Project News

In a First, NASA Measures Wind Speed on a Brown Dwarf

Spitzer • News Release • April 9th, 2020

For the first time, scientists have directly measured wind speed on a brown dwarf, an object larger than Jupiter (the largest planet in our solar system) but not quite massive enough to become a star. To achieve the finding, they used a new method that could also be applied to learn about the...

Arianespace and ESA announce the Euclid satellite’s launch contract for dark energy exploration

Euclid • News Release • April 6th, 2020

Arianespace and ESA have announced the signing of a launch services contract for the Euclid satellite – with the mission’s timeframe for liftoff starting in mid-2022 from the Guiana Space Centre, Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

Warped Space-time to Help WFIRST Find Exoplanets

Wide Field InfraRed Survey Telescope at IPAC • Project News • March 30th, 2020

To date, astronomers have found most planets when they pass in front of their host star in events called transits, which temporarily dim the star's light. WFIRST data can spot transits too, but the mission will primarily watch for microlensing.

NEOWISE 2020 Data Release

Near Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer • Project News • March 26th, 2020

The NEOWISE Reactivation 2020 Release adds approximately 2.5 million image sets and 18.7 billion source detections to the public archive. These data were acquired during the sixth year of the NEOWISE Reactivation Mission.

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Testing of TMT’s Primary Mirror Segment in Progress

TMT • Engineering & Technology • March 23rd, 2020

The first of TMT’s Primary Mirror (M1) segment prototypes was recently tested and polished using the Ion Beam Figuring (IBF) process.

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TMT Reaches Major Milestone with Completion of Fully Populated Mirror Segment Prototypes at the Multi-Segment Integration & Test Facility (MSIT)

TMT • Engineering & Technology • March 6th, 2020

The Multi-Segment Integration & Test (MSIT) facility at the TMT lab in Monrovia, California, is now fully populated with seven aluminum mirror segment prototypes.

NASA Approves Development of Universe-Studying, Planet-Finding Mission

Wide Field InfraRed Survey Telescope at IPAC • Project News • March 2nd, 2020

NASA’s Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) project has passed a critical programmatic and technical milestone, giving the mission the official green light to begin hardware development and testing.

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TMT Scientific Advisory Committee Holds First Meeting of the New Decade in Pasadena

TMT • Science & Astronomy • February 21st, 2020

Pasadena, CA – 06 February 2020 - TMT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) members and project office staff recently met at the Project Office in Pasadena.

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Successful Receiving Inspection of 18 Mirror Blanks in India

TMT • Engineering & Technology • February 6th, 2020

One of TMT’s most important components – its huge primary mirror that spans over 30 meters – continues to be manufactured around the world.

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope Ends Mission of Astronomical Discovery

Spitzer • News Release • January 30th, 2020

After more than 16 years studying the universe in infrared light, revealing new wonders in our solar system, our galaxy and beyond, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope's mission has come to an end.

In a First, NASA Measures Wind Speed on a Brown Dwarf

Spitzer • April 9th, 2020

For the first time, scientists have directly measured wind speed on a brown dwarf, an object larger than Jupiter (the largest planet in our solar system) but not quite massive...

Arianespace and ESA announce the Euclid satellite’s launch contract for dark energy exploration

Euclid • April 6th, 2020

Arianespace and ESA have announced the signing of a launch services contract for the Euclid satellite – with the mission’s timeframe for liftoff starting in mid-2022 from the...

Warped Space-time to Help WFIRST Find Exoplanets

Wide Field InfraRed Survey Telescope at IPAC • March 30th, 2020

To date, astronomers have found most planets when they pass in front of their host star in events called transits, which temporarily dim the star's light. WFIRST data can spot...

NEOWISE 2020 Data Release

Near Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer • March 26th, 2020

The NEOWISE Reactivation 2020 Release adds approximately 2.5 million image sets and 18.7 billion source detections to the public archive. These data were acquired during the...

Testing of TMT’s Primary Mirror Segment in Progress

TMT • March 23rd, 2020

The first of TMT’s Primary Mirror (M1) segment prototypes was recently tested and polished using the Ion Beam Figuring (IBF) process.

TMT Reaches Major Milestone with Completion of Fully Populated Mirror Segment Prototypes at the Multi-Segment Integration & Test Facility (MSIT)

TMT • March 6th, 2020

The Multi-Segment Integration & Test (MSIT) facility at the TMT lab in Monrovia, California, is now fully populated with seven aluminum mirror segment prototypes.

NASA Approves Development of Universe-Studying, Planet-Finding Mission

Wide Field InfraRed Survey Telescope at IPAC • March 2nd, 2020

NASA’s Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) project has passed a critical programmatic and technical milestone, giving the mission the official green light to begin...

TMT Scientific Advisory Committee Holds First Meeting of the New Decade in Pasadena

TMT • February 21st, 2020

Pasadena, CA – 06 February 2020 - TMT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) members and project office staff recently met at the Project Office in Pasadena.

Successful Receiving Inspection of 18 Mirror Blanks in India

TMT • February 6th, 2020

One of TMT’s most important components – its huge primary mirror that spans over 30 meters – continues to be manufactured around the world.

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope Ends Mission of Astronomical Discovery

Spitzer • January 30th, 2020

After more than 16 years studying the universe in infrared light, revealing new wonders in our solar system, our galaxy and beyond, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope's mission has...