In Texas, portal to early universe enabled by largest dark-sky reserve on Earth
Astronomers at the McDonald Observatory in West Texas are using the Hobby-Eberly Telescope to study galaxies 10 to 12 billion light-years away, leveraging the world's largest dark-sky reserve to minimize light pollution. The HETDEX project aims to understand dark energy, which began accelerating the universe's expansion two billion years after the Big Bang. Data collected from 2017 to 2024 may soon yield key insights into the universe's fate. The region’s pristine night skies also support broader dark-sky conservation efforts amid growing light pollution.
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You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.Dark Skies and Dark Energy Converge at a West Texas Star PartyIn the Big Bend region, a portal to the early universe is enabled by the largest dark-sky reserve on Earth.The Hobby-Eberly Telescope at the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis, Texas, was used to capture photons from galaxies 10 billion to 12 billion light-years away, more distant than any dark energy survey has attempted before.Dark Skies and Dark Energy Converge at a West Texas Star PartyIn the Big Bend region, a portal to the early universe is enabled by the largest dark-sky reserve on Earth.The Hobby-Eberly Telescope at the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis, Texas, was used to capture…
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