Articles tagged with Telescopes
Astronomers using OISTER telescope consortium in Japan have discovered the origin of 'extraordinary supernovae', which are brighter than normal ones. The 'accretion' scenario supports the discovery, where material ejected from a white dwarf is responsible for the emission.
A Monash University-led research team has discovered that about half of the stars in the M4 globular cluster are dying prematurely, skipping the Red Giant phase and becoming White Dwarfs millions of years ahead of schedule. The cause of this phenomenon remains a mystery, but it is believed to only occur in sodium-rich/oxygen-poor stars.
Astronomers at Queen's University Belfast will lead the UK's search for distant supernovae, asteroids, and comets. The LSST telescope will generate a massive scientific dataset of billions of galaxies, stars, and solar system objects, providing insights into the origin of chemical elements and the size and geometry of the Universe.
The NASA-funded Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) captured striking images of Mercury during its May 9, 2016 transit across the sun. By observing this phenomenon, researchers can calibrate IRIS and gather data on the sun's lower atmosphere.
Researchers discovered unique starspots on nearby star Zeta Andromedae, differing significantly from the Sun's spots. The findings offer a rare glimpse into the Sun's infancy and challenge current theories about star magnetic fields.
A team of astronomers has discovered a unique rocky body in the Oort Cloud, a region surrounding the Sun like a giant soap bubble. The object, dubbed a Manx comet due to its tailless nature, is believed to be one of the potential building blocks of rocky planets like Earth.
Researchers have created a 3D map of interstellar dust reddening across three-quarters of the visible sky using data from almost one billion stars. This map reveals the structure and history of our galaxy, including the distribution of dust in the disk and the presence of ghostly trails indicating collisions with other galaxies.
Astronomers have observed dramatic moments in star and planet formation using the Subaru 8-meter Telescope. The team discovered four young stars experiencing FU Ori outbursts, characterized by chaotic environments and unusual structures around them.
A new space imaging technique, using charge injection devices, may help scientists directly image exoplanets next to bright stars. This technology has been successfully tested, enabling the detection of objects 70 million times fainter than the host star's light.
Astronomers discover invisible structures shaped like noodles or hazelnuts, which could radically change ideas about interstellar gas. The shapes were estimated using innovative new technique and observations of a quasar lensing event.
The newly discovered super-luminous supernova, ASAS-SN-15lh, is the most luminous ever recorded, outshining the entire Milky Way galaxy. Its unusual characteristics challenge current theories on magnetar-powered explosions.
Researchers have discovered high levels of polarization in radio emissions from Sagittarius A*, providing proof that strong horizon-scale magnetic fields exist. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of black hole growth and the nature of gravity.
University of Arizona researchers captured the first photo of a planet forming in a gap within LkCa15's disk, providing insights into protoplanetary formation. The study utilized advanced telescopes and imaging techniques to observe the young star and its surrounding disk.
Researchers from the University of Sydney and other institutions have directly observed a planet in formation for the first time. The planet, located 450 light years away, is surrounded by a vast disc of dust and gas, and its presence has been confirmed through images and spectral fingerprint analysis.
Researchers identified ancient stars in the Milky Way's center with extremely low metal content, suggesting they formed in the early universe. These stars contain chemical fingerprints indicating possible hypernova deaths, which could aid understanding of the Universe's evolution over billions of years.
Astronomers have found nine ancient stars near the Milky Way's center, forming before the galaxy existed, with surprising purity and a possible hypernova origin.
NASA engineers have developed a new mirror technology that can take almost any shape, reducing package size and improving image quality. This 'freeform optics' technology is ideal for compact telescopes on small satellites and CubeSats.
The Soft X-ray focusing Telescope (SXT) onboard Astrosat successfully saw its first light on Oct. 26, 2015, after the camera door was opened at 06:30UT. The telescope's mirrors were aligned perfectly to image a single point, and data quality is excellent.
Astronomers at the University of Leeds used ALMA telescope to observe a massive star forming in a similar way to low-mass stars. The discovery suggests that massive stars may form in a disk-like structure, just like low-mass stars, and mirrors their formation process.
Astrosat observes cosmic objects in visible light, ultraviolet waveband, and X-ray wavebands from very low to high energy. The satellite addresses fundamental scientific problems like testing Einstein's general theory of relativity and studying superdense cold matter.
Astronomers discovered large discs of dust around two young red dwarf stars near our solar system, hinting at potential new planetary systems forming. The discovery challenges current theories on planet formation and suggests a longer lifespan for such discs.
Astronomers have successfully commissioned a new type of optic that can reveal the image of an exoplanet next to its parent star. The vector-APP coronagraph uses advanced liquid crystal technology to cancel out starlight, allowing fainter planets to be imaged.
Researchers have discovered more than 800 'ultra dark galaxies' in the Coma Cluster, which are characterized by their diffuse and extended structure. The galaxies are thought to be enveloped by a massive amount of dark matter, which accounts for over 99% of their total mass.
The NetSage service will help network engineers understand current traffic patterns, identify loss of data and congestion issues. By analyzing large-scale data flows, researchers can optimize performance and improve the overall efficiency of international networks.
NuSTAR's observations confirm a highly asymmetric Supernova 1987A explosion, with X-ray emissions revealing explosive speeds of heavy elements. This study validates scientific assumptions about core collapse supernovae and challenges symmetrical explosion models.
Astronomers have detected large amounts of complex organic molecules, including methyl cyanide, in the protoplanetary disc surrounding young star MWC 480. This discovery suggests that these molecules are common in the universe and may be delivered to environments nurturing life.
A team of astronomers discovered a young and remote galaxy with dust levels similar to mature galaxies like the Milky Way, defying expectations. The galaxy, A1689-zD1, was observed using ALMA and VLT instruments and found to be emitting radiation in the far infrared, indicating significant star formation.
A team of astronomers has discovered the most massive pair of white dwarf stars yet found, which will merge in the future to form a runaway thermonuclear explosion leading to a Type Ia supernova. This discovery provides new insights into astronomical distances and dark energy, shedding light on the expansion of the Universe.
The High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) has detected three powerful gamma-ray sources in the Large Magellanic Cloud, including a pulsar wind nebula and a supernova remnant. These discoveries provide new insights into the formation of cosmic structures and the evolution of galaxies.
Citizen scientists on DiskDetective.org have classified 1 million potential debris disks and YSOs, helping astronomers identify promising targets for future studies. The project has already identified 478 objects of interest, with many more to be investigated using ground-based telescopes.
Researchers have developed a new theory that aims to bring flexibility to computer communication by allowing devices to tolerate some degree of imprecision. By gauging the minimum amount of information needed to convey a point, designed communication schemes can achieve reliable transmission, even in uncertain environments.
The SENSEI Instrument project aims to create a camera system that captures the entire surrounding environment, including the size and mass of objects. This technology will provide detailed information on marine life, such as coral reefs and kelp forests, and enhance our understanding of cultural heritage sites.
The ICESat-2 satellite will measure the elevation of Earth from space to track changes in ice-covered poles, forests and ocean surfaces. The Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) instrument will time how long light travels from the satellite's lasers to Earth's surface.
The POLARBEAR collaboration has made the most sensitive measurements yet of the cosmic microwave background's polarization, revealing telling twists called B-modes that indicate cosmic history imprints. These findings suggest a new regime in precision cosmology, paving the way for solving mysteries about matter and energy at the Big Bang.
The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) will image the entire visible sky twice per week, providing a vast amount of information on short-lived transient events, dark matter, and dark energy. The project is a partnership among NSF, DOE, and private contributors, with operational support from researchers worldwide.
Astronomers used the VLT to observe SN2010jl nine times soon after its explosion and found that dust grains form rapidly in the dense material surrounding the star. The observations revealed surprisingly large grain sizes that are resistant to destruction, answering a long-standing question about cosmic dust formation.
Scientists have used ALMA to detect radio emission from molecular gas in two dark LGRB hosts, revealing a dust-rich environment with low molecular gas levels. This supports the hypothesis that dust absorbs afterglow radiation, causing dark gamma-ray bursts.
The Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) will measure Earth's elevation with six beams, generating a more detailed portrait than the original ICESat. Scientists will track change, including melting glaciers and sea ice, using precise height measurements.
A new type of Digital Zenith Telescope prototype has been developed in China, utilizing CCD camera and high-precision tiltmeter to improve efficiency and accuracy. The instrument can measure the deflection of the vertical and variations of the local plumb line, with single-observation accuracy up to 0.15-0.3
A team using the Gemini Planet Imager's next-generation adaptive optics system tracked the orbit of Beta Pictoris b, a planet with an estimated mass at least four times that of Jupiter. The team refined the estimate by analyzing images and debris discs around the star.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new system that selectively filters light waves based on their direction of propagation. The technique, which uses a stack of ultrathin layers with precise thickness control, could improve efficiency in solar photovoltaics, detector systems for telescopes and microscopes, and display screens.
The APF facility consists of a 2.4-meter telescope and the Levy Spectrometer, which Vogt designed and optimized specifically for planet hunting. Repeated measurement of a star's spectrum enables astronomers to detect the tiny wobble induced in a star by the gravitational tug of an orbiting planet.
Researchers say they've collected the first direct evidence for cosmic inflation, a cataclysmic event that marked the universe's birth. The team observed strong B-mode polarization signals in the cosmic microwave background, a signature of gravitational waves, confirming a deep connection between quantum mechanics and general relativity.
The ALMA observations revealed a compact clump of carbon monoxide gas in the debris disc around Beta Pictoris, which is surprising given its short lifetime. The team suggests that cometary collisions are replenishing the carbon monoxide, with one large comet collision every five minutes needed to achieve this amount.
A team of astronomers has successfully mapped the surface features of Luhman 16B, a brown dwarf located six light-years from Earth. The new results reveal dark and light patches on the surface, which can be used to study weather patterns in other solar systems.
Researchers detected twisting patterns in polarization of oldest light in the universe, hinting at complex processes and properties of the earliest moments in the universe's formation. The discovery could help physicists better understand the distribution of mass and define cosmologically important properties.
Ben Mazin's superconducting detector array measures individual photon energy, allowing for higher per-pixel performance and improved time resolution. The ARray Camera for Optical to Near-infrared Spectrophotometry (ARCONS) instrument enables megapixel arrays within a decade.
Astronomers at Queen's University Belfast have found that small and dense neutron stars with gigantic magnetic fields power the most luminous supernovae. Contrary to existing theories, these stars' findings suggest a new explanation for the brightest exploding stars in the universe.
A team of astronomers from UC Riverside and three other universities will conduct a large survey of galaxies using the MOSFIRE instrument. The survey will study how galaxies evolved over time, including their conversion of gas into stars and the formation of heavier elements.
A UNSW-led team is mapping the location of giant gas clouds in our galaxy, which can be up to 100 light years across. The research aims to understand how these clouds form and play a key role in the cosmic cycle of birth and death of stars.
VERIS will focus on the very hot material present in active regions of the corona, magnetically complex spots that can cause solar flares and coronal mass ejections. The rocket's six-minute flight will yield rich information about the tiny details of these processes.
Astronomers have observed the Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253) producing an outflow of molecular gas, curtailing its ability to form new stars. The galaxy's starburst region is shedding massive amounts of gas, with a total mass estimated to be nine times that of our Sun each year.
Researchers using ALMA discovered that Sculptor Galaxy is expelling massive concentrations of cold gas through galactic winds, depriving the galaxy of fuel for new stars. This phenomenon may explain why few high-mass galaxies are observed in the cosmos, as starburst-driven winds recycle rather than remove star-forming material.
Astronomers observe VLT's real-time data of a gas cloud accelerating towards the Milky Way's supermassive black hole. The cloud is being grossly stretched by the black hole's extreme gravitational field, with its light becoming harder to see.
Researchers at the University of Montana are building Project Minerva, a dedicated observatory to detect Earth-like exoplanets. The project aims to identify planets in the habitable zone with suitable conditions for liquid water and life.
Astronomers have observed a galaxy feeding on material from its surroundings, shedding light on galaxy formation. The study used ESO's VLT to analyze the properties of gas around the galaxy, providing unique insights into the growth of galaxies.
Researchers have created a slim, telescopic contact lens that can switch between normal and magnified vision, offering AMD patients a relatively unobtrusive way to enhance their vision. The system uses a modified pair of liquid crystal eyeglasses to selectively block either the magnifying portion or its unmagnified center.
Researchers found that 70% of stars in a globular cluster do not undergo the final nuclear burning and mass-loss phase, contradicting previous theories. The team discovered that these stars have low levels of sodium, suggesting a link between sodium content and stellar evolution.
A newly-discovered pulsar and its white-dwarf companion have provided physicists with a unique opportunity to study the nature of gravity, with General Relativity predictions holding up well under extreme conditions. The system's unique characteristics make it an unprecedented test for alternative theories of gravity.
The Thirty Meter Telescope will be the most powerful telescope ever constructed, allowing researchers to detect and study light from the earliest stars and galaxies. With NSF's support, the project aims to push the boundaries of scientific discovery in astronomy.