April 13, 2017
In 1998 observations of supernovas changed everything. They showed that the universe is expanding at a much faster rate than expected. Astronomers expected to find the expansion of the universe slowing down rather than speeding up due to gravitational pull of all the mass in the universe. Instead, it is speeding up!
What could be pushing galaxies apart? Is it a property of space itself we don’t understand? A modification of the Big Bang theory? A problem with our understanding of how gravity works? No one knows and for a lack of a better name they call this dark energy.
With the installation of a 40 million dollar upgrade to the Hobby-Eberly telescope astronomers hope to figure it out. How does one begin to explore the estimated 100 billion+ galaxies. There is so much excitement in the air here at McDonald Observatory.
The larger Hobby-Eberly mirrors looks nothing like a typical telescope . It’s made of 91 hexagonal mirrors and weighs 80 tons. Each mirror weighs 320 lbs with its underlying support system. The curvature of all 91 mirrors forms a very large spherical surface. You have to look deep inside the cage to see them.
The smaller Harlan J Smith telescope installed in 1969 weighs in at 160 tons.
We braved 45 degree temps with wind gusts to 40 mph to view stars through telescopes set up outdoors for the star party. We LOVED being here and spent the night in their parking lot. Shh-don’t tell.
45 degrees!!!! Oh my. Not sure how you could survive it.
I know, the one who hates to be cold. I love the stars that much.