Telescopes

This artist’s illustration shows a cross-section of the supermassive black hole and surrounding material in the center of our galaxy. The black sphere in the center represents the event horizon of the black hole, the point of no return from which nothing, not even light, can escape. Looking at the spinning black hole from the side, as depicted in this illustration, the surrounding spacetime is shaped like an American football. The yellow-orange material to either side represents gas swirling around the black hole. This…

Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, J. Lee (STScI), T. Williams (Oxford), PHANGS TeamShall I compare thee to the Webb Space Telescope’s latest image drop? Well, for starters, thou art less ancient and far less spectacular. The new collection of 19 images reveal face-on spiral galaxies, meaning they are oriented toward Webb’s perceptive gaze. The shots were taken as part of the Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby GalaxieS (PHANGS) project, which is collecting data on 74 spiral galaxies.To us, the galaxies may simply…

As It Happens6:31NASA moon mission delays are nothing to worry about, says astronaut Chris HadfieldRetired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield says that, from where he's sitting, the Artemis moon missions are coming along just fine.NASA announced Tuesday it is delaying two upcoming missions — including the flight meant to carry the first Canadian astronaut around the moon — due to technical issues with its spacecraft that could pose a danger to the crew.Artemis II, the first crewed mission to the moon in half a century, was…

French telescope company Unistellar has launched two new tech-infused models at CES 2024 promising to eliminate the tedious parts of backyard astronomy. The new Odyssey and Odyssey Pro smart telescopes use new technology to focus on both nearby objects like Jupiter and distant stars or nebulae. They also feature new Nikon optics and an updated smartphone app that helps you align and focus the telescope, while automatically finding targets to image.Unistellar's current smart telescopes, the eVscope 2 and eQuinox 2, are…

The winter nights may be long, but they don’t have to be dull, even for folks with small apartments who don’t have room for an extra big telescope. Unistellar’s latest telescope, the Odyssey, is half the size and less than half the weight of the company’s last big release from 2023. However, with a few taps on your phone, it still makes it easier than ever to zoom in on your favorite planet, star, nebula, or distant galaxy.Will You Click Windows’ New Copilot Button?Last year’s Unistellar model, the eQuinox 2, also…

This deep dataset from Chandra of the remains of a supernova known as 30 Doradus B (30 Dor B) reveals evidence for more than one supernova explosion in the history of this remnant. Unusual structures in the Chandra data cannot be explained by a single explosion. These images of 30 Dor B also show optical data from the Blanco telescope in Chile, and infrared data from Spitzer. Additional data from Hubble highlights sharp features in the image. Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Penn State Univ./L. Townsley et al.; Optical:…

The James Webb Space Telescope is revolutionizing our understanding of galaxy evolution in the early universe through redshift analysis and advanced imaging techniques, leading to significant discoveries and emphasizing the need for precise spectroscopic data. Credit: SciTechDaily.comUsing redshift and photometry, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is uncovering the secrets of early galaxies, demonstrating the need for precise spectral data in understanding the universe’s history.One of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s…

Scientists have been studying the universe with infrared space telescopes for 40 years, including these NASA missions, from left: the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), launched in 1983; the Spitzer Space Telescope, launched in 2003; and the James Webb Space Telescope, launched in 2021. Credit: NASA/JPL-CaltechThe Webb telescope has opened a new window onto the universe, but it builds on missions going back 40 years, including Spitzer and the Infrared Astronomical Satellite.On December 25, NASA will celebrate the…

Amateur astronomy is so hot right now, and it’s never been easier for backyard enthusiasts to gaze into the cosmos and contemplate their puny, meaningless existences. We’ve assembled a collection of exceptional gift ideas to help your favorite space enthusiast take their skywatching skills to the next level.Google’s AI Isn’t a Gimmick, It’s the Future | AI UnlockedFor those looking to enhance their night sky experience, finding the right equipment is key. From advanced robotic telescopes to essential accessories like…

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has a treat to celebrate the upcoming second anniversary of its launch. NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), which operate the craft alongside the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), shared a recent image of the icy planet Uranus. The picture, resembling a glowing blue marble rippling into a black ocean, was funneled through the telescope’s infrared filters to capture wavelengths future space travelers wouldn’t see with the naked eye.Compared with the generic-looking images of Uranus…