The Roman Space Telescope will discover new exoplanets using the Coronagraph Instrument, which combines coronagraphs and adaptive optics for improved contrast ratios. The telescope will also investigate the history of the universe and the contributions of dark matter and dark energy.
The study uses the upgraded GRAVITY+ instrument to measure the carbon isotope ratio in Beta Pic B's atmosphere, but finds inconsistent results that challenge its interpretation. The findings suggest that the planet may have formed outside the snowline, where CO was present as ice, rather than gas.
Researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope to measure how star light absorption changes as WASP-121 b rotates, probing its atmosphere longitude by longitude. The data indicate that hot winds heat the evening terminator region, causing it to absorb more stellar radiation and expand.
The team analyzed LHS 3844 b's infrared radiation, finding it doesn't match Earth-like silicate-rich minerals. Instead, the spectrum suggests a dark, rocky surface composed of basaltic or magmatic minerals, possibly with a recently active geological history.
Researchers found massive amounts of ammonia gas expected but less than anticipated, and instead discovered thick patchy water-ice clouds on the exoplanet. The discovery sheds light on the limits of current models for studying exoplanet atmospheres.
The SPHERE instrument has produced an unprecedented gallery of debris disks in exoplanetary systems, allowing for deductions of smaller bodies. These observations provide a glimpse of the earliest history of the solar system, with small bodies serving as remnants from planetesimals that did not evolve into larger planets.
Recent JWST observations revealed a new population of astronomical objects, known as black hole stars, which are emitting light predominantly at longer wavelengths. These objects, located extremely far away, have raised questions about galaxy evolution and the formation of stars on a massive scale.
Complex organic molecules, precursors to life's building blocks, have been found in a planet-forming disc around the outbursting protostar V883 Orionis. This discovery supports the idea that life's seeds are assembled in space and are widespread.
Researchers create water tornado to investigate flow properties in protoplanetary discs, mimicking gravitational field and finding particles' motion conforming to Kepler's laws. The experiment provides insights into dust-particle interactions promoting planet formation.
Researchers detected atmospheric methane and silicon monoxide on WASP-121b, suggesting it accumulated most of its gas in a cold region before becoming an ultra-hot giant planet. The team proposes that strong vertical winds on the nightside replenish methane gas to maintain its high abundance.
The Euclid data release unlocks a treasure trove of information for scientists to study the universe's cosmic history and invisible forces. With its exceptional field of view, Euclid captures an area 240 times larger than the Hubble Telescope, delivering outstanding image quality in both visible and infrared light spectrum.
Astronomers have created a detailed 3D map of dust in the Milky Way galaxy, providing new insights into the effects of dust on celestial observations. The map reveals unexpected properties of interstellar dust clouds, including a steepening extinction curve in areas of intermediate density.
A new study using the James Webb Space Telescope has reevaluated the atmospheric composition of Trappist-1 b, finding conditions that could support a thick CO2-rich atmosphere. Researchers propose that haze from hydrocarbon compounds in the upper atmosphere may explain this scenario.
Astronomers have imaged the coldest exoplanet ever detected using JWST, which agrees with models of planet evolution and solar system ages. The exoplanet orbits a super-Jupiter in the Epsilon Indi triple star system and has a mass six times that of Jupiter.
Researchers have found the nearest massive black hole to Earth, located at the center of Omega Centauri, a galaxy that was swallowed by the Milky Way. The discovery provides insight into the formation history of galaxies and confirms long-held suspicions about the existence of intermediate-mass black holes.
The MIRI Mid-INfrared Disk Survey (MINDS) discovered a large variety of carbon-rich gases in the disk surrounding a very low-mass star. This finding suggests that rocky planets with Earth-like characteristics may form more efficiently than Jupiter-like gas giants in such disks.
Astronomers Khyati Malhan and Hans-Walter Rix identified two proto-galactic fragments, Shakti and Shiva, that merged with an early Milky Way between 12-13 billion years ago. These remnants share low metal content and unusual energy and angular momentum values, making them potential ancestors of the galaxy.
Research suggests that planetary migration is the key to explaining the mysterious gap in the size distribution of super-Earths. Simulations show that sub-Neptunes' evolution contributes to the observed radius valley, while rocky planets 'shrink' by losing their atmosphere.
Researchers detected complex structure with three concentric rings in the innermost region of the disk, rich in dust and minerals. The discovery suggests two planets may be forming within the gaps, with masses similar to Jupiter.