Articles tagged with Space 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.
Astronomers analyzed 10 galaxy clusters using Hubble data and found their brightest cluster galaxies wobble around the center of mass, inconsistent with current dark matter models. This result may indicate new physics is at work, requiring a reevaluation of fundamental physics to solve the mystery of dark matter.
The James Webb Space Telescope aligns its primary mirror segments through wavefront sensing and control, measuring imperfections with a near-infrared camera instrument. Engineers use computer algorithms to determine the mirror's shape and movement, resulting in sharp, focused images.
The James Webb Space Telescope successfully tested its optics alignment using a unique 'selfie' photo. The image verified the line of sight for the telescope's cryogenic testing configuration.
Scientists will use NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to study the creation of the universe's first galaxies and stars. With its powerful spectrographic instruments, Webb will see much more detail than imaging alone can provide, allowing scientists to study how gases transformed into stars in the first galaxies.
Hubble identifies potential targets for Webb using preparatory science observations, filling observational gaps in the infrared spectrum. Astronomers plan to use Hubble to survey multiple targets and determine the best strategy for Webb, optimizing observation time.
Engineers aligned NASA's James Webb Space Telescope's 18 hexagonally shaped primary mirror segments using a multi-wavelength interferometer and seven actuators to achieve precise alignment. The ability to adjust the mirror segments' positions and shapes is critical for accurate focus on celestial targets.
The James Webb Space Telescope relies on a complex shroud system to maintain extremely low temperatures, minimizing unwanted infrared light that could compromise optical testing. The system consists of two nested shrouds: liquid nitrogen and cold gaseous helium, which work together to cool the telescope.
Astronomers have identified a millisecond pulsar spinning at more than 42,000 revolutions per minute using the Netherlands-based Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio telescope. The discovery provides insights into the potential for finding ultra-fast pulsars and raises questions about the fastest-spinning pulsars in the universe.
The James Webb Space Telescope will study the 'ocean worlds' of Europa and Enceladus, adding to previous observations by Galileo and Cassini orbiters. The telescope's high-resolution imagery and spectroscopic analysis will help unravel the mysteries of these moons' subsurface oceans and potential biosignatures.
The telescope is cooled to minus 387 Fahrenheit as scientists and engineers monitor its performance with temperature sensors and cameras. Once complete, the telescope will be integrated with the spacecraft and sunshield at Northrop Grumman, California, before undergoing final tests called 'observatory-level testing,'
The five sunshield layers of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have been fully installed, providing precise temperature control for the telescope's infrared sensors. The layers work together to reduce temperatures by approximately 570 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring optimal performance for observing distant objects in the universe.
The James Webb Space Telescope has successfully completed its Ground Segment Test Number 1, confirming end-to-end communication between the telescope and its mission operations center. The test, which took place on June 20, tested all communications systems required for launch, commissioning, and normal operations.
The temperature of Chamber A steadily dropped from Houston's heat, reaching 20 kelvins (-424°F/-253°C), while the Webb telescope's instruments transferred heat to surrounding liquids and gases.
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured images of Phobos, the smallest moon in our solar system, as it orbits Mars. Phobos is just 16.5 miles across and completes an orbit in just 7 hours and 39 minutes, faster than Mars' rotation.
Astronomers use gravitational lens to magnify light from distant galaxy, revealing two dozen clumps of newborn stars. This contradicts earlier theories suggesting larger star-forming regions in the early universe.
The James Webb Space Telescope will undergo a three-month test period at NASA's Johnson Space Center to prove its ability to operate in space-like conditions. Chamber A, a historic Apollo-era test chamber, simulates temperatures as low as -393 degrees Fahrenheit, essential for detecting infrared light from distant objects.
A team of scientists has detected a rotating stellar disk in the ancient elliptical-shaped galaxy MACS2129-1, located 10 billion light-years from Earth. This finding contradicts prevailing astrophysical theory regarding the formation of such galaxies shortly after the Big Bang. The stars in MACS2129-1 rotate at a speed of over 500 km p...
Astronomers find compact yet massive, fast-spinning, disk-shaped galaxy that stopped forming stars only a few billion years after the big bang. The discovery challenges current understanding of how massive galaxies form and evolve.
A unique data center for cosmological simulations, Cosmowebportal, has been initiated by astrophysicists from TUM and LRZ. The facility pools the results of the Magneticum Pathfinder simulations, allowing scientists to explore and analyze the universe's evolution.
The James Webb Space Telescope will observe a range of celestial objects, from the outer planets and Kuiper Belt to exoplanets and distant galaxies. The initial 2100 observations planned will address various science areas, including first light, galaxy assembly, and star and planet birth.
Using the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers measured the deflection of light rays as they passed near a white dwarf star, providing a solid estimate of its mass. The result confirms theoretical predictions and offers insights into the star's structure and composition.
Astronomers used Hubble Space Telescope to repeat a century-old test of general relativity by measuring the deflection of light from a background star. The result provides a solid estimate of the white dwarf's mass and yields insights into theories of its structure and composition.
Astronomers have captured unique close-up views of the universe's brightest infrared galaxies, which are as much as 10,000 times more luminous than our Milky Way. The galaxies' star-birth production is 5,000 to 10,000 times higher than that of our Milky Way.
Two exoplanets, WASP-67 b and HAT-P-38 b, have distinct atmospheric compositions, with one being cloudier than the other. The team's findings suggest that their past formation histories may be responsible for these differences.
Astronomers study properties of debris disk around sun-like star by analyzing light passing through it. The transit allows scientists to infer characteristics of the disk and potentially discover analogues in our Solar System.
The James Webb Space Telescope is being tested at NASA's Chamber A, a massive thermal vacuum testing chamber that previously tested Apollo moon mission hardware. The chamber has undergone major upgrades to reach extremely low temperatures and conduct precise optical testing.
The new 'Webb-cam' provides daily video feeds on the telescope's progress, allowing space enthusiasts to see the telescope's development in real-time. The camera is mounted where it has a view of the cleanroom at NASA Johnson Space Center and can be seen online.
Astronomers discovered a massive star that collapsed into a black hole without exploding as a supernova, challenging the typical view of star formation. The study suggests that up to 30% of massive stars may quietly collapse into black holes without producing a supernova.
The Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) has successfully detected its first fast radio burst (FRB), marking a major breakthrough in this elusive field of astronomy. The detection was made using an innovative strategy, allowing the telescope to scan a larger area of the sky and increasing its chances of finding FRBs.
Astronomers have discovered a moon orbiting the third largest dwarf planet in our solar system using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The discovery provides key insights into how moons formed in the young solar system.
The Crab Nebula has been extensively studied, yet astronomers still have much to learn. By combining data from multiple telescopes, a team of scientists gained new insights into the object's complex physics.
The Abell 370 galaxy cluster is a rich mix of various galaxy shapes, including massive elliptical and spiral galaxies. Nearly a hundred distant galaxies have multiple images caused by the lensing effect, with some featuring mysterious-looking arcs of blue light.
The Hubble Space Telescope captured the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter, at unprecedented resolution. The telescope revealed exquisite details in Jupiter's atmosphere, including small-scale storm systems and wind patterns that reach speeds of up to 400 miles per hour.
The James Webb Space Telescope has completed its acoustic and vibration tests, ensuring it can withstand launch vibrations and maintain functionality in space. The telescope was subjected to simulated forces of up to 100 times per second using a new vibration test system.
The James Webb Space Telescope is inspected for contamination using ultraviolet flashlights in a darkened clean room. The long exposure captures the technicians as 'ghostly wraiths', while a special light technique illuminates the primary mirror.
Alan Dressler, chair of the AURA Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and Beyond Committee, received the 2017 Carl Sagan Memorial Award for his leadership in research and policies advancing exploration of the Cosmos. The award recognizes the committee's influential report that led to the development of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.
Researchers have discovered young stars in old star clusters, suggesting that our current models of stellar evolution may be incorrect. This finding could mean that star clusters contain multiple generations of stars.
The James Webb Space Telescope will analyze atmospheric components in TRAPPIST-1 exoplanets for potential biosignatures. Three promising planets, e, f and g, orbit within the habitable zone, with conditions suitable for supporting liquid water.
The James Webb Space Telescope is set to undergo an earsplitting acoustic test, simulating the intense vibrations of launch. The team at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has completed vibration testing and prepared the telescope for the test, which will push its limits.
The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) project is completing final testing on a new satellite that will extend NASA's Space Network capabilities. The addition of TDRS-M will provide nearly continuous coverage for an additional 15 years.
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have made an independent measurement of the universe's expansion rate, consistent with earlier findings but in disagreement with measurements from the early Universe. The study uses galaxies as giant gravitational lenses to determine the Hubble constant to a high precision.
NASA has resumed rigorous vibration testing on the James Webb Space Telescope after an early shutdown in 2016 due to sensor readings exceeding predicted levels. The team implemented changes to the test profile to prevent similar issues, adding diagnostic tests to ensure confidence in the launch environment.
Astronomers have discovered a shadow sweeping across the face of a vast pancake-shaped gas-and-dust disk surrounding a young star, possibly caused by an unseen planet gravitationally pulling on material. The twisted inner disk is casting its shadow onto the outer region.
Astronomers use Hubble observations to characterize the interstellar medium along Voyager 1 and 2's trajectories. The study reveals a rich, complex ecology with multiple clouds of hydrogen and other elements.
Astronomers have discovered three young star systems with doomed comets, suggesting a common mechanism for exocomet destruction. The study provides new insights into the past and present activity of comets in our solar system, potentially making life possible on terrestrial planets.
Engineers successfully completed the first Center of Curvature test for the James Webb Space Telescope's primary mirror, measuring its shape and alignment with incredible precision. The test will be repeated after launch environment testing to confirm the optics' performance in space.
Astronomers have detected superhot blobs of gas being ejected near the dying star V Hydrae, with each blob twice as massive as Mars and traveling at half-million miles per hour. The plasma balls are thought to be launched by an unseen companion star in an elliptical orbit, shedding new light on planetary nebulae.
Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have imaged what may be water vapor plumes erupting off the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa. The observation increases the possibility that missions to Europa may be able to sample its ocean without having to drill through miles of ice.
The Fermi mission has excluded a small range of axion-like particles that could have comprised about 4 percent of dark matter, while also providing the strongest constraints to date for certain masses. Additionally, researchers found no statistically significant signal from dark matter annihilation in the Small Magellanic Cloud.
Astronomers using NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope discover a new type of exotic binary star system where a rapidly spinning white dwarf powers electrons to almost the speed of light, causing radiation blasts that lash the companion red dwarf star, resulting in dramatic pulses every 1.97 minutes.
The Hubble Space Telescope has explored the farthest objects in the universe, unveiling a warping-of-space phenomenon predicted by Einstein. The telescope has magnified images of galaxies much farther away, allowing astronomers to study the early universe and understand dark matter.
A new tool is being developed by NASA to assure picometer-level stability, a feat not yet accomplished. The instrument will measure tiny changes in mirror segments and other supporting telescope structure during environmental testing.
A new concept in space telescope design proposes a modular structure and an assembly robot to build extremely large telescopes in space. The robotic system would enable tasks to be performed without astronaut fatigue.
Astronomers discovered a rare cosmic tadpole galaxy, LEDA 36252, with its bright head and elongated tail. The galaxy features surprisingly young stars with a total mass equivalent to 10,000 Suns, indicating a recent burst of star formation triggered by the accretion of primordial gas.
Scientists have discovered a dark moon orbiting Makemake, one of the largest and brightest known Kuiper Belt Objects. The discovery provides insights into the origin and evolution of our solar system, suggesting that giant collisions are a near-universal fixture in the histories of these distant worlds.
The sunshield consists of five layers of Kapton material, each coated with aluminum and doped-silicon for optimal thermal insulation. The unique kite-like shape and precise layer separation direct heat away from the optics, allowing the telescope to reach required temperatures.
Researchers analyzed UV spectrum of BD+44 493, a second-generation star thought to have been enriched by one of the first stars. They found phosphorus, sulfur, and zinc, which reveal the star was likely massive and exploded as a supernova.
Astronomers refine universe's expansion rate with unprecedented accuracy, reducing uncertainty to 2.4 percent. The new value of 73.2 kilometers per second per megaparsec indicates the distance between cosmic objects will double in 9.8 billion years.
Italian researchers used Hubble data and computer models to identify two objects as potential seeds for supermassive black holes. These early black hole seed candidates are seen less than a billion years after the Big Bang and have an initial mass of about 100,000 times the Sun.
The James Webb Space Telescope science instrument package was successfully installed into the telescope structure with precision engineering and teamwork. The team conducted rigorous training and testing before the critical mission operation, ensuring the instruments and mirrors are ready for launch.