The Big Bang and the Search for Dark Matter (Forwarded)

University of Cambridge
Cambridge, U.K.

25 October 2004

The Big Bang and the Search for Dark Matter

University of Cambridge Astronomers take Hubble-Quality Images from the Ground

University of Cambridge Astronomers have developed a new method for taking
images of the universe from the ground that are almost free of atmospheric
distortions.

Using a Charge-Coupled Device detector that has no readout noise, they developed
a new camera that takes pictures of the sky at very high speed. The best
pictures are selected and combined to give the final picture.

Developed by Dr Craig Mackay and his team at the University of Cambridge
Institute of Astronomy and Professor John Baldwin at Cavendish Laboratory, this
new technique allows for high resolution imaging from the ground for the first
time, something that will allow astronomers to tackle mapping of the invisible
dark matter in the universe.

Dr Mackay said that by understanding this mass distribution properly,
astronomers can now hope to understand how the universe evolved from its
original hot big bang to where it is now.

Ground-based astronomy is limited by the way atmospheric turbulence smears
images, which limits our view of the universe form the ground. This is, in fact,
one of the main reasons for going into space.

"This new camera and the image selection method we call 'Lucky Imaging' will
revolutionise astronomical image quality obtainable from the ground. There are
currently many observing programmes that need to cover wide areas of the sky,
something the Hubble Space Telescope cannot do. This method will now allow wide
field imaging with a level of quality only achievable with the Hubble Space
Telescope," said Dr Mackay.

The new technique, however, will not replace the Hubble Space technology. It
will simply allow high-quality pictures to be taken from the ground over large
areas of the sky, something present instruments are unable to do.

"This will allow us to measure the way images of distant galaxies are distorted
by invisible dark matter, something of great importance for cosmology. This is
the first time we may have a technique that will allow the tracing of dark
matter throughout the universe to be tackled properly," said Dr Mackay.

Dr Mackay's team are planning to build a much larger camera that will cover
areas of the sky quickly and efficiently.

Notes for Editors:

1. For images contact University of Cambridge Press and Publications Office

2. Charge-Coupled Devices are widely used in all modern TV cameras and hand-held
digital cameras. The University of Cambridge Astronomers used a CCD developed in
the UK by E2V Technologies Ltd. (Chelmsford).

3. More information about Lucky Imaging can be found on the Lucky Imaging
Website at:
http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~optics/Luc...Site/index.htm
Any of the images or information on that site may be used freely with
appropriate acknowledgement.

For more information, contact:

1. Corina Hadjiodysseos, Press and Publications Office University of Cambridge.
Tel: 01223 332300, email:

2. Dr Craig Mackay, Institute of Astronomy University of Cambridge. Tel: 01223
337543, email: