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New insights about the brightest explosions in the Universe

Swedish and Japanese researchers found a new explanation for the emission lines of SN 2006gy, a superluminous supernova. The discovery led to a revised understanding of how the supernova arose, with a double star system involving a white dwarf and massive hydrogen-rich star implicated.

SourceStockholm University·JournalScience·DateJan 23, 2020
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Stars need a partner to spin universe's brightest explosions

Researchers have discovered that tidal effects from a close binary companion can cause a star to spin fast enough to launch material into space, forming a gamma-ray burst. This phenomenon is necessary for creating the most luminous events in the universe, observable from Earth when their jet of material is pointed directly at us.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJan 13, 2020

Caught in the act: MeerKAT telescope spies stellar flare

Scientists using the MeerKAT radio telescope have discovered a unique and previously-unseen flare of radio emission from a binary star system. The source is thought to be associated with an active corona, where two objects orbit each other approximately every 22 days.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateNov 20, 2019
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Exoplanet axis study boosts hopes of complex life, just not next door

A new study models Earth's axis tilt and finds that 87% of exo-Earths in binary systems should have similar steady tilts, favoring climate stability for complex life. However, a modeled exo-Earth around Alpha Centauri B shows unstable dynamics due to the star system's powerful gravity, making it challenging for evolution.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·DateNov 19, 2019

Distant worlds under many suns

Dr Markus Mugrauer's study confirms the influence of multiple stars on planet formation and development. He found 200 companion stars to planetary host stars up to 1,600 light years away, including red and white dwarf stars.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateNov 13, 2019

Chances for life expand when passing stars push binaries together

Astronomers find that binary star interactions can expand the habitable zone, increasing the likelihood of life on planets. Simulations reveal that 20 out of 350 binaries in young star clusters are squeezed together, expanding their habitable zones.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMar 6, 2019
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Exiled planet linked to stellar flyby 3 million years ago

Researchers have found a smoking gun linking a young exoplanet's misaligned orbit to a close stellar flyby. The study, published in the Astronomical Journal, suggests that such encounters can reshape planetary systems and determine their ability to harbor stable orbits.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·DateFeb 28, 2019

Old stars live longer than we thought

Researchers have discovered a binary interaction between stars, leading to slower mass loss rates. This changes our understanding of how stars end their lives and the chemical evolution of galaxies.

SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalNature Astronomy·DateFeb 25, 2019

Stellar winds, the source material for the universe, are clumpy

Researchers led by Penn State astronomer Pragati Pradhan found that stellar winds, composed of protons, electrons, and metal atoms, contain dense clumps. The Chandra data revealed a 'Compton shoulder' indicating back scattering by surrounding matter, providing new insights into star environments.

SourcePenn State·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJan 24, 2019
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Double star system flips planet-forming disk into pole position

Researchers discovered a double star system with a planet-forming disc that orbits at right angles to the binary star orbit, challenging traditional theories. The finding suggests that misaligned circumbinary planets may exist and could have unique seasonal variations.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJan 14, 2019

Cosmic serpent

The ESO's VLT captured the details of an elaborate serpentine system sculpted by colliding stellar winds, with Apep being a likely source of one of the most energetic phenomena in the Universe. The system consists of a nest of massive stars surrounded by a dust pinwheel.

SourceESO·JournalNature Astronomy·DateNov 19, 2018
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

The cosmic ray gun duel of Eta Carinae

Astronomers using NASA's NuSTAR satellite have revealed that binary star system Eta Carinae is capable of creating cosmic rays. The team observed the system and found evidence of a collision between the two stars' stellar winds, which forms shock waves and accelerates particles to nearly the speed of light.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJul 29, 2018

Globular clusters 4 billion years younger than previously thought

New research led by the University of Warwick has found that globular clusters may be only around 9 billion years old, revised from their previous age of 13 billion. The discovery brings into question current theories on how galaxies, including the Milky Way, were formed.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJun 4, 2018
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

A laser from a space ant

Astronomers have detected a unique laser emission from the heart of the Ant Nebula, indicating the presence of a double star system. The phenomenon was discovered using European Space Agency's Herschel space observatory and is connected to the death of a star.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMay 16, 2018

'Oumuamua likely came from a binary star system

New research confirms that 'Oumuamua, the first confirmed interstellar asteroid, originated from a binary star system. The study found that rocky objects like 'Oumuamua are far more likely to come from binary systems than single star systems.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMar 19, 2018
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

A better way to weigh millions of solitary stars

Astronomers have developed a novel method to measure the masses of solitary stars with an accuracy of 10-25 percent. This technique combines light fluctuations and parallax data to infer surface gravity and diameter, providing critical information for understanding star formation, evolution, and planetary systems.

SourceVanderbilt University·DateDec 14, 2017

Astronomers reveal nearby stars that are among the oldest in our galaxy

A team of astronomers from Georgia State University has discovered two old binary stars and identified 29 new old star candidates using a technique called astrometry. The study focused on subdwarf stars, which are cooler and older than the sun, and used their motion across the sky to determine their age.

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalThe Astronomical Journal·DateNov 20, 2017

Contracting white dwarf observed for the first time

Scientists have observed a contracting white dwarf for the first time, providing insights into young stars' evolution. The discovery suggests that young white dwarfs contract as they age, challenging current understanding of their behavior.

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateNov 14, 2017

A one-of-a-kind star found to change over decades

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have discovered that the unique binary star system AR Scorpii exhibits variability on a timescale of decades, contrary to initial expectations. The study found that the system's brightness more than doubled in minutes and hours, but also showed long-term changes over decades.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateSep 12, 2017
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Fastest stars in the Milky Way are 'runaways' from another galaxy

Astronomers found that the fastest-moving stars in the Milky Way originated in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy in orbit around our own. Computer simulations and data analysis showed that these stars were ejected from their original home at incredible speeds.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 4, 2017

New evidence that all stars are born in pairs

Researchers found that nearly all sunlike stars form with a companion, but these companions often escape and merge with other stars. The study's findings have implications for the origins of galaxies and suggest that many stars are born in pairs, like our sun and its long-lost sibling.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJun 13, 2017

Organic compound found in early stages of star formation

Researchers detect methyl isocyanate in solar-type protostar, a precursor to complex compounds like peptides and amino acids. The finding suggests that planets could begin with the chemical ingredients needed for life, supporting the theory of prebiotic chemistry in space.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJun 8, 2017

Astrophysicists discovered a star polluted by calcium

Astronomers report the discovery of a binary solar-type star inside the supernova remnant RCW 86, with calcium abundance exceeding the solar one by a factor of six. This finding suggests that the supernova might belong to the rare type of calcium-rich supernovae.

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalNature Astronomy·DateApr 28, 2017

Researchers discover star in closest known orbit around black hole

Astronomers have observed a star orbiting a black hole at a rate of nearly twice an hour, marking the tightest orbital dance between a black hole and a companion star ever seen. The discovery was made using the combined power of three advanced telescopes.

SourceColumbia University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMar 15, 2017
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

First evidence of rocky planet formation in Tatooine system

A UCL-led team found evidence of planetary debris surrounding a double sun system called SDSS 1557, which suggests the presence of terrestrial planets like Tatooine. The discovery is remarkable because it shows a high metal content, including silicon and magnesium, indicating rocky planet assembly via large asteroids that formed.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature Astronomy·DateFeb 27, 2017

Astronomers unveil 'heart' of Eta Carinae

An international team of astronomers has imaged the Eta Carinae star system in unprecedented detail, revealing a region where extremely high-velocity stellar winds collide. The observations provide valuable insights into the basic parameters of the binary system and its internal structure.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·DateNov 16, 2016

NASA missions harvest a passel of 'pumpkin' stars

Astronomers using Kepler and Swift missions discover 18 stars that rotate rapidly, producing X-ray emissions at more than 100 times the sun's level. These stars are believed to have formed from the merger of two sun-like stars in close binary systems.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateOct 27, 2016
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Young stellar system caught in act of forming close multiples

Scientists have observed a young stellar system fragmenting into multiple stars, supporting two theories on star formation: disk fragmentation and cloud instability. The discovery was made using ALMA and VLA observations of the L1448 IRS3B system in the Perseus constellation.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalNature·DateOct 26, 2016

OU-led team discovers rare, newborn tri-star system using ALMA

A rare triple-star system has been discovered by a University of Oklahoma-led research team using ALMA observations, providing insights into the formation of young binary and multiple star systems. The team found that the disk surrounding the tri-star system appeared susceptible to fragmentation, leading to the creation of newborn stars.

SourceUniversity of Oklahoma·JournalNature·DateOct 26, 2016

Chaos in cosmos: Stars with three planet-forming discs of gas

Researchers have observed a binary star system with two stars and three rotating planet-forming accretion discs, all misaligned with each other. The discovery challenges current understanding of planetary system formation and prompts further study to understand the physics behind this unusual system.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Niels Bohr Institute·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 11, 2016
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Discovery one-ups Tatooine, finds twin stars hosting three giant exoplanets

A team of Carnegie scientists has discovered three giant planets in a binary star system composed of stellar 'twins' that are also effectively siblings of our Sun. The findings may help explain the influence that giant planets like Jupiter have over a solar system's architecture.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalThe Astronomical Journal·DateAug 31, 2016

Unusual planet within a triple star system imaged

Researchers directly detected a gas giant planet with a wide orbit in the young triple star system HD 131399, challenging existing knowledge about exoplanet detection. The unusual arrangement of the three stars and the planet's size, containing water and methane, may have formed through interactions between planets or binary stars.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateJul 7, 2016

The first image of a new gaseous component in a planetary nebula

A team of researchers from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias has discovered a new gaseous component in a planetary nebula, which is helping to understand the chemical evolution of our Galaxy. The component, rich in heavy elements such as oxygen and carbon, was detected using the OSIRIS instrument on the Gran Telescopio CANARIAS.

SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJul 7, 2016
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Proto-planet has 2 masters

New Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) images provide detail on the binary star system HD 142527, revealing a broad ring of dust and ice. The system's formation is expected to yield insights into planetary systems around binary stars.

SourceRice University·DateFeb 13, 2016

Planet formation around binary star

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.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·DateFeb 13, 2016
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Turbulent times: When stars approach

Researchers used new methods to model the common-envelope phase of binary stars, revealing dynamic instabilities crucial for supernova evolution. These turbulent fluctuations affect a star system's fate, influencing whether a supernova occurs and its type.

SourceHeidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS)·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateFeb 4, 2016

Ancient Egyptians described Algol's eclipses

Researchers confirm that Ancient Egyptian texts describe astronomical phenomena, including the discovery of Algol's period, three millennia earlier than previously thought. The brightest phases of Algol and the Moon had positive meanings for the Ancient Egyptians.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 17, 2015

Alternative stellar lifestyle: Common, curious, solved at last

Researchers identified the orbital partner parasitized by a blue straggler, a star that appears younger and brighter than expected. The study expands our understanding of binary star systems, bringing 25% of all stars into the fold of stellar evolution.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateDec 8, 2015
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Stellar discovery by Queen's researcher

A PhD candidate at Queen's University has made a groundbreaking discovery of the first massive binary star with magnetic fields. The research provides new insights into the origin of magnetism in massive stars and may help explain why only 10% of these stars have strong magnetic fields.

SourceQueen's University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 11, 2015

NASA's Hubble finds supernovae in 'wrong place at wrong time'

Scientists use archived data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to study 13 unusual exploding stars, known as supernovae. These young stars were ejected from their galaxies at high speeds, and astronomers believe that supermassive black holes in merging galaxies played a key role in their ejection.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateAug 13, 2015

Gaia satellite and amateur astronomers spot one in a billion star

Researchers have discovered a unique binary star system, Gaia14aae, where one star eclipses the other. The system is an important laboratory for studying ultra-bright supernova explosions, which help measure the expansion of the Universe.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 16, 2015
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Astronomers predict fireworks from rare stellar encounter in 2018

Scientists will observe the event from radio wavelengths to gamma rays, measuring the massive star's gravity and magnetic field. The pulsar's passage through the disk will trigger astrophysical fireworks, providing a probe for studying the system.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 2, 2015

Hubble observes one-of-a-kind star nicknamed 'Nasty'

Astronomers discovered a peculiar Wolf-Rayet star, Nasty 1, with a vast pancake-shaped gas disk encircling it. The disk may have formed from an unseen companion star through mass transfer in a binary system.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMay 21, 2015

Supernova hits star, results shocking

A team of astronomers witnessed a supernova smashing into a nearby star, creating an ultraviolet glow that reveals the size of the companion. The study provides new insights into the origin of type Ia supernovae.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature·DateMay 20, 2015

Delta Cephei's hidden companion

A team of researchers has discovered a hidden companion to Delta Cephei, a key variable star used for measuring cosmic distances. The companion, with a mass around 10 times lower than Delta Cephei's, was detected using high-precision Doppler spectroscopy and is likely to impact the accuracy of distance measurements.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateMay 12, 2015

Birth of a star quartet

An international team of astrophysicists has witnessed the formation of a quadruple star system, consisting of a young star and three gas clouds that will develop into stars in 40,000 years. The system is unstable and prone to interference due to its multiple members.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature·DateFeb 11, 2015
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.