Observatory

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  NASA’s SPHEREx Mission Sends First Space Images Before Full Sky Survey

  NASA’s SPHEREx telescope has captured its first images from space, marking a critical milestone before its full-sky infrared survey begins. The observatory, launched on March 11, recorded thousands of light sources, including distant galaxies and stars. Unlike other space telescopes, SPHEREx is designed for large-scale cosmic mapping, scanning th...

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  Wolf-Rayet 104's Orbit Tilt Reduces Gamma-Ray Burst Threat, Study Finds

  New research using Keck Observatory’s instruments confirms that the orbit of Wolf-Rayet 104 is tilted 30-40 degrees away from Earth, lowering concerns about a possible gamma-ray burst. Previously, it was believed that the system’s alignment could pose a risk. However, spectroscopy data now challenges these assumptions, raising new questions abo...

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  Mount Spurr Volcano in Alaska Shows Signs of Possible Eruption

  Mount Spurr, a stratovolcano west of Anchorage, has shown rising seismic activity, gas emissions, and melting snow, suggesting magma movement beneath the surface. Scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory believe an eruption is becoming more likely, with historical eruptions in 1953 and 1992 at Crater Peak having sent ash plumes over Anchorage. ...

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  Atacama Telescope Reveals Most Detailed Cosmic Microwave Background Yet

  New images from the decommissioned Atacama Cosmology Telescope offer the most detailed view of the cosmic microwave background. The data reveals early cosmic structures, tracks primordial gas movement, and refines estimates of the universe’s total mass. While supporting existing models, it does not resolve the Hubble tension. Researchers are now ...

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  World's Largest Digital Camera Installed on Vera Rubin Observatory for Cosmic Exploration

  Vera Rubin Observatory Installs World's Largest Digital Camera for Sky Survey

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  2 Days Of Clashes, Revenge Killings Leave Over 1,000 Dead In Syria

  The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that among those dead were 745 civilians, who were killed mostly in shootings from close distances.

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  NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer Moon Probe Struggles with Power and Signal Loss

  NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer, launched on 26 February, has lost communication and is running low on power. The spacecraft, meant to detect water ice on the moon, has been unable to perform key trajectory corrections. Ground controllers are using the Deep Space Network and observatories to assess its position, but recovery remains uncertain. The missi...

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  X-ray Signal from Helix Nebula Suggests Planet Was Destroyed by White Dwarf

  Astronomers have traced decades-old X-ray emissions from the Helix Nebula to a white dwarf possibly consuming planetary debris. Reports suggest a Jupiter-like planet may have been torn apart by the star’s intense gravitational forces. Data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA’s XMM-Newton indicate that remnants of the destroyed plane...

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  Unusual X-ray Flash in Large Magellanic Cloud Puzzles Astronomers

  A brief yet intense X-ray flash, XRT 200515, was detected in NASA's Chandra telescope data from 2000. The signal, originating from the Large Magellanic Cloud, has left scientists debating its cause. Possible explanations include a neutron star pulling in gas from a companion star or a powerful flare from a distant magnetar. Researchers also specula...

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  'MACE' Observatory Detects 'Blast From The Past' Way Before Earth Was Born

  Scientists from the Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Mumbai part of the Department of Atomic Energy, have detected a distant explosion from a galaxy, of what is also called a Gamma Ray flare.

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  A Neptune-Like Exoplanet Is Racing Through Space at Record Speed

  Scientists have detected an exoplanet racing through space at 1.2 million mph, making it the fastest known planet. The Neptune-sized world orbits a hypervelocity star, first hinted at in 2011 via gravitational microlensing. Astronomers, using Keck Observatory and Gaia data, have confirmed the system’s extreme speed, suggesting it may even leave t...

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  Increased Seismic Activity at Mount Spurr Raises Eruption Concerns

  Seismic activity at Mount Spurr, Alaska, has intensified over the past ten months, with recent earthquakes shifting towards Crater Peak, a vent that erupted in 1992 and 1953. Scientists estimate a 50 percent chance of an eruption at Crater Peak, though the main crater remains stable. If an eruption occurs, ashfall and air travel disruptions could b...

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  A Star With a Planet May Be Racing Through the Galaxy at Record Speed

  Astronomers have identified a potential record-breaking exoplanet system moving at 1.2 million mph. Detected through microlensing, the discovery suggests a low-mass star with an orbiting planet is racing through the Milky Way. Data from the Keck Observatory and ESA’s Gaia satellite indicate a high-speed celestial body that may eventually escape t...

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  High-Resolution Observations Provide New Insights into Brown Dwarf HD 206893 B

  Astronomers have gained significant insights into brown dwarf HD 206893 B using high-resolution spectroscopy. The study, led by UCSD's Ben Sappey, reveals the object's mass, temperature, and formation details, contributing to brown dwarf research. Located 133 light-years away, HD 206893 B's position within a debris disk invites future investigation...

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  Astronomer Captures Breathtaking Time-Lapse Video Of Earth's Rotation From Ladakh

  Over four gruelling nights, he faced numerous setbacks, including storage issues, battery failures, and timer malfunctions.