Jun 9, 2025 | Focal Plane
Our June Fundamentals continues our annual tradition of providing a family night of science. Just because school is out for the summer (not forever), doesn’t mean the opportunity to learn is also on hiatus. If you have some budding science enthusiasts at home, you may...
Jun 9, 2025 | Focal Plane
Following the successful launch and deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have explored new vistas and aspects of the Universe made possible with this remarkable instrument. Webb joins the exploration with a new eye on the Universe. It is not the...
Apr 3, 2025 | Focal Plane
In the 19th century, Alvan Graham Clark was one of the premier lens makers for telescopes. His craftsmanship was sought after and many observatories in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were built to house his refractor telescopes. In fact, smaller Alvan Clark...
Apr 3, 2025 | Focal Plane
We are confused about how old the Universe is. Until recently, astronomers estimated that the Big Bang occurred between 12 and 14 billion years ago. Astronomers can place a lower limit to the age of the universe by studying globular clusters. Globular clusters are a...
Mar 1, 2025 | Focal Plane
Impact craters can be found throughout the solar system. NASA scientists use impact craters and volcanic activity to learn about the process throughout the solar system. By studying craters on Earth, scientists gain knowledge of volcanic landform formation and...
Mar 1, 2025 | Focal Plane
Exoplanets orbit distant stars many lightyears away. The name comes from extrasolarplanets, which are planets orbiting outside of oursolar system. To date, astronomers have found over5,600 exoplanets. The method resulting in the mostdiscoveries is the Transit Method....
