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Systematically Exploring the
Dynamic Universe
What is ZTF?
The Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) is a public-private partnership aimed at a systematic study of the optical night sky. Using an extremely wide-field of view camera, ZTF scans the entire Northern sky every two days. The resulting large area survey will enable the astronomical community to pursue a broad range of time-domain science ranging from near-Earth asteroids to the study of distant superluminous supernovae. ZTF is funded in equal part by the US National Science Foundation and an international consortium of universities and institutions.
Extreme Field of View
ZTF employs a custom-built mosaic CCD camera which utilizes the entire focal plane (~ 47 sq deg) of the P48 telescope at Palomar, providing the largest instantaneous field-of-view of any camera on a telescope of aperture greater than half a meter.
Read MoreUnique survey
ZTF scans the northern sky at high cadance (~2 days) to produce a comprehensive, multi-filter survey. ZTF delivers bi-monthly public data releases of high quality and reliable data products to enable time-domain science.
Read MoreMachine Learning & Dedicated Followup
Data pipelines incorporate machine learning algorithms to sieve through billions of individual astrophysical sources and send candidates for dedicated and automated followup and classification.
Read MorePowerful collaboration
The ZTF partnership has formed a strong, scientifically diverse collaboration with partners from the USA, Europe and Asia. This large multidisciplinary team also offers access to an extensive network of followup resources.
Read MoreFeatured Video
Discovered so far...
Classified Supernovae
Tidal Disruption Events
Near Earth Asteroids & Comets
Ultra-compact Binaries
Science
Themes
Science activities in ZTF are organized and managed by seven science working groups (SWG). These are:
Science Vlog
Cosmic Newsflash is the ZTF newsletter for the large time-domain astronomy community that uses ZTF public data. Timed with our public data releases, it includes practical information about the release, a summary of science highlights from the ZTF partnership, updates from operations, a spotlight on team members and more.
News & Announcements
Nov 30, 2022 | Category: Press Release
ZTF makes first discovery of a rare cosmic lunch
Using ZTF, astronomers have discovered a supermassive black hole consuming an unlucky star orbiting too close to it. This "cosmic lunch" was unique as it was accompanied by powerful jets that shone brigthly in all wavelenghts.
Nov 22, 2022 | Category: News
1000 supernovae classified autonomously with machine learning
Astronomers from the Zwicky Transient Facility collaboration at Caltech have been using a machine learning algorithm dubbed SNIascore to classify and report supernovae with no human involvement.
June 9, 2022 | Category: News
Native Americans name a ZTF-discovered asteroid
Members of the Pauma band native American tribe, whose ancestral lands include the Palomar mountain, gathered at the Palomar Observatory to name a unique asteroid discovered back in 2020 by ZTF.
Outreach
Our global team and varied science provide excellent opportunities for outreach. In ZTF phase II, we continue to run our ZTF summer schools designed to provide PhD student with hands-on skills in data processing and analysis of ZTF data. Partners in our global network welcome undergraduate students every summer under the flagship of various summer research programs. Students conduct not only a wide variety of research reflected by the breadth of science activities in ZTF, but they also learn how to be part of international collaborations. At Caltech, we also participate in various outreach activities focusing on high school students. We also engage in public outreach via projects on Zooniverse. By the end of ZTF phase II we plan to launch a new web tool/mobile app designed to let the general public learn more about the dynamic sky.
ZTF summer school Student Opportunities
