Project News

Stars Are Exploding in Dusty Galaxies. We Just Can’t Always See Them

Spitzer • News Release • August 4th, 2021

Exploding stars generate dramatic light shows. Infrared telescopes like Spitzer can see through the haze and to give a better idea of how often these explosions occur.

Ground System for NASA’s Roman Space Telescope Moves into Development

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope • Project News • July 29th, 2021

On July 23, the Roman Space Telescope successfully completed the critical design review of the mission’s ground systems.

Astronomers discover an unusually short gamma-ray burst from the death of a massive star

ZTF • News Release • July 26th, 2021

On Aug. 26, 2020, NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detected a pulse of high-energy radiation that had been racing toward Earth for nearly half the present age of the universe. Lasting only about a second, it turned out to be one for the record books – the shortest gamma-ray burst...

Cosmic Legacy: Retired Space Telescope Reveals ‘Hot Jupiter' Secrets

Spitzer • News Release • July 26th, 2021

Among the first, and strangest, planets to be detected around other stars is a variety known as “hot Jupiters” – star-hugging, superheated giants once thought so unlikely that many scientists doubted their existence.

Astronomers discover an unusually short gamma-ray burst from the death of a massive star

ZTF • News Release • July 26th, 2021

ZTF and a host of other astronomical observatories have teamed up to identify a rather unusual gamma-ray burst (GRB) - the most powerful event in the universe. Caused by the death of a massive star, this GRB lasted much shorted than expected defying a clear classification of these extraordinary...

New Spitzer Space Telescope Poster Released

Spitzer • News Release • July 22nd, 2021

This poster depicts the TRAPPIST-1 planets, some of which were discovered by Spitzer.

From the Sun to the stars

NASA Exoplanet Science Institute • Project News • July 20th, 2021

A journey of exoplanet discovery begins as Penn State’s NEID spectrometer starts its scientific mission.

A White Dwarf Living on the Edge

ZTF • News Release • July 1st, 2021

Astronomers have identified a white dwarf so massive that it might collapse

Asteroid-Hunting Space Telescope Gets Two-Year Mission Extension

Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer • Project News • June 30th, 2021

For two more years, NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) will continue its hunt for asteroids and comets – including objects that could pose a hazard to Earth.

A White Dwarf Living on the Edge

ZTF • News Release • June 30th, 2021

Astronomers have discovered the smallest and most massive white dwarf ever seen. The smoldering cinder, which formed when two less massive white dwarfs merged, is about 4,300 kilometers across, or somewhat larger than Earth's moon.

Stars Are Exploding in Dusty Galaxies. We Just Can’t Always See Them

Spitzer • August 4th, 2021

Exploding stars generate dramatic light shows. Infrared telescopes like Spitzer can see through the haze and to give a better idea of how often these explosions occur.

Ground System for NASA’s Roman Space Telescope Moves into Development

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope • July 29th, 2021

On July 23, the Roman Space Telescope successfully completed the critical design review of the mission’s ground systems.

Astronomers discover an unusually short gamma-ray burst from the death of a massive star

ZTF • July 26th, 2021

On Aug. 26, 2020, NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detected a pulse of high-energy radiation that had been racing toward Earth for nearly half the present age of the...

Cosmic Legacy: Retired Space Telescope Reveals ‘Hot Jupiter' Secrets

Spitzer • July 26th, 2021

Among the first, and strangest, planets to be detected around other stars is a variety known as “hot Jupiters” – star-hugging, superheated giants once thought so unlikely that...

Astronomers discover an unusually short gamma-ray burst from the death of a massive star

ZTF • July 26th, 2021

ZTF and a host of other astronomical observatories have teamed up to identify a rather unusual gamma-ray burst (GRB) - the most powerful event in the universe. Caused by the...

New Spitzer Space Telescope Poster Released

Spitzer • July 22nd, 2021

This poster depicts the TRAPPIST-1 planets, some of which were discovered by Spitzer.

From the Sun to the stars

NASA Exoplanet Science Institute • July 20th, 2021

A journey of exoplanet discovery begins as Penn State’s NEID spectrometer starts its scientific mission.

A White Dwarf Living on the Edge

ZTF • July 1st, 2021

Astronomers have identified a white dwarf so massive that it might collapse

Asteroid-Hunting Space Telescope Gets Two-Year Mission Extension

Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer • June 30th, 2021

For two more years, NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) will continue its hunt for asteroids and comets – including objects that could pose a...

A White Dwarf Living on the Edge

ZTF • June 30th, 2021

Astronomers have discovered the smallest and most massive white dwarf ever seen. The smoldering cinder, which formed when two less massive white dwarfs merged, is about...