Why in the News?

The Center for Data-Driven Discovery at the California Institute of Technology has recently unveiled the ZARTH app, enabling smartphone users to actively search for transients.

What is ZARTH App?

ZARTH (ZTF Augmented Reality Transient Hunter) combines the excitement of an augmented reality mobile game with serious scientific pursuits. This innovative app empowers users to engage in real science while enjoying a gaming experience.

Key Features:

• Leveraging the open-source Sky Map, the ZARTH app integrates daily data from the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) at California's Palomar Observatory.
• The Palomar Observatory houses the prestigious 200-inch Hale reflector, one of the world's oldest and most powerful telescopes.
• The ZTF conducts bi-daily scans of the entire northern sky, generating crucial large-area sky maps with applications in tracking near-earth asteroids and studying supernovae.
• Each day, the ZARTH app receives real-time data on transients detected by the ZTF, including flaring stars, white dwarf binaries, active galactic nuclei, and other intriguing types.
• Transients are ranked based on rarity and significance, fostering a competitive environment among players who strive to earn points and daily credits displayed on leaderboards.