Astronomical optics

Article
19 October 2022 | Open Access

An integrated imaging sensor for aberration-corrected 3D photography

A meta-imaging sensor detects an extra-fine 4D light field distribution using a vibrating microlens array, enabling high-resolution 3D photography up to a gigapixel with fast aberration correction, demonstrated on a telescope aimed at the Moon.

Jiamin Wu
, Yuduo Guo
& Qionghai Dai

Q&A | 07 November 2012

Turning point: Olivier Guyon

Optical physicist plans to use 'genius grant' to promote search for exoplanets.

Virginia Gewin

News | 29 August 2012

China aims high from the bottom of the world

Country plans two world-class telescopes for its Antarctic observatory.

Jane Qiu

News | 28 June 2012

Private foundation plans space telescope

Deep-space mission would hunt for hazardous near-Earth asteroids.

Ron Cowen

News | 20 June 2012

Astronomers catch video of near-miss asteroid

Sixth-closest near-Earth encounter tracked by telescope.

Eric Hand

News | 25 May 2012

Nations to split telescope project

Australia and South Africa will share the SKA.

Geoff Brumfiel

News | 23 May 2012

Hubble to revisit exoplanet puzzle

Team aims to settle running dispute over mysterious object.

Ron Cowen

News | 13 April 2012

Infant galaxy offers tantalizing peek at early Universe

Discovery hints at an unexpected cohort of baby star systems.

Ron Cowen

News | 03 April 2012

Global observatory sees first light

Expanding network of telescopes will give a seamless view of the changing sky.

Eric Hand

News | 24 January 2012

Superconducting detectors offer high-speed astronomy

Microwave kinetic inductance detectors could help find gravitational waves and extrasolar planets.

Eric Hand

News & Views | 18 May 2011

Bound and unbound planets abound

Two teams searching for extrasolar planets have jointly discovered a new population of objects: ten Jupiter-mass planets far from their host stars, or perhaps even floating freely through the Milky Way. See Letter p.349

Joachim Wambsganss

News | 26 January 2011

Brazil ignites telescope race

Deal boosts Europe's bid to build world's biggest observatory, as US groups compete for funds.

Adam Mann

Books & Arts | 25 August 2010

Last days of the lone astronomer

A celebratory account of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey highlights astronomy's culture shift to big science — but at what risk to individual ingenuity, asks Joss Bland-Hawthorn?

Joss Bland-Hawthorn

News Feature | 21 July 2010

Astronomy: Ready for boarding — finally

NASA and Germany have spent 15 years and billions of dollars on SOFIA, an airborne telescope that is about to produce its first results. Eric Hand asks whether the science will justify the cost.