Articles tagged with Observatories
The University of Arizona is a dominant force in Arizona's astronomy and planetary research endeavors. A new study reveals that these industries have a significant impact on the state's economy, generating more than $252 million and creating over 3,300 jobs in the 2006 fiscal year.
New research by Arecibo Observatory increases the mass limit for neutron star formation into black holes, suggesting they may be more rare. Neutron stars are found to remain stable between 1.9 and 2.7 sun masses, contradicting previous thought.
A new study using Chandra X-ray Observatory results provides evidence that many supermassive black holes are spinning extremely rapidly. The research suggests that these fast-spinning black holes can drive powerful jets, pumping energy into their environment and affecting galaxy growth.
Astronomers have detected a mysterious type of cosmic explosion, known as a short gamma-ray burst (GRB), 7.4 billion years ago, more than halfway back to the Big Bang. This discovery dramatically moves back the time at which we know short GRBs were exploding.
Astronomers have detected a record-breaking short gamma-ray burst (GRB) 7.4 billion years ago, revealing new insights into their formation mechanisms.
The Pierre Auger Collaboration has found an anisotropy in cosmic ray arrival directions correlated with galaxies containing active galactic nuclei. This discovery suggests that AGN are the source of the most energetic particles reaching Earth.
Scientists have established a correlation between high-energy cosmic rays and distant active galactic nuclei (AGNs), suggesting massive black holes in the center of galaxies as a possible source. The Pierre Auger Observatory detected 28 cosmic rays with energies greater than 60 EeV, most of which originated from locations near known AGNs.
The Pierre Auger Observatory has found that the sources of the highest-energy cosmic rays are linked to nearby galaxies with active nuclei in their centers. This discovery provides new insights into the origin and acceleration of these particles.
Scientists from 17 countries identify Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) as the most likely source of the highest-energy cosmic rays using data-gathering equipment designed at Michigan Tech. The findings, reported in Science journal, bring researchers closer to understanding the origin of ultra-high energy particles.
The Pierre Auger Observatory has found that active galactic nuclei, powered by super-massive black holes, are the most likely source of the highest-energy cosmic rays. The sources of these particles are not distributed uniformly across the sky, but rather linked to nearby galaxies with active nuclei.
The Hercules Dwarf Galaxy, a tiny companion to the Milky Way, has been found to have an exceptional flat shape, unlike any other known galaxy. The galaxy's shape is likely due to its close proximity to the Milky Way and the gravitational forces that disrupt it.
Astronomers have pioneered a new technique to measure the properties of neutron stars, allowing them to study the extreme conditions under which matter is packed. Using XMM-Newton and Suzaku satellites, scientists observed distorted space-time around three neutron stars, confirming predictions by Einstein's theory of general relativity.
The discovery reveals how efficient neutron stars can be as cosmic power factories and shows they rival black holes in generating powerful jets. The X-ray jet is found to be almost as efficient as one from a black hole, with a surprising high percentage of energy converted into powering the jet.
Astronomers using the Global Oscillation at Low Frequency (GOLF) instrument on SOHO have detected possible long-sought oscillations on the Sun's surface. This finding provides insight into the Sun's core and its role in the formation of our solar system.
Scientists confirm size of hot gas disk around supermassive black hole, measuring its size as seven times the distance between Earth and Sun. The disk is found to be 10 times smaller than predicted event horizon, consistent with theoretical predictions.
GLAST will study extreme objects, detecting thousands of new gamma-ray sources and extending knowledge of dark matter. Environmental testing begins after successful integration of components, ensuring the spacecraft can survive launch and space conditions.
Researchers have confirmed that the 'anomalous arms' in galaxy M106 are regions of gas violently heated by shock waves, not jets of particles. The team's analysis shows clear consistency with their scenario, providing insight into the formation and evolution of these mysterious structures.
Astronomers observed a massive star suffering a double whammy, with the star surviving one outburst before exploding as Supernova 2006jc. The study found that the supernova's blast wave interacted with material ejected by the star two years earlier, indicating a unique stellar evolution process.
A team of astronomers has assembled the most complete picture yet of a pair of asteroids orbiting each other, thanks to combined observations from professionals and amateurs. The asteroid 90 Antiope is depicted as two slightly egg-shaped rubble piles locked in orbit, with uncertainties remaining from previous studies.
Astronomers have observed Z Cam binary system exhibiting a massive shell of gas and dust surrounding the white dwarf, indicating a classical nova explosion. The discovery supports a 20-year-old theory suggesting double-star systems cycle between blast types.
Researchers at Yale University and the University of Leicester have discovered an ancient solar observatory at Chankillo, Peru, dating back to the 4th century B.C. The site features a line of 13 towers aligned with the sun's position throughout the year, making it the oldest complete solar observatory in the Americas.
Astronomers have identified an X-ray-emitting binary star system in the Small Magellanic Cloud, 170,000 light-years from Earth. The system, HD 5980, features two stars with intense winds that collide and produce multimillion-degree gas radiating brilliantly in X-rays.
The NARVAL observatory, installed at the Bernard Lyot Telescope, allows scientists to study magnetic fields of stars and their impact on planetary formation. SU Aurigae's complex magnetic 'web' was observed using NARVAL and ESPaDOnS, revealing new insights into stellar evolution.
Jiong Qiu, a Montana State University scientist, has won the Karen Harvey Award for her research on magnetic eruptions on the sun and moon brightness. Her work focuses on analyzing measurements to understand activities in space.
George Smoot has been awarded the Daniel Chalonge Medal for his 15-year contribution to the International School of Astrophysics. The award recognizes his outstanding contributions to cosmology and astrophysics, as well as his support for the school's summer and fall programs.
A space sunshade, proposed by University of Arizona astronomer Roger Angel, could balance the heating effect of a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The constellation of small spacecraft would form a long, cylindrical cloud with about 10 percent of sunlight diverted away from Earth.
A team of astronomers discovered that many large galaxies in the early universe had a low stellar birth rate, suggesting a cosmic 'birth control' mechanism that prevented excessive star formation. The study found that these galaxies formed stars when the universe was just 20% of its current age.
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory-built STEREO spacecraft will explore coronal mass ejections and their impact on Earth. The twin observatories will capture 3D images and particle measurements of the sun by flying as mirror images of each other.
Black holes are surprisingly efficient at producing energy, with most of the energy released by matter falling toward a supermassive black hole going into high-energy jets. The study also shows that these jets create huge bubbles in the hot gas of galaxies, preventing new stars from forming.
A team of scientists and students captured data during a rare three-minute solar eclipse to study why the Sun's corona is millions of degrees hotter than its surface. The expedition used new electronic cameras and specialized filters to record images of the corona.
A team of researchers from Williams College will travel to Greece to study the solar eclipse, capturing observations of the Sun's corona and testing new electronic cameras. The expedition aims to provide valuable insights into the mechanism that heats the solar corona to millions of degrees.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a new technique that allows anyone with a computer to download images of the entire solar surface. This technology enables the early detection of solar storms on the far side of the sun, which can be detected days or weeks in advance and affect Earth's orbiting satellites, telecommunica...
Researchers have discovered a large number of supermassive black holes, outnumbering initial estimates, using deep X-ray surveys. The findings suggest that these black holes are more stable over time than previously thought.
Astronomers detect a vast hot halo extending over 60,000 light years around the massive spiral galaxy NGC 5746. This discovery resolves a long-standing issue in galaxy formation theory, suggesting that large spiral galaxies should be immersed in halos of hot gas left over from the galaxy formation process.
A study using hundreds of images from two deep sky surveys found that more than half of the largest galaxies in the nearby universe have collided and merged with another galaxy. The mergers occur quickly, leaving faint features difficult to detect, but confirm predictions for large-scale structure formation. Ongoing study will reveal i...
The Pierre Auger Observatory is constructing an array of 1600 detectors in Argentina to study ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. The collaboration includes 370 scientists from 60 institutions and has set out to answer fundamental questions about the origins of these rare particles.
Two nearly identical spacecraft, STEREO (Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory), were shipped to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for pre-launch tests. The twin observatories will explore coronal mass ejections and their impact on space weather, obtaining unique 3-D images of the sun.
The two Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft will explore coronal mass ejections' origin, evolution, and interplanetary consequences during their two-year mission. The STEREO mission aims to improve our understanding of space weather and its impact on Earth systems.
The $400,000 award will fund a starshade-shaped 'New Worlds Observer' that blocks parent star light and captures planet images. Scientists can map planetary systems, detect biomarkers and study features like oceans and continents.
Two astronomers have used NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory to discover a shell of superheated gas around a dying star in the Milky Way galaxy. The study reveals how material ejected at two million miles per hour can heat previously ejected gas to emit X-rays, providing new insight into the persistence of such gas around dying stars.
The Chandra X-ray Observatory has observed an X-ray outburst from the highly evolved red giant star Mira A, revealing a bridge of hot matter streaming between it and its companion white dwarf. The detection provides insights into interactions between binary systems, including those with a collapsed star.
Researchers have developed a new model to predict the physics of stellar burning, particularly in stars like V4334 Sgr that undergo brief rebirths. The model predicts that V4334 Sgr will become much hotter and then slowly repeat the stellar rebirth cycle, returning to its current temperature in roughly two hundred years.
A recent study led by Professor Albert Zijlstra has found that up to 0.1% of a star's mass can be expelled during re-ignition, equivalent to 300 times the mass of Earth. This discovery suggests that part of the carbon in the universe may have come from these events, providing new insights into the formation of our planet.
A team of astronomers has discovered a remote galaxy cluster that is as massive as several thousand galaxies like our Milky Way and is located 9,000 million light-years away. The cluster contains reddish and elliptical galaxies with old stars, indicating it formed when the Universe was less than one third of its present age.
A NYU physicist has isolated the first source of ultra-high energy cosmic particles using a new analysis technique. The discovery provides a breakthrough for cosmic ray astronomy, allowing researchers to study material particles from the distant universe in greater detail.
Researchers found a high concentration of X-ray sources near the Galactic center, suggesting multiple black holes are present. The presence of these black holes is consistent with the theory that stellar-mass black holes can sink toward the center of the galaxy through dynamical friction.
Astronomers discovered a record-breaking eruption of hot gas and cavities in galaxy cluster MS 0735.6+7421, fueled by a super massive black hole growing at an incredible rate. The event generated energy equivalent to hundreds of millions of gamma-ray bursts.
The Swift X-ray Telescope has successfully captured its first gamma-ray burst afterglow, marking a significant milestone in the mission to understand these mysterious events. The telescope will help scientists pinpoint the location and nature of the explosion, providing crucial clues about the origins of gamma-ray bursts.
Researchers observe enormous cavities surrounding a supermassive black hole, preventing gas from cooling and forming new stars. The discovery sheds light on the universe's structure and supports recent theories about black holes' role in shaping galaxy evolution.
A new NASA book, 'Touch the Sun,' allows visually impaired students to explore solar science through embossed color pictures, Braille, and large-print descriptions. The book features 16 photographs of the sun and space weather, selected by Dr. Joseph Gurman and Steele Hill.
Astronomers used computer simulations to predict that a close encounter between our Sun and another star in the Milky Way galaxy could have given us our solar system's edge and put small, alien worlds into distant orbits. The study found potential locations where captured objects from other solar systems might be found.
Astronomers confirm that the Virgo Cluster of galaxies is a highly non-uniform structure consisting of several subunits. The cluster's formation history can be studied using planetary nebulae stars, which trace the masses within the region. These findings provide new insights into the dynamic evolution of galaxy clusters.
The Texas flagship universities will participate in the Giant Magellan Telescope Consortium to explore the universe's frontiers. The GMT will collect five times more light than the Hobby-Eberly telescope and produce images 10 times sharper, enabling groundbreaking discoveries about the origins of the universe.
A team of astronomers has discovered hundreds of hidden supermassive black holes in the distant universe, invisible to optical telescopes. The new observations combined data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, and Spitzer Space Telescope, revealing objects that were previously thought to be missing.
The SuperWASP facility is now operational, generating vast amounts of data to discover thousands of new planets around nearby stars. Data from the facility will lead to exciting progress in areas of astronomy, including the discovery of exoplanets and early detection of variable objects.
A team of astronomers studied the polarisation properties of GRB 030329's afterglow over 38 days, detecting significant variability in strength and orientation. The data reveal a unique diagnostic tool for gamma-ray burst studies, challenging existing theories.
Gravitational waves are ripples in space-time produced by massive objects' acceleration. The detection of these waves will provide unique information about astrophysical systems like supernovae and black hole formation.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University successfully redesigned software for the FUSE satellite's gyroscopes, enabling precise control and reducing reliance on faulty components. The new system has shown improved performance, even surpassing traditional methods in certain situations.
The DEEP2 Redshift Survey has produced the first detailed maps of galaxy distribution in the early universe, revealing large-scale structures and differences in galaxy clustering. These maps show similar structures to those seen in the local universe but at an earlier stage of development.
The new AO76 system, developed by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory in New Mexico, produces sharper images under worse seeing conditions than the previous AO24 system. This allows existing solar telescopes to produce higher resolution images and greatly improve their scientific output.