Tag

Space Telescopes

All articles tagged with #space telescopes

space7 days ago•10 min saved

Hubble Survives on One Gyro, Extending Its Watch into the 2030s

NASA has reconfigured the Hubble Space Telescope to operate on a single healthy gyroscope, preserving two spare units to extend its life into the mid‑2030s after gyro faults and a 2024 safe mode. The one‑gyro mode, developed in the 2000s, slows slews and restricts targets (notably near Mars and Earth‑bound observations), reducing scheduling efficiency by about 12% and overall scientific productivity by roughly 20–25%. The root cause is corrosion of gyro fluid; there are no funded plans to replace gyros or pursue servicing. Hubble now sits alongside JWST and the Roman Space Telescope in a complementary lineup, continuing science until it gradually winds down.

via Space Daily|

#gyroscopes #hubble-space-telescope #mission-extension

science-tech4 months ago•14 min saved

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.

via The Conversation|

#artemis-ii #gaganyaan #moon

science4 months ago•5 min saved

Space Telescopes Capture Stunning Galactic Embrace

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope and Chandra X-Ray Observatory captured images of two galaxies, IC 2163 and NGC 2207, beginning to collide, providing insights into galaxy mergers and evolution over cosmic timescales.

via Space|

#chandra-x-ray-observatory #galaxy-collision #galaxy-formation

science4 months ago•2 min saved

2026 Super Bowl of Astronomy Begins Today

The 247th American Astronomical Society meeting in Phoenix, dubbed the 'Super Bowl of astronomy,' features new discoveries, debates, and future plans in space science, including insights from JWST, Hubble, and ALMA, and discussions on upcoming missions like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

via Space|

#astronomy #galaxy-evolution #james-webb-space-telescope

science4 months ago•4 min saved

Scientists Discover New Class of Rogue Planets Drifting Through Galaxy

Astronomers have confirmed the existence of a rogue planet, roughly the size of Saturn, located about 10,000 light-years from Earth, using gravitational microlensing techniques that also allowed them to determine its distance and mass, providing new insights into these starless worlds.

via Space|

#astronomy #exoplanets #gravitational-microlensing

science5 months ago•7 min saved

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.

via Space|

#astronomy #fomalhaut #planet-formation

science5 months ago•2 min saved

Satellite Growth Threatens Space Telescope Observations

A new NASA-led study warns that the increasing number of communication satellites in low Earth orbit could significantly interfere with space telescopes like Hubble, with nearly 40% of Hubble's images and up to 96% of other telescopes' images potentially affected by satellite light pollution, prompting calls for mitigation strategies.

via theregister.com|

#hubble #low-earth-orbit #satellite-interference

science5 months ago•3 min saved

Satellite Constellations Threaten Future Space Astronomy and Research

A surge in satellite launches is brightening the night sky and obstructing astronomers' ability to study distant galaxies, raising concerns over space regulation and the impact on scientific research, with projections of up to 500,000 satellites orbiting by the 2030s.

via Financial Times|

#astronomy #light-pollution #satellites

science6 months ago•8 min saved

Exploring Exoplanet Atmospheres and Double Star Systems in the Search for Life

Scientists are exploring exoplanet atmospheres beyond the habitable zone to find clues about potential habitability and life, using upcoming advanced telescopes like NASA's Habitable Worlds Observatory to analyze atmospheric gases and planetary processes that could support life.

via Space|

#atmospheres #exoplanets #habitable-zone

science6 months ago•8 min saved

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.

via CNN|

#budget-cuts #facility-closures #goddard-space-flight-center

science7 months ago•3 min saved

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.

via Universe Today|

#astronomy #betelgeuse #binary-stars

science8 months ago•3 min saved

Hidden Asteroids Near Venus Pose Potential Threat to Earth

A hidden population of Venus co-orbital asteroids, which are currently undetectable with existing telescopes, could pose a threat to Earth in a few thousand years by potentially crossing Earth's orbit, highlighting the need for space-based monitoring to improve detection and planetary defense strategies.

via Space|

#asteroids #earth #planetary-defense

science8 months ago•4 min saved

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.

via Avi Loeb – Medium|

#3iatlas #comet #cyanide-production

science9 months ago•5 min saved

Scientists Develop Method to Detect Supernovas Hours After Explosion

Scientists have developed a new protocol using the Gran Telescopio de Canarias to identify supernovae within hours of explosion by analyzing their spectra, which could revolutionize early detection and understanding of these stellar events, especially with upcoming large-scale surveys like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

via Space|

#astronomy #early-detection #science

science9 months ago•17 min saved

NASA's Habitable Worlds Observatory: The Future of Space Exploration

NASA's proposed Habitable Worlds Observatory aims to be a groundbreaking space telescope capable of directly imaging Earth-like exoplanets and advancing our understanding of the universe, but its future depends on securing sustained funding amidst current political and financial uncertainties.

via Big Think|

#exoplanets #funding #habitable-worlds-observatory