Observatories

Part 2: The History and Future of Planetary RadarPart 2: The History and Future of Planetary Radar

Part 2: The History and Future of Planetary Radar

To reach the U.S. National Science Foundation's Green Bank Observatory, you take the road less traveled, winding through scenic and…

8 months ago
The Extremely Large Telescope’s Dome is on the MoveThe Extremely Large Telescope’s Dome is on the Move

The Extremely Large Telescope’s Dome is on the Move

Construction of the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) reached a milestone, with the structure of the dome completed just enough where…

1 year ago
The Biggest Telescope in the World is Half BuiltThe Biggest Telescope in the World is Half Built

The Biggest Telescope in the World is Half Built

The European Southern Observatory continues to build the largest telescope in the world, the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). Construction of…

2 years ago
Many of the World’s Greatest Observatories Suffer from Some Light PollutionMany of the World’s Greatest Observatories Suffer from Some Light Pollution

Many of the World’s Greatest Observatories Suffer from Some Light Pollution

In a recent study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, an international team of researchers examined…

2 years ago
Arecibo Won’t Be RebuiltArecibo Won’t Be Rebuilt

Arecibo Won’t Be Rebuilt

The National Science Foundation announced last week that it won’t rebuild or replace the iconic Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico,…

2 years ago
Astronomers Watched a “Near-Sun” Comet Disintegrate as it Flew too Close to the SunAstronomers Watched a “Near-Sun” Comet Disintegrate as it Flew too Close to the Sun

Astronomers Watched a “Near-Sun” Comet Disintegrate as it Flew too Close to the Sun

Comets that venture close to the Sun can transform into something beautiful, but sometimes they encounter incineration if they get…

3 years ago
Here are All of Hubble’s Observations in One PictureHere are All of Hubble’s Observations in One Picture

Here are All of Hubble’s Observations in One Picture

Over the past 32 years, Hubble has made about 1.4 million observations of our Universe. Physicist Casey Handmer was curious…

3 years ago
Ground-Based Observatories Could use Starshades to see Planets tooGround-Based Observatories Could use Starshades to see Planets too

Ground-Based Observatories Could use Starshades to see Planets too

All hail the occulter: an orbiting starshade for ground-based telescopes. (more…)

3 years ago
Astronomy Jargon 101: Adaptive OpticsAstronomy Jargon 101: Adaptive Optics

Astronomy Jargon 101: Adaptive Optics

In this series we are exploring the weird and wonderful world of astronomy jargon! Adjust your eyeglasses to read about…

3 years ago
The Carina Nebula. Seen With and Without Adaptive OpticsThe Carina Nebula. Seen With and Without Adaptive Optics

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…

4 years ago