Infrared Light

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  Scientists Trace Rare Cosmic Outburst to a Massive Planetary Collision Around Gaia20ehk

  Astronomers have reported evidence of two planets colliding around a distant Sun-like star, Gaia20ehk, located about 11,000 light-years away. The star's light output remained steady until 2016, when it exhibited three minor dimming events; by 2021, the light curve reportedly "went completely bonkers." Follow-up infrared observations revealed a burs...

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  Google's 'Project Toscana' to Upgrade Face Unlock System on Pixel Phones, Chromebooks: Report

  Google is reportedly developing an advanced facial recognition feature codenamed “Project Toscana”. This is said to be available on Pixel handsets and Chromebooks. The company reportedly tested this hardware with UX testers on a Pixel phone featuring a single hole-punch camera cutout and on two Chromebooks with external cameras. It is reportedl...

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  Astronomers Witness Rare Failed Supernova in Andromeda Galaxy

  NASA’s NEOWISE infrared telescope has provided striking evidence that a massive star in the Andromeda galaxy collapsed directly into a black hole without exploding as a supernova. The star, M31-2014-DS1, faded dramatically in visible light while leaving a faint infrared glow from surrounding dust. Astronomers say this rare “failed supernova” ...

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  James Webb Space Telescope May Have Spotted the Universe’s First Stars, Astronomers Say

  Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected a distant, metal-poor galaxy whose unusually massive, ultraviolet-bright stars match the expected signatures of Population III — the universe’s first stars. Through the help of gravitational lensing and Webb’s infrared sensitivity, researchers observed light from just 800 million ...

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  Hubble Unveils Dark Matter Web in Stunning Abell 209 Galaxy Cluster Image

  NASA/ESA’s Hubble Space Telescope has released a stunning new image of Abell 209, a massive galaxy cluster 2.8 billion light-years away in Cetus. The golden cluster houses over 100 galaxies, but beneath them lies an invisible web of hot gas and dark matter. Using gravitational lensing, Hubble reveals curved arcs of light from background galaxies,...

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  Is Mars Really Red? A Physicist Explains the Science Behind Its Colour and More

  A physicist explains the science behind Mars’s red appearance, linking its hue to iron oxide or rust. While known as the Red Planet, rover images and telescope data show varied colors, from tan to white ice caps. Observations in ultraviolet and infrared light reveal deeper insights into Mars’s atmosphere, surface, and seasonal changes, enrichin...

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  NASA’s SPHEREx Telescope Begins 3D Infrared Mapping of the Universe

  NASA’s SPHEREx space telescope has officially begun its two-year mission to map the entire sky in infrared light, capturing 3,600 images per day and covering 102 different wavelengths. The observatory aims to chart hundreds of millions of galaxies in 3D and uncover clues about the universe’s earliest moments. It will also trace the presence of ...

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  NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Reveals the Complex Structure of a Planetary Nebula

  NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has unveiled the complex character of NGC 1514, a planetary nebula developing over at least 4,000 years. Only seen in infrared light, the nebula's rings now resemble "fuzzy" clusters set in twisted patterns. A network of sharper holes near the centre stars indicates where faster material punched through.

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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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  Hubble Captures Stunning Infrared Image of Sh2-284, a Massive Stellar Nursery

  Hubble’s latest image of the massive Sh2-284 nebula reveals young stars concealed within thick clouds of gas and dust. Using infrared imaging, astronomers have captured details previously obscured in optical wavelengths. The nebula’s low-metallicity composition provides a glimpse into the conditions of the early universe, shedding light on how ...