The Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey

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Dark Energy Hunters Catch a Wave
By Alexis Madrigal October 5, 2009 | 9:33 am | Categories: Physics, Space



A new project to create a 3D map of space so large that scientists can find a 500 million-light-year-size remnant from the early universe inside it began operation last month.

The Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey opened its eyes to the universe, taking in data from hundreds of galaxies and quasars in the constellation Aquarius, from its perch on the Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico. Eventually, it will image two million galaxies and quasars.

“The data from BOSS will be some of the best ever obtained on the large-scale structure of the universe,” said David Schlegel, an astronomer heading the team from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, in a press release.

BOSS was built atop the Sloan Digital Sky Survey infrastructure, which created a smaller map of the universe in our neighborhood. The scientists put in new CCDs to better capture the infrared light that arrives redshifted from its trip across billions of light-years. They also remade the fiber optics system so they could capture more objects.

“We’ve rebuilt this telescope to make a much bigger map of the sky. We put in more optical fibers. We jammed in as many as we could fit,” Schlegel said. “It’s a mix of high-tech and low-tech. Every object we observe, we machine these plug plates and plug in these optical fibers.” (See the image at the top of the page.)

more:
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/10/dark-energy-search/

Cool name for a band, too!

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1. knowledge is power - thanks

nt