Princeton University Gravity Group Lunch Seminar

SuperBIT is the first of its kind, three-axis stabilized, high-resolution, wide-field imaging telescope that flies on a stratospheric balloon. I report on SuperBIT's 40-day science flight in 2023, during which it observed dozens of astrophysical targets. Most of the observed targets are galaxy clusters, to study the properties of dark matter in and around the clusters using weak gravitational lensing. SuperBIT observes at wavelength bands from 300 to 1000 nm with a resolution of 0.35 arcseconds FWHM from its 0.5 m primary aperture. Stratospheric balloons provide space-like observing conditions more accessibly than launching to space. We are currently developing a 1.3 m successor. With applications extending beyond weak lensing, we hope to eventually create a frequently flying and upgrading facility-class instrument that will augment and in some ways surpass the capabilities of Hubble and other upcoming space telescopes.