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Space Telescopes

All articles tagged with #space telescopes

A turning point in space: 2026 blends cosmic mapping with lunar ambitions
science-tech2 months ago

A turning point in space: 2026 blends cosmic mapping with lunar ambitions

2026 is poised to reshape space exploration: NASA plans Artemis II to circle the Moon, India presses ahead with the Gaganyaan program and China expands its crewed missions, while flagship telescopes like NASA’s Roman Space Telescope, ESA’s PLATO and China’s Xuntian, plus the Vera Rubin Observatory on the ground, aim to map the cosmos and probe dark matter and dark energy. International cooperation continues even as competition heats up, with joint efforts such as SMILE illustrating a shared drive to understand the Moon’s origins, lunar water resources, and the broader evolution of the solar system.

Hubble Captures First Direct Images of Cosmic Collisions in Nearby Star System
science3 months ago

Hubble Captures First Direct Images of Cosmic Collisions in Nearby Star System

Astronomers captured the first direct images of collisions between large objects in a nearby star system, Fomalhaut, providing insights into planet formation and the behavior of planetesimals, with observations suggesting these icy bodies are similar to solar system comets. The study highlights the importance of understanding dust clouds and collisions in young planetary systems to distinguish them from planets.

NASA Staff Criticize Leadership Amid Facility Closures and Communication Breakdown
science5 months ago

NASA Staff Criticize Leadership Amid Facility Closures and Communication Breakdown

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center faces significant concern among employees due to the sudden closure and emptying of over a dozen buildings amid a government shutdown, with fears that these actions are part of a broader effort to weaken the center's capabilities and future space missions, despite official statements citing strategic consolidation and compliance with the law.

Revealing the Hidden Companion of Betelgeuse
science6 months ago

Revealing the Hidden Companion of Betelgeuse

Astronomers from Carnegie Mellon University have confirmed that Betelgeuse has a hidden companion star, nicknamed 'Betelbuddy,' which is a young solar-sized star. This discovery, made using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Hubble Space Telescope, helps explain Betelgeuse's six-year brightness cycle and challenges existing models of binary star formation due to the significant mass difference between the two stars.

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Shows Increased Activity and Growth
science7 months ago

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Shows Increased Activity and Growth

Recent observations of 3I/ATLAS reveal a surprising color change from red to green-blue, likely due to increased cyanide production and a shift in the composition of its emitted material, making it an anomalous interstellar object distinct from others like `Oumuamua and Borisov. The findings are part of ongoing research into interstellar objects and UAP phenomena, emphasizing the importance of scientific evidence in understanding cosmic neighbors.