A team of astronomers has discovered a rare pair of brown dwarfs that have the widest separation of any brown dwarf binary system found to date. The two brown dwarfs are about 12 billion miles apart, or three times the separation of Pluto from the Sun.
A team of astronomers has discovered a massive cluster of young galaxies forming in the early universe, with many member galaxies already stopped forming stars. The newly found growing galactic metropolis is about 11.8 billion light-years away and consists of at least 38 member galaxies.
Researchers have found that Saturn's unique aurorae are generated by swirling winds within its atmosphere, not just from the surrounding magnetosphere. The study uses infrared emission data and ionospheric mapping to identify the fundamental driver behind the observed periodicities.
Astronomers have detected two mini-Neptune planets losing their atmospheres due to stellar radiation. The finding provides evidence that these worlds may be transforming into super-Earths. The study uses data from W. M. Keck Observatory and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.
Three newly-discovered gas giant planets have extremely short orbits around subgiant or giant stars, with one planet TOI-2337b destined for consumption in less than 1 million years. The study's findings suggest chaotic planet-to-planet interactions and unpredictable heating rates, offering new insights into planetary system evolution.
Researchers detected giant gas planet with Jupiter-like orbit around white dwarf star, confirming planets can exist beyond star death; study suggests Jupiter and Saturn may survive Sun's red giant phase.
A team of scientists assembled observations from NASA's Juno spacecraft, W.M. Keck Observatory, and Japan's Hisaki satellite to discover the source of Jupiter's thermal boost. They found that Jupiter's intense aurora is responsible for heating the entire planet's upper atmosphere, contrary to previous models.
Researchers use Keck Observatory's MOSFIRE instrument to analyze the layer-cake structure of a nearby free-floating brown dwarf's atmosphere. The study reveals complex cloud formations, including hot sand grains and exotic elements, with depths reaching up to 446 miles.
Astronomers have captured the first-ever spin measurements of HR 8799, revealing minimum rotation speeds of 10.1 km/s and 15 km/s for planets d and e, respectively. The findings provide new insights into planet formation and magnetic braking, hinting at a possible trend where lower mass planets spin faster.
Astronomers have discovered a rare teardrop-shaped star system that will eventually become a Type Ia supernova. The system, HD265435, is comprised of a hot subdwarf and a white dwarf star orbiting each other closely, with the white dwarf being as heavy as our Sun but slightly smaller than Earth's radius.
Astronomers have identified a white dwarf so massive that it may collapse. The discovery provides an example of what can happen after the phase where two less massive white dwarfs merge into one. This process boosts the magnetic field and speeds up rotation compared to progenitors.
Astronomers have identified the most distant quasar known, powered by a supermassive black hole weighing over 1.6 billion times the mass of the Sun. The discovery provides insight into the formation of massive galaxies in the early universe and challenges theories of black hole growth.
The Blue Ring Nebula, a cloud of gas in space, is likely composed of debris from two stars that collided and merged into one. A new study using cutting-edge models applied to collected data reveals the nebula's age and nature.
Researchers have found a globular star cluster with 800 times less iron than the Sun and is three times more iron-poor than the previous record-holder. The study contradicts the standard picture of how these old star clusters formed in the early universe.
A Northwestern University-led team examined a calcium-rich supernova dubbed SN 2019ehk with X-ray imaging, providing an unprecedented glimpse into the star during its final month of life and ultimate explosion. The study revealed that the event is a compact star shedding an outer layer of gas before exploding, producing bright X-rays.
Astronomers have discovered the second-most distant quasar, Pōniuā`ena, powered by a supermassive black hole 1.5 billion times more massive than our Sun. The discovery challenges current theories of how these massive black holes formed and grew in the young universe.
Astronomers have detected significant amounts of oxygen in the ancient star J0815+4729, which is one of the oldest and most elementally depleted stars known. This finding provides valuable insights into how oxygen and other essential elements were produced in the early universe.
Astronomers have discovered a massive planet three times the size of Jupiter that orbits its star on an egg-shaped path. The planet's unique orbit takes it from within our asteroid belt to beyond Neptune, providing a rare opportunity for scientists to study extreme planetary configurations.
Researchers used Keck Cosmic Web Imager to study DGSAT I, a solitary ultra-diffuse galaxy with unusual chemical composition. Its low iron content and normal magnesium levels contradict current theories on UDG formation, sparking new questions about galaxy origins.
A Northwestern University-led team captures the exact moment a star collapsed to form a compact object like a black hole or neutron star, revealing evidence of an accreting black hole or neutron star. The event, known as AT2018cow, was detected in the Hercules constellation and emitted remarkable bright glow.
Researchers have discovered a bright quasar at a time when the universe was less than one billion years old, providing a rare opportunity to study black holes in the early universe. The quasar is fueled by a supermassive black hole and emits light equivalent to 600 trillion suns.
A team of astronomers has found an intermediate-mass exoplanet, OGLE-2012-BLG-0950Lb, with a mass of 39 times that of Earth, which contradicts the current understanding of planet formation. The discovery was made using microlensing, a method sensitive to sub-Saturn planets in Jupiter-like orbits.
Astronomers using the W. M. Keck Observatory have discovered a relic cloud of gas from the Big Bang, providing new information about how the first galaxies formed and offering clues to the universe's early structure.
Scientists at the W.M. Keck Observatory have made robust data on a young giant gas planet, confirming its water composition and lack of methane. The team is perfecting their technique using advanced instrumentation to study giant planets and prepare for future searches for life on Earth-like exoplanets.
Two teams of astronomers uncovered the presumed precursor star in pre-explosion photos taken in 2007, shedding light on stellar evolution and mass distribution. The discovery suggests two possible scenarios: a single massive star or a binary-star system.
Astronomers have found a candidate planet, named Barnard's star b, orbiting the red dwarf star every 233 days. The cold super-Earth is estimated to be around 3.2 times the size of Earth and has a temperature of -150°C.
A team of astronomers captured the best view yet of merging galaxies and their supermassive black holes, revealing that galaxy mergers are critical in fueling the growth of these massive black holes. The discovery uses high-resolution images and X-ray data to pinpoint the location of these hidden black hole mergers.
The W. M. Keck Observatory has received a NSF grant to develop the Keck All-Sky Precision Adaptive Optics (KAPA) system, which will deliver sharper images of the universe over nearly 100% of the night sky. KAPA aims to investigate modern astronomy's greatest mysteries, including dark matter and cosmology.
Researchers used the Keck Cosmic Web Imager to examine Q2343-BX418, a young galaxy about 10 billion light years away, providing insights into its gas halo and its role in star formation. The study suggests that the galaxy's surrounding gas is giving off a specific type of light, offering clues to its evolution.
Researchers found a galaxy with almost no dark matter, challenging the long-held idea that galaxies start with dark matter halos. The team discovered 10 globular clusters in NGC1052-DF2, which could account for all the mass in the galaxy.
Researchers found that the chemical compositions of halo stars match those of outer disk stars, suggesting they originated from the galaxy's own disk. This discovery reveals a more complex dynamics of the Milky Way, indicating that groups of stars in the disk can be relocated to distant realms within the galaxy.
Astronomers capture unique data on a Type IIb supernova using amateur photographs, providing insights into the physical structure of the star and the nature of the explosion. The discovery sheds new light on the type of stars that explode and the physics behind massive stellar collapses.
Researchers used spectroscopic measurements to confirm S0-2 has no significant companion, simplifying the upcoming gravity test. The discovery sheds light on the formation of young stars near the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy.
The W.M. Keck Observatory has received an NSF grant to upgrade its adaptive optics system, further advancing research on habitable exoplanets and supermassive black holes. The new system will deliver faster, more flexible real-time controller and better camera technology, improving image clarity.
A study using the W. M. Keck Observatory measured the spin rates of three planetary-mass companions, finding rates similar to those of small free-floating brown dwarfs, suggesting two possibilities: the companions could be brown dwarfs or planets that formed with similar spins
An international team of astronomers discovered a star that exploded multiple times over 50 years, challenging existing theories on cosmic catastrophes. The star, iPTF14hls, was found to be at least 50 times more massive than the sun and may be the first example of a rare 'Pulsational Pair Instability Supernova'.