Collaborations drive future of discovery beyond the stars

Humans have always been fascinated by the stars, and this curiosity drives us to explore the universe. But astronomers don’t just discover new worlds far beyond our reach. They interrogate time, space, phenomena we can’t see with our own eyes, and the chemistry of our existence.

Associate Professor Sarah Martell from the UNSW Sydney School of Physics says to truly understand the cosmos, scientists must collaborate with other researchers and institutions around the globe. “Sharing resources and expertise is key when asking big questions,” she says.

This teamwork includes using powerful telescopes to help us learn more about space.

The Gemini Observatory is a significant player in this collaborative effort, featuring two of the world’s most advanced optical and near-infrared telescopes—Gemini North in Hawaii and Gemini South in Chile. These telescopes allow scientists to study a variety of phenomena, including our Solar System, exoplanets (planets outside our solar system), star formation, galaxy structure, black holes and quasars.

But working with telescopes comes with challenges. “Many scientists want to use these powerful tools for different research projects,” A/Prof. Martell says. “And the instruments don’t always meet everyone's needs.”

A/Prof. Martell collaborates internationally to help build the next generation of observatory instruments, including for Gemini. 

Astrophysist Dr Tayyaba Zafar from Macquarie University first met A/Prof. Martell when she was observing with the HERMES instrument for the GALAH survey, which A/Prof. Martell leads.

"That initial collaboration around the telescope marked the beginning of our work together," Dr Zafar says.

Challenges & opportunities

Humans have been natural astronomers since we first existed, but telescopes revolutionised our ability to study the cosmos. They see colours and light that our eyes cannot perceive, spotting radio waves, microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, gamma rays, and x-rays.

Each Gemini telescope has a similar structure but contains different instruments. The Gemini High-Resolution Optical SpecTrograph (GHOST) attached to Gemini North was designed to study a range of astronomical environments. This includes the stars that host extrasolar planets, the primordial intergalactic medium (the gas that filled the universe shortly after the Big Bang, existing before stars and galaxies were formed) and small galaxies near the Milky Way.

“Small galaxies are fascinating because they represent a primitive and undeveloped part of the universe,” A/Prof. Martell says. “Here, things are slower and quieter, with an elemental composition dominated by hydrogen and helium.”

Hydrogen and helium are the universe's two oldest and most abundant elements, formed during the Big Bang.

GHOST is a collaborative effort between Australian Astronomical Optics (formerly the Australian Astronomical Observatory), the Herzberg Institute in Canada and The Australian National University. 

"The GHOST spectrograph – with its high resolution, larger field of view and 3D spectroscopy capability – offers a unique view to the cosmos, allowing astronomers to capture incredibly detailed spectra of distant stars and exoplanets," Dr Zafar says.

"This high level of precision will enable the study of stellar compositions, motions and other properties with unprecedented clarity."

In contrast to the smaller galaxies, our own Milky Way galaxy is a much “noisier” place, with stars constantly forming and dying, creating newer and heavier elements in the process.

A/Prof. Martell says scientists on another project are studying how the rare-earth element Europium – which is usually found in minerals on Earth – can form in older parts of the universe.

“One of the places where this can happen is the merger of two black holes, which is an exotic event that also produces gravitational waves, a vibration in spacetime itself,” A/Prof. Martell says. “That makes a bunch of elements, like gold.

“Dwarf galaxies also carry these elements. One of the exciting science opportunities that GHOST gives us is to search for rare elements like these across new environments and smaller galaxies.”

Future focused

In addition to her work on GHOST, A/Prof. Martell is also part of the science team behind the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) – set to be the largest visible-light telescope in the world when it begins operating in Chile in the 2030s. This powerful telescope will enable astronomers to probe deeper into the ancient universe and search for Earth-like planets and signs of life.

The Giant Magellan Telescope will have 50 million times the light gathering power of the human eye and be up to 200 times more powerful than today’s best telescopes.

Dr Zafar's work looks at the interstellar medium of extragalactic galaxies – with a focus on investigating and comparing their gas, metals and so-called 'dust properties'.

"Star dust, in particular, is a fundamental building block for planets and life," Dr Zafar says. 

GMT's first scientific instrument, the GMT-Consortium Large Earth Finder (G-CLEF), will help determine if certain molecules indicate the presence of life.

“Australia is a founding member of the GMT – and we’re playing a major role in designing and building G-CLEF,” A/Prof. Martell says. “This is a big part of our future research plans.”

"Being a founding member of the GMT positions Australia at the forefront of next-generation astronomical technology and research," Dr Zafar says. "It is one of the three upcoming extremely large telescopes and will provide Australian astronomers with access to the most advanced observational capabilities."

Through collaboration and innovation, these new observatory instruments will expand our understanding of the universe. The ongoing efforts of scientists like A/Prof. Martell and Dr Zafar show that by working together, we can unlock the secrets of the cosmos, enhance the legacy of those who came before us – and inspire future generations of astronomers.