Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science

Dragonfly mission to Titan announces big science goals: https://research.astro.cornell.edu/news/dragonfly-mission-titan-announces-big-science-goals

In-person or online, Cornell’s summer research internships prove successful: https://research.astro.cornell.edu/news/person-or-online-cornells-summer-research-internships-prove-successful

Cornellians help NASA zoom in on red planet":

Cornellians help NASA zoom in on red planet | Cornell Chronicle Mars is about to become a little more red, thanks to the Cornellians who helped develop and calibrate instruments soon bound for the planet.

New video engages public in cosmic exploration

A new animation about two innovative telescopes being developed at Cornell has just been released by the research group led by Michael Niemack, associate professor of physics and astronomy in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The two-minute video explains how researchers are “measuring the oldest light in the universe with the highest telescopes on Earth.”

CCAT-prime is a 6-meter-aperture telescope being built at 18,400 feet above sea level in northern Chile’s Atacama Desert. It will map the sky at submillimeter and millimeter wavelengths, providing insights into cosmology by measuring the cosmic microwave background (radiation left over from the Big Bang) and into galaxy evolution.

The Cornell-led international project is being directed by Terry Herter, professor of astronomy in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Simons Observatory is building a similar 6-meter telescope and three smaller telescopes to measure the cosmic microwave background at a slightly lower elevation near CCAT-prime. Brian Keating, professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego, directs the project.

Inspired in part by his father’s work as a documentary filmmaker, Niemack views videography and animation as effective outreach tools. “It’s a way to excite people about the unknown and the potential to understand and dream about our universe in new ways,” he said.

The video’s release also is intended to highlight ongoing fabrication of the two telescopes in Europe. The work is proceeding largely on schedule despite the pandemic, with both telescopes scheduled to be installed in Chile in 2021.

Measuring the Oldest Light in the Universe with the Highest Telescopes on Earth Right now we are building some of the highest telescopes on earth to measure light from the big bang! For more information about this exciting research, plea...

Zifan Lin: 'I have authored or co-authored several research papers': https://research.astro.cornell.edu/news/zifan-lin-i-have-authored-or-co-authored-several-research-papers

Iconic ‘pale blue dot’ photo – Carl Sagan’s idea – turns 30:
https://research.astro.cornell.edu/news/iconic-pale-blue-dot-photo-carl-sagans-idea-turns-30

Looking for exoplanet life in all the right spectra: https://research.astro.cornell.edu/news/looking-exoplanet-life-all-right-spectra

What is SPIF? The Spacecraft Planetary Imaging Facility maintains planetary image data including geologic maps and mission documentation, providing support to researchers and the public who wish to access and manipulate the data available and is located at the third floor of the Space Science Building. They have a new group page on Facebook, please take a minute to visit it!

SPIF - Spacecraft Planetary Image Facility SPIF provides educational support and outreach services throughout the Central NY region, assists st