Since black holes don’ t emit light, it would be difficult to photograph. A photo needs light to show an object ' s shape or form, at a minimum. However, if a star enters a black hole and is torn apart by its tremendous gravity, the Roman Space Telescope can photograph the Tidal Disruption Events( TDEs) in the black hole while the object is ripped apart. The telescope will photograph the shattered stellar debris and bright flares emitted from the object in the black hole. Imagine a massive fan at the entrance to a dark cave at night, with an illuminated neon frisbee being pulled into it; that might be an Earthly way to picture the explosion of light as the object enters the cave.
BILLIONS OF GALAXIES? WHOA!
The Roman Space Telescope will survey over two billion galaxies over the next five years. The wide field of view and ability to capture a portion of the sky 100x larger than what humans have so far been able to see will offer Earthlings knowledge they have never seen before. For example, is there life in other galaxies? How many planets exist in other galaxies? What exoplanets exist that are similar to those in our solar system? The questions for today’ s scientists, and those in your generation, about worlds outside our solar system are virtually unlimited.
WHAT KIND OF IMAGES WILL WE SEE?
PHOTO CREDIT: NASA / JOEL KOWSKY
The Roman Space Telescope will show a broad, very detailed view of what it photographs. In addition, the newest of NASA ' s amazing telescopes will work alongside the Hubble
and James Webb telescopes to photograph all kinds of neat things in space. The Roman Space Telescope will create cosmic panoramas, while the Hubble will continue to take planetary surfaces, star systems, and time-lapse images. The James Webb Space Telescope captures infrared( heat pattern) images that the human eye cannot see. It can observe planet atmospheres and invisible objects that other telescopes can’ t see.
LEARN MORE AND VIEW THE PLANETARY AND GALAXY IMAGES
Ultimately, the Roman Space Telescope will be an asset to the other telescopes already used by NASA. How can you be a part of the research these telescopes are capturing? Start with a telescope in your bedroom and observe planets in our solar system. Also, visit NASA ' s website about the Roman Space Telescope to learn more. Look for the newest images from the Roman Space Telescope, which will be arriving in early 2027.
SCIENCE. NASA. GOV / MISSION / ROMAN-SPACE-TELESCOPE
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