Articles tagged with Milky Way
Researchers found that just four percent of galaxies are similar to the Milky Way, with two satellites as bright and close by as the Magellanic Clouds. The study used data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and computer simulations to understand how the Milky Way fits into the broader context of the universe.
Astronomer Heidi Newberg is using a new $382,000 NSF grant to map the distribution of dark matter in our galaxy. She will utilize the massive computing power of the international MilkyWay@Home project to simulate how stars in stellar streams got to their current positions.
Scientists have extended a directly-measured 'yardstick' three times farther into the cosmos using the super-sharp radio vision of the VLBA. New measurements have placed a galaxy at 450 million light-years from Earth, with implications for understanding Dark Energy and the expansion rate of the Universe.
Researchers develop method to locate satellite galaxies based on hydrogen gas distribution, predicting Galaxy X's mass and location. The technique has broad implications for dark matter detection and alternative gravity theories.
The telescope discovered two gamma-ray-emitting bubbles that span 50,000 light-years north and south of the galactic center
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.
A new computer simulation by Gurtina Besla and her colleagues shows that the Magellanic Stream resulted from a past close encounter between the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, rather than the Milky Way's gravity. The study challenges traditional models of galaxy formation.
Two Iowa State University astronomers are using Spitzer Space Telescope data to study big cool-temperature stars and dusty disks. The telescope is also identifying regions within the Milky Way that are forming intermediate-mass stars.
Physicists have discovered evidence of natural nuclear accelerators at work in the Milky Way galaxy, based on an analysis of data from the world's largest cosmic ray detector. The researchers found that stellar explosions in our own galaxy can accelerate both protons and nuclei, explaining the origin of ultra-high-energy nuclei.
Astronomers have detected a wave of massive star formation within the M17 SWex dark cloud, revealing 488 newly forming stars, including 200 blue-white class B stars. The discovery sheds light on how and when massive stars form, with theories suggesting an expanding shock wave or later formation may be necessary.
Researchers at Durham University use huge computer simulations to recreate the beginnings of the Milky Way, finding that many ancient stars originated from smaller galaxies torn apart by galaxy collisions. The simulations provide a blueprint for galaxy formation and reveal clues to the early history of the Milky Way.
Newberg's team will use LAMOST data to plot the position, speed, and composition of over 7 million stars, shedding light on dark matter distribution and galaxy formation
Researchers have identified numerous previously unknown star-forming regions in the Milky Way, shedding light on the galaxy's structure and chemical evolution. The discovery allows for a better understanding of star formation processes and the distribution of heavy elements across the galaxy.
Hydrogen gas clouds found near Galactic bar exhibit distinct properties, indicating they originated from supernova explosions and young star winds. This discovery sheds light on critical process of material movement between Galaxy's disk and halo.
The Andromeda Galaxy's supermassive black hole, M31*, is surprisingly quiet and faint in X-ray light, deviating from expectations. A decade-long study by Chandra reveals that the black hole underwent a significant outburst of X-rays in 2006.
A massive galaxy in the early Universe created stars like our sun at a rate equivalent to 250 suns per year, researchers say. The team observed four star-forming regions within the galaxy, each over 100 times brighter than similar regions in the Milky Way.
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.
Scientists have discovered a relic star from the early universe, which has a remarkably similar chemical composition to the Milky Way's oldest stars. The discovery supports the theory that our galaxy underwent a 'cannibal' phase by swallowing smaller galaxies and other galactic building blocks.
A study led by Queen's University astronomer Terry Bridges reveals that up to a quarter of the Milky Way's star clusters are foreign, originating from other galaxies. The research suggests six additional dwarf galaxies may exist within the galaxy beyond the two previously confirmed.
The MilkyWay@Home project uses volunteer computers from around the world to study dwarf galaxy movements and provide new details on dark matter. The project, which began in 2006, has surpassed one petaflop of computing speed and is the fastest computing project on the BOINC platform.
Scientists have discovered that the Milky Way's magnetic field is significantly stronger than initially believed, with a strength of at least 10 times greater than the rest of the galaxy. This finding has important implications for various astronomical data calculations and theories, including star formation and cosmology.
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.
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 at Durham University discovered rapid star formation in 'stellar nurseries' of infant galaxies, creating new stars at a rate 100 times faster than expected. This finding provides insight into the birth of our own galaxy and how it formed its first stars.
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detects diffuse gamma-ray emission from star-forming regions in nearby galaxies, suggesting that these regions are the source of cosmic rays. The telescope observes intense gamma-ray emission from a region called 30 Doradus within the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way.
A new high-resolution panorama of the Milky Way has been created by physicist Axel Mellinger, showcasing stars 1000 times fainter than human eyes can see. The image, taken over 22 months and covering 26,000 miles, accounts for distortions and varying background light to produce a seamless fit.
A team led by Professor Stephen Eikenberry captured the first images of the cosmos using a UF-designed camera/spectrometer attached to the Gemini South telescope in Chile. The instrument, FLAMINGOS-2, will enable accurate tracking of black hole growth and evolution over 4 billion years.
Researchers found that galaxy collisions 'puff up' a galactic disk, producing stellar rings and flared edges. The Milky Way's puffy appearance is likely due to interactions with satellite galaxies and dark matter.
Astronomers have discovered a mechanism for the formation of dwarf spheroidal galaxies, which are thought to be composed mostly of dark matter. The 'cosmic dance' of gravitational interactions between galaxies may trigger the removal of stars from smaller dwarf galaxies, transforming them into the observed dwarfs.
The study found that intense heat from early stars and black holes evaporated gas from small clumps of dark matter, rendering them barren. This natural explanation for galaxy formation supports the view that cold dark matter is the best candidate for the mysterious material believed to make up most of the universe.
Researchers discovered that ultracool subdwarfs have unique and diverse orbits around the Milky Way, with some stars traveling at speeds of over a million miles per hour. One star may be an intergalactic visitor, originating from another galaxy.
New calculations suggest hundreds of massive rogue black holes are left over from the early universe, potentially wandering the Milky Way's outer reaches. These relics could provide clues about galaxy formation history and the formation of black holes in the early universe.
The new map combines nearly three months of data from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, offering an unparalleled look at the high-energy cosmos. The image reveals flares from supermassive black holes in distant galaxies and pulsars, as well as a globular cluster in our own Milky Way galaxy.
Astronomers are studying a mysterious gamma-ray emission from the center of the Milky Way galaxy, which is surprising given the presence of massive stars and black holes. The emission is thought to be caused by exotic particles such as dark matter or the decay of radioactive elements.
The AAS High Energy Astrophysics Division has awarded the 2009 Rossi Prize to Charles D. Bailyn, Jeffrey E. McClintock, and Ronald A. Remillard for their work on measuring black hole masses in binary pairs with companion stars.
Researchers identified two protostars located just a few light-years from the Milky Way's central black hole, defying expectations that gravitational tides would prevent star formation. The discovery suggests molecular gas at the galactic center is denser than previously thought, allowing it to form new stars.
The Milky Way galaxy is rotating about 100,000 miles per hour faster than previously understood, increasing its mass by 50 percent. This increase in speed and mass brings the Milky Way closer to colliding with the Andromeda Galaxy or smaller nearby galaxies.
The University of Virginia is conducting a new project, APOGEE, as part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III to study the chemical and dynamical fingerprints of Milky Way red giant stars. The team aims to understand the assembly of the Milky Way galaxy and its evolution.
Researchers used a massive computer simulation to 'see' gamma-rays given off by dark matter in the Milky Way galaxy. They predict that these gamma-rays should glow in a characteristic pattern near the Sun, which could help detect invisible clumps of dark matter.
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.
New simulations suggest that stars like our sun can migrate great distances in galaxies similar to the Milky Way, potentially altering our view of habitable zones. This finding could change scientists' understanding of where and how life could evolve in a galaxy.
Researchers used a supercomputer to simulate the halo of dark matter surrounding the Milky Way, finding dense clumps and streams in the inner region. The study may help scientists understand what dark matter is and could detect evidence of its particles through gamma-ray signals.
Researchers are using planetary nebulae as probes to uncover patterns of chemical enrichment in spiral galaxies. By analyzing the chemical elements in these shells of gas, scientists can gain insights into how galaxies were formed and developed.
A team of researchers, led by Stephanie Wachter and Vikram Dwarkadas, investigated the mysterious ring surrounding magnetar SGR 1900+14. They concluded that a powerful flare from the magnetar formed the ring, which measures seven light-years across.
Astronomers have tracked a recent supernova explosion in the Milky Way galaxy using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and NRAO's VLA. The discovery confirms the supernova is about 140 years old, making it the youngest recorded in the galaxy.
The Triangulum Galaxy, located 2.9 million light-years from Earth, is ablaze with starbirth, according to a new image taken by NASA's Swift satellite. The image showcases the galaxy's high spatial resolution, revealing young, hot stars and star-forming gas clouds in unprecedented detail.
Researchers have discovered a giant hydrogen gas finger in the Milky Way Galaxy, which may indicate that nearby galaxies, such as the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, will eventually merge with our Galaxy. The study provides valuable insight into the galaxies' fate using CSIRO radio telescopes.
Astronomers have determined that a hyperfast star, HE 0437-5439, originated from the Large Magellanic Cloud, contradicting its initial assumption of coming from the Milky Way. The star's elemental composition and velocity indicate it was ejected from the LMC by a massive black hole.
Astronomers predict hundreds of rogue black holes, each several thousand solar masses, could be roaming the Milky Way. The discovery challenges current understanding of black hole formation and detection.
The Hubble Space Telescope provides a detailed view of Messier 81, revealing young blue stars and glowing regions of fluorescent gas. The galaxy's central black hole is 15 times the mass of the Milky Way's black hole.
A team of German astronomers has identified a new globular cluster in the Milky Way, comprising approximately 100,000 stars. The discovery is significant as it provides unique laboratory conditions to investigate various aspects of astrophysics and sheds light on the formation and evolution of galaxies.
Astronomers have discovered a powerful outburst from the giant black hole at the Milky Way's center using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The light echo revealed by the X-ray echo was about 1,000 times brighter and lasted well over 1,000 times longer than recent outbursts.
Astronomers have discovered an enormous halo of red giant stars surrounding the Andromeda galaxy, extending beyond its visible disk and indicating that it may be five times larger than previously believed. The discovery is based on observations of over 500,000 light-years of starry space using advanced telescopes.
Researchers have solved the mystery of Quintuplet stars by identifying them as young massive binary stars producing large amounts of dust. The study captures the stars just before disintegrating in supernovae explosions, revealing a unique pinwheel nebulae around each star.
A new, detailed view of a star-forming association in the Large Magellanic Cloud provides a rich sample of newly formed low-mass stars, allowing for accurate age and mass calculations. The image reveals small compact clusters hosting hundreds of infant low-mass stars, as well as distant galaxies decorating the background.
A new study has found that deuterium, a heavy form of hydrogen, exists in greater amounts than anticipated in the Milky Way galaxy. This discovery could fundamentally alter our understanding of star and galaxy formation.
Scientists using NASA's FUSE satellite discovered more 'heavy' hydrogen in the Milky Way than expected, altering theories about star and galaxy formation. The finding indicates that destruction of deuterium has been occurring at a slower rate than previously thought.
A team of astronomers produced the clearest map to-date of star-forming clouds in the Milky Way, enabling deeper insights into the origin of stars. The new illustration reveals similar lumpy structures in molecular clouds, suggesting that all clouds form stars in roughly the same proportion.
Astronomers discovered dusty disks around two massive stars, suggesting that planets might form and survive in hostile environments. The discovery expands the range of known conditions for complex dust grain formation and potentially indicates that these stars are forming planets.
Scientists confirm that dark matter dominates the total mass of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, through the Radial Velocity Experiment (RAVE) survey. The team aims to measure the speed, temperature, surface gravity and composition of up to a million stars passing near the sun.