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Telescope

All articles tagged with #telescope

NASA's Roman Space Telescope set to unlock dark matter and distant worlds
space1 day ago

NASA's Roman Space Telescope set to unlock dark matter and distant worlds

NASA plans to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope later this month, featuring a 2.4-meter mirror and a 300-megapixel infrared camera to survey wide swaths of the sky. Its field of view will be about 100 times larger than Hubble’s, enabling studies of dark matter and exoplanets, with Japan contributing an instrument and ground stations for data. The launch from Kennedy Space Center is slated for August 30, with first observations after about three months of testing.

Flagstaff Rescue Fails: Swift Observatory Headed for Fiery Reentry
science5 days ago

Flagstaff Rescue Fails: Swift Observatory Headed for Fiery Reentry

Flagstaff-based Katalyst Space Technologies canceled its Link rescue mission for NASA’s Swift Observatory after Link could not be controlled to capture or boost the telescope; Swift will reenter the atmosphere later this year, with NASA not expecting the demise before October. NASA paid about $30 million for the attempt, and Katalyst will continue to operate Link nearby to demonstrate proximity operations for future rescues. Had the mission succeeded, Hubble could have been next, but its status remains unclear.

Hubble’s Dark Patch Reveals a Crowded Cosmos: 3,000 Galaxies in a Tiny Sky
space1 month ago

Hubble’s Dark Patch Reveals a Crowded Cosmos: 3,000 Galaxies in a Tiny Sky

In 1995, the Hubble Space Telescope fixed its gaze on a seemingly empty patch of sky for ten days, assembling hundreds of exposures into the Hubble Deep Field and turning a void into a crowded image of roughly 3,000 distant galaxies—each billions of years old—demonstrating that the universe is full of structure even in directions that appear empty and paving the way for deeper surveys with Hubble and Webb.

Eyes on the Sky: Spot the 1997 NC1 Near-Earth Flyby This Weekend
science1 month ago

Eyes on the Sky: Spot the 1997 NC1 Near-Earth Flyby This Weekend

ESA says asteroid 1997 NC1 will make its closest approach to Earth in 400 years this weekend, passing about 2.56 million kilometers away on June 27. It poses no risk but will be visible only through a telescope or large binoculars (brightness near magnitude 10). Observers worldwide can track it with astronomy apps and the Virtual Telescope Project livestreams (June 26–27); best viewing times vary by location, with the path near Ophiuchus and Serpens Cauda.

NASA's Roman Space Telescope Passes Final Mirror Check, Set for Launch
space2 months ago

NASA's Roman Space Telescope Passes Final Mirror Check, Set for Launch

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has passed its final prelaunch checks, including a last-look inspection of its 2.4-meter primary mirror and a shake test to ensure it can withstand launch. The mirror performed flawlessly, and the telescope is now being prepared for shipping to Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a launch window as early as Aug. 30 or in early September.

Canada-led quantum sensors empower new telescope to map the cosmos from the Chilean summit
science3 months ago

Canada-led quantum sensors empower new telescope to map the cosmos from the Chilean summit

Canadian researchers are contributing cryogenic quantum-sensor cameras to the Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope in Chile’s Atacama Desert, a high-altitude instrument designed to map large swaths of the sky in submillimeter wavelengths to study how stars form, how galaxies move, and the nature of dark matter and dark energy. The project involves international partners and will produce terabytes of data processed by dedicated computing centers; first results are expected mid-fall, with public releases about a year later.

Basketball-court-sized asteroid to skim past Earth closer than the Moon
science3 months ago

Basketball-court-sized asteroid to skim past Earth closer than the Moon

A 16–35 metre near-Earth asteroid named 2026 JH2 will pass about 90,000 km from Earth on May 18, 2026—roughly a quarter of the Earth–Moon distance— posing no danger and may be visible with a small telescope (mag ~11.5). It was discovered May 10 by the Mt. Lemmon Survey and will be tracked with a livestream by the Virtual Telescope project.

Odyssey Pro drops to year-low price in Earth Day sale
space4 months ago

Odyssey Pro drops to year-low price in Earth Day sale

Space.com’s sponsored deal reports that Unistellar’s Odyssey Pro smart telescope is now $3,909 during an Earth Day sale, the lowest price this year (down from $4,599). The promo also features discounts across the brand’s line (eQuinox 2, eVscope 2) with price checks at Unistellar, B&H, and Amazon showing the same $3,909 tag. The Odyssey Pro, praised for its image quality and built‑in light-pollution removal, is easy to use and portable—great for beginners and astrophotographers, though less ideal for planet imaging. It was previously rated four-and-a-half stars in Space.com’s review.

Private Backers Fund 3-Meter Lazuli Telescope Aiming to Surpass Hubble
science5 months ago

Private Backers Fund 3-Meter Lazuli Telescope Aiming to Surpass Hubble

Eric Schmidt and family back the Lazuli Space Telescope, a privately funded 3-meter optical/infrared observatory with a $500 million price tag that could launch in 3–5 years; operating from a lunar-resonant orbit to enable rapid target responses, it includes a coronagraph for exoplanet discovery and will release science-ready data quickly to the global community, potentially outpacing traditional government missions.

Pocket-Sized Telescope Dwarfs Galaxy S26 Ultra in Deep-Space Imaging
technology5 months ago

Pocket-Sized Telescope Dwarfs Galaxy S26 Ultra in Deep-Space Imaging

Sponsored by Tomoundation? Wait not. Actually, this Tom's Guide piece promotes the Dwarflab Dwarf Mini smart telescope as a pocket-sized, easy-to-use device that automates astrophotography with on-device stacking to deliver deep-space images (galaxies, nebulae, star clusters). It claims the Dwarf Mini can outperform the Galaxy S26 Ultra0x Space Zoom for distant targets, weighs about 1.85 pounds, and costs $399. The setup is app-driven, with features like a solar ND filter for daytime sun photography and timelapse capability, making it a compelling, affordable alternative to expensive rigs or flagship phones. The article is sponsor-labeled and positions the telescope as a convenient, high-value option for amateur and casual astrophotographers.

Smartphone-Guided Stargazing on a Budget: Celestron StarSense LT 70AZ Review
technology5 months ago

Smartphone-Guided Stargazing on a Budget: Celestron StarSense LT 70AZ Review

A Space.com reviewer tests the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ, a 70mm refractor that uses a smartphone StarSense app to identify targets and guide observing. The quick two-step alignment works well, and Jupiter, Mars and the Moon look good for a budget setup, with a generous accessory pack and solid optics for the price. Downsides include a modest build quality for eyepieces/tripod and occasional tube droop, plus the app sometimes recommends targets that are too faint for this instrument. Overall, it’s a beginner-friendly telescope with excellent value for families, especially if you upgrade eyepieces and filters.