Unique sky survey brings new objects into focus

Partnership involves Caltech's Palomar Observatory and other world leaders in astronomy

		IMAGE: The Palomar Transient Factory survey uses the 48-inch Samuel Oschin telescope at Caltech's Palomar Observatory. Click here for more information.

San Diego, Calif.–An innovative sky survey has begun returning images that will be used to detect unprecedented numbers of powerful cosmic explosions–called supernovae–in distant galaxies, and variable brightness stars in our own Milky Way. The survey also may soon reveal new classes of astronomical objects.