Articles tagged with Observatories
A team of astronomers used ALMA to observe a cluster of towering intergalactic gas clouds raining in on the supermassive black hole at the center of an elliptical galaxy. The new findings reshape our understanding of how supermassive black holes feed, revealing a previously unknown process known as cold, chaotic accretion.
A new ALMA observation reveals that cold dense clouds can coalesce from hot intergalactic gas and feed a galaxy's central supermassive black hole. This challenges previous views of how supermassive black holes acquire mass, indicating a chaotic and dynamic feeding process.
The LISA Pathfinder mission has passed a series of tests with flying colors, coming closer to experiencing true free fall than any other human-made object. The experiment successfully tested systems that will be incorporated in the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) gravitational wave observatory scheduled for launch in 2034.
The LISA Pathfinder mission has achieved remarkable results in testing a crucial technology for detecting gravitational waves from space. By flying around identical test masses and isolating them from external forces, scientists have successfully demonstrated advanced technologies needed for a full-scale observatory.
A team of astronomers has measured the mass of an ultra-diffuse galaxy using the Gran Telescopio CANARIAS, revealing it is composed primarily of dark matter with very few stars. The findings suggest that such galaxies could exist due to a large amount of dark matter protecting them from destruction.
The EVE sounding rocket will provide under-flight calibration for the SDO EVE spectrometers, supporting the calibration of other solar soft X-ray and extreme ultraviolet spectrometers. This mission aims to gather data for a tune-up of satellite instruments, helping scientists understand degradation trends.
Allan Sandage's last paper reveals that physicist George Gamow and astronomer Walter Adams had previously discovered subgiants in the 1940s, which would have accelerated the development of stellar evolutionary theory. The study shows that these early findings were largely ignored due to biases in the time.
Researchers use ALMA to accurately measure the mass of a supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy NGC 1332, shedding light on how galaxies and their black holes form. The findings suggest a coordinated growth between galaxies and their central black holes.
The HAWC Gamma-ray Observatory has released a new survey of the sky made from the highest energy gamma rays ever observed, revealing new high-energy sources within our own Milky Way galaxy. The observatory has also provided more detail on known sources, offering a deeper understanding of high-energy processes taking place in our galaxy...
A 1917 glass plate from the Carnegie Observatories' collection shows the first-ever evidence of a planetary system beyond our own Sun. The plate's spectrum revealed heavier elements, such as calcium and iron, which were expected to have disappeared into the star's interior due to their weight.
Astronomers have captured the most detailed image yet of a protoplanetary disc around the young star TW Hydrae, revealing concentric dusty bright rings and dark gaps. The new ALMA images show intriguing features that may indicate a planet with an Earth-like orbit is forming in the disc.
A team of astronomers using HARPS spectrograph detected the motion of bright spots on Ceres, suggesting they are composed of volatile materials that evaporate in sunlight. The study revealed unexpected variations in the spots' brightness due to the action of solar radiation.
The new system, VGOS, enables precise measurements of the Earth's shape with improved sensitivity and data rates. The system uses broadband antennas to conduct observations in four bands, reducing interference and increasing data rates.
Astronomers have discovered a crescent-shaped dust cloud in the outer reaches of a binary star's protoplanetary disk, providing fresh insights into planet formation. The cloud may be the key to forming planets in binary systems, with its lack of free-floating gases likely due to freezing out and forming ice on dust grains.
Scientists have observed ripples in spacetime, called gravitational waves, arriving from a cataclysmic event in the distant universe. This confirms a major prediction of Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity, providing information about gravity and its nature.
Researchers have discovered that the disks of gas and dust surrounding massive black holes are 'clumpy,' not smooth. The observations were made using NASA's NuSTAR and European Space Agency's XMM-Newton space observatory.
STEREO-A has resumed its normal science operations, transmitting lower-resolution real-time data and high-definition images of the sun's surface and atmosphere with a two- to three-day delay. This allows scientists to better track solar events and make accurate models of interplanetary space weather.
Researchers have found that young stars in Serpens South form through distinct, episodic growth spurts. CARMA-7 experienced 22 episodes of gravitational push-pull during star formation, indicating a chaotic environment common for star birth.
NASA has launched a new website featuring daily color images of Earth taken by the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) EPIC camera, providing insights into global variations in vegetation, ozone, and cloud height. The images are available for public viewing on the NASA website.
A recent study reveals that large solar storms can go undetected by current indices, which could lead to significant disruptions in power supply and communication networks. The researchers developed a new Local Disturbance index for Spain (LDiñ) to accurately assess geomagnetic perturbations in the region.
Leading US neuroscientists advocate for a coordinated national network of neurotechnology centers to accelerate the BRAIN Initiative. The proposed brain observatories would unite and synergize hundreds of individual laboratories, enabling rapid progress in key areas like connectomics and neural nanoprobe systems.
Astronomers have discovered fast-moving wave-like features in the debris disc of star AU Microscopii, which could be a sign of something unusual. The ripples are racing away from the star at speeds of up to 40,000 kilometers per hour, making them unlike anything ever observed before.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured an image of a mid-level solar flare, peaking at M5.5 on Oct. 1, 2015. The flare emitted powerful bursts of radiation that can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured an image of a mid-class solar flare on September 28, 2015, which peaked at M7.6 intensity. The event is expected to disturb the atmosphere in layers where GPS and communications signals travel.
Researchers found an O-type star, NGC 1624-2, has the largest known magnetosphere, trapping gas and creating a massive aura of hot, dense plasma. The star's powerful stellar winds are up to 100,000 times denser than our Sun's solar wind.
The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory has discovered its 3,000th comet, thanks to a volunteer astronomer in Thailand. This milestone marks a significant achievement for SOHO's comet project, with over 200 comets found annually by citizen scientists.
Researchers used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to locate compact regions within the nearby dwarf irregular galaxy Wolf--Lundmark--Melotte that can emulate larger galaxies' star-forming environments. These discoveries shed light on how dense star clusters can form in low-density, gas-poor galaxies.
Researchers have observed a massive transformation in galaxy structure, with disc-shaped galaxies becoming oval-shaped galaxies. The study provides the first direct evidence of this 'metamorphosis' and sheds light on the processes that caused it.
Tropical Storm Ignacio strengthened to a storm with heavy rain rates of over 74 mm per hour, posing no threat to land areas. Its westward motion is expected to continue, with an increased forward speed and potential turn toward the west-northwest.
A mid-level solar flare, peaking at M5.6, occurred on Aug 24, 2015. The flare emitted powerful bursts of radiation, potentially affecting Earth's atmosphere and disrupting GPS and communications signals.
Researchers at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory have gathered powerful new evidence in support of previous observations confirming the existence of cosmic neutrinos. The detection of ultra-high-energy muons provides independent confirmation of astrophysical neutrinos from our galaxy and cosmic neutrinos from sources outside the Milky Way.
Researchers found that a slight deflection in natural gravity at Greenwich causes the offset. The study's findings confirm that newer technologies like GPS have replaced traditional methods of determining longitude.
Researchers have detected lithium in material ejected by a nova, resolving a long-standing puzzle about its abundance in young stars. The finding sheds light on the chemical evolution of the Milky Way and could inform models of the Big Bang.
The Global Precipitation Measurement satellite tracked Typhoon Halola's strengthening and intensification, revealing heavy rain rates of over 84 mm/h. The storm's tall thunderstorm towers reached heights of over 10.5 miles, releasing energy that can lead to intensification.
A team of astronomers using ALMA has detected the faint glow of ionised carbon in a galaxy just over 800 million years after the Big Bang. This finding reveals new details about the assembly of galaxies in the early universe and provides valuable information on the interstellar medium and star formation processes.
A Brazilian-led team has discovered a planet with a mass similar to Jupiter's, orbiting a Sun-like star at almost the same distance. The planet's host, HIP 11915, is also similar in mass and age to our Sun, with a composition that hints at possible rocky planets.
Astronomers monitor the outburst of V404 Cygni, a black hole firing up in an X-ray nova. The data collected will help determine the type of object at its heart, providing insights into these rare events.
A mid-level solar flare was observed by NASA's SDO on June 25, 2015, reaching a magnitude of M7.9. The event has the potential to disturb the atmosphere, affecting GPS and communications signals.
Astronomers have discovered a colossal cloud of hydrogen dispersing from the warm, Neptune-sized planet Gliese 436b. The enormous gaseous tail is about 50 times the size of its parent star and may offer clues on how hot super-Earths form around other stars.
Researchers have discovered more than 800 'ultra dark galaxies' in the Coma Cluster, which are characterized by their diffuse and extended structure. The galaxies are thought to be enveloped by a massive amount of dark matter, which accounts for over 99% of their total mass.
A mid-level solar flare, peaking at M6.6, was emitted by the sun on June 22, 2015. This event may disturb the atmosphere and affect GPS and communications signals.
Astronomers using ALMA measured the mass of a supermassive black hole at the center of NGC 1097, a barred spiral galaxy 45 million light-years away. The black hole was found to be 140 million times more massive than our Sun.
A team of European scientists has discovered a unique region of extreme star formation, known as the 'Eye of Medusa', using the powerful NOEMA radio telescope. The discovery reveals a giant region of recently formed massive stars at the center of the galaxy collision.
Researchers use ALMA to image massive galaxy SDP.81, located 11.7 billion light-years away, and reveal its inner structure, including giant molecular clouds and supermassive black hole at center of foreground galaxy.
Astronomers have captured the most detailed view of star formation in a distant galaxy using ALMA's Long Baseline Campaign. The observations reveal giant versions of the Orion Nebula producing thousands of new stars, with clumps of star formation visible down to 200 light-years.
A UH-led team successfully observed the total solar eclipse over the Arctic, capturing breathtaking images of the sun's corona. The team braved extreme weather conditions and polar bear danger to set up equipment at two locations in the Svalbard archipelago.
Astronomers have detected an extremely powerful magnetic field close to a supermassive black hole in a distant galaxy, revolutionizing our understanding of these cosmic phenomena. The discovery was made using the Alma telescope and reveals new insights into the structure and formation of black holes.
Astronomers have detected strong magnetic fields near the event horizon of a supermassive black hole using ALMA. The findings provide new insights into the mysterious mechanisms driving jet formation, with magnetic fields playing a crucial role in matter escape.
Astronomers have detected large amounts of complex organic molecules, including methyl cyanide, in the protoplanetary disc surrounding young star MWC 480. This discovery suggests that these molecules are common in the universe and may be delivered to environments nurturing life.
Typhoon Maysak is weakening due to vertical wind shear as it approaches landfall in Luzon on April 4. The storm had peak intensity of over 130 knots but has weakened to about 115 knots, with heavy rain detected in its northwestern side.
Researchers used ESA's Herschel and Planck space observatories to identify objects in the distant Universe that could be precursors of today's galaxy clusters. These early galaxies were found to be forming stars at an extremely high rate, with some converting gas and dust into stars at a rate 1,500 times faster than our own Milky Way.
The North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) has received $14.5 million in NSF funding to create a Physics Frontiers Center to detect low-frequency gravitational waves using millisecond pulsars as a detection tool.
Researchers connect a black hole's 'wind' to an outward torrent of cold gas in a galaxy, validating feedback mechanisms that influence galaxy evolution. The discovery resolves a long-standing puzzle and sheds light on the relationship between supermassive black holes and their host galaxies.
The HAWC Gamma-Ray Observatory is equipped with 300 detectors spread over three football fields to detect gamma rays and cosmic rays. It will study active galactic nuclei, gamma ray bursts, and the nature of cosmic rays.
A significant solar flare was emitted by the sun on March 11, 2015, peaking at 12:22 p.m. EDT. The X2.2-class flare may cause disturbances in the atmosphere where GPS and communications signals travel.
Scientists have identified the fastest-moving unbound star in our galaxy, breaking the galactic speed record with a speed of 1,200 kilometers per second. The star, US708, was once part of a double-star solar system and is now expected to leave the Milky Way.
Researchers have produced a detailed image of a galaxy-cluster collision using the VLA radio telescope, showing a variety of strange features related to the ongoing collision. The 'true color' image reveals details of interactions between merging clusters and suggests unexpected physical processes at work.
The donation will be used to augment general expenses, augmenting the existing annual funding of $1.5 million. The observatory supports hands-on astronomical experiences for students and the public, with opportunities for undergraduate research and discovery.
Researchers have standardized historical sunspot data, revealing that solar activity has been consistent throughout history, including during the Enlightenment. The study also shows that there were intense periods of solar activity in the past, such as the Maunder minimum.
The NISTAR instrument on NOAA's DSCOVR spacecraft will measure the Earth's radiation budget by monitoring absolute irradiance over the entire sunlit face of the planet. This information can be used to understand the effects of human activities and natural phenomena on climate change.