NASA TESS Discovers Earth Sized Exoplanet
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has discovered its first Earth-size exoplanet. The exoplanet, HD 21749c, is about 89% Earth’s diameter.
telescope
Space-based Gravity Wave Telescopes and Black Hole Science in the 2030s
Around 2030, a space-based gravitational array will join other ground and space-based telescopes in exploring the secrets of the universe like the recently imaged black hole.
SpaceX Super Heavy Starship Could Help Us Find Signs of Alien Life
SpaceX Super Heavy Starship will be able to launch a 15-meter LUVOIR space telescope which could be used to find signs of Alien life on exoplanets
Giant Megallan Telescope Excavation is Complete
The current construction of the Giant Magellan Telescope completed excavations for its foundations in six months instead of the planned 8-months. The foundations of the Giant Magellan Telescope’s massive pier and enclosure are now complete. The site construction team is now moving onto the next phase in development of the site’s utilities infrastructure which is expected to …
Milky Way Weighs 1.5 Trillion Suns and Most is Dark Matter
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and the European Space Agency’s Gaia satellite have more precisely weighed the Milky Way galaxy. Above – On the left is a Hubble Space Telescope image of a portion of the globular star cluster NGC 5466. On the right, Hubble images taken ten years apart were compared to clock the cluster’s …
Carnival of Space 601
The Carnival of Spadce 601 is up at Universe Today. NASA is on track to launching the WFIRST space telescope around 2025. The telescope will be about the same size as the Hubble Telescope, but it will have a vastly better camera. The camera will be able to take 300-megapixel images. The WFIRST should be …
Neutrino Detector Sizes are Measured in Cubic Kilometers
The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is a neutrino observatory constructed at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica. Its thousands of sensors are located under the Antarctic ice, distributed over a cubic kilometer. IceCube consists of spherical optical sensors called Digital Optical Modules (DOMs), each with a photomultiplier tube (PMT) and a single-board data acquisition computer …
Many Tiny Satellites Can Create Image of a Giant Space Telescope
Nanosatellites the size of milk cartons arranged in a spherical (annular) configuration were able to capture images that match the resolution of the full-frame, lens-based or concave mirror systems used on today’s telescopes. They created a miniature model with a circular-shaped display of sub-apertures to test an image’s resolution. The researchers then contrasted these images …
Ultimate Guide to Viewing the Cosmos
Writers from Universe Today have created the ultimate resource for all backyard space enthusiasts. They provide everything you need to know to become an amateur astronomer. Universe Today is a top space science and technology website. David Dickinson and Fraser Cain of Universe Today were the writers. David is an Earth science teacher and backyard …
Near Term Moon Bases and Operations
What will the moon be used for and how big could moon bases be? The main things that I can see as near-term uses for the moon are 1. Source of water for space operations that is many times cheaper than bringing water from the Earth. Lunar mining for water and ISRU for lunar cement. …
Aliens Might Have Filled Space With Junk Like We Fill Our Oceans and Orbit
If there are technological aliens in our galaxy, then it is possible that their space junk could be part of the Interstellar material that makes it to our solar system. How much depends upon how many technological alien civilizations there are and how much junk is made from what they are doing. It will be …