Why in news
- NASA is preparing for the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope aboard a SpaceX rocket to map dark energy and cosmic structure.
What is the Roman Space Telescope?
- NASA's next flagship wide-field infrared space observatory designed to investigate astronomical phenomena over large sky surveys.
- Equipped with a field of view 100 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope at similar optical resolution.
- Primary scientific objectives include studying dark energy, mapping dark matter distribution, and surveying exoplanets.
Key technological features
- Wide Field Instrument: Measures light from billions of galaxies to trace cosmic evolution and dark energy expansion.
- Coronagraph Instrument: Demonstrates advanced starlight-blocking technology to image exoplanets directly.
Key terms
Dark Energy
A hypothetical form of energy exerting a negative pressure, accelerating the expansion of the universe.
Coronagraph
An optical attachment used to block the direct light from a star to reveal faint nearby objects like planets.
Prelims facts
- The Roman Space Telescope operates in the infrared spectrum with a field of view 100 times wider than Hubble.
- Its primary objectives are cosmic acceleration (dark energy), large-scale structure (dark matter), and exoplanet demographics.
Source: Economic Times
Same topic · past papers
UPSC has asked this before
These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.
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2022 · Q15 · GS III · 15 marks
Launched on 25th December, 2021, James Webb Space Telescope has been much in the news since then. What are its unique features which make it superior to its predecessor Space Telescopes ? What are the key goals of this mission ? What potential benefits does it hold for the human race? -
2015 · Q30 · General Studies · 2 marks
In the context of modern scientific research, consider the following statements about 'IceCube', a particle detector located at South Pole, which was recently in the news: 1. It is the world's largest neutrino detector, encompassing a cubic kilometre of ice. 2. It is a powerful telescope to search for dark matter. 3. It is buried deep in the ice. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?