All articles tagged with #infrared wavelengths
NASA's SPHEREx space telescope has begun delivering its all-sky survey data to a public archive, enabling global access to its detailed infrared observations of the universe, which will support a wide range of astronomical research over its two-year mission.
NASA's SPHEREx mission has launched a space telescope that is creating an all-sky map in 102 infrared wavelengths, with data being publicly released weekly to enable widespread scientific research on the universe's structure, composition, and history, including the study of water, organic molecules, and cosmic expansion.
Astronomers using the new IGRINS-2 spectrograph on the Gemini North Telescope have obtained the first spectrum of the Jewel Bug Nebula, a planetary nebula located 3,000 light years away. The spectrograph operates at near-infrared wavelengths, allowing it to penetrate cosmic dust and reveal details of the expanding cloud of gas and dust ejected by a dying star. IGRINS-2 identified elements such as bromine, helium, iron, krypton, and selenium, as well as molecular hydrogen. The instrument will be used to study star-birth, star-death, exoplanets, brown dwarfs, and distant galaxies.
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured a new image of the galaxy NGC 5068, located 17 million light-years away, revealing thousands of stars concentrated in the galaxy's heart. The telescope is observing many galaxies to help scientists better understand star formation, especially in the turbulent environments of galactic cores. The James Webb Space Telescope sees objects in infrared wavelengths, which allows it to peer past obstructive light that would otherwise block our ability to see into the hearts of galaxies.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has captured a stunning image of the merging galaxies known as Arp 220, which are spirals like the Milky Way and have similar tails swirling in their outskirts. The galaxies began merging 700 million years ago, triggering intense star formation, and most of it was concentrated in their dusty central regions. Over 200 star clusters are packed in an area just 5,000 light-years across, and Arp 220's central star-forming ring shines brilliantly, its light seen as six spikes ejecting out in Webb's image. The object's light is equivalent to "more than a trillion suns," according to the image description.