Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope
Fermi's Decade of Gamma-ray Discoveries
Fermi's Decade of Gamma-ray Discoveries

What is Fermi?

General Dynamics C4 Systems - Artist Concept of Fermi The Universe is home to numerous exotic and beautiful phenomena, some of which can generate almost inconceivable amounts of energy. Supermassive black holes, merging neutron stars, streams of hot gas moving close to the speed of light ... these are but a few of the marvels that generate gamma-ray radiation, the most energetic form of radiation, billions of times more energetic than the type of light visible to our eyes. What is happening to produce this much energy? What happens to the surrounding environment near these phenomena? How will studying these energetic objects add to our understanding of the very nature of the Universe and how it behaves?

The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, formerly GLAST, is opening this high-energy world to exploration and helping us answer these questions. With Fermi, astronomers at long last have a superior tool to study how black holes, notorious for pulling matter in, can accelerate jets of gas outward at fantastic speeds. Physicists are able to study subatomic particles at energies far greater than those seen in ground-based particle accelerators. And cosmologists are gaining valuable information about the birth and early evolution of the Universe.

For this unique endeavor, one that brings together the astrophysics and particle physics communities, NASA has teamed up with the U.S. Department of Energy and institutions in France, Germany, Japan, Italy and Sweden. General Dynamics was chosen to build the spacecraft. Fermi was launched June 11, 2008 at 12:05 pm EDT.

Latest News

Jan 11, 2024

NASA's Fermi Detects Surprise Gamma-Ray Feature Beyond Our Galaxy

Astronomers analyzing 13 years of data from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have found an unexpected and as yet unexplained feature outside of our galaxy.
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Jan 4, 2024

Fermi Cycle 17 Proposer Workshop

The deadline for Fermi Cycle-17 Guest Investigator proposals is fast approaching: Feb 15, 2024, 16:30 EST. To help you in preparing your proposals, the Fermi Science Support Center will host a virtual workshop on Jan. 24 2024, at 14:00 EST. We will provide information on proposal submission and evaluation processes, as well as the latest mission news. Resources available to proposers and researchers through the FSSC will be described and there will be opportunity for questions. In addition, we will allot time for optional, user-contributions comprised of short (~5min) presentations on your recent or ongoing Fermi-related scientific activities. If you'd like to attend please register using this form by Jan. 23 so that we can send you the details to join the virtual meeting.

Dec 20, 2023

NASA's Fermi Mission Creates 14-Year Time-Lapse of the Gamma-Ray Sky

The cosmos comes alive in an all-sky time-lapse movie made from 14 years of data acquired by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. Our Sun, occasionally flaring into prominence, serenely traces a path through the sky against the backdrop of high-energy sources within our galaxy and beyond.
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