Latest news with #Sun-Earth
India Today
08-07-2025
- Science
- India Today
10 most powerful telescopes in the world exploring the cosmos
10 most powerful telescopes in the world exploring the cosmos 08 Jul, 2025 Credit: Credit Name Located 1.5 million kilometers from Earth at the Sun-Earth L2 point, JWST is the most advanced space telescope ever built. Operating primarily in the infrared, it captures light from the earliest galaxies formed after the Big Bang James Webb Space Telescope Nestled in the mountains of Guizhou, China, FAST is the world's largest single-dish radio telescope. It's designed to detect faint radio signals from space, playing a major role in pulsar research, mapping cosmic phenomena. 500-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope Currently under construction on Cerro Armazones in Chile, the ELT will become the largest ground-based telescope operating in visible and infrared wavelengths. European Extremely Large Telescope Under development at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, the GMT will have seven large mirrors functioning as a single 24.5-meter telescope. It will deliver images ten times sharper than Hubble, Giant Magellan Telescope Planned for Mauna Kea in Hawaii, the TMT will feature a 30-meter segmented mirror. It's designed to study black holes, early galaxies, and extrasolar planets in great detail, pushing the boundaries of modern astronomy. Thirty Meter Telescope Located in La Palma, Spain, GTC is the largest single-aperture optical telescope currently in operation, with a 10.4-meter mirror. It contributes to a broad range of studies, including dark matter, star formation, and exoplanet detection. Gran Telescopio Canarias Situated in Chile's Atacama Desert, ALMA is a powerful radio telescope made up of 66 high-precision antennas. It probes the coldest and most distant regions of the universe, shedding light on star and planet formation and the structure of galaxies. ALMA Telescope Comprising two 8.1-meter telescopes—one in Hawaii and the other in Chile—the Gemini Observatory offers full-sky coverage. These telescopes support diverse astronomical studies, from quasars to the birth of stars and galaxies. Gemini Observatory Orbiting Earth, Chandra is NASA's flagship X-ray telescope. It detects high-energy cosmic phenomena such as black holes, neutron stars, and supernova remnants, offering unparalleled views into the violent and energetic universe. Chandra X-ray Observatory Located in New Mexico, USA, MROI uses optical interferometry to combine light from multiple telescopes. This setup provides extremely high-resolution images of stars. Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer
Hindustan Times
01-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Has a geomagnetic storm hit Earth? Massive solar flare reported; aurora likely
Earth was struck by a powerful Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), with the speed of upwards of 1000 km/sec late on Saturday amid fears of a rare geomagnetic storm. Space Weather Live cited the CMS speed to report that the wave has been measured by the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) spacecraft located at the Sun-Earth L1 point. 'With the current speed, it will take the solar wind 25 minutes to propagate from DSCOVR to Earth,' Space Weather Live added. The CME, a massive eruption of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun's corona, reached Earth at around 1:30 AM ET on June 1, as predicted by NASA and NOAA models. Read More: Geomagnetic storm today: List of states where northern lights will be seen. Latest aurora map here reported solar wind speeds peaking at 1002 km/sec, with the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) strength (Bt) reaching 25 nT and a southward Bz component of -18 nT. These conditions allow solar wind energy to penetrate Earth's magnetosphere and trigger auroras. Auroral activity is expected to be spectacular, with vibrant green, red, and purple displays caused by charged particles colliding with atmospheric gases. Space Weather Live further notes that G4 storms expand the auroral oval to 45–50° geomagnetic latitude, making the northern lights visible in states like Washington, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and parts of New York. A potential G5 escalation could extend visibility to southern states like Alabama, Oregon, and Northern California. Meanwhile, the NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) noted that the storm has sparked aurora alerts for as far south as Alabama and Northern California, while raising concerns about potential disruptions to power grids, satellites, and radio communications. The NOAA further warns of potential disruptions to power grids, with voltage irregularities possible in high-latitude regions. Satellites may experience drag and orientation issues, while GPS and radio signals could face intermittent outages. The CME's origin, an M8.2 flare from AR14100, was identified by Space Weather Live as a full-halo event, indicating an Earth-directed trajectory. The flare, peaking at 0005 UTC on May 31, also raised concerns about R1-R2 radio blackouts.
