Did You Know: Going Beyond Light

Produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute’s Office of Public Outreach in collaboration with NASA’s Universe of Learning partners: Caltech/IPAC, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and Sonoma State University.

·        Hubble Space Telescope image of IDCS J1426.5+3508: NASA/STScI

·        Chandra X-ray Observatory image of IDCS J1426.5+3508: NASA/CXC/University of Missouri-Kansas City/M.Brodwin et al

·        Spitzer Space Telescope image of IDCS J1426.5+3508: JPL/CalTech

·        Composite image of IDCS J1426.5+3508: NASA, ESA, and M. Brodwin (University of Missouri)

·        IceCube Neutrino Observatory visualization of neutrino detection August 13, 2010: IceCube Collaboration

·        LIGO visualization of gravitational waves detected December 26, 2015: LIGO/T. Pyle

Written by Claire Blome

Designed by Craig Anderson, Leah Hustak, and Dani Player

Editorial and design input from Dr. Brandon Lawton, Timothy Rhue II, Margaret W. Carruthers, and Leah Ramsay

Music courtesy of Music for Non-Profits 

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Text, Did You Know? Going Beyond Light

 

There's more to the universe than the human eye can see.

 

Visible (Hubble Space Telescope) Telescopes detect a broader range of light than the visible light our eyes detect.

 

This includes X-ray light that can identify black hole activity and infrared light that allows researchers to peer through gas and dust. X-Ray (Chandra X-Ray Observatory). Infrared (Spitzer Space Telescope).

 

Composite Image (Hubble, Chandra, Spitzer)

 

But we can also detect much more than light. Neutrino detection (IceCube Neutrino Observatory visualization). There are underground observations that detect matter known as neutrinos. Trillions of these "ghost" particles pass through each human on Earth every second as they make their way through space.

 

Researchers have also designed observatories to detect gravitational waves, small expansions and contractions Rippling through the fabric of space-time. Gravitational waves LIGO visualization.

 

Gravitational waves are created by powerful phenomena, including colliding black holes, gamma-ray bursts and exploding stars.

 

Light, matter, and gravity provide astronomers with new data about cosmic wonders, expanding what we know about the universe. Massive galaxy cluster.