200 most important Astronomy topics - Sykalo Eugen 2023

The Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST)

The Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) is a space telescope that is currently under development by NASA. Its aim is to study the universe in infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye, and to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the universe.

The WFIRST is the next major space observatory that will follow the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). It will be launched in the mid-2020s and will be equipped with a wide field of view camera, which is designed to capture large portions of the sky in a single image.

The WFIRST Mission

The WFIRST mission is designed to address a wide range of questions in astrophysics, including the study of dark energy, dark matter, exoplanets, and the formation of galaxies. While studying dark energy, the telescope will measure the shapes and positions of millions of galaxies to better understand the distribution of dark energy in the universe. This will help scientists to understand how the universe is expanding and to determine the nature of dark energy.

In studying dark matter, the WFIRST will map the distribution of dark matter in the universe to better understand its properties. Dark matter is a type of matter that does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it difficult to observe using traditional methods. The WFIRST will be able to map the distribution of dark matter using gravitational lensing, which will provide valuable insights into the nature of this mysterious substance.

In addition to studying dark energy and dark matter, the WFIRST will also make significant contributions to the study of exoplanets. The telescope will use a technique called gravitational microlensing to detect and study exoplanets that are much smaller and farther away than those that can be studied using current methods. This will allow scientists to better understand the properties of exoplanets and to determine whether they are capable of supporting life.

Finally, the WFIRST will study the formation of galaxies, including the Milky Way. By observing the shapes and positions of galaxies, the WFIRST will be able to provide insights into how they were formed and how they have evolved over time. This will help scientists to better understand the history and evolution of the universe as a whole.

Dark Energy

Dark energy is a mysterious force that is believed to be responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe. It makes up approximately 68% of the total energy density of the universe, and its existence was first inferred from observations of distant supernovae in the late 1990s.

One of the primary objectives of the WFIRST mission is to study dark energy in greater detail than ever before. By measuring the shapes and positions of millions of galaxies, the WFIRST will be able to better understand the distribution of dark energy in the universe. This will help scientists to understand how the universe is expanding and to determine the nature of dark energy.

The WFIRST will use two complementary methods to study dark energy: weak gravitational lensing and baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO). Weak gravitational lensing is a phenomenon in which the light from distant galaxies is distorted by the gravitational influence of the matter that lies between the galaxy and the observer. By measuring this distortion, the WFIRST will be able to map the distribution of dark matter and dark energy in the universe.

BAO, on the other hand, is a technique that uses the clustering of galaxies to measure the expansion rate of the universe. The WFIRST will be able to measure the BAO signal with unprecedented accuracy, which will allow scientists to better understand the nature of dark energy.

Dark Matter

Dark matter is a type of matter that does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it difficult to observe using traditional methods. Its existence was first inferred from observations of the rotation curves of galaxies, which indicated that there was more mass in the galaxy than could be accounted for by visible matter. Dark matter is thought to make up approximately 27% of the total energy density of the universe.

The WFIRST will be able to map the distribution of dark matter in the universe using gravitational lensing. Gravitational lensing is a phenomenon in which the light from distant galaxies is bent by the gravitational influence of the matter that lies between the galaxy and the observer. By measuring the distortion of this light, the WFIRST will be able to map the distribution of dark matter in the universe.

One of the goals of the WFIRST mission is to better understand the properties of dark matter. Scientists hope to determine whether dark matter is composed of particles that interact with normal matter only through gravity, or whether it interacts through other, weaker forces as well. The WFIRST will also be able to study the distribution of dark matter in clusters of galaxies, which will provide valuable insights into the nature of this mysterious substance.

Exoplanets

Exoplanets, or extrasolar planets, are planets that orbit stars outside of our solar system. Since the first exoplanet was discovered in 1992, thousands of others have been identified using a variety of techniques, including the transit method, the radial velocity method, and the microlensing method.

The WFIRST will be able to study exoplanets in much greater detail than ever before using a technique called gravitational microlensing. Gravitational microlensing occurs when the light from a distant star is bent by the gravitational field of a nearby object, such as a planet. This bending causes the star's light to magnify, which allows the WFIRST to detect and study exoplanets that are much smaller and farther away than those that can be studied using current methods.

In addition to detecting exoplanets, the WFIRST will also be able to study their properties. By analyzing the light that is reflected by exoplanets, the WFIRST will be able to determine their composition, temperature, and atmospheric conditions. This will allow scientists to better understand the properties of exoplanets and to determine whether they are capable of supporting life.

The WFIRST will also be able to study exoplanetary systems, which are systems that contain multiple exoplanets orbiting a single star. By studying these systems, the WFIRST will be able to provide insights into how planetary systems form and evolve over time.

Formation of Galaxies

The WFIRST will also be making significant contributions to the study of the formation of galaxies, including the Milky Way. By observing the shapes and positions of galaxies, the WFIRST will be able to provide insights into how they were formed and how they have evolved over time. This will help scientists to better understand the history and evolution of the universe as a whole.

One of the key ways in which the WFIRST will be studying the formation of galaxies is through its observations of galaxy clusters. These clusters are made up of hundreds or thousands of individual galaxies that are bound together by gravity. By studying the shapes and positions of galaxies within these clusters, the WFIRST will be able to determine how they were formed and how they have evolved over time.

In addition to studying galaxy clusters, the WFIRST will also be able to study the properties of individual galaxies. By observing the shapes and positions of galaxies, the WFIRST will be able to provide insights into the processes that have shaped them over time. This will help scientists to better understand the mechanisms behind galaxy formation and evolution.

One of the most exciting areas of research for the WFIRST is the study of supermassive black holes. These black holes are thought to exist at the centers of most galaxies, and they play a key role in shaping the evolution of galaxies over time. By studying the properties of these black holes, the WFIRST will be able to provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of galaxies.

The Technology behind the WFIRST

The technology behind the WFIRST is truly groundbreaking. The telescope is equipped with a wide field of view camera, which is designed to capture large portions of the sky in a single image. The camera is equipped with a 288-megapixel sensor, which is one of the largest ever used in a space telescope. This sensor is capable of capturing images with incredible detail and resolution, which will allow scientists to study the universe in unprecedented detail.

The WFIRST also features a coronagraph, which is a device that is used to block the light from a star in order to study the light from its surrounding planets. This will allow the WFIRST to study exoplanets in much greater detail than ever before. The coronagraph is a critical component of the WFIRST's exoplanet mission, as it will allow scientists to study the atmospheric conditions and composition of exoplanets, which will provide valuable insights into their habitability.

In addition to its camera and coronagraph, the WFIRST is also equipped with a grism, which is a device that combines a grating and a prism to disperse light into a spectrum. This will allow the WFIRST to perform spectroscopy, which is the process of analyzing the light emitted by celestial objects to determine their composition and properties. The WFIRST's grism will allow scientists to study the properties of galaxies, exoplanets, and other objects in the universe in unprecedented detail.

Finally, the WFIRST is also equipped with a fine guidance sensor, which is used to maintain the telescope's pointing accuracy. This sensor is capable of measuring the position of a guide star with incredible precision, which will allow the WFIRST to maintain its pointing accuracy to within a few milliarcseconds. This level of pointing accuracy is critical for the WFIRST's exoplanet mission, as it will allow scientists to study the light emitted by distant stars and their surrounding planets.