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New Australian telescope to help find far-flung galaxies

<p dir="ltr">A new multi-lensed telescope will give Australian astronomers a new set of eyes to search for and study ultra-faint galaxies and astronomical objects in the southern hemisphere.</p> <p dir="ltr">Appropriately named the Huntsman Telescope, the instrument is made up of 10 Canon super-telephoto lenses and has begun science operations at the Siding Spring observatory in north-central NSW, near the town of Coonabarabran.</p> <p dir="ltr">Along with spying distant astronomical objects and galaxies, the telescope is expected to be used to view transient astronomical events, such as sudden explosions of stars.</p> <p dir="ltr">Scientists hope to use the Huntsman to further our understanding of how galaxies form and evolve, how they engage with structures around them, and what happens when galaxies collide.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to Dr Lee Spitler, the Principal Investigator of the Huntsman Telescope, the telescope’s work will be crucial for understanding what could happen if our Milky Way Galaxy ever collided with its neighbour, the Andromeda Galaxy, which is theorised to occur in 4.5 billion years.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Huntsman Telescope is pioneering the way in which we view our Southern skies by capturing images of the faintest galaxy structures that conventional telescopes simply couldn’t,” Dr Spitler said in a <a href="https://spaceaustralia.com/index.php/news/new-huntsman-telescope-turns-its-eyes-sky" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b2b971d8-7fff-8d04-3a74-6ad790618068"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“The ability to observe the remnants of galaxies colliding with each other and searching for the faintest and smallest galaxies in the Universe will help us understand the potential fate of the Milky Way in the far distant future.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/huntsman-telescope.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The Huntsman Telescope looks deep into space at the Siding Spring Observatory. Image: Macquarie University</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Though named after a spider, PhD candidate Sarah Caddy said the Huntsman Telescope’s ten individual “eyes” was inspired by the northern hemisphere’s Dragonfly Array program, but its technology has been pushed even further.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Huntsman’s new suite of powerful computers enable each lens or ‘eye’ of the Huntsman to operate independently of each other. This will allow the telescope to autonomously detect ultra-fast transient events like stellar flares from distant stars or even more exotic phenomena like aiding the search for origin of fast radio bursts that continue to elude astronomers,” Ms Caddy explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">“After the success of Dragonfly in the northern hemisphere, it certainly makes sense to have a similar facility here in the Southern Hemisphere to access parts of the sky that Dragonfly can’t. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Not only that, but Australia is home to many world-class radio telescope facilities. Combining data from radio surveys of the southern sky with Huntsman optical data will help us piece together a more complete view of how galaxies evolve.” </p> <p dir="ltr">“Even the geographical location of Australia is important for Huntsman’s transient science goals. Huntsman will contribute to the growing number of Australian rapid response facilities aiming to capture events like the optical counterparts to Fast Radio Burst and Gravitational Wave progenitors.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are so excited to see the project move from the commissioning phase into full-time science mode, and I can’t wait to see how this amazing new facility will help Astronomers explore our Universe in the years to come,” she concluded.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-105d4c57-7fff-bfbf-50d3-215a65a3ee12"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Macquarie University</em></p>

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"A horror movie": Woman's shock at unwanted guest in purchase

<p>A Woolworths customer has found the funny side to a very disturbing find in her gingerbread house.</p> <p>Shopper Katie explained to Facebook that she found a massive huntsman, complete with egg sac, in a readymade gingerbread house that was purchased from her local supermarket.</p> <p>“Wait Woolworths, this isn’t what I ordered?” laughed Katie.</p> <p>“Only in Australia, only in #2020.</p> <p>“Buy a readymade gingerbread house they said, it’ll be easier than building one they said!</p> <p>“Seriously I don’t say this often but: why me?”</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839257/woollies.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/682540a519f74cd3aa37b560b2114a72" /></p> <div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>She then described how she found it in the packaging.</p> <p>“It was like a horror movie,” she said.</p> <p>“I was making myself a cup of tea, I glanced up at the gingerbread house thinking, ‘Hmmmm I wonder if I can sneak a piece off without the kids noticing.’</p> <p>“Then I saw it, the tip ... of a leg, and then another leg and then another, and then the body, carrying a mother trucking egg sac.</p> <p>“I’m done!”</p> <p>People were disgusted with the find.</p> <p>“Are you SERIOUS? It’s INSIDE THE BOX,” wrote one.</p> <p>“OMG! Complete with egg sac so it’s been in there a long while!”</p> <p>Katie said she moved the spider outside, and a Woolworths representative apologised for the "scary surprise".</p> <p>“Oh no Katie - this critter just wanted a home, but this is definitely not the right one for her!” the representative said.</p> <p>“Thanks for letting us know, and we apologise for the scary surprise. After all, it’s Christmas, not Halloween.</p> <p>“Please feel free to return the gingerbread house to our store service desk for a replacement - one without an added houseguest!”</p> <p><em>Photo credits: Facebook</em></p> </div> </div> </div>

Family & Pets

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​Woman named "Hero to Animals" for helping spider regrow its legs

<p>A townsville woman has been rewarded for making the decision to save an emaciated huntsman spider with only two legs. </p> <p>Elina Walsh has been recognised by animal rights group PETA Australia for rescuing and rehabilitating an injured spider. </p> <p>Ms Walsh hand-fed the spider and took “Peggy” under her wing for a month until it grew its legs back. </p> <p>"Initially my thought was she wasn't going to make it and I considered putting her out of her misery," Ms Walsh said, admitting she initially believed it to be a gecko or a bird.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837163/emma-walsh-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fe33732f3a2a41c89772176003d14c23" /></p> <p>"I did a quick Google search and found out that spiders can in fact regrow legs, so I thought I would give it a go.</p> <p>"I am a huge animal lover, normally huntsmen aren't my favourite choice of animal but I kind of felt sorry for her and tried to help her out."</p> <p>The Townsville “hero” spent a little over a month feeding the spider small cockroaches with tweezers. </p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CBenA0kF8CU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CBenA0kF8CU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by @peggy.the.2leggy</a> on Jun 15, 2020 at 6:55pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In that time, the spider regrew its six smaller legs which became fully functional. </p> <p>She plans to keep Peggy in her care until the spider has one more moult. </p> <p>"Now that she has got her legs back she is able to hunt quite well on her own, but the ones that have regrown are quite a bit smaller," Ms Walsh said.</p> <p>"With her next moult she should have full-sized legs again and I will be quite happy to release her outside."</p> <p>PETA said there was no nomination process for their Hero To Animals awards.</p> <p>PETA spokesperson, Emily Rice, said the organisation saw a post about Ms Walsh's efforts on Facebook and wanted to recognise her compassion.</p> <p>"We take our hats off to this compassionate woman who displayed great care and respect for Peggy and went above and beyond to save her life," Ms Rice said.</p> <p>Ms Walsh said the recognition from PETA Australia was unexpected. </p> <p>"I am just happy that other people can learn about her story and maybe grow a bit of appreciation for these animals as well," she said.</p>

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