The Space Observatory That Could Explain Dark Energy
6/13/202652 min
NASA is preparing for the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a next-generation observatory scheduled for September 2026.
Equipped with a 2.4-meter mirror and a field of view far larger than Hubble’s, the mission will study dark energy, map galaxy evolution, and search for thousands of exoplanets from its position at the Lagrange L2 point.
Featuring advanced wide-field imaging and a cutting-edge coronagraph, the telescope is ahead of schedule and within budget. Once operational, Roman will work alongside other major observatories to deliver massive new datasets for astronomers around the world.
Thank you for listening to Bedtime Astronomy — your guide to the cosmos. New episodes on space exploration, NASA missions & the latest astronomy breakthroughs.
This episode includes AI-generated content.
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
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Speaker 20:19
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Speaker 3· Host0:22
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Speaker 40:26
Mom.
Speaker 20:27
You can really have it delivered.
Speaker 3· Host0:28
Or pick it up.
Speaker 40:29
Mommy, look.
Speaker 20:30
I think your kid is walking up the slide.
Speaker 3· Host0:31
Really?
Speaker 20:32
Autotrader. Buy your car online. Really.
Speaker 50:34
[gentle music] Welcome to Bedtime Astronomy. Explore the wonders of the cosmos with our soothing bedtime astronomy podcast. Each episode offers a gentle journey through the stars, planets, and beyond, perfect for unwinding after a long day. Let's travel through the mysteries of the universe as you drift off into a peaceful slumber under the night sky.
Speaker 6· Host0:59
Imagine stepping outside tonight.
Speaker 3· Host1:03
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 6· Host1:04
Right? And you hold up a single, tiny grain of sand at arm's length against the night sky.
Speaker 3· Host1:09
Oh, that's a, that's a classic way to visualize it.
Speaker 6· Host1:13
Right. So that minuscule speck, that almost invisible fraction of the cosmos, that's roughly the area that the Hubble Space Telescope can observe in a single exposure.
Speaker 3· Host1:22
Yeah, just a tiny, tiny pin prick of the sky.
Speaker 6· Host1:25
Exactly. Now, imagine if you could just swap out that grain of sand for a,