vania-janet/multiturn-rag-retrieval-data huggingface dataset:
Education News & Blogs – NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
GUSTO – short for Galactic/Extragalactic ULDB Spectroscopic Terahertz Observatory – is a balloon-based telescope that will study the interstellar medium, the small amount of gas and dust between the stars. From its vantage point high above almost all of the Earth’s atmosphere, GUSTO will measure carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen emissions in the far-infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, focusing its sights on the Milky Way galaxy and the nearby galaxy known as the Large Magellanic Cloud.
 Our galaxy, the Milky Way, has hundreds of billions of stars and enough gas and dust to make billions more stars. Credit: NASA | › Full image and caption

The mission is designed to provide scientists with data that will help them understand the complete lifecycle of the gas and dust that forms planets and stars. To achieve its goals, GUSTO will study: 

The composition and formation of molecular clouds in these regions. 
The formation, birth, and evolution of stars from molecular clouds.
The formation of gas clouds following the deaths of stars. 	And the re-start of this cycle.

 Nearly 200,000 light-years from Earth, the Large Magellanic Cloud is a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. Vast clouds of gas within it slowly collapse to form new stars. In turn, these light up the gas clouds in a riot of colors, visible in this image from the Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: NASA | › Full image and caption

Scientists hope to use the information collected by GUSTO to develop models of the Milky Way and Large Magellanic Cloud. Studying these two galaxies allows scientists to observe more details and make more accurate models. Those models can then be used for comparing and studying more distant galaxies that are harder to observe.
Why Fly on a Balloon?
Unlike most NASA missions, GUSTO won’t launch on a rocket. It will be carried to approximately 120,000 feet (36.5 kilometers) above Antarctica using what’s known as a Long Duration Balloon, or LDB.
Balloon missions provide a number of advantages to scientists conducting research. They are more affordable than missions that go to space and require less time to develop.
Astrophysics Science Division Colloquium Series Schedule: Spring 2024
In addition to their implications for the origin of gravitational wave sources, these models promise to improve our interpretation of a wide range of stellar population observations, ranging from nearby open clusters to galaxies at high redshift. Finally, I will speculate on the importance of forthcoming observations to constrain key binary evolution processes.

Observational Benchmarks of Chemical Evolution from Extreme Emission Line Galaxies
Danielle Berg
University of Texas in Austin
Thursday, Apr 18, 2024

Abstract
The advent of the James Webb Space Telescope has opened our first window onto detailed abundance studies of high redshift (z > 6) extreme emission line galaxies. The coming years will provide the first spectroscopic samples of these galaxies in the epoch of reionization with which we can constrain their chemical compositions and histories and resulting conditions that shaped the escape of ionizing photons. As we build our samples of high-ionization nebular emission lines and absorption profiles of outflowing gas, we can begin to understand how the time-dependent nature of elemental production affects our interpretation of different epochs of galaxies and the resulting strung-together evolutionary story. I will present recent HST and JWST observations of the dynamic ISM across multiple epochs and the lessons we are learning about chemical evolution, star formation histories, and feedback prescriptions.

The hot circumgalactic medium
Smita Mathur
Ohio State
Tuesday, Apr 23, 2024

Abstract
The circumgalactic medium (CGM) is an important component of a galaxy, at the interface between the intergalactic medium and the galactic disk, playing a critical role in galaxy formation and evolution. The X-ray missions Chandra, XMM-Newton, and Suzaku opened a new window on CGM studies, allowing us to probe the warm-hot gas where most of the galactic baryons reside. In over two decades since the launch of the great X-ray observatories, we have made great strides in understanding the CGM, but significant challenges remain. I'll review our progress so for, highlight new discoveries, outline the open questions, and discuss paths for future progress.

Exploiting the power of nearby laboratories to uncover the history of galaxies
Svea S Hernandez
STScI
Hubble Space Telescope - NASA Science
Brian Welch explains Hubble's image of a massive galaxy cluster creating a gravitational lens that magnified the same supernova exploding four different times! Watch on YouTubeInside the Image: Herbig-Haro Jet HH 24A dark, Jedi-like cloak of dust obscures a newborn star that is shooting twin jets out into space. Dr. Kenneth Carpenter explains this breathtaking image.Watch on YouTubeHighlights from Hubble's 34th Year in OrbitAfter more than three decades, Hubble continues to uncover the mysteries of the universe. These are a few science achievements from Hubble’s latest year in orbit.Watch on YouTubeJohn BahcallAs one of the founding fathers of Hubble, astrophysicist John Bahcall tirelessly pushed lawmakers for funding and support, while simultaneously contributing to the scientific design of the project.Read MoreHubble's Impact on Human SpaceflightThe lessons learned from Hubble’s missions have gone on to influence human spaceflight and alter the way people work in the airless, gravity-free environment beyond our planet’s boundaries.Read MoreDark UniverseThis new e-book highlights Hubble's recent discoveries about two mysterious components of our universe, known as dark energy and dark matter.Read More and DownloadThe Lost UniverseNASA’s first tabletop role-playing game adventure invites you to take on a classic villain as you overcome challenges and embark on an exciting quest to unlock more knowledge about our universe.Begin Your Adventure!What is Hubble Observing?See the area of sky Hubble is currently investigating or explore its upcoming and past targets.Explore MoreTime Travel: Observing Cosmic HistoryBy observing light from faraway cosmic objects, Hubble acts like a time machine. Light takes time to travel great distances to reach Hubble. Hubble images captured today, show what the objects looked like years ago!Read MoreNew Messier Catalog ImagesWe have added new images to Hubble's Messier Catalog of celestial objects.
Hubble Spots the Spider Galaxy - NASA Science
Hubble Spots the Spider Galaxy - NASA Science

 Skip to main content Missions Search All NASA MissionsA to Z List of MissionsUpcoming Launches and LandingsSpaceships and RocketsCommunicating with MissionsArtemisJames Webb Space TelescopeHubble Space TelescopeInternational Space StationOSIRIS-RExHumans in Space Why Go to SpaceAstronautsCommercial SpaceDestinationsSpaceships and RocketsLiving in SpaceEarth &amp; Climate Explore Earth ScienceClimate ChangeEarth, Our PlanetEarth Science in ActionEarth MultimediaEarth DataEarth Science ResearchersAbout NASA NASA's ImpactsCenters and FacilitiesDirectoratesOrganizationsPeople of NASACareersInternshipsOur HistoryDoing Business with NASAGet InvolvedContactLearning Resources For Kids and StudentsFor EducatorsFor Colleges and UniversitiesFor ProfessionalsScience for EveryoneSpace Samples for LearningRequest an Exhibit or SpeakerSTEM Engagement at NASAAeronautics Science in the AirNASA AircraftFlight InnovationSupersonic FlightAir Traffic SolutionsGreen Aviation TechDrones & YouTechnology Technology Transfer & SpinoffsSpace Travel TechnologyTechnology Living in SpaceManufacturing and MaterialsRoboticsScience InstrumentsComputingThe Universe ExoplanetsThe Search for Life in the UniverseStarsGalaxiesBlack HolesThe Big BangDark Matter &amp; Dark EnergyThe Solar System The SunMercuryVenusEarthThe MoonMarsJupiterSaturnUranusNeptunePluto &amp; Dwarf PlanetsAsteroids, Comets &amp; MeteorsThe Kuiper BeltThe Oort CloudSkywatchingEspañol CienciaAeronáuticaCiencias TerrestresSistema SolarUniversoScience All NASA ScienceEarth SciencePlanetary ScienceAstrophysics & Space ScienceThe Sun & HeliophysicsBiological & Physical SciencesLunar ScienceCitizen ScienceAstromaterialsAeronautics ResearchHuman Space Travel ResearchExploreSearchSubmitNews & EventsMultimediaNASA+2 min readHubble Spots the Spider GalaxyNASA Hubble Mission TeamGoddard Space Flight CenterMar 22, 2024ArticleThis image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows the irregular galaxy UGC 5829.
What Is a Laser? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids
What Is a Laser? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids

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What Is a Laser?

The Short Answer:

	A laser produces a very narrow beam of light that is useful in many technologies and instruments. The letters in the word laser stand for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
	

The letters in the word laser stand for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A laser is an unusual light source. It is quite different from a light bulb or a flash light. Lasers produce a very narrow beam of light. This type of light is useful for lots of technologies and instruments—even some that you might use at home!

How does a laser work?
Light travels in waves, and the distance between the peaks of a wave is called the wavelength.

Each color of light has a different wavelength. For example, blue light has a shorter wavelength than red light. Sunlight—and the typical light from a lightbulb—is made up of light with many different wavelengths. Our eyes see this mixture of wavelengths as white light. 

This animation shows a representation of the different wavelengths present in sunlight. When all of the different wavelengths (colors) come together, you get white light. Image credit: NASA

A laser is different. Lasers do not occur in nature. However, we have figured ways to artificially create this special type of light. Lasers produce a narrow beam of light in which all of the light waves have very similar wavelengths. The laser’s light waves travel together with their peaks all lined up, or in phase. This is why laser beams are very narrow, very bright, and can be focused into a very tiny spot.

This animation is a representation of in phase laser light waves. Image credit: NASA

Because laser light stays focused and does not spread out much (like a flashlight would), laser beams can travel very long distances. They can also concentrate a lot of energy on a very small area.
Types - NASA Science
Merging galaxies in the young universe may provide the fuel to power the enormous energy output of quasars, but when the feeding frenzy ends, the black hole cannot maintain it. It’s thought that quasar activity may be episodic and that this entire phase may last only about 10 million years.BlazarsMarkarian 421, imaged here by the National Science Foundation’s Sloan Digital Sky Survey, is one of the closest blazars to Earth.Sloan Digital Sky SurveyBlazars produce light across the electromagnetic spectrum. Their powerful jets point almost directly at Earth, so they appear brighter than other active galaxies. Observatories on Earth can sometimes detect high-energy particles – like neutrinos – produced within the jets and trace them back to their home galaxy. This information gives scientists a glimpse into the environment around the blazar’s supermassive black hole.Keep ExploringDiscover More Topics From NASAUniverseBlack HolesStarsExoplanetsReturn to topThe National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNASA explores the unknown in air and space, innovates for the benefit of humanity, and inspires the world through discovery.About NASA's MissionJoin UsHomeNews & EventsMultimediaNASA+MissionsHumans in SpaceEarth & ClimateThe Solar SystemThe UniverseScienceAeronauticsTechnologyLearning ResourcesAbout NASANASA en EspañolFollow NASAMore NASA Social AccountsNASA NewslettersSitemapFor MediaPrivacy PolicyFOIANo FEAR ActOffice of the IGBudget & Annual ReportsAgency Financial ReportsContact NASAAccessibilityPage Last Updated:2 weeks agoPage Editor:SMD Content EditorsResponsible NASA Official for Science:Dana Bolles
Solar System Exploration - NASA Science
Lots of MoonsOur solar system has more than 200 moons.4. Meet Me in the Milky WayOur solar system is in one of the Milky Way galaxy’s four spiral arms.5. A Long Way AroundOur solar system takes about 230 million years to orbit the galactic center.6. Spiraling Through SpaceThe Milky Way is a spiral galaxy.7. Room to BreatheOur solar system has many worlds with many types of atmospheres.8. Ring WorldsThe four giant planets – and at least one asteroid – have rings.9. Getting Out ThereMore than 300 robotic spacecraft have left Earth's orbit, and 24 U.S. astronauts have traveled to the Moon.10. Life as We Know ItSo far, Earth is the only place we've found life in our solar system.Solar System OverviewThe solar system has one star, eight planets, five dwarf planets, at least 290 moons, more than 1.3 million asteroids, and about 3,900 comets. It is located in an outer spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy called the Orion Arm, or Orion Spur. Our solar system orbits the center of the galaxy at about 515,000 mph (828,000 kph). It takes about 230 million years to complete one orbit around the galactic center.We call it the solar system because it is made up of our star, the Sun, and everything bound to it by gravity – the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune; dwarf planets Pluto, Ceres, Makemake, Haumea, and Eris – along with hundreds of moons; and millions of asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.Why NASA is Going to EuropaEverywhere there’s water on Earth, there’s life.
Explore the Electromagnetic Spectrum | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids
This image was taken by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope which was placed in orbit around Earth in June 2008. At the height of this gamma ray outburst, the galaxy was more than 10,000 times brighter than the combined brightness of all of the stars in our Milky Way galaxy.

Related Resources for Educators

The Electromagnetic Spectrum: Video Series and Companion Book
ViewSpace: Explore the Universe with Interactives and Videos
Sensing the Universe

 	article last updated December 19, 2023
 

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Quick Reads - NASA Science
We’ve learned a lot about gravity…Article10 months agoGamma-Ray Bursts: Black Hole Birth Announcements4 min readGamma-ray bursts are the brightest, most violent explosions in the universe, but they can be surprisingly tricky to detect. Our eyes can’t see them because they are tuned to just a limited portion of the types of light that exist,…Article12 months agoA Mesmerizing Model of Monster Black Holes2 min readJust about every galaxy the size of our Milky Way (or bigger) has a supermassive black hole at its center. These objects are ginormous – hundreds of thousands to billions of times the mass of the Sun! Now, we know…Article1 year agoWhat’s Made in a Thunderstorm and Faster Than Lightning? Gamma Rays!3 min readFermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has spotted gamma rays coming from thunderstorms.Article1 year agoDiscovering the Universe Through the Constellation Orion6 min readDo you ever look up at the night sky and get lost in the stars? Maybe while you’re stargazing you spot some of your favorite constellations. But did you know there’s more to constellations than meets the eye? They’re not…Article1 year agoDecoding Nebulae3 min readWe can agree that nebulae are some of the most majestic-looking objects in the universe. But what are they exactly?Article3 years agoBlack Holes: Seeing the Invisible!4 min readBlack holes are some of the most bizarre and fascinating objects in the cosmos. Astronomers want to study lots of them, but there’s one big problem – black holes are invisible! Since they don’t emit any light, it’s pretty tough…Article3 years agoCosmic Piece of Pi3 min readWhat is pi? We’re not talking about your favorite pastry with yummy fillings and a side of ice cream. Pi can be written as the Greek letter 𝞹 or the number 3.14159…, which goes on and on because pi is…Article3 years agoThe Lives, Times, and Deaths of Stars4 min readWho among us doesn’t covertly read tabloid headlines when we pass them by?
Imagine the Universe!
For example, the optical analog would be to remove the spikes and halos which often appear on images of bright stars because of light scattered by the telescope's internal supports.
density
The ratio between the mass of an object and its volume. In the metric system, density is measured in grams per cubic centimeter (or kilograms per liter); the density of water is 1.0 gm/cm3; iron is 7.9 gm/cm3; lead is 11.3 gm/cm3.
Dewar
A container (akin to a thermos bottle) that keeps cold material cold. In astronomy, these are often used for liquid nitrogen (at 77K), but can also be used for solid neon (17K) or liquid helium (4.2K). Some astronomical detectors work better at cold temperatures.
disk
 (a) A flattened, circular region of gas, dust, and/or stars. It may refer to material surrounding a newly-formed star; material accreting onto a black hole or neutron star; or the large region of a spiral galaxy containing the spiral arms. (b) The apparent circular shape of the Sun, a planet, or the moon when seen in the sky or through a telescope.
Doppler effect (C.J. Doppler)
The apparent change in wavelength of sound or light caused by the motion of the source, observer or both. Waves emitted by a moving object as received by an observer will be blueshifted (compressed) if approaching, redshifted (elongated) if receding. It occurs both in sound and light. How much the frequency changes depends on how fast the object is moving toward or away from the receiver. Compare cosmological redshift.
dust
Not the dust one finds around the house (which is typically fine bits of fabric, dirt, and dead skin cells). Rather, irregularly shaped grains of carbon and/or silicates measuring a fraction of a micron across which are found between the stars. Dust is most evident by its absorption, causing large dark patches in regions of our Milky Way Galaxy and dark bands across other galaxies.
dust tail
A stream of dust particles emitted from the nucleus of a comet.
Westerlund 2
The Hubble Space Telescope pierced through the dusty veil shrouding the stellar nursery by observing near-infrared light, giving astronomers a clear view of the nebula and the dense concentration of stars in the central cluster. The cluster measures between 6 to 13 light-years across.

The giant star cluster is only about 2 million years old and contains some of our galaxy's hottest, brightest, and most massive stars. Some of its heftiest stars unleash torrents of ultraviolet light and hurricane-force winds of charged particles that etch at the enveloping hydrogen gas cloud.
 
When the stellar winds hit dense walls of gas, the shockwaves may spark a new wave of star birth along the wall of the cavity. The red dots scattered throughout the landscape are a rich population of newly forming stars still wrapped in their gas-and-dust cocoons. These tiny, faint stars are between 1 million and 2 million years old — relatively young stars — that have not yet ignited the hydrogen in their cores. The brilliant blue stars seen throughout the image are mostly foreground stars.

Because the cluster is very young — in astronomical terms — it has not had time to disperse its stars deep into interstellar space, providing astronomers with an opportunity to gather information on how the cluster formed by studying it within its star-birthing environment.
Hubble Captures a Bright Spiral in the Queen’s Hair - NASA Science
Observations collected by Webb stand to transform our understanding of how galaxies change and evolve over time, by providing infrared data at an unprecedented level of detail and clarity. However, ultraviolet and visible light observations from Hubble — such as those used to create this image — complement Webb’s observations. In this case, the Hubble data offer a more accurate assessment of the stellar populations of nearby galaxies, which is crucial to understanding their evolution. Hubble and Webb observations play an important role in developing our understanding of how galaxies form and evolve, and observations of NGC 4689 are a valuable part of that quest for knowledge. In fact, Hubble featured an image of the galaxy before, in 2020.Text Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)Download this imageExplore MoreHubble Space TelescopeTracing the Growth of GalaxiesGalaxy Details and Mergers@NASAHubble@NASAHubble@NASAHubbleMedia Contact:Claire AndreoliNASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MDclaire.andreoli@nasa.govShareDetailsLast UpdatedMay 24, 2024EditorAndrea GianopoulosLocationGoddard Space Flight CenterRelated TermsAstrophysicsAstrophysics DivisionGalaxiesGoddard Space Flight CenterHubble Space TelescopeMissionsSpiral GalaxiesThe UniverseKeep ExploringDiscover More Topics From NASAHubble Space TelescopeGalaxies StoriesStars StoriesDark Matter & Dark EnergyReturn to topThe National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNASA explores the unknown in air and space, innovates for the benefit of humanity, and inspires the world through discovery.About NASA's MissionJoin UsHomeNews & EventsMultimediaNASA+MissionsHumans in SpaceEarth & ClimateThe Solar SystemThe UniverseScienceAeronauticsTechnologyLearning ResourcesAbout NASANASA en EspañolFollow NASAMore NASA Social AccountsNASA NewslettersSitemapFor MediaPrivacy PolicyFOIANo FEAR ActOffice of the IGBudget & Annual ReportsAgency Financial ReportsContact NASAAccessibilityPage Last Updated:yesterdayPage Editor:SMD Content EditorsResponsible NASA Official for Science:Dana Bolles