NASA | GLASTcast 2008 Mission Update

The video discusses the GLAST telescope, now named the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope, and its journey from launch to its initial observations. After a successful launch and system checks, the telescope began mapping gamma rays and making significant discoveries, including pulsars and potential dark matter sources. The mission aims to uncover more about gamma ray bursts and cosmic phenomena, with promising future prospects.

What was the primary purpose of the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on the Fermi telescope?

• To monitor solar flares

• To measure cosmic microwave background radiation

• To map gamma rays over the entire sky

• To detect radio waves from distant galaxies

What is the role of the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) on the Fermi telescope?

• To observe the Earth's atmosphere

• To measure the temperature of stars

• To track the movement of asteroids

• To detect gamma-ray bursts from black hole formations

Why was the GLAST telescope renamed to the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope?

• To recognize Enrico Fermi's contributions to physics

• To reflect its new mission objectives

• To commemorate its launch location

• To honor a famous astronomer

How does the Fermi telescope contribute to our understanding of dark matter?

• By measuring gravitational waves

• By detecting radio waves from dark matter

• By analyzing the cosmic microwave background

• By observing gamma rays from cosmic ray collisions

What is the significance of the Vela pulsar in the gamma-ray sky?

• It is the brightest persistent source in gamma rays

• It emits only radio waves

• It is the first pulsar discovered by Fermi

• It is located outside the Milky Way

What makes the pulsar CTA 1 unique compared to other pulsars?

• It blinks only in gamma rays

• It was the first pulsar detected by Fermi

• It is the oldest known pulsar

• It emits only in radio waves

What future discoveries are anticipated from the Fermi telescope?

• Dozens of new pulsars

• The origin of cosmic microwave background

• The structure of black holes

• New planets in our solar system