Articles tagged with Observational Astronomy
Researchers measured Saturn's ring brightness and temperatures using Subaru Telescope images. The Cassini Division and C ring appeared brighter in mid-infrared due to thermal emission from warmer particles. However, seasonal changes in the ring opening angle caused variations in their apparent brightness.
A team of scientists, led by Richard Spalding, discovered that the brilliant pulsating light emitted by burning asteroids can heat surrounding objects and generate sounds. This phenomenon, known as photoacoustic coupling, produces faint sounds similar to rustling leaves or whispers.
The international team released a large dataset of exoplanet-detecting observations using the radial velocity method, identifying over 100 potential planets, including one orbiting the fourth-closest star to our Solar System. The data will enable astronomers around the globe to search for new planets and follow up on existing signals.
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 team of astronomers successfully observed the entire hydrogen coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko using the LAICA telescope onboard the PROCYON spacecraft. The observations provide a unique opportunity to test coma models and estimate the total amount of water released by the comet per second.
Astronomers have discovered a shadow sweeping across the face of a vast pancake-shaped gas-and-dust disk surrounding a young star, possibly caused by an unseen planet gravitationally pulling on material. The twisted inner disk is casting its shadow onto the outer region.
The galaxy IRAS 16399-0937 hosts a double nucleus, with the northern nucleus featuring a black hole of massive proportions and a starburst region in the southern part. Hubble's observations reveal the intricate structure of this cosmic megamaser, shedding light on its unique composition and energetic processes.
Researchers have measured the size of dust particles around a young star for the first time, achieving a precise size measurement through radio-wave polarization. The estimated size of the dust particles is at most 150 micrometers, which is more than 10 times smaller than previously thought.
New observations from NASA's THEMIS mission reveal electrons can be accelerated to extremely high speeds in a region farther from Earth than previously thought possible. This discovery opens up new questions about the mechanisms that accelerate these particles, which can cause equipment malfunctions and affect space travelers.
Researchers discovered the presence of a white spot on Saturn's equator moving at speeds of 1,600 km/h. The study found that winds increase dramatically with depth, reaching up to 1,650 km/h at 150 km below the surface.
The MAVEN mission provides unprecedented detail on hydrogen escape from Mars' upper atmosphere, revealing a dramatic variation in loss rates throughout the year. The research suggests that water escape is not a steady leak but rather an episodic flow influenced by seasonal and solar activity.
Dense molecular gas disks are supplying gas directly to supermassive black holes at galaxy centers. The growth of supermassive black holes is enhanced by strong turbulence generated by supernova explosions in these disks.
Researchers find evidence of two separate eruptions in the mid-13th and mid-16th centuries, and another in the 19th century, revealing a more violent history for the star system. The team uses NASA's Hubble Space Telescope images to track the movement of gas ejected by Eta Carinae.
The collaboration will improve the sensitivity of the interferometric telescopes and enable the observation of smaller objects in the sky. The new system will allow astronomers to study high-interest targets such as dusty debris disks and accretion disks around newborn stars.
Astronomers have found a potentially habitable exoplanet, Proxima b, orbiting the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, just 11 days from its parent star. The planet's mass is at least 1.3 times that of Earth and orbits within the star's habitable zone.
Researchers have identified a young star over 30 times the mass of our Sun, which could help us understand how massive stars are formed. The discovery suggests that massive stars form in a similar way to smaller stars like our Sun.
Researchers at Harvard University observed evidence of Jupiter's hydrogen transitioning into liquid metal, a key to the planet's powerful magnetic field. The findings could revolutionize rocketry and energy science, as well as our understanding of solar system origins.
Researchers found that supermassive black holes at galaxy centers are likely to have weaker gravitational fields, making them harder to detect. This challenges previous assumptions about the detection of gravitational waves from merging galaxies.
A Monash University-led research team has discovered that about half of the stars in the M4 globular cluster are dying prematurely, skipping the Red Giant phase and becoming White Dwarfs millions of years ahead of schedule. The cause of this phenomenon remains a mystery, but it is believed to only occur in sodium-rich/oxygen-poor stars.
The study, led by IAC researcher Enric Pallé, has updated observations of the Earth's albedo from 2007 to 2014, showing monthly and annual variations but no long-term trend. The results coincide with a stabilization in the planet's mean temperature.
The NASA-funded Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) captured striking images of Mercury during its May 9, 2016 transit across the sun. By observing this phenomenon, researchers can calibrate IRIS and gather data on the sun's lower atmosphere.
Three NASA satellites will observe Mercury's transit, offering a rare opportunity to study planetary motion and the sun's effects. The event will also be used to calibrate space instruments and test spacecraft.
Astronomers discover a small, dark moon orbiting Makemake, the second brightest icy dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt. The moon's diameter is estimated to be 100 miles across and its orbit completes around Makemake in 12 days or longer.
The study uses a rare type of cosmic ray that acts like a tiny timer to determine the age and distance of galactic cosmic rays. The results suggest that these cosmic rays were created recently and are coming from nearby clusters of massive stars within 3,000 light years of Earth.
Researchers directly observed waves in superconductivity for the first time using scanning tunneling microscopes. They found relatively modest wave amplitude, but discovered that tuning different materials could produce more dramatic results.
Researchers at Osaka University have simulated the formation of supermassive black holes, revealing that they are seeded by clouds of gas falling into potential wells created by dark matter. The simulations found a central seed particle growing rapidly to form a supermassive black hole, accompanied by misaligned accretion discs.
The earliest definitions of time were based on observed astronomical phenomena, while modern times are derived from atomic properties. The paper reveals how these definitions have evolved over time, highlighting the connection between astronomic and atomic time.
A team of scientists has found that a star similar to the Sun could potentially create a massive eruption known as a superflare, which could have devastating effects on Earth. The research used data from nearly 100,000 stars to show that superflares are likely formed through the same mechanism as solar flares.
Astronomers at UMass Amherst report the discovery of eight 'outrageously luminous' galaxies, which outshine previously brightest known galaxies. The newly observed galaxies are estimated to be about 10 billion years old and formed only 4 billion years after the Big Bang.
The new system, VGOS, enables precise measurements of the Earth's shape with improved sensitivity and data rates. The system uses broadband antennas to conduct observations in four bands, reducing interference and increasing data rates.
A team of researchers discovered 80 young galaxies in the early universe, with at least 54 being spatially resolved. Computer simulations confirmed that many of these galaxies are actually merging pairs, triggering intense star formation activity. This study sheds light on the formation and evolution of compact galaxies.
Scientists use real-time observations and computer simulations to analyze the solar corona's dynamic system. The sun's magnetic field drives space weather on Earth and affects interplanetary radiation. Understanding its structure is crucial for studying space throughout the solar system.
A team of scientists has found that compact dwarf galaxies, like the green pea galaxy J0925+1403, could explain cosmic reionization by ejecting ionizing photons into the intergalactic medium. This discovery opens a new avenue for understanding the early universe's 14 billion-year history.
A Kyoto-led team reports that black hole activity can be observed through visible light during outbursts, and that optical rays provide reliable data for black hole activity. The study used a 20 cm telescope to observe V404 Cygni, detecting repetitive patterns with timescales of several minutes to a few hours.
Scientists have finally shed light on the atmospheres of a group of planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. A team of experts analyzed observations from NASA and ESA telescopes, revealing that water was hidden by haze and cloud on some hot-Jupiter exoplanets.
University of Arizona researchers captured the first photo of a planet forming in a gap within LkCa15's disk, providing insights into protoplanetary formation. The study utilized advanced telescopes and imaging techniques to observe the young star and its surrounding disk.
A team of astronomers used data from the VLT to study the remains of an asteroid around a stellar remnant -- a white dwarf. They discovered an orbiting disc of gaseous material and found that it is lopsided and has not yet become circular.
Astronomers have discovered an adolescent protostar, CARMA-7, exhibiting rapid-fire growth spurts and intermittent jets streaming away from its poles. This finding provides insights into chaotic stellar formation in the densely packed Serpens South star cluster.
Comet Lovejoy released large amounts of ethyl alcohol and glycolaldehyde into space, adding to evidence that comets could be a source of complex organic molecules necessary for life. The discovery supports the idea that comets carried sophisticated chemistry to Earth during its early stages.
Astronomers have discovered fast-moving wave-like features in the debris disc of star AU Microscopii, which could be a sign of something unusual. The ripples are racing away from the star at speeds of up to 40,000 kilometers per hour, making them unlike anything ever observed before.
Physicists from Warsaw and Nottingham show that in systems moving with enormous accelerations, no clock will accurately measure proper time due to the Unruh effect. This has significant consequences for measurements of space-time.
Astronomers have discovered unexplained wave-like structures in the dusty disk surrounding the young star AU Mic, moving at speeds of up to 22,000 miles per hour. The features, resembling ripples in water, are unlike anything ever observed or predicted and may provide valuable clues about planet formation.
Researchers used an enormous X-ray laser to induce a phenomenon that doesn't occur under normal circumstances, resulting in a single higher-energetic X-ray photon. The findings may lead to new ways to diagnose matter in the future.
A NASA camera aboard the DSCOVR satellite captured a unique view of the moon as it moved in front of the sunlit side of Earth. The images show the fully illuminated
Tropical Depression Felicia made landfall on Socorro Island in the Revillagigedo Islands, southwest of Baja California, Mexico. The storm's maximum sustained winds were near 35 mph, and it is forecast to weaken into a remnant low by Saturday.
Astronomers using NASA's Swift satellite have discovered concentric X-ray rings centered on a black hole, which form due to the 'echo' effect of light traveling through dust layers. The findings provide insights into the normally invisible interstellar dust and allow for better understanding of the black hole's behavior.
Astronomers have discovered a colossal cloud of hydrogen dispersing from the warm, Neptune-sized planet Gliese 436b. The enormous gaseous tail is about 50 times the size of its parent star and may offer clues on how hot super-Earths form around other stars.
Researchers use ALMA to observe dust contents of galaxies at redshift 5-6, revealing a new evolutionary stage. Average-sized galaxies contain less dust than expected, suggesting a previously unseen transition from gas to the first generation of galaxies.
Astronomers analyzed Hubble data to find that Nix and Hydra are in chaotic rotation around Pluto. The system's dynamic motion offers insights into binary star systems and potential consequences for life.
Two of Pluto's moons, Nix and Hydra, wobble unpredictably due to a constantly shifting gravitational field created by the double planet system of Pluto and Charon. This effect is strengthened by the non-spherical shape of the moons, which may be similar for the other two moons, Kerberos and Styx.
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.
Scientists have discovered a nearly-annual cycle of solar activity that can drive space weather events, including solar storms at Earth. This discovery could improve forecasts of space weather by understanding the interaction between magnetic field bands on the sun.
Scientists have observed two large coronal holes on the sun, with one covering about 6-8% of the total solar surface and another 0.16%. These regions can emit fast solar winds that affect Earth. The unique magnetic fields in these areas extend far into space.
A team of students and professors is launching rockets to develop technologies that can detect the missing normal matter in space. The project aims to confirm current models of the universe by observing the absorption caused by the intergalactic medium.
Researchers observed a rare phenomenon where the light from a distant supernova is deflected by a massive galaxy, creating four separate images. The discovery provides insights into dark matter, which makes up about 95% of the universe's mass.
A team of astronomers discovered a young and remote galaxy with dust levels similar to mature galaxies like the Milky Way, defying expectations. The galaxy, A1689-zD1, was observed using ALMA and VLT instruments and found to be emitting radiation in the far infrared, indicating significant star formation.
Some science museums are removing their dinosaur exhibits due to conservation issues. A new database aims to improve estimates of oceanic methane and nitrous oxide emissions. Amateur radio operators' data has potential for validating space weather models and understanding ionospheric behavior.
A recent study found that smartphone applications and wearable devices are generally accurate in tracking step counts, with minimal variation between devices. However, some wearables reported higher or lower counts than observed, highlighting the need for device accuracy assessment.
A team of astronomers has discovered the most massive pair of white dwarf stars yet found, which will merge in the future to form a runaway thermonuclear explosion leading to a Type Ia supernova. This discovery provides new insights into astronomical distances and dark energy, shedding light on the expansion of the Universe.
A new joint analysis of BICEP2/Keck Array and Planck data reveals that the earlier detection of primordial gravitational waves is no longer secure due to interstellar dust contamination. The study uses multi-frequency data from Planck and ground-based experiments to separate foreground emissions from the cosmic background.