Tag

Neowise

All articles tagged with #neowise

space28 days ago•97 min saved

Ancient quasar flicker hints at rapid black hole growth in the early universe

Astronomers spotted a record-breaking quasar dating to 12.9 billion years ago that flickered about 20% over NEOWISE’s 14-year data, implying a very flattened accretion disk and suggesting supermassive black holes could mature and grow rapidly very early in cosmic history. The quasar’s luminosity is about 12 trillion suns, and the finding—reported in Nature Astronomy—bolsters theories of early black-hole formation, with researchers aiming to find even older quasars using JWST.

via Space|

#black-holes #early-universe #james-webb-space-telescope

science1 month ago•7 min saved

High-School AI Maps the Infrared Sky, Flagging 1.5 Million Hidden Cosmic Signals

Seventeen-year-old Matteo Paz, mentored by Caltech researchers, built VARnet to scan NASA’s NEOWISE infrared sky data and identify 1.5 million variable-object candidates. The pipeline processes each source in under 53 microseconds and could yield a full infrared variability catalog once follow-up work confirms the objects, with implications for time-domain astronomy; Paz later won a top national science prize for the achievement.

via Indian Defence Review|

#artificial-intelligence #astronomy #nasa

science3 months ago•7 min saved

Teen Scientist Uncovers 1.5 Million Hidden Cosmic Objects in NEOWISE Data

A Pasadena high-school student, Matteo Paz, and Caltech researchers used an AI model called VARnet to scan NASA’s NEOWISE infrared sky data, processing about 200 billion detections to flag roughly 1.5 million variable-object candidates. The full catalog, to be published in 2025, could reveal new quasars, variable stars, and transient events, though many candidates will require follow-up observations to confirm their nature. The approach combines wavelet decomposition, irregular time-series analysis, and a convolutional neural network for classification, with potential applications beyond astronomy.

via Indian Defence Review|

#astronomy #caltech #machine-learning

technology4 months ago•3 min saved

Teen AI Finds 1.5 Million Hidden Space Objects in NASA Archive

Teen Matteo Paz used an AI-driven approach (VARnet) to analyze NASA's NEOWISE data and automatically identify about 1.5 million previously unidentified celestial objects, processing roughly 200 billion entries; he published a paper in The Astronomical Journal and won the Regeneron Science Talent Search, with Caltech planning to apply the method to binary-star studies and noting potential broader uses beyond astronomy.

via Jalopnik|

#astronomical-journal #caltech-planet-finder-academy #matteo-paz

space4 months ago•5 min saved

Andromeda Star Vanishes—Direct Collapse to a Black Hole Confirmed

Using NEOWISE infrared data, astronomers tracked a massive Andromeda star, M31-2014-DS1, that brightened and then vanished over a few years, with optical/near-infrared follow-up supporting a direct collapse into a black hole without a supernova, a rare event that helps calibrate how massive stars end their lives.

via Universe Today|

#andromeda #black-hole #direct-collapse

space4 months ago•4 min saved

Andromeda star quietly collapses into a black hole, archival data reveal

Astronomers using archival NEOWISE infrared data have captured the clearest evidence yet that a massive star in the Andromeda Galaxy directly collapsed into a black hole, after brightening in infrared for about three years and leaving a dust shell; the event (M31-2014-DS1) from 2014 suggests some massive stars die without a supernova, refining ideas about stellar deaths.

via BBC Sky at Night Magazine|

#andromeda #archival-data #black-hole

science-and-technology1 year ago•3 min saved

NASA's NEOWISE Telescope Bows Out with Stunning Final Images

NASA's NEOWISE space telescope, originally launched as WISE in 2009, concluded its mission in July 2024 and reentered Earth's atmosphere in November, burning up. Before its end, NEOWISE conducted 21 sky surveys, capturing nearly 27 million images and studying over 3,000 near-Earth objects. The final data release includes never-before-seen images, offering insights into cosmic changes over time. The mission's legacy continues to impact time-domain science, providing valuable data for researchers and stunning images for the public.

via PetaPixel|

#astronomy #infrared #nasa

science-and-technology1 year ago•4 min saved

Stunning New Space Images from Resilient NASA Telescope

NASA's NEOWISE mission, originally the WISE spacecraft launched in 2009, has concluded after nearly 15 years of observing the night sky. The mission, which focused on tracking asteroids and comets, released its final data on November 14. To celebrate, six new images from the telescope's archives were unveiled, including stunning infrared views of the California Nebula and the Gecko Nebula. These images highlight the mission's contributions to time-domain science and the study of celestial objects.

via Space.com|

#astronomy #infrared #nasa

science-and-technology1 year ago•4 min saved

NEOWISE Telescope's Final Photos Captivate with Stunning Detail

NASA's NEOWISE telescope, originally launched as WISE in 2009, has concluded its mission, leaving behind a rich legacy of data on near-Earth objects, comets, and celestial phenomena. Over 15 years, NEOWISE provided repeated observations of the same sky regions, enabling significant discoveries such as the characterization of over 3,000 near-Earth objects. The final data release includes stunning infrared images of regions like the California Nebula, highlighting the telescope's contributions to understanding the universe. The data will continue to aid future astronomical research.

via Earth.com|

#infrared-astronomy #nasa #near-earth-objects

science1 year ago•18 min saved

Unveiling Hidden Treasures: NEOWISE's Final Data and Images

NASA's NEOWISE mission, which concluded in 2024, has released its final data set, including over 26 million images and nearly 200 billion detected sources. Originally launched as WISE in 2009, the mission was reactivated in 2013 to focus on near-Earth objects. NEOWISE's extensive infrared data has been invaluable for studying asteroids, comets, and other celestial phenomena. The final release includes six new images, highlighting regions like the California Nebula, and underscores the mission's lasting impact on astronomy.

via Phys.org|

#astronomy #infrared #nasa

space1 year ago•2 min saved

NASA's NEOWISE Ends Mission with Fiery Re-Entry, Legacy Lives On

NASA's Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) telescope has concluded its mission by burning up in Earth's atmosphere after over a decade of monitoring asteroids and comets. Originally launched as WISE in 2009, the telescope was repurposed in 2013 to focus on planetary defense, identifying 215 near-Earth objects. NEOWISE's end was due to increased solar activity affecting its orbit. Despite its demise, the mission laid the groundwork for future planetary defense efforts, with its successor, NEO Surveyor, planned for launch after 2027.

via IFLScience|

#asteroids #infrared-telescope #nasa

science-and-technology1 year ago•4 min saved

NEOWISE Asteroid Hunter Ends Mission in Fiery Reentry

NASA's NEOWISE spacecraft, originally launched as WISE in 2009, has ended its mission by burning up in Earth's atmosphere. The spacecraft, which surveyed 3,000 near-Earth objects, was repurposed in 2013 to focus on asteroid detection after its initial mission of observing the universe in infrared wavelengths. NEOWISE's demise was due to the solar maximum, which expanded Earth's atmosphere, causing the spacecraft to descend without propulsion. NASA plans to launch a successor, the NEO Surveyor, in 2027 to continue asteroid detection.

via Space.com|

#asteroids #infrared #nasa

astronomy2 years ago•2 min saved

"Rare Sighting: 'Devil Comet' Photobombs Total Solar Eclipse"

Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks, also known as the "Devil Comet," is currently visible in telescopes and binoculars in the western sky after sunset, and may become a naked eye object during the total solar eclipse on April 8. This "green comet," with a 71-year orbit around the sun, is currently at a magnitude of 5.9 and is best observed in early April when it's closest to the sun and Earth. Although it may be difficult to spot during the eclipse, it will be close to Jupiter and may be visible with binoculars or a small telescope.

via Forbes|

#astronomy #comet-12ppons-brooks #halley-type-comet

science-and-technology2 years ago•9 min saved

"NASA's Controlled Demolition: The Science Behind Ending a Spacecraft's Mission"

NASA's NEOWISE spacecraft, which has been searching for near-Earth objects for over a decade, is nearing its end as it will drop into Earth's atmosphere and burn up due to increased solar activity affecting its low-Earth orbit. The spacecraft, originally the WISE mission, was repurposed in 2013 to search for near-Earth objects and has exceeded expectations. As NEOWISE prepares to go offline, the team is celebrating its accomplishments while also preparing for the launch of its successor, the NEO Surveyor mission.

via Digital Trends|

#mission #nasa #neowise

space-science2 years ago•2 min saved

NASA's Asteroid-Hunting Telescope Faces Imminent Earthbound Fate

NASA's NEOWISE (Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) telescope, which has been instrumental in surveying near-Earth objects and detecting potential threats, is nearing its end as increased solar activity is causing it to gradually fall out of orbit. The Sun's heating of Earth's atmosphere is leading to increased atmospheric drag, pulling the telescope lower in Earth's atmosphere. NEOWISE is expected to become unusable in early 2025 and will eventually burn up in Earth's atmosphere. Despite its impending demise, the valuable data gathered by NEOWISE will continue to contribute to advancements in the study of the infrared universe.

via Gizmodo|

#asteroid-hunting #earths-atmosphere #nasa