Articles tagged with Milky Way
A team of astronomers successfully traced a spiral arm on the far side of our Galaxy using radio interferometry and parallax measurements. They located the Scutum-Centaurus spiral arm as it passes around the far side and verified a new method to infer distances in this region.
A new study reveals that ultra-high-energy cosmic rays come from galaxies far beyond our own Milky Way galaxy. The Pierre Auger Observatory's data analysis shows that these particles favor a specific direction, suggesting an extragalactic origin.
A team of scientists has calculated the distribution of all light energy contained within the Milky Way, providing insight into galaxy formation and stellar processes. The research shows how stellar photons control gamma-ray production in the Universe.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that up to half of the Milky Way's matter may have originated from distant galaxies through intergalactic transfer. This phenomenon, identified in simulations, shows that gas flows from smaller galaxies to larger ones, such as the Milky Way, forming stars.
Located close to the Milky Way, IC 342 is a sweeping spiral galaxy with an active core. The Hubble Space Telescope image reveals a mixture of hot star-forming regions, cooler gas, and dark dust lanes around the bright core, indicating the presence of ionized hydrogen.
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.
Researchers propose a theory that predicts dark matter annihilation rates vary by galaxy size and time. This study suggests dark matter could consist of multiple particles interacting through a yet-undiscovered low-mass particle.
A team of scientists has detected a rotating stellar disk in the ancient elliptical-shaped galaxy MACS2129-1, located 10 billion light-years from Earth. This finding contradicts prevailing astrophysical theory regarding the formation of such galaxies shortly after the Big Bang. The stars in MACS2129-1 rotate at a speed of over 500 km p...
Astronomers study properties of debris disk around sun-like star by analyzing light passing through it. The transit allows scientists to infer characteristics of the disk and potentially discover analogues in our Solar System.
Researchers have discovered and characterized 82 massive binary star systems in the Tarantula Nebula, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. The study provides new insights into the properties of these systems, which are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the chemical evolution of the universe.
Researchers at University of Arizona discover diffuse hydrogen gas surrounding Milky Way, accounting for large part of galaxy's baryonic mass. This finding confirms predictions from simulations and provides new insights into the nature of dark matter.
A new RIT study confirms the coexistence of satellite galaxies and dark matter, shedding light on a long-standing debate. The research supports the current cosmological paradigm by showing that the vast polar structure of dwarf galaxies is an unstable feature that formed later in the galaxy's evolution.
Fermi data reveals concentrated gamma rays at Andromeda's center, sparking speculation about dark matter. The unusual distribution may be caused by unknown sources or the presence of dark matter.
Scientists suggest a global network of cell phones or small radio receivers could 'hear' nearby Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). A free smartphone app could monitor appropriate frequencies, sending data to a central facility.
Astronomers have discovered a rare pulsating delta Scuti star 7,000 light years away in the Pegasus constellation. The star's unique pattern of expansion and contraction every 2.5 hours is the result of its heating and cooling hydrogen fuel at its core.
Astronomers detected a compact molecular cloud with unusual motion near the supernova remnant W44, suggesting the presence of a hidden black hole. The black hole is estimated to be between 3.5 and 36 times more massive than the sun, sparking debate over its origin.
A new study confirms that galaxies are being pushed away from a previously unknown region of low density, called the Dipole Repeller. This region exerts a repelling force on our Local Group of galaxies, suggesting that push and pull forces are equally important.
The galaxy RX J1140.1+0307 has a supermassive black hole with one of the lowest known masses, yet its emission spectrum cannot be explained by current models. Scientists believe other mechanisms are at play in the interactions between the inner and outer parts of the accretion disk surrounding the black hole.
Astronomers have discovered giant halos of scattered photons around early Milky Way type galaxies, indicating that only a small percentage of light emitted by distant stars can escape these galaxies. The study uses the Isaac Newton Telescope to survey almost 1000 distant galaxies and measures the amount and location of Lyman-alpha phot...
Cornell University researchers have identified a distant cosmic source of 'fast radio bursts' emitting massive energy pulses from across the universe, exceeding 3 billion light-years away.
A team of astronomers from ANU has found a massive galaxy supercluster near the Milky Way, which influences the motion of our Galaxy. The Vela supercluster is one of the largest concentrations of galaxies in the Universe, and further studies will confirm its size.
Researchers from the Niels Bohr Institute have recreated characteristics of ultra-diffuse faint galaxies using computer simulations. The study reveals that supernovae explosions during star formation can push stars and dark matter outwards, causing galaxies to expand and become faint.
Astronomers have found an extremely faint dwarf satellite galaxy, Virgo I, located 280,000 light years from the Sun. The discovery suggests hundreds of yet-undetected dwarf satellites in the halo of the Milky Way.
Researchers found a dozen previously unknown RR Lyrae stars at the center of the Milky Way, indicating that galactic bulges may have formed through merging ancient globular clusters. The discovery provides strong evidence for an important theory of galactic evolution.
Theoretical modeling work resolves debates on dwarf galaxy formation by accurately predicting their properties. The new simulation brings theoretical predictions into better agreement with observations of dwarf galaxies surrounding the Milky Way.
Researchers used colors to identify the ages of over 130,000 stars in the Milky Way's halo, revealing a clear hierarchy with oldest stars at the center and younger ones further away. The study supports a hierarchical model of galaxy formation, suggesting that small mini-halos merged to form the Milky Way.
An international team of astronomers has found a huge region around the centre of the Milky Way devoid of young stars, indicating a lack of star formation. This 'Cepheid desert' stretches for thousands of light years and challenges our understanding of the Galaxy's formation and evolution.
Astronomers have reclassified UGC 1382 as a colossal Giant Low Surface Brightness disk galaxy that rivals Malin 1 in size, with spiral arms visible in ultraviolet light. The galaxy is about 7 times the diameter of the Milky Way and has similar amounts of stars and gas to Malin 1.
Researchers found a clandestine black hole, VLA J2130+12, within the Milky Way galaxy, which is about five times closer to Earth than previously thought. This black hole is pulling in material from a companion star at a very slow rate, making it nearly undetectable.
A new global atlas reveals that the Milky Way is only visible from 33% of the world's population, with 80% of Americans experiencing light-polluted nights. This widespread issue affects not only human connections to nature but also confuses wildlife and exposes them to fatal consequences.
New computer simulations from Georgia Tech investigate the possibility that red giant stars were dimmed after collisions with a gaseous accretion disk at the galactic center. The simulations suggest that these collisions could have caused significant damage to the red giant stars, stripping away mass and lowering their kinetic energy.
Researchers from the University of Birmingham detected resonant acoustic oscillations in 'M4', a 13 billion-year-old star cluster, using data from NASA's Kepler/K2 mission. This breakthrough enables asteroseismology to study the Milky Way's very early history.
PhD candidate Gwendolyn Eadie has developed a method to estimate the mass of the Milky Way using globular cluster velocities. This approach predicts the mass contained within any distance from the center of the galaxy, providing new insights into the dark matter component.
Researchers at Lund University discovered that dung beetles take photographs of the sky while dancing on a ball of dung, using this snapshot to navigate. This unique behavior allows them to orient themselves correctly in the savannah.
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...
Astronomers used Hubble to study the Milky Way's nuclear star cluster, discovering a rich tapestry of over half a million stars. The cluster surrounds the galaxy's central supermassive black hole and offers insights into its formation.
Researchers have determined that the Smith Cloud, a high-velocity cloud in the galaxy, contains heavier elements similar to those found in our sun, suggesting it originated from the Milky Way's outer edges. The cloud is now expected to crash into the galaxy's disk in 30 million years, potentially generating two million suns.
The Smith Cloud, a massive cloud of hydrogen gas, is plummeting towards the Milky Way at nearly 700,000 miles per hour. Astronomers believe it will ignite a spectacular burst of star formation upon impact, potentially providing enough gas to create 2 million suns.
A team of astronomers has detected a gas cloud with a wide velocity dispersion, suggesting the presence of an intermediate mass black hole. The cloud's elliptical shape and composition indicate a compact but low-density component and a dense component extending 10 light years.
Researchers identified massive stars moving at supersonic speeds, creating bow shocks that help locate them. The team used infrared data to find over 200 images of fuzzy red arcs, which turned out to be stars in various stages of evolution.
Researchers argue that globular clusters can host planets with conditions suitable for life, despite initial concerns. The environment of these dense star clusters may allow for stable planetary systems to form and survive for billions of years.
Researchers at Yale and Harvard have found a galaxy with a heartbeat, detecting the effects of pulsating older red stars on its light. The mean pulse of the stars in M87 is about one beat every 270 days.
Astronomers have found nine ancient stars near the Milky Way's center, forming before the galaxy existed, with surprising purity and a possible hypernova origin.
Astronomers use Hubble Space Telescope to uncover blueprints of Milky Way's early construction phase, revealing the history of stars that existed 12 billion years ago. The study suggests the galaxy's bulge formed first and its stellar inhabitants were born quickly, with the rest of the galaxy growing more slowly.
A team of astronomers has used data from the VVV survey to discover a previously unknown component of our home galaxy, the Milky Way. The new component is a thin disc of young stars across the galactic bulge, which was buried behind thick clouds of dust.
A new study proposes that if life can travel between stars through panspermia, it would spread in a characteristic pattern, creating clusters of life-forms. These clusters could resemble bubbles in a pot of boiling water, growing and overlapping with each other.
Scientists using Dark Energy Survey find eight faint celestial objects orbiting Milky Way, which could indicate more galaxies hiding nearby. These discoveries suggest our cosmic neighborhood is more densely populated than previously thought, with implications for understanding dark matter and galaxy formation.
Astronomers have found a super-sized black hole in the early universe that grew faster than its host galaxy, challenging previous observations. The massive black hole, measuring 7 billion solar masses, is located in galaxy CID-947 and has a mass similar to that of a typical galaxy.
NGC 6503, a 30,000-light-year-long galaxy, is located at the edge of the 150-million-light-year-wide Local Void. The Hubble Space Telescope image showcases its vibrant colors and swirling spiral arms.
Researchers identified 200 previously unknown compact elliptical galaxies using public archives of data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the GALEX satellite. Of these, 11 isolated compact galaxies were found moving faster than their cluster counterparts
The Milky Way's star formation rate peaked 10 billion years ago, but our sun formed about 5 billion years ago. This may have fostered the growth of our solar system's planets by enriching the galaxy with heavier elements.
An international team of astronomers has discovered a hot, dusty cloud of molecular gases in a dwarf galaxy near our own, where over 1 million young stars are forming. The star cluster is buried within a supernebula and contains massive 'O' stars that are a million times brighter than the sun.
New research by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute reveals that the Milky Way's galactic disk is contoured into several concentric ripples, extending its known width from 100,000 to 150,000 light years.
A team of astronomers from University of Cambridge identified nine new dwarf satellites orbiting Milky Way, largest number ever discovered. The findings may help unravel mysteries behind dark matter, invisible substance holding galaxies together.
A new study confirms dark matter's presence in the inner part of the Milky Way, including at our own cosmic neighborhood. Scientists created a comprehensive compilation of published measurements to observe rotation speeds and found that dark matter is needed to explain observed speeds.
Astronomers validate earlier prediction of dark-matter dominated dwarf galaxy's location by discovering young Cepheid variables in the Norma constellation. The discovery sheds light on the nature of dark matter and confirms Newton's theory of gravity.
A study of Andromeda's stellar disk reveals a more disordered population than the Milky Way's, suggesting recent mergers with smaller galaxies. The researchers found that younger stars have relatively ordered rotational motion, while older stars display much more disordered motion.
Astronomers witness billowing clouds of gas towering above and below the plane of our galaxy, driven by a titanic eruption in the galactic core. The Hubble Space Telescope measures velocity and composition of the mystery lobes, revealing unique information about the expanding gas.
Astronomers discovered that nearby dwarf spheroidal galaxies lack star-forming gas, while those beyond a certain distance have abundant hydrogen. The Milky Way's gravity affects the composition of its smallest neighbors, shutting down star formation.
When favorite products are out of stock, consumers quickly forget about them if a good replacement is available, according to a new study. The study found that desire for a product depends on the time elapsed since consumption and substitute availability.