Space Telescope
What are the key details about the asteroid that triggered the first ever impact notification in the International Asteroid Warning Network?
This asteroid has a 3.1% probability of impacting Earth (up from 2.3%), making it the second highest probability ever recorded after a 2004 asteroid with 4% probability. It's roughly the size of the Statue of Liberty or a football field and has triggered the first asteroid impact notification within the International Asteroid Warning Network since its creation in 2013. NASA is using the James Webb Space Telescope to gather more data, and the probability is expected to decrease with better observations. Despite concerns, there's still a 96.9% chance it will miss Earth.
Watch clip answer (00:52m)What are the significant water ice deposits discovered on Mars and what is their potential importance?
Researchers from the Planetary Science Institute have discovered significant water ice deposits in the Nereida Montes region of Mars that could represent the largest concentrations of non-polar water in the southern hemisphere of the planet. The discovery was made using data from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, dating these formations to within the last few million years of Mars' history. These ice deposits make the area an intriguing potential landing site for future Mars missions despite challenging terrain. The ice could serve as a crucial water source for future explorers, essentially functioning as a "hotspot" for accessing water on the Red Planet, which would be vital for sustaining human presence on Mars.
Watch clip answer (00:56m)How did India's ASTROSAT telescope help scientists understand the formation and evolution of dwarf galaxies?
India's ASTROSAT, the country's first multi-wavelength space observatory, made groundbreaking observations of dwarf galaxies located 1.5 to 3.9 billion light-years from Earth. Using its Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope, researchers analyzed 17 hours of data and discovered evidence of material moving from the outer edges of 11 dwarf galaxies toward their centers, revealing the live formation process of these cosmic structures. The study, published in Nature, showed star-forming complexes on the periphery of dwarf galaxies that spiral inward within a billion-year timescale, contributing to galaxy growth. This research provides crucial insights into how dwarf galaxies, containing only a few billion stars, potentially evolve into mature galaxies like the Milky Way with hundreds of billions of stars. ASTROSAT's deep field imaging capabilities and resolving power were key to spotting young star-forming clumps, helping scientists understand the assembly process that challenges current theoretical models of galaxy evolution.
Watch clip answer (03:21m)How did India's ASTROSAT space observatory contribute to our understanding of dwarf galaxy formation and evolution?
India's ASTROSAT, the country's first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory, made groundbreaking observations of dwarf galaxies located 1.5 to 3.9 billion light years from Earth. Using its Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT), researchers analyzed 17 hours of data to capture evidence of star formation activity and material movement within these cosmic structures. The observatory successfully documented material flowing from the outer edges of 11 dwarf galaxies toward their centers, providing concrete evidence of the galaxy maturation process. This discovery is particularly significant because it offers the first direct observation of how dwarf galaxies, containing only a few billion stars, evolve into mature galaxies like the Milky Way with 200-400 billion stars. These findings challenge existing theoretical models of galaxy evolution and represent a major advancement in our understanding of cosmic assembly processes, demonstrating ASTROSAT's remarkable capabilities in ultraviolet astronomy research.
Watch clip answer (02:43m)How has India's ASTROSAT space telescope contributed to our understanding of dwarf galaxy formation and evolution?
India's ASTROSAT, the country's first multi-wavelength space telescope, has made groundbreaking discoveries about dwarf galaxy formation using its Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT). Led by astronomer Anshuman Borgohain from Tezpur University, researchers analyzed 17 hours of ASTROSAT data and observed star-forming complexes on the outskirts of dwarf galaxies, finding evidence of material movement from outer edges toward the center in 11 dwarf galaxies. The study reveals that young, large star-forming clumps form on the periphery of these galaxies and spiral inward within a billion-year timescale, contributing to galaxy growth. This research is particularly significant because dwarf galaxies' diverse physical properties challenge current theoretical models of galaxy evolution, and ASTROSAT's resolving power and deep field imaging capabilities have enabled scientists to witness the live formation of these distant galaxies.
Watch clip answer (01:53m)How do dwarf galaxies contribute to the growth of larger galaxies according to recent findings from India's ASTROSAT mission?
Based on ASTROSAT's groundbreaking observations of 11 distant dwarf galaxies, researchers have discovered that these smaller galactic structures play a crucial role in galaxy evolution through active star formation processes. The data reveals that dwarf galaxies form on the periphery of larger galactic systems and gradually spiral inward toward the visible boundary of their host galaxy. This migration process occurs over approximately a billion-year timescale, during which the dwarf galaxies contribute significantly to the overall growth and mass accumulation of the larger galaxy. These findings challenge existing models of galaxy formation and provide new insights into how cosmic structures assemble and evolve over billions of years.
Watch clip answer (00:11m)