William Herschel Telescope - Scientific Research

Scientific Research

Astronomers use the WHT to conduct scientific research across most branches of observational astronomy, including solar system science, galactic astronomy, extragalactic astronomy and cosmology. Most of the instruments are designed to be useful for a range of different research.

The WHT has been used to make many significant new discoveries. Some of the more notable include the first evidence of a supermassive black hole (Sgr A*) at the centre of the Milky Way (in 1995) and the first optical observation of a gamma-ray burst (GRB 970228) (in 1997).

Since the mid-1990s the WHT has faced increasing competition from newer 8-to-10 m (310-to-390 in) telescopes. Nevertheless, a wide range of research continues to be done with the telescope. In recent years (as of 2010) this has included:

• The SAURON project, an integral field spectrograph survey of nearby elliptical and lenticular galaxies (2001–2010)
• The first spectrum of an asteroid which subsequently hit the Earth, 2008 TC₃ (2009)
• The first spectrum of Hanny's Voorwerp (2009)
• The discovery that diffuse interstellar bands do not originate in circumstellar envelopes (2008)
• Confirmation that WASP-3b is an extrasolar planet (2008)
• High-resolution spectra of the first known double supernova, SN 2006jc (2007)