Astronomers have identified the edge of the Milky Way's star-forming disc for the first time, finding that most star formation happens within 40,000 light-years of the Galactic Center. This discovery uses a new approach combining star ages with galaxy simulations to pinpoint the boundary.
SourceUniversity of Malta·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 21, 2026
Researchers have created the first broadband map of Faraday rotation, revealing a complex magnetic field in the Milky Way. The dataset, DRAGONS, captures polarized radio emissions across a wide range of frequencies, allowing astronomers to see magnetic structures invisible before.
SourceUniversity of British Columbia Okanagan campus·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series·TypeObservational study·DateJan 29, 2026
Researchers have discovered that Bogong moths use constellations of stars and the Milky Way to navigate long distances, making them the first known invertebrate to rely on a stellar compass for navigation. The moths also use the Earth's magnetic field to maintain their direction even when clouds obscure the stars.
SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 18, 2025
The Rubin Observatory will revolutionize our knowledge of the solar system by detecting millions of small bodies, including asteroids, comets and other minor planets. The observatory's innovative software, Sorcha, predicts that it will map over 127,000 near-Earth objects, 5 million main-belt asteroids and 109,000 Jupiter Trojans.
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Researchers from the University of South Australia have developed a celestial navigation system that uses visual data from stars to provide an alternative means of nighttime navigation in environments where GPS is unavailable or unreliable. The system has been tested on a fixed-wing drone and demonstrated accurate positioning within fo...
SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalDrones·DateDec 4, 2024