Harold S.’s Post

📃Scientific paper: Optimising an Array of Cherenkov Telescopes in Australia for the Detection of TeV Gamma-Ray Transients Abstract: As TeV gamma-ray astronomy progresses into the era of the Cherenkov Telescope Array \(CTA\), instantaneously following up on gamma-ray transients is becoming more important than ever. To this end, a worldwide network of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes has been proposed. Australia is ideally suited to provide coverage of part of the Southern Hemisphere sky inaccessible to H.E.S.S. in Namibia and the upcoming CTA-South in Chile. This study assesses the sources detectable by a small, transient-focused array in Australia based on CTA telescope designs. The TeV emission of extragalactic sources \(including the majority of gamma-ray transients\) can suffer significant absorption by the extragalactic background light. As such, we explored the improvements possible by implementing stereoscopic and topological triggers, as well as lowered image cleaning thresholds, to access lower energies. We modelled flaring gamma-ray sources based on past measurements from the satellite-based gamma-ray telescope Fermi-LAT. We estimate that an array of four Medium-Sized Telescopes \(MSTs\) would detect $\sim$24 active galactic nucleus flares \>5$\sigma$ per year, up to a redshift of $z\approx1.5$. Two MSTs achieved $\sim$80-90% of the detections of four MSTs. The modelled Galactic transients were detectable within the observation time of one night, 11 of the 21 modelled gamma-ray bursts were detectable, as were $\sim$10% of unidentified transients. An array of MST-class telescopes woul... Continued on ES/IODE ➡️ https://etcse.fr/yr05 ------- If you find this interesting, feel free to follow, comment and share. We need your help to enhance our visibility, so that our platform continues to serve you.

Australian astronomers get a clearer picture of the high energy universe via eROSITA’s first all-sky survey! Data from the first all-sky survey by the X-ray imaging telescope eROSITA has been released, yielding the largest X-ray catalogue ever published. A series of scientific papers were also released along with the data, including two led by Australian researchers Dr Adelle Goodwin and PhD student Silvia Mantovanini from ICRAR (International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research), Curtin University. Lead investigators Dr Goodwin and Mantovanini combined the X-ray data from eROSITA with radio data from Australian surveys to get deeper insights into high energy cosmic phenomena. See more about the story here: https://lnkd.in/g_rbrR6y #eROSITA #astronomy #xray #radio #research #science Image: This image shows half of the X-ray sky, projected onto a circle (so-called Zenit Equal Area projection) with the centre of the Milky Way on the left and the galactic plane running horizontally. Photons have been colour-coded according to their energy (red for energies 0.3-0.6 keV, green for 0.6-1 keV, blue for 1-2.3 keV). Credit: MPE, J. Sanders for the eROSITA consortium.

Ground-based astronomy is on the brink of a technological revolution with the impending completion of the Rubin Observatory and its ambitious Large Synoptic Sky Survey. Nestled atop a mountaintop in Chile‘s Atacama Desert, this observatory‘s 8.4-meter optical telescope is poised to scan the southern sky every few nights, generating an unprecedented volume of raw data, particularly related to transient astronomical events. AI is set to play a pivotal role in this endeavor. With an anticipated flood of data, AI-driven software will be essential for managing and analyzing this wealth of information efficiently. From identifying celestial anomalies to processing spectroscopic data, advanced algorithms will enable astronomers to explore new frontiers with unprecedented speed and accuracy. While AI holds immense promise for the future of astronomy, there are challenges to overcome, including cultural resistance and the need for human oversight to ensure accuracy and trust. Nevertheless, the potential for groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in our understanding of the universe is vast. As we stand on the cusp of this transformative era in astronomy, one thing is clear: the future of our exploration of the cosmos lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence and human ingenuity. #nimble #AI #Astronomy #AIInnovation #worldastronomyday Source: Forbes

Observing the Omega How do the ELT (Extremely Large Telescope) and VLT (Very Large Telescope help us understand the Stars, Creation, and the Universe? The ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) during observations. In this picture, taken from the VLT platform looking north-northwest at twilight, the four 8.2-meter Unit Telescopes (UTs) are visible. From left to right, Antu, Kueyen, Melipal, and Yepun are the Mapuche names for the VLT's giant telescopes. In front of the UTs are the four 1.8-meter Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs), entirely dedicated to interferometry, a technique that allows astronomers to see details up to 25 times finer than with individual telescopes. The configuration of the ATs can be changed by moving them across the platform between 30 different observing positions. One of these positions is in the foreground, covered by a hexagonal pad. A reddish laser beam is being launched from UT4 (Yepun) to create an artificial star at an altitude of 90 km in the Earth´s mesosphere. This Laser Guide Star (LGS) is part of the Adaptive Optics system, which allows astronomers to remove the effects of atmospheric turbulence, producing images almost as sharp as if the telescope were in space. The bluish compact group of stars visible to the right of the laser beam is the Pleiades open cluster. That artificial star creation by the VLT 90km high in our atmosphere allowed us to see the actual creation in action: " A black hole exploded or overspun into a Star." From darkness came light. From nothing Life was created. I am amazed at how science is proving the Ancient Texts were right! Not Mythology. But our Universe and Creation's History. Stay tuned for the last part at the beginning. And yes, The beginning shall be like the End. and the End like the Beginning. Next, understanding the Alpha, the beginning at CERN, and how what we see in the sky, the infinite or the Universe, is replicated in the minuscule particles. Within our atoms exist mini black holes, vortexes, and the life energy that comes and goes. This applies to technology because we use and recycle everything around us in a universal spin or loop we are continuously evolving, creating and learning, if only we could take our trash out? The trash are the impure particles in this cycle of life. At one point the Universe, a brightest sun goes dim and that is when the garbage is taken out, it is burned by fire, and that is the rebirth of a star being created out of that dark hole. So, in Technology, the trash is the redundant data, the past knowledge. The corporation has over 500 apps running continuously to manage its operations. We have been layering technology solutions and apps like a hoarder. When we need to lighten the load and see the light, be light. Empty but Full. AI is a medicine that allows under certain conditions like Self-control and Ethical behavior regeneration. David Gilden Reuven Cohen Alisée de Tonnac #intelligence #astronomy #technology #AI #Blockchain

Congratulations to Dr Michelle Lochner, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Astronomy, University of the Western Cape and Staff Scientist at SARAO - South African Radio Astronomy Observatory for being selected as a finalist for the TW Kambule-NSTF Researcher Award. Dr Lochner works on developing cutting edge artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to interrogate massive astronomical datasets sourced from millions of galaxies, hunting for new scientific discoveries in data gathered from radio telescopes such as Meer KAT and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), as well as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, an optical telescope under construction in Chile. She used her algorithm, called Astronomaly, to discover a new radio source called “SAURON”, found in Meer KAT data, which could be the remnant of a massive explosion as two supermassive black holes merged. See the full list of the Award finalists here: https://lnkd.in/dQeqBmVC #NSTFawards2024 #ScienceOscars #Science #Engineering #Technology #Innovation #STEMrolemodels #Research #Development #4IR #Fourthindustrialrevolution #4IRtechnology

“ALMA gets a new hydrogen maser” by National Radio Astronomy Observatory “The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (#ALMA) has just received a "heart transplant," high in the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile. ALMA, the most complex #astronomicalobservatory ever built on Earth, installed a new #hydrogenmaser. This upgrade marks an essential investment, setting a new standard in reliability for observations.” “A maser is an advanced #atomicclock that uses the properties of the #hydrogenatom to provide an extremely precise and stable #frequencyreference. This precision is crucial for #VeryLongBaselineInterferometry (#VLBI) observations, enabling the synchronization of #cosmicsignals received by networks of #telescopes spread across the globe. A brief but fascinating video brings together many voices across the international ALMA team to share the process of the replacement and its importance.” “The new maser, now the heartbeat of ALMA's operations, ensures a high level of accuracy essential for detailed explorations of the universe. ALMA is a cornerstone of international #astronomy as part of the Event Horizon #Telescope, and other Very Long Baseline Interferometry studies, most famously revealing the first image of black hole M87* and Sagittarius A*, at the center of our own Milky Way galaxy.” “The integration of the new maser into the ALMA Array was aided by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Haystack Observatory. The original #maser remains operating as a backup, strengthening ALMA's resilience against potential system failures and ensuring reliable, continuous #astronomicalresearch. This upgrade solidifies ALMA's position at the forefront of astronomical research, enabling #astronomers to uncover more mysteries of the universe with greater accuracy and reliability.” https://lnkd.in/ea4keEeR Source - original post Read all my posts #MariusPreston #hydrogen

Today is the 11th anniversary of the European Space Agency - ESA’s Herschel Space Observatory‘s end of mission, and there is no new far-infrared mission approved to date. With SOFIA no longer operational either, we do not have access to this important wavelength regime - which cannot be observed from the ground - anymore. Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the „Heritage of SOFIA“ Heräus Seminar in Stuttgart (thanks Maja Kaźmierczak-Barthel for the fantastic organization!), and the impact that „being blind“ at far-infrared wavelengths has on so many research areas in astronomy became painfully obvious. The far-infrared regime is essential for studying the early phases of star formation, molecular cloud physics, magnetic fields, and many more. Several mission concepts like PRIMA, SALTUS, FIRSST, GREX-PLUS, and others are currently being studied, so hopefully astronomy will re-gain access to this important regime in the coming decades (and I certainly would be very happy to see a Swiss contribution, just like with Herschel, so a new generation of far-infrared astronomers can be trained in Switzerland as well). #astronomy #farinfrared (Slide shown by one the speakers at last week’s conference.)

Our recent work "A new look at the extragalactic Very High Energy sky: searching for TeV-emitting candidates among the X-ray bright, non-Fermi detected blazar population" has been recently accepted in the Astronomy and Astrophysical journal. In this work, by cross-checking multi-wavelength spectral properties of blazars from archival X-ray catalogs with gamma-ray counterpart in the Fermi-LAT 14-year source catalog (4FGL-DR4), we find that a large number of sources that has large synchrotron peak frequency and X-ray to radio flux ratio, two properties that characterize the vast majority of known TeV emitters. We thus determined the existence of a direct correlation between X-ray and TeV fluxes in the BL Lacs population. We used this trend to estimate the VHE flux of our targets, and found a promising sample of sources for follow-up observations with current or future, more sensitive, Cherenkov telescopes, first and foremost the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory. Further reading at https://lnkd.in/duuwyCUn

A newly discovered cloud of magnetized plasma, called the Flying Fox, located in the Hydra galaxy cluster, challenges existing astronomical classifications due to its unique shape and lack of a central host galaxy. High sensitivity radio observations have discovered a cloud of magnetized plasma in the Hydra galaxy cluster. The odd location and shape of this plasma defy all conventional explanations. Dubbed the Flying Fox based on its silhouette, this plasma will remain a mystery until additional observations can provide more insight. A team led by Kohei Kurahara at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) analyzed observations from the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) targeting the Hydra galaxy cluster, located over 100 million light-years away in the direction of the constellation Hyrda. By applying recent analysis techniques to the GMRT (Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope) data archive, the team was able to discover a cloud of magnetized plasma shaped like a flying fox which has never been reported before. Radio/optical/IR/X-ray images failed to find a host galaxy at the center of the Flying Fox. This combined with its elongated shape, has left astronomers scratching their heads; the Flying Fox does not fit the model for any known class of objects. New observing facilities, like the Square Kilometre Array currently under construction, are expected to study the Flying Fox and provide new insights into the nature and history of this unusual object. The Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) is an array of thirty fully steerable parabolic radio telescopes located near Pune, India. It is operated by the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics. Designed to operate at low radio frequencies ranging from about 50 MHz to 1500 MHz, GMRT is one of the largest and most sensitive radio observatories in the world. This telescope allows scientists to investigate a variety of astronomical phenomena, including pulsars, galaxies, quasars, and cosmic microwave background radiation. Full Article: https://lnkd.in/gtTHAwFu #GMRT #FlyingFox #MagnetizedPlasma The “head” of the Flying Fox discovered this time points to the southwest (lower right). The Flying Fox has a “wingspan” of 220,000 light years. The white contours in the background show the X-ray surface brightness as observed by ESA’s XMM-Newton satellite. (Kohei Kurahara)

ABSTRACT:" The highest priority recommendation of the Astro2020 Decadal Survey for space-based astronomy was the construction of an observatory capable of characterizing habitable worlds. In this paper series we explore the detectability of and interference from exomoons and exorings serendipitously observed with the proposed Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) as it seeks to characterize exoplanets, starting in this manuscript with Earth-Moon analog mutual events. Unlike transits, which only occur in systems viewed near edge-on, shadow (i.e., solar eclipse) and lunar eclipse mutual events occur in almost every star-planet-moon system. The cadence of these events can vary widely from ∼yearly to multiple events per day, as was the case in our younger Earth-Moon system. Leveraging previous space-based (EPOXI) lightcurves of a Moon transit and performance predictions from the LUVOIR-B concept, we derive the detectability of Moon analogs with HWO. We determine that Earth-Moon analogs are detectable with observation of ∼2-20 mutual events for systems within 10 pc, and larger moons should remain detectable out to 20 pc. We explore the extent to which exomoon mutual events can mimic planet features and weather. We find that HWO wavelength coverage in the near-IR, specifically in the 1.4 µm water band where large moons can outshine their host planet, will aid in differentiating exomoon signals from exoplanet variability. Finally, we predict that exomoons formed through collision processes akin to our Moon are more likely to be detected in younger systems, where shorter orbital periods and favorable geometry enhance the probability and frequency of mutual events." Exomoons & Exorings with the Habitable Worlds Observatory I: On the Detection of Earth-Moon Analog Shadows & Eclipses https://lnkd.in/exwh-3Eg