Articles tagged with Space Telescopes
The European Space Agency's PLATO mission aims to find nearby potentially habitable worlds around Sun-like stars. The space telescope will blast into orbit in December 2026 and study the stars using a range of techniques, including asteroseismology, to work out their masses, radii, and ages.
Researchers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have confirmed a significant temperature difference between the morning and evening atmosphere of WASP-39b, with the evening appearing hotter by roughly 300°F (200°C). The planet is tidally locked, resulting in constant dayside and nightside conditions.
The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed intricate patterns of shells, holes, and filaments in the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A, providing insights into molecular formation and destruction processes. CO molecules are critical indicators of cooling and chemical processes that lead to dust condensation.
Researchers detected distinct 'morning' and 'evening' sides on the exoplanet WASP-39b using James Webb Space Telescope data. The study found that the morning side was significantly cooler (600°C) compared to the evening side (800°C), with cloudier conditions also prevalent in the morning.
Researchers at the University of Utah and Max Planck Institute have discovered an intermediate-mass black hole in the Omega Centauri cluster, providing crucial evidence for a long-theorized class of black holes. The discovery offers insights into galaxy evolution and the formation history of globular clusters.
Astronomers have discovered seven fast-moving stars in the Omega Centauri globular cluster, providing compelling evidence for the presence of an intermediate-mass black hole. The team analyzed over 500 Hubble images to search for signs of gravitational pull from the black hole.
Astronomers have observed five young massive star clusters in the Cosmic Gems arc galaxy for the first time, revealing details about infant galaxies and globular cluster formation. The study uses gravitational lensing to resolve small scales in the distant galaxy, providing a unique window into the early Universe.
Astronomers have directly imaged a phenomenon long hoped for: aligned protostellar outflows in the Serpens Nebula. These structures offer a historical record of star formation and provide clues to the fundamental process of stellar rotation. The discovery was made possible by Webb's high spatial resolution and sensitivity in near-infra...
The team gathered data that helps clarify the Crab Nebula's history, suggesting a weak iron core-collapse supernova as an alternative to electron-capture explosions. The study also mapped dust distribution within the nebula for the first time, revealing warmer dust in outer filaments and cooler grains near the center.
Four transiting short-period mini-Neptunes orbiting red dwarfs have been discovered, with radii 2-3 times that of Earth and orbital periods under eight days. Their interiors likely contain volatiles and atmospheres, suggesting non-rocky composition.
Researchers uncover new clues about the early universe, finding spiral galaxies were prevalent as early as 2 billion years after the universe formed. This discovery challenges previous theories and provides insight into how spiral galaxies like the Milky Way formed over time.
Astronomers have discovered a sulfurous atmosphere on the smallest and coldest exoplanet known, providing clues to its formation process. The planet's unique orbit and composition offer insights into how planets are created.
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured evidence of a cataclysmic asteroid collision in the Beta Pictoris star system, which is thought to be similar to our own solar system's early stages. The collision is believed to have occurred about 20 years ago and pulverized the asteroids into fine dust particles.
Astronomers have used Hubble and SOFIA to study the HM Sge binary star system, which experienced a sudden increase in brightness 40 years ago. The team has found that the system's temperature has increased, but paradoxically faded slightly, raising questions about its long-term behavior.
The James Webb Space Telescope reveals the largest number of carbon-containing molecules in a disk around a young star. The findings have implications for the potential composition of planets that may form in such environments.
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.
A research team led by UCF's Mário Nascimento De Prá and Noemí Pinilla-Alonso discovered carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide ices on 59 trans-Neptunian objects using the James Webb Space Telescope. The findings suggest that carbon dioxide was abundant in the protoplanetary disk, while the origin of carbon monoxide remains uncertain.
Researchers confirm model predicting galaxy clusters' separation via gravity, while identifying potential new galaxies with Euclid's powerful equipment. The telescope's early release observations reveal millions of objects in a single day, opening up new possibilities for dark matter research.
Researchers witness the formation of three of the universe's earliest galaxies, 13.3-13.4 billion years ago, using the James Webb Space Telescope. The discovery contributes to understanding the universe's origins and provides insight into galaxy formation, shedding light on humanity's most basic questions.
A team of UH astronomers has discovered a diverse range of exotic exoplanets using the TESS-Keck Survey, which provides new insights into their properties and environments. The study reveals rare worlds with extreme environments and potentially habitable planets.
Researchers analyzing James Webb Space Telescope data have pinpointed three galaxies actively forming at 400-600 million years old. These galaxies are surrounded by hydrogen and helium gas that will fuel star formation.
The James Webb Space Telescope has provided new insights into the mysterious case of WASP-107 b, an exoplanet that defies explanation due to its inflated size. Data collected by Webb shows surprisingly little methane in the planet's atmosphere, indicating a significantly hotter interior and core mass than previously estimated.
The James Webb Space Telescope has provided the first measurements of an exoplanet's core mass, with WASP-107 b showing a thousand times less methane than expected. The planet's super-sized core and turbulent atmosphere are being studied to better understand how planetary atmospheres behave in extreme conditions.
Researchers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have detected atmospheric gases surrounding 55 Cancri e, a hot rocky exoplanet. The discovery provides evidence for the existence of any rocky planet atmosphere outside our solar system, a long-standing mystery in exoplanet characterization.
A new study challenges the initial detection of a biosignature gas on K2-18b, suggesting that the data may be inconclusive. However, researchers believe it's possible for life to produce detectable levels of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the planet's atmosphere.
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured unprecedented detail of the Horsehead Nebula's top, showcasing its complex structure and composition. The telescope's observations reveal a network of thin features tracing dust particles swept away by UV light, as well as insights into the nebula's multidimensional shape.
The James Webb Space Telescope has successfully mapped the weather on WASP-43 b, a hot gas-giant exoplanet. The data reveals thick, high clouds covering the nightside and clear skies on the dayside, with equatorial winds reaching up to 5,000 miles per hour.
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have discovered thick clouds and a surprising lack of methane on the planet's nightside, while ubiquitous water presence was found throughout its atmosphere. The discovery reveals the first observation of clouds on the nightside of WASP-43b, a giant gas-filled exoplanet.
An international team of researchers, including those from the University of Geneva, detected a giant magnetar eruption coming from a neutron star with an exceptionally strong magnetic field. The discovery was made using ESA's satellite INTEGRAL and confirms that magnetars are young neutron stars.
A new study using the James Webb Space Telescope found that the universe's early galaxies developed and matured much faster than previously believed. Almost 20% of disc galaxies observed had bar formations, indicating a more settled stage in galaxy evolution.
Researchers introduce a new model that suggests dense stellar clusters can eject pairs of giant planets, which remain gravitationally bound to each other as they float through space. This discovery fills a critical gap in our understanding of planetary evolution and challenges prevailing theories of planet formation.
The study used a trove of archived Hubble images to identify the asteroids, working with citizen scientists and machine learning algorithms. The discovery provides insights into the formation and evolution of the asteroid belt, suggesting that smaller fragments may be remnants of larger asteroids that have collided.
A team of scientists has discovered that purple bacteria, which thrive in low-energy light, could be a sign of life on Earth-like planets. Using this knowledge, researchers have created models of purple worlds with varying conditions and cloud cover, revealing intense colored biosignatures from both wet and dry purple bacteria.
A massive ancient galaxy, JWST-ER1g, has been found to have a high dark matter density, puzzling physicists. Researchers offer an explanation that suggests a mechanism compressing the dark matter halo could be responsible for the high density.
Researchers have successfully determined the size and atmospheric composition of exoplanet WASP-39b by including a star's magnetic field in model calculations. The study improves upon previous observations by providing a more precise understanding of the planet's signal in light curves.
The brightest gamma-ray burst (GRB) ever recorded was caused by the collapse of a massive star, according to Northwestern University researchers. Despite extensive searches, no evidence of heavy elements like platinum and gold was found.
Astronomers used NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to survey M82, a compact starburst galaxy with intense star formation activity. The study revealed intricate substructure, including concentrated areas of iron and molecular hydrogen being lit up by nearby young stars.
Researchers translate visual data of celestial objects into sonified sounds to improve accessibility and trust in scientific discoveries. The study shows significant learning gains and positive experiential responses among participants, increasing access to astronomy for everyone.
A new study using the James Webb Space Telescope has captured the first-ever image of a planet-forming disk's gas dispersal, providing insights into how planets form in our solar system. The observations reveal that the inner disk of T Cha is evolving on very short timescales, differing from earlier spectra detected by Spitzer.
Astronomers have charted the largest-ever volume of the universe with a new map of active supermassive black holes, logging 1.3 million quasars in space and time. This map allows scientists to study dark matter and the universe's expansion by comparing distant quasars and their host galaxies.
Astronomers identify complex organic molecules like ethanol and acetic acid in icy compounds surrounding two young protostars. These ingredients may have been delivered to the primitive Earth and could be part of comets and asteroids that collide with forming planets.
Astronomers have made unprecedentedly detailed observations of an early galaxy merger using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The findings suggest that stars developed much faster and more efficiently than expected, contradicting current models of galaxy formation.
A team of researchers analyzed sunlight reflected by Titan's atmosphere, identifying over 100 signatures of the methane molecule. The findings also suggest possible evidence of the tricarbon molecule, a discovery that could shed light on the origin of life on Earth.
Astronomers discover tiny, red versions of massive black holes that could change our understanding of their origins. The 'baby quasars' are small-scale black holes with masses between ten and a hundred million solar masses, observed using the James Webb Space Telescope.
A team of UCF scientists used the James Webb Space Telescope to analyze the elemental composition of a binary duo in the Kuiper Belt, revealing clues about Neptune's formation. The study provides valuable insights into the dynamical history of Neptune and its neighboring objects.
The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered a 2-million-solar-mass supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy GN-z11, which is one of the youngest and most distant galaxies ever observed. The team also found evidence of ionized chemical elements and a powerful wind expelled by the galaxy.
A study of the Orion Nebula reveals that massive stars play a crucial role in shaping planetary systems. The intense ultraviolet radiation from these stars can either facilitate or hinder planet formation, depending on the mass of the star at the system's center.
Researchers have detected tellurium in a kilonova afterglow, indicating that neutron star mergers can create rare heavy elements. This discovery sheds light on the formation of elements heavier than iron and provides new insights into the universe's chemical composition.
A team of astronomers has detected a gravitationally lensed supermassive black hole in the early universe, which was found to be significantly more massive than its host galaxy. The discovery, made using images from the James Webb Space Telescope, revealed the black hole's unique red color and confirmed it as a supermassive black hole.
A new study published in Science provides conclusive evidence for the presence of a neutron star at the center of supernova SN 1987A, solving a decades-long mystery. The detection was made using the James Webb Space Telescope and reveals narrow emission lines from ionized argon and sulphur atoms.
Researchers use James Webb Space Telescope to observe Supernova 1987A and detect ionised argon and sulphur atoms, providing conclusive evidence for a neutron star's presence. The discovery sheds light on the formation of heavy elements and the nature of compact objects in supernovae.
Scientists detected water molecules on two asteroids, Iris and Massalia, indicating a distribution of water in our solar system that can inform searches for life beyond Earth. The discovery was made possible by using the FORCAST instrument to isolate mid-infrared spectral signatures indicative of molecular water.
A team of astrophysicists used simulations to track galaxy formation near the Big Bang, including interactions between gas and dark matter. The results show that tiny, bright galaxies were formed more quickly than expected, challenging current theories about dark matter.
Researchers from Ohio State University tested upcoming telescopes' ability to detect chemical traces of oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane and water on 10 rocky exoplanets. The study found that two nearby worlds, Proxima Centauri b and GJ 887 b, are highly adept at detecting biosignatures with advanced telescopes.
Researchers have discovered a multi-planet system that provides a rare glimpse into the formation of planets around a young star. The system consists of six confirmed planets and potentially a seventh, all forming under similar conditions at an age of just 700 million years.
A team of MIT physicists analyzed Gaia and APOGEE data to find stars farther out in the galactic disk are rotating more slowly than expected. This flat rotation curve indicates a lower mass galactic core, potentially containing less dark matter than previously estimated.
Researchers analyzing James Webb Space Telescope images found that approximately 50-80% of early galaxies are flattened and elongated, unlike previously thought. These 'surfboard' galaxies were common in the early universe but rare nearby, suggesting they formed differently than more massive galaxies.
Researchers discovered a massive black hole at the center of galaxy GN-z11, which dates back 13 billion years and challenges traditional theories on black hole formation. The ancient black hole is 'eating' its host galaxy, suggesting alternative formation mechanisms.
Researchers analyzing data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope found that most early galaxies were flat and elongated, resembling breadsticks. These galaxies were less massive than nearby spirals and ellipticals, and are thought to be precursors to more massive galaxies like our own.
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences developed a 10-centimeter-diameter glass metalens that can image the sun, moon, and distant nebulae with high resolution.