Nutex: CubeSat Payload with 146mm Telescope Enables Near-Ultraviolet Transient Sky Surveys with 4° Field of View
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The search for fleeting events in the cosmos receives a boost from the Near Ultraviolet Transient Explorer, or NUTEx, a novel imaging payload designed for dedicated transient sky surveys. Shubham Ghatul, Rekhesh Mohan, Jayant Murthy, and colleagues at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics are developing this CubeSat-based telescope to observe the universe in the near-ultraviolet range, a part of the spectrum often missed by larger observatories. NUTEx promises to detect short-timescale events like supernova remnants and stellar flares with its wide field of view and sensitive photon-counting detector, reaching a magnitude of 21 in just 200 seconds of exposure. Scheduled for launch in 2026, this compact and cost-effective satellite represents a significant step forward in our ability to monitor the dynamic night sky and unravel the mysteries of transient astronomical phenomena. CubeSat Mission for Transient UV Astronomy This research details the development and planned capabilities of NUTEX, a small satellite mission designed for ultraviolet astronomy. The project aims to conduct UV observations of various astronomical phenomena, filling a gap in current space-based UV capabilities. A key focus is the detection and study of transient events like supernovae, kilonovae, and stellar flares, capturing early-time UV emission which provides crucial insights into these events. Scientists engineered an imaging telescope based on a Ritchey-Chretien configuration, utilizing a 146mm primary mirror to achieve a broad 4-degree field of view. This optical design maximizes light collection across a substantial portion of the sky, crucial for detecting fleeting phenomena. The core of the NUTEx detector system involves a photon-counting microchannel plate device, paired with a custom-built readout unit incorporating a solar-blind photocathode, specifically designed to minimize response to visible light and maximize sensitivity to near-ultraviolet radiation. The system achieves a peak effective area of approximately 18 square centimeters at 260nm, allowing for efficient capture of faint ultraviolet signals, and reaches a sensitivity of 21 AB magnitude, capable of detecting sources with a signal-to-noise ratio of 5 in just 200 seconds of exposure. To ensure precise pointing and data acquisition, the team developed a low-cost Raspberry Pi-based star sensor, which underwent successful flight testing and in-orbit performance validation. This innovative telescope features a 146-millimeter aperture Ritchey-Chrétien optical system and is capable of detecting objects as faint as 21 AB magnitude with a 1200-second exposure, achieving a 5-sigma signal-to-noise ratio. NUTEx boasts a wide 4-degree field of view, enabling it to scan large areas of the sky efficiently and capture transient phenomena. The instrument’s detector utilizes a photon-counting microchannel plate with a solar-blind photocathode, providing high sensitivity in the 200-300 nanometer wavelength band. Experiments reveal that NUTEx possesses an effective area of approximately 15 square centimeters across its operating wavelength range, maximizing its ability to collect faint ultraviolet light. This capability is particularly valuable for observing bright regions of the sky, such as the Galactic plane, which are often avoided by other ultraviolet telescopes. Scientists anticipate that NUTEx will significantly advance understanding of stellar flares, supernova explosions, and other transient astrophysical events, allowing it to detect fast transients, including shock breakouts from exploding stars, and follow their evolution. This instrument, designed for monitoring transient phenomena such as supernova remnants and flaring stars, achieves a wide 4-degree field of view and a sensitivity capable of detecting faint astronomical events. Key specifications include a 146mm aperture telescope and a photon-counting detector sensitive to wavelengths between 200 and 300 nanometres. NUTEx distinguishes itself through a cost-effective design, utilizing commercially available components and a Raspberry Pi-based electronics architecture, significantly reducing the financial investment compared to larger astronomical facilities.
The team successfully developed and validated all critical subsystems, including the onboard computer and communication interfaces, and constructed both engineering and flight models for thorough testing. This work establishes a practical model for future compact payloads capable of mapping the transient ultraviolet sky and conducting extended observations of individual targets for up to six months, paving the way for constellations of similar instruments and broadening access to space-based astronomical observations. 👉 More information 🗞 Near Ultraviolet Transient Explorer (NUTEx): A CubeSat-Based NUV Imaging Payload for Transient Sky Surveys 🧠 ArXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.10538 Tags: Rohail T. As a quantum scientist exploring the frontiers of physics and technology. My work focuses on uncovering how quantum mechanics, computing, and emerging technologies are transforming our understanding of reality. I share research-driven insights that make complex ideas in quantum science clear, engaging, and relevant to the modern world. Latest Posts by Rohail T.: Graphene Exhibits Giant Magnetoresistance Due to Fluctuation-induced Conductivity Changes in Charge-neutral Devices December 15, 2025 K-track: Kalman-Enhanced Tracking Achieves Acceleration of Deep Point Trackers on Edge Devices December 15, 2025 Disentangled Distilled Encoder Achieves Out-of-Distribution Reasoning with Rademacher Guarantees December 15, 2025