Articles tagged with Telescopes
Scientists have recorded the most energetic radiation and longest gamma-ray afterglow of a gamma-ray burst, revealing similar spectral characteristics between X-ray and very-high energy gamma-rays. This challenge to established theory highlights the need for further studies of very-high energy GRB afterglow emission.
Researchers at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian are using a $2.8 million grant to test their theory that astronomy can be an early gateway to attract youth to STEM fields. The program, YouthAstroNet, has already shown positive results in increasing interest and confidence among students from underrepresented groups.
A new approach using reimagined telescopes in both hemispheres could help study dark matter and gravitational waves. The BICEP/Keck array is exploring the possibility of increasing scan length to capture larger areas, yielding promising early results.
A new study highlights scenarios where a rocky planet around a sun-like star could have oxygen in its atmosphere without life. Astronomers say next-generation telescopes need to characterize planetary environments and detect multiple lines of evidence to distinguish false positives from signs of life.
Research reveals large galaxies steal molecular gas from smaller satellite galaxies, impacting star formation rates. The study provides new systematic evidence of gas loss through ram pressure stripping, leading to galaxy stagnation without gas acquisition.
The Hayabusa2 mission successfully returned asteroid samples from Ryugu, a carbonaceous asteroid believed to contain organic materials. The return marks the second successful sample-return mission in history, offering insights into the origin of life and potential resource utilization for space exploration.
The team aims to discover millisecond pulsars, exotic binary systems, and intermittent pulsars. Simulations predict the full survey will uncover 20-30 MSPs and 150-200 normal pulsars.
The CHARA Array, the world's largest optical interferometer, has received $7.1 million to fund a new mobile telescope and expand its open-access program for scientists. The new telescope will increase the array's diameter to over one kilometer and provide the highest resolution of any instrument in the world.
Astronomers used AI to classify spiral galaxies in Subaru Telescope images, achieving 97.5% accuracy and identifying 80,000 galaxies.
Astronomers used machine learning to discover a rare galaxy with an oxygen abundance of 1.6% solar levels, setting a new record. The galaxy is thought to be in its early stages of formation, contradicting standard cosmology predictions.
A team of astronomers discovered a stellar stream composed of the remnants of an ancient globular cluster torn apart by the Milky Way's gravity 2 billion years ago. The Phoenix Stream is distinct from other globular clusters and suggests that there may be no minimum abundance of heavier elements required for their formation.
Astronomers have discovered a lost planet, NGTS-11b, which orbits a star 620 light years away and is located five times closer to its sun than Earth. The discovery brings astronomers closer to finding cooler planets in the habitable 'Goldilocks zone' that can support liquid water.
The study confirms that the speed of light is constant in vacuum, as predicted by Einstein's general relativity theory. No energy-dependent time delay was detected in the arrival times of gamma rays from a high-energy gamma-ray burst, supporting GR. Strong constraints on the quantum gravity energy scale were also set.
Purdue University researchers develop a technique using sunlight to identify satellite issues, potentially reducing the risk of 'space junk'. Light curves collected from satellites or their parts can reveal structural malfunctions.
Researchers have designed a new camera for hypertelescopes to capture multiple stars at once, enabling high-resolution images of planets, pulsars, and galaxies. The enhanced design could reveal details of extremely small objects like the Crab pulsar, revolutionizing exoplanetary research.
Researchers created a new detection method using radar echoes to identify ultra-high energy particle cascades. This breakthrough could lead to the development of a neutrino telescope capable of detecting high-energy neutrinos with energies beyond current observable range.
Astronomers at Kazan Federal University used a powerful space exploration tool to discover a new binary star system. The team employed the gravitational lensing method to track changes in brightness and confirm the presence of two stars.
The National Science Foundation's newest solar telescope has successfully produced its first images of the sun's surface. The telescope, which uses advanced technology to study the sun's magnetic field and temperature, is expected to provide valuable insights into the sun's behavior and impact on Earth
Researchers are using NASA's iSHELL spectrometer to measure masses of planets in the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) discovery list, including super-Earths with Earth-like properties. The study aims to confirm and refine mass estimates for these exoplanets, advancing our understanding of their potential habitability.
Researchers at San Diego State University have discovered two new planetary systems similar to Tatooine from Star Wars, including TOI-1338 b and KOI-3152 b. These circumbinary planets were found using NASA's TESS mission data and provide insight into the population of such systems.
Teams from Cerro Tololo and Kitt Peak Observatories imaged Mercury's transit with different telescopes and cameras. The goal is to measure the parallax shift caused by Mercury's apparent position on the Sun to calculate the distance to the Sun.
A team of scientists from the Jagiellonian University discovered an interstellar comet with a familiar look, providing new insights into exosolar minor bodies. The comet's dusty morphology and reddish hue suggest it may be similar to native Solar System comets.
Brookhaven National Laboratory has completed a 3.2 gigapixel digital sensor array for the LSST camera, enabling the capture of the most complete images of our universe. The team successfully built and shipped the final raft to SLAC, marking the end of a 16-year project.
Astronomers propose a new method to detect hidden life on exoplanets, utilizing biofluorescence induced by stellar UV flares. This novel approach could reveal biomarkers on planets orbiting active M stars, making them ideal targets for future searches.
A team of astronomers at Ohio State University used NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite to observe a Type Ia supernova, the first of its kind to measure hydrogen in its spectra. The discovery challenges traditional theories on why white dwarf stars explode and could provide new insights into the elements left behind.
Rachel Mandelbaum, a Carnegie Mellon professor, was awarded the Simons Investigator program to study cosmic distortions and dark matter. She develops algorithms to analyze galaxy relations with dark matter halos.
The AGILE particle telescope will analyze charged particles in the heliosphere, shedding light on physical processes in space. The technology could help clinicians accurately measure radiation absorbed by cancer patients during therapy.
Scientists at the University of Sheffield used a high-speed camera to measure the mass and radius of an ancient star for the first time. This breakthrough verifies stellar structure theory and provides detailed predictions about the star's brightness, color, and future evolution.
The GRAPES-3 muon telescope has discovered a record 1.3 gigavolt potential in a thundercloud, exceeding the previous record by 10 times. This massive voltage is essential for producing high-energy gamma rays in Terrestrial Gamma Ray Flashes.
Researchers have discovered 83 supermassive black holes powering quasars 13 billion years ago, shedding light on their formation and evolution. This finding increases the number of known black holes at that epoch and provides new insights into their impact on the early universe's gas state.
The Parker Solar Probe captured a breathtaking view of Earth on Sept. 25, 2018, showcasing the Moon just behind our planet. The image also reveals a lens flare effect due to reflections from the bright Earthshine, which is visible in the hemispherical shaped feature.
Scientists are developing a NASA-funded rocket called FOXSI to study the Sun's X-ray emissions. The mission will use X-ray vision to detect nanoflares, which are intense eruptions that heat the solar atmosphere to millions of degrees Fahrenheit.
The GRAINE collaboration launched a balloon-borne nuclear emulsion telescope to observe high-energy cosmic gamma rays. The experiment successfully completed a record-long flight of 17 hours and achieved high-resolution observations, marking a significant milestone in the field of cosmic gamma-ray research.
An international team identified the source object of an ultra-high energy neutrino using the Subaru Telescope and OISTER network in collaboration with the IceCube experiment. The source, TXS 0506+056, is a blazer emitting radiation as it spirals into a supermassive black hole.
Using a pioneering method, researchers discovered a massive neutron star with a mass of approximately 2.3 Solar masses. This discovery challenges the previous understanding of neutron star masses and opens new avenues for studying these extreme objects.
A team led by the University of Utah has observed lightning-triggered gamma-rays in more detail than ever before, detecting 10 bursts of downward terrestrial gamma ray flashes between 2014 and 2016. The study provides a major advance in understanding the production mechanism of these rare and high-energy radiation events.
Researchers have developed a step-by-step method to design with freeform surfaces, eliminating much of the guesswork. This new approach enables designers to predict which freeform surfaces will work best for a given configuration, reducing trial and error and increasing efficiency.
Researchers used Subaru telescope in Hawaii and Isaac Newton telescope in Canary Islands to create 3D map of universe's first 16 billion years. The team found nearly 4000 early galaxies, many of which may have evolved into Milky Way-like galaxies. These discoveries provide crucial information about early phases of galaxy formation.
Researchers have produced the first detailed images of a giant star outside our solar system, showcasing a nearly circular atmosphere with complex convection cells. The study confirms theories about the characteristics of these stars, providing insight into their future activity and appearance.
Researchers gained new understanding of relativistic jets' behavior through advanced supercomputer simulations, revealing how space-time is dragged into the rotation of rotating black holes. The study confirms that tilted disks lead to precessing jets that periodically change their direction in the sky.
Astronomers have imaged the surface of a red giant star, π1 Gruis, in unprecedented detail. The star's photosphere features just a few convective cells, or granules, which are much larger than those on our Sun.
Researchers have obtained a detailed view of a scallop's visual system, which is strikingly similar to a reflecting telescope. The complex arrangement of up to 200 eyes allows the scallop to achieve spatial vision through a layered mirror structure that reflects specific wavelengths of light.
The ALMA discovery reveals two dust belts surrounding Proxima Centauri, one extending four hundred million kilometres from the star and another even farther out. These findings suggest a complex planetary system with multiple planets and potentially offer insights into the formation of the Earth.
A team of researchers used the Subaru Telescope to study Messier 77, revealing evidence of a hidden minor merger billions of years ago. The discovery provides crucial evidence for the minor merger origin of active galactic nuclei and sheds light on the mysterious phenomenon.
A solar flare was recorded by a 17-year-old amateur astronomer, Juan Valderrama y Aguilar, from Madrid on September 10, 1886. The event is the third white-light solar flare in history and marks a significant discovery in solar physics.
Researchers from the J-GEM collaboration observed a kilonova explosion, a phenomenon predicted to create heavy elements through rapid neutron capture reactions. The first-ever confirmed kilonova was detected using a network of telescopes worldwide, providing insight into the universe's heavy element production.
Researchers detected Freon-40, a stable organohalogen molecule, around infant star system IRAS 16293-2422 and comet 67P/C-G using ALMA and Rosetta. This finding suggests that organohalogens may be an important element in the origin of life, rather than indicators of existing life.
A team of astronomers has detected titanium oxide in the atmosphere of WASP-19b, an exoplanet with a temperature of 2000 degrees Celsius. The discovery was made using ESO's VLT and allows for more accurate modeling of exoplanet atmospheres.
The ALMA study reveals dense shock waves and vast turbulent reservoirs of cool, low-density gas surrounding starburst galaxies. These reservoirs are thought to be driven by galactic winds, extending the starburst phase instead of quenching it.
A team of UCSB astrophysicists observed a supernova colliding with a nearby companion star, revealing surprising information about the mysterious star. The study demonstrates that the supernova collided with a non-white dwarf companion, implying the white dwarf was stealing matter from a larger companion to explode.
A team of Polish astronomers identified a new class of variable dwarf stars with shorter oscillation periods and higher surface temperatures than known classes. The newly discovered BLAPs are hotter and more compact than previously thought, posing an enigma in the field of astronomy.
PIPER aims to detect primordial gravitational waves and study their effects on the cosmic microwave background, providing insight into the early universe's expansion. The mission will fly immersed in liquid helium at nearly absolute zero temperature.
The NIST/CU team has developed a mobile ground-based system that scans and maps atmospheric gas plumes over kilometer distances. The system uses an eye-safe laser instrument to analyze the colors of light absorbed by gases, allowing for near-real-time detection of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane.
A computer simulation, taking a year to run, shows how spicules form on the sun's surface by incorporating neutral particles. The model suggests spicules play a key role in energizing the sun's atmosphere and generating Alfvén waves.
Researchers used Pan-STARRS telescope data to search for stars crashing into hard surfaces around supermassive black holes. No such transients were detected, supporting the existence of event horizons. The team plans to improve the test with a larger telescope.
The CAST project has set strict limits on the probability that axions turn into photons, with no evidence of solar axions detected. This result has direct consequences for understanding astrophysical anomalies such as high energetic gamma rays and stellar heat dissipation.
The VISTA survey has imaged millions of stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud, revealing surprising results about star formation history and structure. Most SMC stars formed relatively recently, unlike those in larger galaxies.
The Cerro Chajnantor Atacama Telescope-prime (CCAT-p) will map the sky at submillimeter and millimeter wavelengths, giving unprecedented insights into star and galaxy formation. The telescope's high-altitude location and innovative design enable faster measurements of polarized signals, revealing clues about the universe's early moments.
The Cerro Chajnantor Atacama Telescope (CCAT-prime) will be the highest telescope of its kind, allowing scientists to study the formation of stars and galaxies in unprecedented detail. With a diameter of six meters and location at an altitude of 5,612 meters, CCAT-prime aims to solve the mystery of dark matter and dark energy.
Astronomers have discovered the youngest and most distant galaxy ever seen, containing an abundance of interstellar dust formed by earlier star deaths. This discovery provides new information on when the first supernovae exploded and sheds light on the early Universe.