Articles tagged with Milky Way
A team of researchers has discovered three ultra-faint dwarf galaxies around a Milky Way-mass galaxy, providing insights into the formation and evolution of these enigmatic objects. The findings may help develop universal models for how the universe's oldest galaxies formed.
A team of astronomers discovered 87 galaxies that could be the earliest known galaxies in the universe using data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. This finding suggests a revision to our understanding of galaxy formation, indicating that more galaxies may have formed earlier than previously thought.
Researchers at RIT have made a groundbreaking discovery confirming the light emitted by stars outside our galaxy is two to three times brighter than previously thought. This finding suggests a possible absence of optical light sources in the universe, potentially changing our understanding of how it formed over time.
Using supercomputers and machine learning, researchers created simulations of millions of computer-generated universes to test astrophysical predictions. The study found that supermassive black holes grow in the same way as their host galaxies, revealing a long-elusive relationship.
A new study has revealed the true shape of the diffuse cloud of stars surrounding the disk of our galaxy, with the stellar halo found to be oblong and tilted. The findings shed light on the history of our galaxy and galactic evolution, while also offering clues in the ongoing hunt for dark matter.
A team of astronomers used the James Webb Telescope to identify five ancient globular clusters, potentially containing the first and oldest stars in the universe. The clusters were formed close to the Big Bang, offering insights into star formation and galaxy evolution.
A new study has created the first map of the Milky Way's ancient dead stars, which reveals a 'galactic underworld' stretching three times the height of the galaxy. The map shows that almost a third of objects have been flung out from the galaxy, with neutron stars and black holes formed when massive stars collapse.
A team of researchers at Lund University used Gaia space telescope data to study the outer disk of the Milky Way, finding large parts vibrate due to a passing dwarf galaxy. This 'galactic seismology' provides clues about Sagittarius' history and orbit around our home galaxy.
Researchers found that dark matter halos in ultra-diffuse galaxies have lower concentrations than expected, raising questions about their formation and evolution. The study's surprising results indicate these galaxies may be younger and contain more gas than normal galaxies.
A new simulation suggests that gravitational interactions, not over-eating, are responsible for the Milky Way Galaxy's peanut-shaped and nuclear bulges. The study reveals a clear break in star ages between the two types of bulges, indicating when the bar formed.
A team of researchers has discovered that gamma-ray radiation from the Sagittarius Dwarf galaxy can be explained by millisecond pulsars, ruling out dark matter annihilation as a possible explanation. The study reveals that these stellar objects are efficient accelerators of high-energy electrons and positrons.
New research from Curtin University reveals that comets may have formed Earth's early continents when the Solar System passed through densely populated areas of the Milky Way Galaxy. The study found a rhythm of crust production every 200 million years matching the system's transit through galaxy arms.
A team of researchers used sophisticated imaging algorithms to reveal a thin, bright ring of light created by photons flung around the back of a supermassive black hole. The photon ring, comprising increasingly sharp sub-rings, confirms theoretical predictions and offers new ways to explore these mysterious objects.
The heaviest neutron star detected has consumed nearly all the mass of its companion, growing into a record-breaking object. The study provides constraints on matter's behavior at extreme densities, potentially excluding exotic states of matter.
A team of researchers has discovered a wide range of nitriles, key molecular precursors for life, in the interstellar molecular cloud G+0.693-0.027 near the Milky Way center. The study provides important insights into the chemical ingredients available in the nebula that give rise to our planetary system.
Researchers at University of Cologne and Masaryk University discovered a star, S4716, orbiting Sagittarius A* in just four years and reaching speeds of 8000 kilometers per second. The study sheds new light on the origin and evolution of fast-moving stars near black holes.
Researchers have detected the most distant galaxy rotation ever observed, suggesting an initial stage of rotational motion development. The galaxy's rapid rotation and small diameter provide valuable insights into its age and evolution.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have detected a possible free-floating black hole in the Milky Way galaxy using gravitational microlensing. The object's mass is estimated to be between 1.6 and 4.4 times that of the sun, but its nature as a black hole or neutron star remains uncertain.
Researchers have found that stars in distant galaxies are typically more massive than those in the Milky Way, changing our understanding of astronomical phenomena like black holes, supernovae, and galaxy death. This discovery may also explain why galaxies die and stop forming new stars.
Researchers have found a significant number of massive black holes in dwarf galaxies, contradicting previous assumptions that they are rare. The newly discovered black holes offer insights into the life story of the Milky Way's supermassive black hole and its potential mergers with other galaxies.
The Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration has captured the first direct visual evidence of a supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy. The image reveals a dark central region surrounded by a bright ring-like structure, indicating the presence of a massive object four million times more massive than our Sun.
A team of University of Illinois researchers, led by Charles Gammie, has captured the first direct visual evidence of a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The image reveals a dark central region surrounded by a bright ringlike structure, providing valuable clues about the workings of such giants.
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has captured the first image of Sagittarius A*, a black hole at the center of the Milky Way, revealing a ring-like structure and shadow. The observation confirms Einstein's theory of general relativity and provides new insights into giant black holes.
A team of astronomers, including those from MIT's Haystack Observatory, has captured the light around our own supermassive black hole, revealing for the first time an image of Sagitarrius A*, the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. The resulting image reveals SgrA* in a glowing, donut-shaped ring of light.
Astronomers at the University of Sydney have discovered slimmer red giant stars, which have undergone dramatic weight loss. The unusual stars are thought to have lost mass due to their stellar neighbors, providing valuable insights into star evolution and life in the Milky Way.
Scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope have discovered a single star, nicknamed Earendel, located an astonishing 28 billion light-years away. The star is estimated to be up to 500 times more massive than our Sun and millions of times brighter.
A recent study from Lund University reveals new information about the movement patterns of white dwarfs in the Milky Way. The researchers mapped the three-dimensional velocity distribution for the largest catalogue of white dwarfs to date, providing a detailed picture of their velocity structure.
Researchers at Lund University mapped Ytterbium's origin to supernova explosions, revealing new opportunities for studying galaxy evolution. The study provides insight into the element's dual cosmic origins from heavy and regular stars.
Researchers analyzed individual stars to identify components of the Milky Way, finding that it consumed smaller galaxies. The study used advanced spectrographic techniques to measure elemental abundances, providing early insights into the galaxy's formation and evolution.
Astrophysicists have calculated the original mass and size of a dwarf galaxy torn apart in a collision with the Milky Way billions of years ago. The reconstructed galaxy's stars now stream through the Milky Way, carrying information about its gravitational field.
Researchers created a new sample catalog of over 24 million stars to decipher the chemical history of the Milky Way Galaxy. The catalog provides detailed information on elemental abundances, distances, motions, and ages of individual stars, allowing for a better understanding of the galaxy's formation and evolution.
Researchers discover nearly 1,000 mysterious filaments stretching up to 150 light years long, found in pairs and clusters, with magnetic fields amplified along the filaments. The study sheds new light on the origins of these structures, which are likely related to past activity of the Milky Way's central supermassive black hole.
A team of researchers led by Alexis Andrés analyzed 15 years' worth of data from NASA's Swift Observatory to find that Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the center of the Milky Way, flares irregularly both day-to-day and in the long term.
Researchers have found the Milky Way to be significantly lighter than previously thought, with a total mass of 500-800 billion solar masses. This new estimate is based on high-precision data from Gaia EDR3 and advanced dynamical modeling methods.
Researchers have discovered a treasure trove of previously unknown globular clusters in the outer regions of Centaurus A, an elliptical galaxy. The study provides new insights into galaxy formation and the distribution of dark matter in the universe.
A unique stellar structure in the Milky Way, C-19, has been found to consist of stars with extremely low metallicity, challenging current understanding of star formation models. This discovery provides a direct window into the earliest ages of star formation and the development of stellar structures in the distant past.
An international team of astronomers has created a new map of the Milky Way's outer disc, showing remains of tidal arms excited from interactions with satellite galaxies in the distant past. The map reveals numerous previously unknown filamentary structures at the edge of the disc.
New astronomical models suggest the Magellanic Stream could be just 20 kiloparsecs from Earth, potentially colliding with the Milky Way and fueling new star formation. The revised distance may also affect estimates of the stream's mass and density, which could require revision.
Researchers detected gamma rays from ultra-fast outflows (UFOs) launched by supermassive black holes, providing a basis for understanding their role in regulating black hole growth and galaxy evolution. UFOs create shock waves that accelerate charged particles, influencing the surrounding matter and accelerating star formation.
Exposure to artificial light at night impairs crickets' activity cycles, disrupting their nocturnal chirping and potentially affecting reproduction. The study, conducted by researchers at Tel Aviv University and the Open University, highlights the need to reduce artificial light pollution to protect environmental behaviors.
Astronomers have discovered a massive galaxy protocluster, believed to be a 'galaxy shipyard', in the distant universe. The discovery provides insights into galaxy cluster formation and sheds light on the process of galaxies forming into clusters.
Astronomers detected a unique signal with high polarisation and dramatic brightness variations, puzzling existing theories of stellar objects. The discovery was made using the CSIRO's ASKAP radio telescope and MeerKAT in South Africa.
Astronomers observe a tidal disruption event caused by an intermediate-mass black hole consuming a star, providing the first measurements of its mass and spin. The findings shed light on the elusive category of intermediate black holes, which may account for most black holes in galaxy centers.
Researchers have solved the 900-year-old mystery of the Chinese supernova of 1181AD by identifying a matching nebula and star in the Milky Way. The Pa30 nebula, surrounding Parker's Star, matches the profile, location, and age of the historic supernova.
New research reveals that the Milky Way's environment is not evenly mixed with metals and dust, contrary to previous models. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution.
A supercomputer simulation reveals that interstellar frontal collisions lead to the maturation of young galaxies. The study shows how these chaotic galaxies eventually form stable spiral galaxies with similar populations of stars as the Milky Way.
A study by NYU Abu Dhabi researchers reveals the connection between central supermassive blackholes and the evolution of their host galaxies. The findings outline gas ejection mechanisms and how they relate to the activity of these blackholes, shedding new light on galaxy evolution.
Researchers from IAC and STScI discovered transverse rotation in three dwarf spheroidal galaxies using Gaia satellite data, shedding light on their evolutionary history. This finding supports the idea that these galaxies may have formed through the agglomeration of smaller systems.
Astronomers have detected previously unseen tracers of massive star formation in the Milky Way, including compact regions of hydrogen gas and radio emission from methanol molecules. The survey more than doubled the number of supernova remnants found in the region.
The study reveals a higher-than-expected black hole fraction, with some having masses up to 20 times that of the Sun. The researchers used simulations to understand how these massive black holes formed and influenced the cluster's evolution.
A team from University of Arizona observes radio emissions from hydrogen cyanide, formyl ion, and carbon monoxide in five planetary nebulae, outlining their shapes for the first time. The findings support the idea that planetary nebulae seed the interstellar medium with molecules that form new stars and planets.
A team of astrophysicists led by Luke Bouma has confirmed that one of these streams of stars, NGC 2516, extends at least 1,600 light-years -- 500 parsecs -- from tip to tip.
New study questions precession in the Milky Way's warp, suggesting it could disappear or become slower over time. Researchers used Gaia Mission data to analyze stars' positions and velocities.
The discovery of UGC 10738 reveals that galaxies with similar structures and properties are likely common. The galaxy's thick disc consists mainly of ancient stars, while its thin disc stars are more recent and contain more metal.
Researchers discovered a galaxy with a spiral structure 1.4 billion years after the Big Bang using ALMA data. The galaxy's estimated mass is roughly equal to that of the Milky Way and contains a large amount of dust, making it difficult to study in visible light.
The Galactic Plane Pulsar Snapshot (GPPS) has discovered 201 pulsars using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), including many very faint and millisecond pulsars. The survey reveals more electrons in the Milky Way's spiral arms than previously known.
LHAASO's discovery opens up an era for UHE gamma astronomy, prompting scientists to rethink high-energy particle acceleration and propagation mechanisms. The observatory detected 12 stable gamma ray sources with energies up to 1 PeV, revealing the Milky Way is full of PeVatrons.
Researchers have dated the oldest stars in our galaxy with unprecedented precision by combining data from their oscillations with information about their chemical composition. The team found that these ancient stars were originally part of a satellite galaxy called Gaia-Enceladus, which collided with the Milky Way early in its history.
Using new methods in astronomy, researchers have identified the most precise ages of red giant stars in the galaxy, shedding light on the timing of the early Milky Way's formation. The study suggests that the merger with the satellite galaxy Gaia-Enceladus occurred around 10 billion years ago.
Astronomers have released a new all-sky map of the Milky Way's outer halo, revealing a massive reservoir of dark matter. The map also shows a wake of stars stirred up by the Large Magellanic Cloud, set to collide with the Milky Way in about 2 billion years.