Project News

Astronomers gather clues about unseen cataclysmic collisions

ZTF • News Release • September 14th, 2020

Two large international collaborations of astronomers joined forces to look for light from some of the most cataclysmic events – the collisions of a neutron star and black hole. They did not find it this time, but the scientific journey has provided important insights on how to better hunt for...

ZTF Finds Closest Known Asteroid to Fly By Earth

ZTF • News Release • August 19th, 2020

On August 16, the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), a robotic survey camera located at Palomar Observatory near San Diego, spotted an asteroid that had, just hours earlier, traveled only 1,830 miles (2,950 kilometers) above Earth's surface. Designated 2020 QG, it is the closest known asteroid to...

ZTF Finds Closest Known Asteroid to Fly By Earth

ZTF • News Release • August 18th, 2020

Spectacular Ultraviolet Flash May Finally Explain How White Dwarfs Explode

ZTF • News Release • July 23rd, 2020

For just the second time ever, astrophysicists have spotted a spectacular flash of ultraviolet (UV) light accompanying a white dwarf explosion. An extremely rare type of supernova, the event is poised to offer insights into several long-standing mysteries, including what causes white...

Spectacular Ultraviolet Flash May Finally Explain How White Dwarfs Explode

ZTF • News Release • July 23rd, 2020

Black Hole Collision May Have Exploded with Light

ZTF • News Release • June 25th, 2020

When two black holes spiral around each other and ultimately collide, they send out ripples in space and time called gravitational waves. Because black holes do not give off light, these events are not expected to shine with any light waves, or electromagnetic radiation. But some theorists have...

Public Data Release 3

ZTF • News Release • June 24th, 2020

The Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) and IPAC at the California Institute of Technology announce the third ZTF Public Data Release. ZTF is an optical time-domain survey covering the northern sky visible from Palomar Observatory.

Black Hole Collision May Have Exploded with Light

ZTF • News Release • June 15th, 2020

With the help of Caltech's Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and located at Palomar Observatory near San Diego, the scientists have spotted what might be a flare of light from a pair of coalescing black holes. The black hole merger was...

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First Asteroid Found Inside Orbit of Venus

ZTF • News Release • January 15th, 2020

A rare asteroid orbiting snugly within the inner confines of our solar system has been discovered by Caltech's Zwicky Transient Facility, or ZTF, a survey camera based at Palomar Observatory. The newfound body, named 2020 AV2, is the first asteroid found to orbit entirely within the orbit of Venus.

First Asteroid Found Inside Orbit of Venus

ZTF • News Release • January 15th, 2020

Astronomers gather clues about unseen cataclysmic collisions

ZTF • September 14th, 2020

Two large international collaborations of astronomers joined forces to look for light from some of the most cataclysmic events – the collisions of a neutron star and black hole....

ZTF Finds Closest Known Asteroid to Fly By Earth

ZTF • August 19th, 2020

On August 16, the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), a robotic survey camera located at Palomar Observatory near San Diego, spotted an asteroid that had, just hours earlier,...

ZTF Finds Closest Known Asteroid to Fly By Earth

ZTF • August 18th, 2020

On August 16, the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), a robotic survey camera located at Palomar Observatory near San Diego, spotted an asteroid that had, just hours earlier,...

Spectacular Ultraviolet Flash May Finally Explain How White Dwarfs Explode

ZTF • July 23rd, 2020

For just the second time ever, astrophysicists have spotted a spectacular flash of ultraviolet (UV) light accompanying a white dwarf explosion. An extremely rare type of...

Spectacular Ultraviolet Flash May Finally Explain How White Dwarfs Explode

ZTF • July 23rd, 2020

For just the second time ever, astrophysicists have spotted a spectacular flash of ultraviolet (UV) light accompanying a white dwarf explosion. An extremely rare type of...

Black Hole Collision May Have Exploded with Light

ZTF • June 25th, 2020

When two black holes spiral around each other and ultimately collide, they send out ripples in space and time called gravitational waves. Because black holes do not give off...

Public Data Release 3

ZTF • June 24th, 2020

The Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) and IPAC at the California Institute of Technology announce the third ZTF Public Data Release. ZTF is an optical time-domain survey covering...

Black Hole Collision May Have Exploded with Light

ZTF • June 15th, 2020

With the help of Caltech's Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and located at Palomar Observatory near San Diego, the...

First Asteroid Found Inside Orbit of Venus

ZTF • January 15th, 2020

A rare asteroid orbiting snugly within the inner confines of our solar system has been discovered by Caltech's Zwicky Transient Facility, or ZTF, a survey camera based at...

First Asteroid Found Inside Orbit of Venus

ZTF • January 15th, 2020

A rare asteroid orbiting snugly within the inner confines of our solar system has been discovered by Caltech's Zwicky Transient Facility, or ZTF, a survey camera based at...