Telescopes
The Carina Nebula. Seen With and Without Adaptive Optics
Ever wonder how modern astronomical observatories take such clear images of distant objects? Advances in mirror design have allowed for…
It Looks Like Firefighters Saved Mt. Wilson Observatory
Thanks to the heroic efforts of firefighters, the Mt. Wilson Observatory is now safe from the California wildfires raging through…
An Update on the Damage to the Arecibo Observatory
The Arecibo Observatory suffered some serious damage last month, but an assessment and investigation is underway and repairs will follow!
Vera Rubin’s Monster 3200-Megapixel Camera Takes its First Picture (in the Lab)
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has taken another step towards first light, projected for some time in 2022. Its enormous…
A Sunspot, Revealed in Incredible Detail by Europe’s Newly Upgraded GREGOR Telescope
I wear glasses for astigmatism. But, as a stargazer with a visual impediment, turns out I’m in good company. The…
Nancy Roman Telescope’s Primary 2.4-Meter Mirror is Ready
The Nancy Roman Telescope has reached another milestone in its development. NASA has announced that the space telescope's primary mirror…
A Broken Cable Smashed Part of the Arecibo Observatory
The iconic Arecibo Observatory recently suffered some damage when a support cable broke and created a large gash in the…
Take a Flight Through the Most Detailed 3D Map of the Universe Ever Made
Once I accidentally took a photo of one of the most important stars in the Universe... Andromeda Galaxy imaged at…
What Telescope Will Be Needed to See the First Stars in the Universe? The Ultimately Large Telescope
The oldest stars in the Universe are cloaked in darkness. Their redshift is so high, we can only wonder about…
Well. It Looks Like James Webb is Getting Delayed Again, but it Should Still Launch in 2021
This is probably one of the least surprising announcements to come out of the coronavirus pandemic. During a virtual meeting…