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Sloan Digital Sky Survey launches data release 20

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey has released its 20th data set, featuring over three million spectra of stars and galaxies, as well as 18 new value-added catalogs. This release marks a significant expansion of the survey's efforts, integrating full all-sky panoptic spectroscopy across both hemispheres.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·DateJul 31, 2026
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.

New JWST images of abnormally well-developed galaxy cluster open up the “cosmic noon” frontier

Astronomers have discovered a galaxy cluster in the distant universe that is more mature than expected, with unprecedented mass concentration toward its center. The James Webb Space Telescope images reveal strong gravitational lensing effects, providing valuable insights into dark matter distribution and cosmological models.

SourceCaltech IPAC·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJun 17, 2026

UMass Amherst astronomer looks into the cradle where stars are born

An international team of astronomers, led by Daniela Calzetti, has observed the 'natal clouds' surrounding young star clusters for the first time. The study reveals that massive star clusters disperse their gaseous shroud faster and light up their galaxy earlier than smaller ones.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalNature Astronomy·DateMay 6, 2026

An international team of astronomers led by UMass Amherst may have just found one of the missing links in galaxy evolution

A team of astronomers led by UMass Amherst has discovered a population of dusty, star-forming galaxies at the edge of the universe, formed 13 billion years ago. These galaxies are linked to ultrabright, young galaxies and massive quiescent galaxies, providing new insights into galaxy evolution.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateFeb 17, 2026
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.

Cosmic predators: How supermassive black holes slow star growth in nearby galaxies

A study using the James Webb Space Telescope found that supermassive black holes can suppress star growth not only in their host galaxy but also in neighboring galaxies within a million-light-year radius. This discovery reveals a larger impact of quasars on galaxy evolution, contradicting previous assumptions.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 16, 2026

Dwarf galaxies linked by massive intergalactic gas bridge

Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery of a colossal bridge of neutral hydrogen gas linking two dwarf galaxies. The Virgo cluster plays a significant role in this phenomenon.

SourceInternational Centre for Radio Astronomy Research·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 24, 2025

Hungry star is eating its cosmic twin at rate never seen before

Astronomers discovered a greedy white dwarf star consuming its closest celestial companion at an unprecedented rate. The study found that the super-dense white dwarf is burning brightly due to the mass transfer between the two stars, potentially leading to a massive explosion visible from Earth.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 9, 2025

‘Bridge’ of stray stars reveals active merger of two galaxy clusters

Researchers used the Dark Energy Camera to image a 'bridge' of diffuse light spanning roughly a million light years between two galaxies in Abell 3667. The findings suggest that the brightest galaxies in the cluster are actively merging, with one larger galaxy stealing stars from a smaller one.

SourceBrown University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateAug 5, 2025
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New survey maps hundreds of satellite systems orbiting dwarf galaxies

A new study by Dartmouth astronomers has mapped 355 candidate satellite galaxies around dwarf galaxies, tripling the number previously surveyed. The researchers aim to understand how external conditions influence satellite formation and uncover insights into dark matter's nature.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateAug 5, 2025

Sound frequencies of stars sing of our galaxy’s past and future

A new study by UNSW Sydney researchers has discovered the sound frequencies of a cluster of stars 2700 light years away, allowing scientists to map the history of the Milky Way and other galaxies. The discovery uses oscillation frequencies to determine a star's age and mass, providing insights into galaxy formation and evolution.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalNature·DateApr 2, 2025
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Study reveals the Phoenix galaxy cluster in the act of extreme cooling

Astronomers have discovered a key ingredient within the Phoenix cluster that explains its mysterious starburst, using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to observe the cluster. The detection of warm gas confirms that the Phoenix cluster is actively cooling and able to generate a huge amount of stellar fuel on its own.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature·DateFeb 12, 2025

First fast radio burst traced to old, dead, elliptical galaxy

Astronomers have traced a fast radio burst to an ancient, dead, elliptical galaxy, shattering assumptions that these events solely emanate from young star-forming regions. The discovery hints at the possibility of diverse origins for FRBs.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateJan 21, 2025

Getting the most out of cosmic maps

Researchers have developed a new approach to analyzing cosmic maps, known as field-level inference, which preserves the fidelity of the data and can improve the determination of cosmological parameters by a factor of 3.5 to 5.2 compared to standard methods.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 20, 2025
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.

New measurements turn the Hubble tension into a crisis

New measurements of the Hubble constant support a faster-than-expected Universe expansion rate, challenging current understanding of physics. A precise distance measurement to the Coma Cluster provides the foundation for this new result.

SourceDuke University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 16, 2025

Beyond the 'Dragon Arc,' a treasure trove of unseen stars

Researchers observed a galaxy nearly 6.5 billion light-years away, revealing a large number of individual stars made visible through gravitational lensing. The discovery provides new insights into the universe's greatest mysteries, including dark matter and stellar populations.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeObservational study·DateJan 6, 2025

Physicists explain a stellar stream’s distinctive features

Researchers found a core-collapsing self-interacting dark matter subhalo is responsible for the peculiar spur and gap features observed in the GD-1 stellar stream. This discovery provides insights into the nature of dark matter itself and offers a new explanation for the observed perturbations.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 6, 2025

Astrophysics: Mystery of the ‘missing’ binary stars solved

An international team of researchers has found the first binary star in the immediate vicinity of Sgr A* by analyzing individual observations of dust sources. The discovery provides new clues to how young stars form close to the supermassive black hole, solving a long-standing mystery.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateDec 17, 2024
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.

Study: Early dark energy could resolve cosmology’s two biggest puzzles

A new study proposes that early dark energy could explain the formation of numerous bright galaxies in the early universe, resolving the 'Hubble tension' puzzle. The team modeled galaxy formation with a brief appearance of early dark energy, finding it fits observations and solves both puzzles.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 13, 2024

AI helps distinguish dark matter from cosmic noise

A deep-learning algorithm developed by astronomer David Harvey can untangle the complex signals of self-interacting dark matter and AGN feedback in galaxy cluster images. The Inception model achieved an accuracy of 80% under ideal conditions, showcasing its potential for analyzing vast amounts of space data.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Astronomy·DateSep 6, 2024

Galaxies in dense environments tend to be larger, settling one cosmic question and raising others

A new study published in the Astrophysical Journal has found that galaxies in denser environments are up to 25% larger than isolated galaxies. Researchers used a machine learning tool to analyze millions of galaxies and found a clear trend: galaxies with more neighbors are also on average larger.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateAug 14, 2024

Dark matter flies ahead of normal matter in mega galaxy cluster collision

Astronomers have observed the decoupling of dark and normal matter velocities in a massive galaxy cluster collision. The dark matter accelerated ahead of normal matter due to gravity and electromagnetism interactions, offering a unique vantage point for studying this phenomenon.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateJul 24, 2024

Another intermediate-mass black hole discovered at the centre of our galaxy

Researchers found an intermediate-mass black hole in star cluster IRS 13 near SgrA*, suggesting it could be a 'seed' for the central supermassive black hole. The discovery provides insights into the galaxy's evolution and the formation of intermediate-mass black holes.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeImaging analysis·DateJul 18, 2024
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

How the 'heart and lungs' of a galaxy extend its life

Astrophysicists suggest that galaxies control growth through how they 'breathe', using supersonic jets to transmit energy and slow gas-accretion. This helps maintain the galaxy medium, keeping the supermassive black hole engine supplied with fuel.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 11, 2024

Astronomers find missing link in massive black hole formation

Researchers at the University of Utah and Max Planck Institute have discovered an intermediate-mass black hole in the Omega Centauri cluster, providing crucial evidence for a long-theorized class of black holes. The discovery offers insights into galaxy evolution and the formation history of globular clusters.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNature·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 10, 2024

Astronomers find the nearest massive black hole, a missing link in massive black hole formation

Researchers have found the nearest massive black hole to Earth, located at the center of Omega Centauri, a galaxy that was swallowed by the Milky Way. The discovery provides insight into the formation history of galaxies and confirms long-held suspicions about the existence of intermediate-mass black holes.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Astronomy·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateJul 10, 2024

Star clusters observed within a galaxy in the early Universe for the first time

Astronomers have observed five young massive star clusters in the Cosmic Gems arc galaxy for the first time, revealing details about infant galaxies and globular cluster formation. The study uses gravitational lensing to resolve small scales in the distant galaxy, providing a unique window into the early Universe.

SourceStockholm University·JournalNature·TypeImaging analysis·DateJun 24, 2024
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.

News from "El Gordo": Study suggests dark matter may have collisional properties after all

Researchers used numerical simulations to analyze the behavior of dark matter in the giant galaxy cluster El Gordo. The study found that the physical separation between dark matter and other mass components can be explained using the Self-Interacting Dark Matter (SIDM) model.

SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 31, 2024

Medium and mighty: Intermediate-mass black holes can survive in globular clusters

Simulations reveal that dense molecular clouds can give birth to very massive stars that evolve into intermediate-mass black holes. The study provides new insights into the potential mechanisms of intermediate-mass black hole formation, which could have significant implications for our understanding of these enigmatic objects.

SourceSchool of Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalScience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 30, 2024

VIDEO: Surrey astrophysicists explore new galaxies and streams of stars using new data from Euclid space telescope

Researchers confirm model predicting galaxy clusters' separation via gravity, while identifying potential new galaxies with Euclid's powerful equipment. The telescope's early release observations reveal millions of objects in a single day, opening up new possibilities for dark matter research.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 23, 2024
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Jumbo discovery: astronomers offer new model for formation of recently discovered “free-floating” planets

Researchers introduce a new model that suggests dense stellar clusters can eject pairs of giant planets, which remain gravitationally bound to each other as they float through space. This discovery fills a critical gap in our understanding of planetary evolution and challenges prevailing theories of planet formation.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalNature·DateApr 19, 2024

Inexplicable flying fox found in Hydra galaxy cluster

A team of astronomers led by Kohei Kurahara discovered a mysterious cloud of magnetized plasma, dubbed the Flying Fox, in the Hydra galaxy cluster. The plasma's shape and location have left scientists baffled, with no known class or host galaxy identified.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Japan·TypeObservational study·DateApr 7, 2024

Stellar collisions produce strange, zombie-like survivors

Astrophysicists simulated 1,000 stars orbiting the galaxy's central supermassive black hole and found that collision survivors can lose mass to become stripped down low-mass stars or merge with other stars. The likelihood of collision increases for stars closer to the supermassive black hole.

SourceNorthwestern University·DateApr 4, 2024
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.

The Radcliffe Wave is waving

Astronomers have discovered a massive, wave-shaped structure in the Milky Way, which is oscillating through space-time. The Radcliffe Wave is approximately 9,000 light years long and moves like a traveling wave, with star clusters along its path moving up and down.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 20, 2024
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.

NASA’s Webb, Hubble combine to create most colorful view of universe

The combined image reveals galaxies outside the cluster, varied sources over time likely due to gravitational lensing, and transients varying in brightness. The team identified 14 such transients across the field, including highly magnified stars or multiple-star systems and supernovae.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateNov 9, 2023

NASA’s Webb, Hubble telescopes combine to create most colorful view of universe

Astronomers combined the Webb and Hubble telescopes to capture a detailed portrait of the cosmos, revealing a galaxy cluster about 4.3 billion light-years from Earth. The image showcases magnified supernovae and individual stars, providing insights into the universe's first stars and the forces driving its expansion.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateNov 9, 2023

Gas-rich baby galaxies set the early Universe alight

Researchers found almost 90% of early universe galaxies had glowing gas, triggering intense star formation. The James Webb Space Telescope provided unprecedented clarity to study these infant galaxies, revealing their role in shaping the Universe.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3D (ASTRO 3D)·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateNov 6, 2023

Stellar fountain of youth with turbulent formation history in the centre of our galaxy

A young star cluster, IRS13, has been found to be significantly younger than expected, with stars only 100,000 years old, despite being near the supermassive black hole Sgr A*. The cluster's turbulent history suggests it was 'captured' by the black hole's gravity, leading to a bow shock and increased star formation.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateOct 10, 2023
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.

Titanic galaxy cluster collision in the early Universe challenges standard cosmology

A new study reveals that a massive galaxy cluster collision at half the Universe's current age is inconsistent with the standard Lambda-cold dark matter (ΛCDM) model. The El Gordo cluster, with a mass 2000 trillion times that of the Sun, challenges the theory's predictions for structure formation and galaxy evolution.

SourceUniversity of St. Andrews·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 13, 2023

Matter comprises of 31% of the total amount of matter and energy in the universe

A team measured galaxy clusters' mass using a technique called MRR, finding that regular matter makes up only 20% of the universe's total matter. The method is competitive to other techniques like CMB observations, demonstrating its potential for constraining cosmological parameters.

SourceChiba University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 13, 2023

Webb spotlights gravitational arcs in ‘El Gordo’ galaxy cluster

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured a new image of the 'El Gordo' galaxy cluster, revealing dusty objects and distorted background galaxies. Gravitational lensing provides a unique window into the distant universe, allowing scientists to study star formation history and assembly of galaxies.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateAug 2, 2023

Astronomers identify the earliest strands of the cosmic web

Scientists discover threadlike arrangement of galaxies, anchored by a quasar, which marks the first time such a structure has been observed at 6% of its current age. The findings provide clues about the fundamental architecture of the universe and the formation of supermassive black holes.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateJul 5, 2023

Einstein and Euler put to the test at the edge of the Universe

Researchers from UNIGE have developed a new method to test the validity of Einstein and Euler's theories on the accelerating Universe expansion and dark matter. The study uses time distortion as a never-before-used measure, allowing for differentiation between the two equations.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeNews article·DateJun 22, 2023
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

NASA's Hubble hunts for intermediate-sized black hole close to home

Astronomers using Hubble have found evidence for an intermediate-mass black hole in the globular star cluster Messier 4, weighing approximately 800 solar masses. The discovery uses precise measurements of stellar motion to rule out alternative theories and suggests a single, compact black hole at the center.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeObservational study·DateMay 23, 2023

Team led by NCKU researcher performs cosmological modeling to shed light on the nature of dark energy

A research group led by NCKU professor I-Non Chiu conducted the first cosmological study on galaxy clusters identified by eROSITA, analyzing 550 galaxy clusters. The results suggest that Dark Energy occupies up to 76% of the total energy density in the Universe.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 22, 2023

Celestial monsters at the origin of globular clusters

A team of astronomers has discovered chemical traces of supermassive stars in globular proto-clusters, born 440 million years after the Big Bang. The study suggests that these 'celestial monsters' enriched the original gas cloud with chemical elements, explaining abundance anomalies in their stars.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·TypeNews article·DateMay 11, 2023
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.

Webb reveals early-universe prequel to huge galaxy cluster

Astronomers have confirmed a protocluster of seven galaxies at a distance of 650 million years after the Big Bang, which will grow into a massive galaxy cluster resembling the Coma Cluster. The James Webb Space Telescope's spectrographic data revealed high velocities and dark matter halo characteristics.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateApr 24, 2023

Galaxy clusters yield new evidence for standard model of cosmology

Researchers found consistent results between observations and theory, showing that clusters have become more centrally concentrated over time. The study provides strong support for the Lambda-CDM paradigm by demonstrating agreement between the observed and simulated concentration-mass relation of galaxy clusters.

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateApr 3, 2023
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.

Pinpoint simulations provide perspective on universe structure

A series of simulations have enabled researchers to probe the heterogeneous structure of the universe by treating galaxy distribution as a collection of points. The study reveals that on large scales, the universe approaches hyperuniformity, while on smaller scales it becomes almost antihyperuniform and strongly inhomogeneous.

SourceInstitute for Advanced Study·JournalPhysical Review X·DateMar 14, 2023
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