NASA has introduced a new project called Artifact InSPECtor, which invites volunteers to help train artificial intelligence to identify and remove errors from space telescope data.
Key facts
- •The Artifact InSPECtor project invites volunteers to help train AI to remove errors from space telescope data.
- •The Euclid space telescope, built by the European Space Agency with NASA contributions, is currently collecting data for the project.
- •The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will begin contributing data to the project in early 2027.
- •Spectrographs split light into spectra to help scientists determine galaxy distances and black hole characteristics.
- •Artifacts in telescope data can be caused by cosmic rays, camera electronics, or light glinting off the telescope housing.
NASA has launched a new project, Artifact InSPECtor, that allows volunteers to assist scientists in refining data collected by space telescopes. By identifying errors known as artifacts, participants help train artificial intelligence tools to better process information from the European Space Agency's Euclid telescope and the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. This collaborative effort aims to improve the accuracy of data used to study the expansion of the universe and dark energy.
The Role of Spectrographs and Data Artifacts
Space telescopes utilize instruments called spectrographs, which function like prisms to split light from distant galaxies into rainbow patterns known as spectra. These patterns provide scientists with critical information regarding galaxy distance, stellar composition, and supermassive black holes. However, the data often contains artifacts—signals caused by cosmic rays, light glinting off telescope housing, or electronic quirks—that must be removed to ensure scientific accuracy.
How Volunteers Contribute to AI Training
Artifact InSPECtor allows volunteers to review real telescope data and verify whether the existing AI model correctly identifies these artifacts. By confirming or correcting the AI's findings, participants help refine the instructions that guide the software. This process is designed to be accessible to people of all ages using smartphones, tablets, or computers, with the project set to incorporate data from the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope beginning in early 2027.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by NASA Breaking News.
