Articles tagged with Observatories
Astronomers have discovered a planet from another galaxy orbiting a star that has entered our Milky Way, providing the first confirmed detection of an extragalactic exoplanet. The planet, HIP 13044 b, was detected using high-resolution spectrograph FEROS attached to the MPG/ESO telescope at ESO's La Silla Observatory.
Astronomers at UCI use the Herschel telescope to detect hundreds of new galaxies through cosmic alignment, revealing a whole new class of galaxies from the universe's early days. The discovery provides insights into star formation and galaxy size when the universe was young.
Astronomers using space telescopes have discovered a previously unknown brilliant X-ray explosion in the Milky Way galaxy, named MAXI J1409-619. The object, a binary system, was revealed to be emitting massive blasts of X-rays after being detected by an instrument on the International Space Station.
Astronomer Joel Kastner finds evidence that a variable star in the Pisces constellation is a one billion-year-old red giant that has swallowed a companion star, forming an orbiting disk that may contain second-generation planets. The star's extreme properties and X-ray production rate point to its advanced age.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have verified a theory that asteroid pairs are formed when small gravel-sized rocks separate from a larger asteroid through centrifugal force. The study, published in Nature, reveals that these 'separated asteroids' share the same orbit and demonstrate the existence of paired asteroid relationships.
Astronomers discovered a cloud of hot water vapor around the old star IRC+10216 and suspected comets or dwarf planets were evaporating to produce it. However, Herschel's instruments revealed that ultraviolet light from surrounding stars is the actual source of the water, which forms closer to the star than comets can stably exist.
The Big Bear Solar Observatory has achieved 'first light' using a deformable mirror, resulting in the most detailed visible light image of a sunspot ever captured. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the observatory's adaptive optics system, which will enable better studies of solar complex phenomena and space weather.
Astronomers discovered a giant black hole with its spin axis pointing in a different direction after two collisions with smaller galaxies. The observations suggest that the black hole was jerked around twice, creating cavities and radio jets.
Dr. Hawarden's pioneering work on passive cooling techniques led to the design of larger, more efficient infrared space telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope. His approach has significantly improved the lifetime and performance of these instruments.
Astronomers detected a record-breaking X-ray blast from beyond the Milky Way galaxy, temporarily blinding NASA's Swift space observatory. The burst, named GRB 100621A, was more than 140 times brighter than any continuous X-ray source in the sky.
Data from NASA's Swift satellite have solved a decades-long mystery about black holes emitting vast amounts of energy. The survey confirms that galaxies colliding trigger the 'lighting up' of supermassive black holes.
A team of researchers tracked a comet as it approached the sun using data from NASA's STEREO and SOHO spacecraft. The comet, believed to be part of the Kreutz family, survived the intense heat of the corona and evaporated in the chromosphere.
Researchers have discovered a massive cloud of cosmic gas and dust collapsing in on itself, which could help solve the mystery of massive star formation. The CSIRO radio telescope detected two types of molecules indicative of collapse, suggesting the gas is falling at an incredibly high rate.
Researchers have made direct measurements of the size and brightness of regions of star-birth in a very distant galaxy using the APEX telescope. The galaxy is so bright due to massive dust grains heated by starlight, revealing star formation at a rate equivalent to about 250 Suns per year.
Researchers have observed a warm core at the center of the Great Red Spot, with temperatures varying by up to 3 degrees compared to surrounding areas. This temperature difference affects wind velocities and cloud patterns in Jupiter's belts and zones.
The study of co-orbital motion in natural bodies, including asteroids and satellites, has significant research value. The authors have developed a new method to design and optimize LISA orbit with an extended applicable region of over 1000 years.
A newly discovered star in the Sculptor dwarf galaxy has a chemical makeup similar to the Milky Way's oldest stars, lending support to the 'bottom-up model' of galaxy formation. The star's unusually low metal abundance resembles those of old Milky Way stars, further validating the theory.
The Integrated Space Weather Analysis (iSWA) system offers a unique level of customization and flexibility for NASA satellite operators and citizen scientists. It provides real-time data on past, present, and future space weather conditions, enabling personalized 'quick looks' at space-weather information.
Astronomers have discovered a giant stream of gas flowing from neighboring galaxies around the Milky Way is more than 40% longer and 2.5 billion years older than previously known, according to new radio observations.
The ALMA team successfully linked three antennas, correcting errors that can arise when using only two antennas, paving the way for precise, high-resolution imaging. The successful test shows that the completed ALMA system of 66 high-tech antennas will produce astronomical images of unprecedented quality.
The Herschel Space Observatory has revealed thousands of newly discovered galaxies in their early stages of formation, providing a detailed view of the universe up to 12 billion years ago. The images are helping astronomers detect distant galaxies that would have been impossible to discover with current ground-based telescopes.
Lowell Observatory Director Eileen Friel has been selected as an AAAS Fellow for her contributions to the astronomical community. She is recognized for her diligence in mentoring young scientists through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.
A new study of supernova remnants shows that their symmetry reveals how a star exploded, allowing astronomers to classify supernovas more accurately. The analysis found circular remnants from Type Ia explosions and asymmetric remnants from core-collapse supernovas.
The GPM mission will provide uniformly calibrated precipitation measurements globally every 2-4 hours for scientific research and societal applications. The mission builds on the success of TRMM and includes a Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) and a multi-channel GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) to improve precipitation estimates.
A new scientific organization is proposed to utilize satellite images to monitor the world's forests and track changes in deforestation rates. Currently, only half of tropical countries have conducted two recent forest surveys needed to construct a deforestation trend.
Astronomers have unveiled an extraordinary cosmic relic, Terzan 5, which formed in at least two different epochs, providing insights into the origin of the galactic bulge. The discovery suggests that Terzan 5 might be the surviving remnant of a disrupted dwarf galaxy contributing to the Milky Way's formation.
Scientists confirm ultra-thin coating of carbon on neutron star using Chandra's X-ray spectrum and theoretical models. The discovery resolves a ten-year mystery surrounding the object, explaining its lack of pulsations.
Dr. Rolf-Peter Kudritzki, University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy director, has been awarded the Karl Schwarzschild Prize for his contributions to galaxy research. The prize recognizes his work on studying very bright stars in distant galaxies to understand their chemical composition and distance.
The mosaic image reveals stellar evolution, bright young stars, and a supermassive black hole at the Galactic center. Giant X-ray flares from Sgr A* have occurred about 50 and 300 years earlier.
Researchers pinpointed Ridge A as the ideal location due to its extreme cold and dryness, averaging -70°C in winter, and minimal atmospheric turbulence, making it suitable for high-quality astronomical images.
The SPIRE instrument package has successfully made its first observations, targeting two galaxies near the Milky Way. The telescope's high-resolution images will aid in studying the birth and development of galaxies, shedding light on star formation processes.
The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) spacecraft has arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., where it will undergo final testing before its anticipated November launch. The mission aims to study the sun in unprecedented detail and its effects on Earth, collecting 1.5 terabytes of data daily.
The MMS mission will investigate magnetic reconnection, a fundamental process that impacts technologies like communications and power grids. The four observatories will be deployed in a pyramid configuration to study the phenomenon near the boundary between Earth's magnetosphere and solar wind.
The Suzaku mission has detected X-ray-emitting gas at a galaxy cluster's outskirts for the first time, providing insights into how massive structures evolve. The study reveals the temperature and density of the gas out to the cluster's virial radius, where order turns to chaos.
Scientists are synchronizing lenses of the Whole Earth Telescope network to monitor a white dwarf, shedding light on its composition and applying knowledge to Earth's weather. The star, WDJ1524-0030, is losing brightness as it cools, with astronomers studying its pulses to understand internal movements.
The Herschel Space Observatory, launched by the European Space Agency, hosts a 3.5 meter diameter telescope and observes conditions in galaxy mergers and planetary system formation. NRL scientists will study these phenomena using the observatory's instruments.
A deep Chandra X-ray image has resolved a long-standing mystery about an X-ray glow along the plane of the Galaxy. The image reveals hundreds of point-like X-ray sources causing the glow, implying millions of such sources are responsible.
Researchers have discovered a mysterious giant space blob, Himiko, that existed 800 million years ago, stretching 55 thousand light years across and raising questions about its physical origins.
Researchers discovered a mechanism for regulating the rate at which stellar-mass black holes grow, suggesting that they can regulate themselves. The study found that the black hole in GRS 1915+105 toggles between expelling mass via a jet and a wind from its accretion disk.
The ALMA Observatory has accepted its first North American antenna, marking a significant milestone in the project. The 12-meter-diameter antenna was delivered by General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies and will enable astronomers to probe phenomena beyond the reach of visible-light telescopes with unprecedented sharpness.
SkyView's latest survey is now available in WorldWide Telescope, with visitors generating 300,000 images a month, up from 20,000 ten years ago. The project provides a single interface for accessing over 36 surveys covering nearly 100 wavelength bands, making astronomy accessible to everyone.
Astrophysicist Neil Gehrels receives the Henry Draper Medal for his groundbreaking work on gamma-ray bursts and active galactic nuclei. His leadership of NASA's Swift Mission has significantly advanced astronomers' understanding of these phenomena.
Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have identified two distinct regions with an excess of cosmic rays, challenging nearly a century-old understanding of galactic magnetic fields. The Milagro observatory recorded over 200 billion cosmic-ray collisions, revealing statistically significant peaks in specific regions of the sky.
The Milagro collaboration has discovered two nearby regions with an unexpected excess of cosmic rays, suggesting the presence of high-energy particle acceleration near Earth. This finding is the second recent study indicating a source of galactic cosmic rays relatively close to our planet.
A team of astronomers has discovered three planets in orbit around the young star HR 8799, using advanced computer processing techniques to separate them from the star's light. The planets are found to possess complex atmospheres with dusty clouds partially trapping and re-radiating escaping heat.
Researchers used data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and Compton Gamma Ray Observatory to study the Bullet Cluster, where two large clusters of galaxies collided. The results show that the antimatter fraction in the cluster is less than three parts per million, ruling out significant amounts of antimatter on scales of about 65 m...
Astronomers have discovered evidence that high-speed collisions between large elliptical galaxies can prevent new stars from forming. The study found that gravitational interactions can heat up gas, making it difficult for stars to cool and form.
Andrea Ghez, a UCLA professor of physics and astronomy, has been selected as a MacArthur Fellow for her pioneering work on supermassive black holes and their role in shaping the evolution of galaxies. Her research has improved our understanding of these enigmatic objects and shed light on their impact on the surrounding environment.
Astronomers have observed the most detailed picture of a gamma-ray burst, detected by NASA's Swift satellite on March 19. The burst was so bright it became visible to human eyes and provided insights into the universe's most luminous explosions.
Researchers propose that Eta Carinae's historic 1843 outburst was a fast blast wave similar to a supernova, but less energetic. This discovery challenges current theories and may indicate supermassive stars undergo periodic explosions before their final supernova.
Researchers used a rare double-star system to test Albert Einstein's theory of General Relativity, finding that the famed physicist's 93-year-old theory has passed yet another test. The study confirmed that the strong gravity of the neutron stars causes one to wobble or precess.
Dr. Joan M. Centrella and Dr. John G. Baker received the John C. Lindsay Memorial Award for their pioneering computer simulations of black hole mergers, a crucial step towards understanding cosmic evolution. The simulations have spurred rapid progress in predicting observable signatures of these events.
Astronomers have witnessed a star dying in real-time for the first time, marking a major breakthrough in understanding supernovae. The team used NASA's orbiting Swift telescope to detect an extremely luminous X-ray blast from the explosion, confirming that it was indeed a supernova.
Astronomers captured X-ray outburst from supernova SN 2008D, shedding light on early processes. The explosion was likely from a massive star with retained helium layer, providing valuable information for understanding stellar deaths.
The powerful Ku Band antenna system attached to NASA's GLAST satellite enables high-rate data transmission to Earth through the Tracking and Data Relay Satellites. The antenna system includes a Ku antenna, pointing mechanism, and transmitters, and will play a crucial role in the observatory's scientific experiments.
A team of Japanese astronomers has discovered that the Milky Way's central black hole, Sagittarius A*, let loose a powerful flare three centuries ago. The finding resolves a long-standing mystery about the black hole's quiescent nature.
A RIT team successfully simulated the merger of three black holes, confirming a robust computer code and predicting distinct gravitational signatures. The simulation, which uses high-performance computing, is essential for detecting gravity waves that may confirm the existence of black holes.
NASA awards CU-Boulder $1 million to lead the study of a space observatory that will find Earth-like planets and detect biomarkers like methane, oxygen, and water. The project plans to launch a 4-meter telescope into an orbit roughly 1 million miles from Earth, with a giant starshade to block starlight.
The GLAST observatory will explore extreme environments and search for new laws of physics, with a scheduled May 16 launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The rocket's first stage has arrived at the space station, joining the second stage and solid rocket motors.
Astronomers have measured the distribution and motions of thousands of galaxies in the distant Universe using ESO's VLT. This study provides a powerful way to tackle the mystery of dark energy, with results supporting the simplest form of dark energy.