The Goddard-IRAM Superconducting 2-Millimeter Observer (GISMO) instrument has mapped the inner Milky Way, revealing a feature resembling a cosmic 'candy cane' with two prominent radio filaments. The image showcases the galaxy's central zone, highlighting areas of star formation and high-speed electron spirals.
Astronomers used ESO's VLT to observe the Milky Way's central region, revealing a burst of star formation that occurred around one billion years ago. This intense event resulted in over 100,000 supernova explosions and is similar to 'starburst' galaxies.
A team of scientists used data from NASA's Kepler telescope to calculate that the thick disc of the Milky Way is about 10 billion years old. This finding resolves a long-standing question about the age distribution of stars in the disc.
The James Webb Space Telescope will study dwarf galaxy companions to the Milky Way and Andromeda, gaining insights into galaxy formation and dark matter. By measuring star motions, researchers hope to determine if some galaxies are grouped in a flat plane, which would have significant implications for understanding their formation.
A radio telescope in the Western Australian outback has captured a new view of the Milky Way's centre, revealing remnants of 27 massive stars that exploded as supernovae. The data comes from the GaLactic and Extragalactic All-sky MWA survey, which used low-frequency radio waves to map the sky.
Astronomers discovered ultrafast star S5-HVS1, ejected by supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* five million years ago. The star travels ten times faster than most stars in the Milky Way, with a speed of 6 million km/h.
The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) has begun testing its capabilities, capturing light from distant galaxies and preparing to map 35 million galaxies across 1/3 of the sky. DESI aims to study 10 million stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way, tackling one of physics' most profound problems: the nature of dark energy.
Researchers at University of California, Riverside discover that Milky Way is undergoing a massive merger with its largest satellite galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud. Several ultrafaint dwarfs and relatively bright satellite galaxies were likely stolen from LMC.
Astronomers used Hubble data to find a surplus of incoming gas in the Milky Way, with unknown sources contributing to the excess. The galaxy's balance regulates star and planet formation.
A massive explosion occurred in the center of the Milky Way 3.5 million years ago, creating two enormous 'ionisation cones' that sliced through the galaxy and impacted the Magellanic Stream. The blast was so powerful it lasted for 300,000 years and was triggered by nuclear activity associated with the black hole.
Researchers have discovered that the galaxy Andromeda has eaten several smaller galaxies over the last few billion years, leaving behind remnants in large streams of stars. The study found faint traces of even earlier consumed galaxies, possibly dating back to 10 billion years ago.
Astronomers have uncovered two historic events in the Andromeda Galaxy, with evidence suggesting major changes to its structure occurred a few billion years ago and much earlier. The findings provide insights into the evolution and formation of both the Andromeda Galaxy and our own Milky Way.
Molecular clouds in distant galaxies have higher mass, density, and internal turbulence than those in nearby galaxies, producing more stars. The international team used ALMA to detect clouds in a Milky Way progenitor 8 billion light-years away.
Researchers have mapped out broad regions in the centre of the galaxy, tracing energetic regions in space with radio emission. The discovery suggests a violent eruption formed twin bubbles that are now visible for the first time, offering insights into the Galactic Centre and supermassive black hole.
An international team of astronomers has detected radio bubbles with South Africa's MeerKAT telescope, revealing a massive hourglass-shaped structure hundreds of light-years tall. The discovery is believed to be the result of an energetic burst near the supermassive black hole, providing insights into the Milky Way's central region.
Astronomers have discovered a pair of enormous radio-emitting bubbles in the center of the Milky Way, likely formed by a powerful eruption near the galaxy's supermassive black hole. The hourglass-like feature dwarfs all other radio structures in the galactic center.
Researchers analyze data from Gaia satellite and spectroscopy to find that older stars move more rapidly in and out of the Galaxy's disk. The findings provide insights into the history of our Galaxy and inform theories about star formation and evolution.
Researchers have charted the Milky Way in three dimensions using thousands of pulsating stars, revealing a warped and twisted stellar disc. The new map provides a broad view of our place among the stars and constrains the previously observed shape of the Galaxy's disk.
Astronomers have discovered that high-density gas, the material for stars, accounts for only 3% of the total mass of gas distributed in the Milky Way. This finding implies a small number of opportunities to form stars and will be investigated further using Fugin data.
A study led by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias reveals the early days of the Milky Way's formation, identifying two distinct stellar components that merged to create our galaxy. The research uses accurate stellar ages and Gaia space telescope data to uncover the birth of the Milky Way with unprecedented detail.
Researchers at Durham University used supercomputer simulations to test Chameleon Theory, an alternative model for gravity. The findings suggest that galaxies like the Milky Way can form even with different laws of gravity, providing a new perspective on galaxy formation and dark energy.
Researchers using the radio telescope ALMA have detected a galaxy in the early Universe 13 billion years ago, which is actually two galaxies merging together. The team observed signals of oxygen, carbon, and dust from the galaxy B14-65666, providing the earliest evidence of merging galaxies yet discovered.
IC 10 is the closest-known starburst galaxy, with ample supplies of cool hydrogen gas fueling its furious star formation. The faint object, located 2.2 million light-years from Earth, remains difficult to study due to cosmic dust and stars blocking our view.
A study by RIT scientist Sukanya Chakrabarti found that the Antlia 2 dwarf galaxy's collision with the Milky Way produced the characteristic ripples in its outer disc. The discovery could help develop methods to hunt for dark galaxies and solve the long-standing puzzle of dark matter.
Researchers have imaged a never-before-seen disk of cool, interstellar gas wrapped around the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The disk is composed of phenomenally hot and comparatively cooler gases, with temperatures ranging from 10 million to 10 thousand degrees Celsius.
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured an image of the galaxy Messier 90, which is moving towards the Milky Way at a speed of approximately 60 million light-years. This rare phenomenon is known as blueshift, where the galaxy's light is compressed and shifted towards the blue end of the spectrum.
Researchers used chemical composition of stars to determine Gaia Sausage's age, estimating it formed around 12.5 billion years ago. The study suggests a collision with the Milky Way disrupted star formation in our galaxy.
Astronomers discover that a violent neutron star collision near the solar system created 0.3% of Earth's heaviest elements, such as gold and platinum, 4.6 billion years ago. This cosmic event is believed to have occurred in our neighborhood, about 1000 light years from the cradle of Earth.
Researchers found a star in the Milky Way Galaxy with low magnesium levels and high Europium levels, indicating it formed elsewhere, likely in a now vanished dwarf galaxy. The discovery suggests galaxy evolution models are supported by the presence of similar chemical signatures in other stars from dwarf galaxies orbiting the Milky Way.
A team of scientists discovered a star with unusually low magnesium and excessive heavy elements, indicating it originated from a disrupted dwarf galaxy. The study provides insight into the chemical evolution of dwarf galaxies and their role in shaping the Milky Way.
Astronomers have uncovered one of the oldest star clusters in the Milky Way Galaxy using high-resolution adaptive optics imaging from the Gemini Observatory. The study reveals that the cluster is approximately 12.8 billion years old and provides new insights into galaxy formation.
Astronomers have discovered two 'galactic center chimneys' that funnel matter and energy away from the Milky Way's central black hole, which could provide clues about the rate of star production in other galaxies. The chimneys are linked to giant structures known as the Fermi bubbles, which straddle the galaxy's center.
NGC 6052 is a pair of colliding galaxies visible in the Hercules constellation, consisting of two galaxies merging due to gravity. The Milky Way will undergo a similar collision with Andromeda in approximately 4 billion years.
The Milky Way weighs approximately 1.5 trillion solar masses, with dark matter making up the majority of its mass. Globular star clusters were used to measure the galaxy's movement, providing a more accurate estimate of its mass.
Astronomers combined data from Hubble and Gaia to estimate Milky Way's mass, reducing uncertainty from decades of research. The galaxy is found to weigh approximately 1.5 trillion solar masses within a radius of 129,000 light-years.
Researchers have spotted a massive young stellar object with a jet emitted by a fledgling star, shedding light on the early lives of stars. The observations were made possible by ESO's MUSE instrument, which has been improved by the addition of Adaptive Optics Facility.
Astronomers have created a 3D picture of the Milky Way's outer regions using variable stars. The team found that the galaxy's S-like stellar disk is warped in a progressively twisted spiral pattern.
Astronomers have created the first accurate 3D map of the Milky Way, revealing it is warped and twisted, with young stars in the outer regions.
A NUS study reveals that crossbreeding between milky storks and their cousins is threatening the species' conservation. The research found that more than half of the stork population in Singapore is genetically influenced by Painted Storks, posing a major threat to the species' survival.
The Magellanic Clouds, near neighbors of the Milky Way, have increased their star formation rate over the past 2 billion years. This study, led by David Nidever, mapped the chemical compositions of thousands of stars in the clouds, revealing a dramatic difference from the Milky Way's slow start.
A Tel Aviv University-led study finds that some supermassive black holes are triggered to grow by suddenly devouring a large amount of gas in their surroundings. This discovery provides new insights into the mysterious growth of these 'giant monsters'.
Astronomers have developed a massive library of star spectra, enabling them to reconstruct the composition and history of distant galaxies. By analyzing thousands of stars in our Milky Way galaxy, researchers can build up a "library" of stellar spectra, allowing them to understand the unique mix of stars that makes up each galaxy.
Researchers detected just two galaxies near M94, with few stars each, contradicting predictions of galaxy formation models. The study suggests that Milky Way-like galaxies host a wider diversity of satellite populations than previously thought.
A collision between the Milky Way and Large Magellanic Cloud is expected in 2 billion years, potentially waking up a dormant black hole. The event could eject the Solar System from the galaxy, although the impact on Earth is unlikely.
The study reveals that gas clouds rapidly moving around a central black hole form the very heart of this quasar. The research is the first detailed observation outside of our galaxy of gas clouds whirling around a central black hole.
Astronomers have found a rare gamma-ray burst candidate in the Milky Way's star system Apep, which could pose a threat to Earth. The system, featuring a pair of scorchingly luminous stars, is thought to be on the brink of a massive supernova explosion.
A team of astronomers has identified a giant disrupted 'tadpole' galaxy 300 million light years away, with an elliptical head and a long straight tail. The galaxy is ten times larger than the Milky Way and contains a system of two close disc galaxies.
Researchers have identified a giant, exceptional relic of a disrupted galaxy, comprising an elliptical head and a long tail. The 'tadpole' galaxy is 1 million light-years long from end to end and contains two nearby galaxies within it.
Researchers have observed a powerful outflow of hydrogen gas from the Small Magellanic Cloud, indicating it may eventually stop forming new stars. The discovery provides insight into the evolution of galaxies and the potential source of gas for the enormous Magellanic Stream surrounding the Milky Way.
Researchers found a shared origin in one large merger for most halo stars, indicating the Milky Way formed from a massive collision. The young stars from Gaia-Enceladus are younger than native Milky Way stars in the thick disk region.
Researchers observed a powerful outflow of hydrogen gas from the Small Magellanic Cloud, a tiny dwarf galaxy. The discovery provides the first clear observational measurement of mass lost from a dwarf galaxy, shedding light on its slow death and potential impact on the surrounding Milky Way galaxy.
A team of astronomers used the Moon as a reference point to measure the brightness of the Milky Way, helping them detect faint signals from hydrogen atoms in the infant Universe. This detection could confirm or refute theoretical models of the Universe's early evolution.
Researchers from Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias have discovered a star with an atmosphere devoid of metals, which is believed to be one of the oldest objects in the Milky Way. The study provides valuable information about the origin of the universe and the formation of the first stars.
A team of astronomers using Gaia data found twenty high-velocity stars racing towards the Galactic centre, raising questions about their origin. The stars' velocities could be a sign of supermassive black holes or binary systems in nearby galaxies.
The Gaia satellite has detected substructures in the Milky Way's star disk, indicating a 300-million-year-old gravitational disturbance caused by the Sagittarius Dwarf galaxy. Researchers used precise data to analyze shapes and twisting patterns, leading to new findings on galactic archaeology
Researchers suggest the Large Magellanic Cloud may have engulfed a third luminous galaxy, explaining why stars in the cloud rotate at different rates. This phenomenon could also help explain the 'age-gap' problem observed in the cloud, where there are very old and young star clusters.
The International Astronomical Union has adopted the new ICRF-3 reference frame with global validity since January 2019. It provides improved precision for positioning systems like GPS and space probes, enabling accurate navigation in the sky and on Earth's surface.
Astronomers are probing the mystery of how galaxies stop forming stars by studying a class of galaxies known as 'self-quenching' galaxies. These galaxies have gas being blown out at incredible speeds, but without evidence of black hole activity, suggesting alternative mechanisms may be at play.
Researchers used the Murchison Widefield Array to observe radiation from cosmic rays in two neighboring galaxies, detecting areas of star formation and remnants from past supernovae. The study provides insights into the rate of star formation in these galaxies, shedding light on their unique features.
Astronomers create highest resolution molecular gas map of 'monster' galaxy, COSMOS-AzTEC-1, 12.4 billion light years away. The map shows a massive, ordered gas disk in regular rotation, defying previous theoretical predictions.