Articles tagged with Space Telescopes
Researchers have discovered a tiny galaxy with big star power using the James Webb Space Telescope, providing new insights into the universe's early stars. The galaxy is one of the smallest ever discovered at this distance—around 500 million years after the Big Bang—and generated new stars at an extremely high rate for its size.
The James Webb Space Telescope has observed six galaxies that defy the standard model of cosmology, with masses billions of times that of our sun. These findings suggest alternative theories on galaxy formation and expansion rates shortly after the Big Bang.
Astronomers use the Hubble Space Telescope and Keck Observatory to measure the 3D shape of galaxy M87, revealing a 'potato-shaped' triaxial form. The team also determines the mass of the supermassive black hole at the galaxy's core, estimating it at 5.4 billion solar masses.
Astronomers have discovered a massive, runaway black hole that has left behind a never-before-seen trail of newborn stars. The black hole, weighing as much as 20 million Suns, is plowing into gas to trigger new star formation along a narrow corridor.
Research reveals connection between star brightness and dust concentrations, paving way for study of dust's role in planetary formation. The University of Tokyo's latest findings may help unravel the secrets of life's creation.
Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope discovered a pair of gravitationally bound quasars inside two merging galaxies when the universe was just 3 billion years old. The finding provides insights into early galaxy mergers and supermassive black holes.
Researchers have developed a new way to produce and shape large, high-quality mirrors that can be rolled up during launch and then precisely reshaped after deployment. The resulting mirrors are flexible enough to be used in space telescopes, enabling larger and more sensitive telescopes to be placed in orbit.
The detection of GRB 221009A marks the most energetic gamma-ray burst ever observed, with a luminosity surpassing that of entire galaxies and hundreds of billions of stars. The event was followed up by space-based telescopes, including the James Webb Space Telescope, which provided insight into its properties.
The Swift Observatory team, led by Maia Williams, detected the brightest gamma-ray burst ever recorded, GRB 221009A. The burst was incredibly bright and had an afterglow that was more than 10 times brighter than any previous observation.
A team of astronomers has discovered an ultramassive black hole in the foreground galaxy, with a mass estimated to be over 30 billion times that of our Sun. This massive object was detected using gravitational lensing and supercomputer simulations.
The James Webb Space Telescope detected the thermal emission of TRAPPIST-1 b, indicating a temperature of about 500 kelvins and no substantial atmosphere. This finding marks an important step in determining habitability around small, active stars like TRAPPIST-1.
The study identifies five exoplanets that resemble Venus in terms of radii, masses, and atmospheric conditions. By observing these 'exo-Venus' planets using the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists hope to uncover valuable insights into Earth's future and the possibility of a runaway greenhouse climate.
Researchers found giant gas giants orbiting low-mass stars, challenging the widely accepted planet formation model. The study used NASA's TESS satellite data and identified 15 potential giant planets, with five confirmed as actual planets.
Researchers have pinpointed silicate cloud features and detected water, methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of VHS 1256 b. The team's findings provide the largest number of molecules identified all at once on a planet outside our solar system.
The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has captured a dynamic animation of the gamma-ray sky, revealing frenzied activity over nearly 15 years. The data, now publicly available, includes records of source brightness changes and sheds light on blazars and multimessenger astronomy.
The University of Sydney and EnduroSat are collaborating on a mission to search for habitable planets around Alpha Centauri, just four light years from Earth. The team will use a custom-designed mini satellite to explore the star system's 'Goldilocks' zone for signs of life.
Scientists have created a synthetic survey that showcases what can be expected from the Roman Space Telescope’s future observations. The simulation contains 33 million galaxies and 200,000 foreground stars, helping scientists plan observing strategies and test data analysis methods.
The Hubble movie reveals surprising hour-by-hour changes as dust and chunks of debris were flung into space. The dynamic interaction within the binary system starts to distort the ejecta pattern, forming rotating pinwheel-shaped features tied to the gravitational pull of Didymos.
Astronomers have discovered a companion galaxy to z~4 starburst galaxy, rich in metals and dust. The galaxy, labeled SPT0418-SE, is remarkably mature considering its young age of 1.4 billion years.
A team of scientists observed the dynamic formation process of interstellar gas clouds, revealing speeds of up to 20 km/s that compress gas into denser regions where massive stars form. The findings challenge previous assumptions of slow and quasi-static star formation processes in this region.
Astronomers have cataloged over 51,863 Lyman-alpha-emitting galaxies, 123,891 star-forming galaxies, and 4,976 active galactic nuclei using HETDEX's spectroscopic data. The survey is a non-targeted, moon-sized survey that collects spectra from 35,000 fiber optic cables, providing a unique dataset for future galaxy mapping.
New research from the University of Georgia reveals that artificial intelligence can be used to find planets outside our solar system. Machine learning can analyze environments where planets are still forming, helping scientists overcome difficulties such as distance and data thickness.
The James Webb Space Telescope has enabled the detection of compact structures of star clusters inside galaxies, known as clumps. Researchers have studied the link between clump formation and galaxy growth in distant galaxies, providing new insights into the early stages of galaxy formation.
The James Webb Space Telescope has identified the precise location of the 'engine' powering merging galaxy IIZw096, a bright and energetic source of light. The engine is responsible for up to 70% of the system's infrared emission and has a radius no larger than 570 light years.
The James Webb Space Telescope has identified ice in deeper regions of interstellar molecular clouds, revealing unprecedented insights into the abundance of icy compounds. The team discovered complex organic molecules, such as methanol and potentially ethanol, suggesting that prebiotic molecules may be common in planetary systems.
The study provides the most comprehensive census to date of icy ingredients available to form future generations of stars and planets. The team identified frozen forms of a wide range of molecules, including complex organic molecules like methanol and potentially ethanol.
Researchers utilized the James Webb Space Telescope to observe dense interstellar clouds, revealing a treasure trove of pristine ices from the early universe. The study provides new insights into chemical processes in one of the coldest places in the universe, offering clues on molecular origins and sulfur storage.
A new analysis of distant galaxies imaged by the James Webb Space Telescope shows they are extremely young and share similarities with 'green peas,' a rare class of small galaxies. The galaxies include what might be the most primitive galaxy identified so far, with some containing only 2% the oxygen of our own galaxy.
Astronomers have discovered two ghostly Goliath black holes just 750 light-years apart, closing in on a cataclysmic meeting. The estimated population of merging supermassive black holes may be surprisingly high, generating strong gravitational waves detectable by future telescopes.
A team of astronomers discovered 87 galaxies that could be the earliest known galaxies in the universe using data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. This finding suggests a revision to our understanding of galaxy formation, indicating that more galaxies may have formed earlier than previously thought.
The James Webb Space Telescope has detected galaxies with stellar bars, similar to the Milky Way, at a time when the universe was just 25% of its present age. This discovery shakes up galaxy evolution scenarios and challenges theoretical models.
The ERC Red Cardinal project aims to shed light on the mysterious phase of star formation extinction in massive galaxies. The team, led by Sirio Belli, will use James Webb Space Telescope observations to test a hypothesis predicting two distinct modes of stellar extinction.
Astronomers used the Webb Space Telescope's near-infrared camera to analyze images of the Cosmic Cliffs region in NGC 3324. The discovery reveals telltale signs from two dozen previously unseen young stars, with many appearing to be protostars that will eventually become low-mass stars like Earth's sun.
Researchers have identified two exoplanets, Kepler-138c and d, as 'water worlds,' with a significant fraction of their volume likely composed of water. The planets are about one and a half times the size of Earth and have much lower densities than our planet.
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured infrared images of a population of red spiral galaxies at unprecedented resolution, revealing their morphology in detail. These galaxies are among the farthest known spiral galaxies and suggest that such spiral galaxies existed in large numbers in the early universe.
Four early galaxies have been confirmed by spectroscopic observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), with two of them being the most distant galaxies to date. The galaxies are estimated to be around 13.4 billion years old, dating back to less than 400 million years after the Big Bang.
A team of astronomers used JWST images to piece together the death of a 500-million-year-old star, which created shrouds of gas and left a remnant dense white dwarf. The study reveals evidence of two or three companion stars that hastened its death, with implications for supernovae and gravitational wave systems.
A recent gamma-ray burst has been identified as a kilonova, shedding light on the merging of neutron stars and black holes. The event produced an excess of infrared light and lasted about a minute, contradicting the typical short duration of such explosions.
An international team of researchers has successfully characterized the earliest galaxies in the Universe, which formed only 200 million years after the Big Bang. The study found that these early galaxies were relatively small and dim, processing less than 5% of their gas into stars.
Researchers have detected intra-group light, a faint glow between distant galaxies, and studied its properties. The stars in this light are younger and less metal-rich than surrounding galaxies, suggesting they were stripped from their home galaxies by massive satellite galaxies.
Researchers discovered two exceptionally bright galaxies in the early universe using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. These galaxies existed approximately 450 and 350 million years after the big bang and were found to be unusual in many ways, with some featuring compact disks that challenge our understanding of galaxy formation.
Researchers analyzed NGC 7469 with the JWST's mid-infrared detection instruments, revealing detailed dynamics of an active galactic nucleus and its impact on surrounding star-forming regions. The study sheds light on the effects of supermassive black hole winds on galaxy evolution.
A team of researchers used images from the Hubble Space Telescope to determine the age and composition of a distant supernova. The study suggests that the heavier atomic elements necessary for life were created inside stars and released during supernovae explosions.
A new study of 25 comets has found strong evidence that comet outgassing could be the source of the chemical composition of the early solar system. The research, led by Olga Harrington Pinto, measured the ratio of water, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide gases from comets to test predictions of solar system formation and evolution.
A team of astronomers used the James Webb Telescope to identify five ancient globular clusters, potentially containing the first and oldest stars in the universe. The clusters were formed close to the Big Bang, offering insights into star formation and galaxy evolution.
A new system classifies atmospheres of distant planets to identify those suitable for future human habitation, without physically visiting them. The research study found that planet TRAPPIST-1e has a significantly more sensitive atmosphere than Earth, which could lead to extreme climate changes.
Researchers developed a new technique using femtosecond laser pulses to fabricate precision ultrathin mirrors for space telescopes. The method can help correct errors in mirror fabrication and enable sharper images of astronomical x-rays.
Researchers have developed a method to map an asteroid's interior structure based on its spin changes during close encounters with Earth. This technique, called AIME, could help scientists plan more effective defense strategies for asteroids like Apophis, which poses a significant hazard if it were to make impact.
Researchers designed a state-of-the-art walking robot that can assemble large constructions in space, such as telescopes. The E-Walker robot proved to be versatile and ideal for future in-orbit missions.
Researchers from the University of Sydney explain that the James Webb Space Telescope's 'spiderweb' image is not an alien megastructure but rather a series of concentric dust shells created by a binary system. The team discovered that the stars in the system interact through stellar winds, producing shock fronts and spiral-shaped plumes.
Researchers find that airborne chemical methyl bromide is a compelling indicator of biological activity on other planets. Its detectability increases around M dwarf stars, making it an attractive target for future missions to search for extraterrestrial life.
The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can survive in the vicinity of supermassive black holes at the centers of active galaxies. This challenges previous studies that predicted their destruction, and reveals new insights into galaxy evolution.
Researchers detected a spectral softening around 10 TeV in the high-energy cosmic ray proton spectrum, suggesting the proton energy spectrum is not consistent with a single power law variation. The study contributes to understanding of cosmic ray acceleration by supernovae and propagation mechanism.
Researchers using JWST's First Deep Field image identified the most distant globular clusters, potentially relics of the first and oldest stars. These discoveries provide a detailed look at the earliest phase of star formation, confirming JWST's power in uncovering the universe's origins.
The ExoClock project, supported by European Space Agency's Ariel mission, has presented 450 candidate exoplanet target orbits and received contributions from 217 professional and amateur astronomers. Small telescopes can successfully observe most targets, highlighting the value of amateur community involvement in space research.
Astronomers detect massive light burst from 'infant' Universe, revealing properties of cosmic explosions. The GRB was triggered by a space explosion that occurred when the Universe was less than 900 million years old.
A new MIT study suggests that current opacity models used by astronomers may not be accurate enough to interpret the precise light-based signals from the James Webb Space Telescope. The researchers predict that properties of planetary atmospheres, such as temperature and elemental composition, could be off by an order of magnitude if e...
Researchers have found the oldest visible planetary nebula, a rare celestial jewel, hosted by a 500 million-year-old galactic cluster. The team determined that the PN has a 'kinematic age' of 70,000 years and estimates its progenitor star's mass and residual core's mass.
Astronomers using JWST have detected unambiguous evidence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of WASP-39b, a Saturn-mass exoplanet. The discovery provides valuable insights into giant planet composition and heavy element abundance, with implications for understanding how planets form.
Researchers from the University of Montreal have discovered an exoplanet that could be an 'ocean planet,' completely covered by a thick layer of water. The exoplanet, TOI-1452 b, has a radius and mass similar to Earth but is believed to be rocky with a possible abundance of water.