from Samara Polytech created a 'flexible' mirror that can deform in micron increments to compensate for optical aberrations. The innovation enables higher image quality and resolution for Earth remote sensing satellites.
A team at Plymouth University used artificial neural networks to classify five planets as potentially habitable, estimating a probability of life in each case. The technique may aid in selecting targets for future space missions with improved spectral detail.
Researchers from Aalto University and international partners have imaged newly forming jets of plasma from a massive black hole with unprecedented accuracy. The study resolves the jet structure mere hundreds of black hole radii away from its launching site, revealing unprecedented details of the jet formation region.
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have discovered a blue supergiant star called Icarus, which is the farthest individual star observed. The team used gravitational lensing to magnify the star's light, revealing its true nature and providing insights into dark matter theory.
Astronomers have discovered the most distant star ever observed, existing only 4.4 billion years after the Big Bang, using gravitational lensing with the Hubble Space Telescope. The light from the star was magnified 2000 times, allowing for its detection.
Researchers discovered a Fast-Evolving Luminous Transient (FELT) captured by the Kepler Space Telescope in 2015. The transient rose in brightness over just 2.2 days and faded within 10 days, with scientists attributing its cause to a 'burp' from the star before exploding.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison used Hubble Space Telescope to analyze Leading Arm of Magellanic Stream, identifying it as coming from Small Magellanic Cloud. The study helps refine models of galaxy orbit and formation, shedding light on mysterious gas clouds surrounding Milky Way.
Engineers are conducting final testing at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems to ensure the observatory is ready for space. The science payload has already undergone rigorous testing, and the integrated spacecraft and sunshield will soon undergo their own launch environment tests.
The Hubble Space Telescope has discovered a rare relic galaxy, NGC 1277, that remains unchanged for the past 10 billion years. This unique find provides valuable insights into the origin and evolution of galaxies billions of years ago.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University conducted the first laboratory simulations of exoplanet atmospheres to understand haze formation and its impact on habitability. The study found that certain gas combinations produce more haze particles, which can affect atmospheric temperature structures and potentially shield life.
The study rules out a cloud-free hydrogen-rich atmosphere for three planets, but leaves open the possibility for planet TRAPPIST-1g. The observations provide key insights into the potential habitability of these planets, paving the way for future studies with the James Webb Space Telescope.
The James Webb Space Telescope underwent critical cryogenic testing inside Chamber A at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, ensuring it will safely reach its orbit and perform its science mission. The telescope was subjected to a range of tests, including alignment checks and simulations of starlight detection.
The Lomonosov satellite detected air showers caused by high-energy space rays and registered transient light phenomena associated with storm ares. The satellite also observed gamma-ray bursts for the first time in history, allowing for simultaneous measurements in optic and gamma ranges.
Astronomer Jeyhan Kartaltepe is leading a team that will use the James Webb Space Telescope to study the formation of the universe's first galaxies. The Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science Survey will provide detailed information about galaxy structures and physical conditions.
After completing 100 days of cryogenic testing, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has emerged from Chamber A at the Johnson Space Center. The telescope is now set to be integrated with its spacecraft element in California, marking a crucial step towards its launch as the world's premier infrared space observatory.
A team of astronomers from Georgia State University has discovered two old binary stars and identified 29 new old star candidates using a technique called astrometry. The study focused on subdwarf stars, which are cooler and older than the sun, and used their motion across the sky to determine their age.
The telescope underwent a series of tests designed to ensure it functions as expected in an extremely cold environment, including alignment checks and cryogenic vacuum testing. After 15 years of planning and over 90 days of testing, the telescope's cryogenic test has been deemed an outstanding success.