Articles tagged with Observational Astronomy
Researchers detected large areas of water ice in the lunar south pole using NASA's Diviner instrument. This discovery suggests that these regions are suitable for future human missions, as subsurface water ice is more stable and protected from radiation.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's LAMP instrument has detected hydrogen, carbon monoxide, atomic mercury, calcium, and magnesium in the LCROSS impact plume, revealing volatile substances trapped near the Moon's poles. This finding is crucial for planning robotic and manned Moon bases.
Astronomers tracked a bizarre X-shaped object, dubbed P/2010 A2, for five months using Hubble. The object is expanding slowly and retained its X-shape even as the debris field expanded, revealing details about asteroid collisions.
Astronomers have discovered a new phenomenon called coreshine, which scatters mid-infrared light by large dust grains in cosmic clouds. This discovery promises to reveal crucial information about the earliest phase of star formation.
IBEX maps reveal structured and intense interstellar boundary interactions; the spacecraft also collects hydrogen and oxygen from the interstellar medium, shedding light on solar system recycling processes. Recent observations of the Earth's magnetosphere provide new insights into protecting our atmosphere.
Astronomers have discovered the most powerful pair of jets from a stellar black hole, blowing a huge bubble of hot gas. The discovery reveals that some black holes can release at least as much energy in the form of collimated jets as radiation, leading to an expansion of the surrounding interstellar gas.
NASA's Terra satellite captured an image of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull Volcano ash plume being pushed to the northeast due to a low pressure area. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument onboard Terra made the observation on May 18.
NASA mobilized remote-sensing assets to help assess the spread and impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The agency deployed its instrumented research aircraft, ER-2, equipped with satellite observations to assist NOAA, USGS, and Department of Homeland Security in monitoring the spill.
The MODIS instrument on NASA's Terra satellite captured a visible image of the ash plume from Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano, drifting south and east over the Northern Atlantic Ocean. The ash plume appeared lighter in color than previous days, indicating a potential decrease in volcanic activity.
Astronomers discover six exoplanets orbiting their stars in the opposite direction to the star's rotation, contradicting conventional wisdom. This finding sparks alternative migration theories, suggesting that hot Jupiters may form far from their stars and migrate inward due to gravitational interactions with distant companions.
Researchers have observed a warm core at the center of the Great Red Spot, with temperatures varying by up to 3 degrees compared to surrounding areas. This temperature difference affects wind velocities and cloud patterns in Jupiter's belts and zones.
Scientists analyze data from NASA's Terra satellite to assess the health of Earth's ocean, land, and atmosphere, finding that droughts may have negative effects on ecosystems earlier than thought. The satellite also tracks natural hazards such as flooding, mudslides, and wildfires to help governments respond and mitigate consequences.
Astronomers have discovered that Sun-like stars with planetary systems tend to have lower levels of lithium than those without planets. The study, which analyzed 500 stars, found that planet-bearing stars had less than 1% of the lithium present in other similar stars.
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.
The Canon of Medicine, written by the Persian scholar Avicenna, contains detailed information on respiratory diseases remarkably similar to those used today. The article highlights Avicenna's work on respiratory diseases and conditions, including herbal and non-herbal treatments, which are still valid with modern science.
Researchers believe that Galileo's notebooks from 1613 may reveal evidence of his discovery of a new planet, which is now known as Neptune. The planet was observed by Galileo as a faint star near Jupiter and moved relative to an actual nearby star.
The IBEX spacecraft has made the first observations of very fast hydrogen atoms coming from the moon, shedding light on the 'recycling' process undertaken by particles throughout the solar system and beyond. The neutral atoms can travel long distances before they are stripped of their electrons and become ions.
The Palomar Transient Factory (PTF) utilizes NERSC's tools to uncover relatively rare cosmic events like supernovae and gamma ray bursts, discovering over 40 in its commissioning phase. The survey combines automated analysis with high-end systems and networks, enabling rapid follow-up observations.
Using XMM-Newton's new data, astronomers have mapped the region around a supermassive black hole, estimating its mass at 3-5 million solar masses. The observations also reveal rapid spinning and accretion rates that verge on theoretical limits.
The BSSA special issue on rotational seismology discusses research on rotational ground motions, including theory, instrumentation, observation, and interpretation. Rotational effects from earthquakes have been observed for centuries, but were ignored due to practical difficulties in measuring them.
Researchers propose a new theory that galaxies formed primarily through cold gas streams, challenging the prevailing view of galactic mergers. Computer simulations suggest these streams led to efficient star formation in massive disks, driving the creation of spiral galaxies.
A Cornell-led team has observed dust forming around a dying star in a nearby galaxy, providing insights into the early universe and the evolution of galaxies. The discovery sheds new light on how cosmic dust was created in the universe's early stages.
The Hubble Space Telescope is set to undergo its fifth and final service mission, which will provide the telescope with a future as bright as its past despite being nearly 18 years into troubled beginnings. The repairs will upgrade instruments, replace gyroscopes and heat shields, and add new capabilities for deeper observations.
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 analyzed data from the CoRoT space telescope mission, finding that three nearby stars have larger vibrations and finer surface texture than our Sun. The study provides valuable information about the physical properties of nearby stars and sheds new light on the Sun's interior.
Astronomers have discovered a rare event in the life of a distant quasar, marking the first time a huge flow of gas has been seen coming from one. This observation sheds light on how quasars come into being and may hold clues to galaxy formation.
Astronomers have found that magnetic fields are essential for black holes to swallow matter. The variations in visible light and X-rays were found to follow a repeated pattern, indicating that strong magnetic fields store energy near the black hole.
Researchers at Durham University and Caltech used gravitational lensing to study a young star-forming galaxy in the distant Universe, revealing its internal velocity structure and spiral disk. The findings provide insight into how the galaxy evolved into a present-day system like our Milky Way.
The Hubble Space Telescope has resolved individual threads of gas in the filaments of galaxy NGC 1275, revealing a magnetic structure that sustains them for over 100 million years. The discovery provides crucial clues about how giant black holes affect their surroundings.
A new study using VLT observations verifies the long-standing prediction that accretion discs emit intensely blue radiation. The researchers used polarised light from six quasars to uncover the buried light from the discs, vindicating the standard picture of these discs.
Researchers will discuss climate models, air pollution, ozone levels, and their impact on regions like California, Texas, and the southeastern United States. Scientists also explore long-range transport of pollutants from Europe to Africa and the Near East.
A rare and intense stellar flare was detected by NASA's Swift satellite from the normally quiet red dwarf star EV Lacertae. The flare, which lasted for 8 hours, would have sterilized life-bearing planets' surfaces if they were nearby.
Scientists from NASA, CDC, and University of Alabama are using public health projects that utilize NASA satellite data on air quality, climate, vegetation, and flooding to explore possible linkages with diseases like lung disease, stroke rates, and asthma.
A team of Japanese astronomers has discovered that the Milky Way's central black hole, Sagittarius A*, let loose a powerful flare three centuries ago. The finding resolves a long-standing mystery about the black hole's quiescent nature.
Despite a colder-than-average winter, Arctic sea ice remains vulnerable due to long-term warming climate trends. The area of perennial sea ice, which lasts for several years, has declined significantly from 50-60% in the mid-1980s to less than 30% this year.
Astronomers have found a clue to the evolutionary relationship between pulsars and magnetars by examining archival RXTE data of a young neutron star. The study reveals that a regular pulsar can produce powerful bursts similar to those from magnetars, challenging current understanding of their life cycles.
Researchers found a strong correlation between black hole presence and reduced star formation in heavy galaxies. The energy generated by massive black holes may heat up gas, preventing new stars from forming.
Researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science have observed a rare and detailed view of a Type Ia supernova event, revealing the remnants of a red giant star that fed a white dwarf. This unique observation supports a widely accepted model of these explosions.
For the first time since their discovery in 1977, astronomers have observed a Uranus ring crossing and detected significant changes in the rings' arrangement. The observations used advanced telescopes and revealed new details about the fine dust that permeates the rings, including a previously unseen outer ring.
Scientists have gained new insights into killer electrons, which can damage satellites and pose a hazard to astronauts. The unique data collected during a geomagnetic storm revealed the mechanism behind their creation, with solar wind particles inducing undulations in Earth's magnetosphere.
Astronomers have observed two Type II and Type Ia supernovae exploding in the same galaxy just 16 days apart. The rare event is unlikely to be related to anything unusual about the galaxy.
Researchers have captured an image of Altair, a hydrogen-burning star like our own sun, for the first time. The image was made possible by a novel system to clean up distortions from Earth's atmosphere and a multi-telescope system that combines information from small, distantly spaced telescopes.
Researchers have found strong evidence that Mercury's core is molten, a discovery that could explain the planet's weak magnetic field. The study used a novel technique to detect tiny twists in Mercury's spin, which occurred as the sun's gravity exerted alternating torques on the planet.
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 created the first 3D map of the universe's dark matter distribution, revealing a web-like structure that confirms conventional theories on how galaxies formed. The map was derived from the Cosmic Evolution Survey and offers unprecedented detail on the large-scale filamentary structure of dark matter.
A team of scientists found that climate change is causing a 3% reduction in the density of the Earth's outermost atmosphere, or thermosphere, by 2017. The decrease will reduce drag on satellites, allowing them to stay airborne longer and potentially saving millions of dollars in fuel costs.
Researchers found significant peripheral asymmetry but a nearly spherical interior, suggesting the explosion propogates at supersonic speed. The team observed 17 supernovae over 10 years and inferred the shape and structure of debris clouds thrown out from Type Ia supernovae.
Scientists have observed a continuously changing feature in Saturn's innermost ring, the D ring, which indicates a recent comet or asteroid collision. The findings suggest that Saturn's rings are not eternal but dynamic systems that can change over time.
Astronomers have used a pair of pulsars to show that general relativity is correct within 0.05% accuracy, the most stringent limit to date. The double-pulsar system provides independent tests of general relativity and its predictions, including gravitational waves and time dilation.
Researchers propose that Enceladus' reorientation could be caused by a low-density blob beneath its surface, leading to a hot spot at the pole and explaining the moon's striking surface features. The study suggests testable predictions for future observations of Enceladus.
Scientists embark on an Arctic trek with sled dogs to collect snow samples and validate satellite observations. The goal is to improve understanding of global snow cover and its impact on water resources, particularly in the American West where melting snow supplies 70% of western states' water supply.
The MIRAGE project, led by NCAR, aims to quantify air pollution emitted by Mexico City from multiple perspectives. Researchers will use aircraft, ground-based instruments, and satellite observations to gather data on the pollutants' life cycle, including their transformation by chemical reactions and interaction with other sources.
Astronomers have confirmed the presence of two new moons around Pluto, provisionally designated S/2005 P 1 and S/2005 P 2. The new discoveries were made possible by the exceptional resolution of the Hubble Space Telescope, which revealed the small moons' orbits with similarities to Charon's.
Researchers used a new atmospheric model to quantify man-made and natural influences on the stratosphere's cooling trend over the past 25 years. The study suggests that increasing greenhouse gases will likely cool the stratosphere in the next century, with important implications for ozone hole recovery.
The Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) uses NASA satellite data to predict and manage the spread of invasive plant species like saltcedar, which is damaging water supplies. Land managers can generate color-coded maps to help combat the spread of these species.
Astronomers have found a small planet with a mass about five times that of Earth, orbiting a small star near the center of the galaxy. The discovery suggests there are many other small planets in habitable zones, where temperatures are moderate enough for liquid water to appear on their surfaces.
Researchers at McMaster University have discovered 'light echoes' of ancient supernovae, providing a unique opportunity to study the original light from these events. This finding sheds new light on our understanding of the universe and its elements.
Researchers discovered a link between GPS data and satellite images of the plasmasphere, allowing them to understand the ionosphere-thermosphere-magnetosphere as a coupled system. The study provides a new understanding of space storms and their impact on Earth's upper atmosphere.
Astronomers have released images of galaxy NGC 1097, revealing the channelling process of matter toward its central supermassive black hole. The new images show over 300 regions of star formation in a prominent ring surrounding the nucleus.
New findings from the Rosetta spacecraft suggest comets are composed primarily of dust held together by ice, contradicting the long-held 'dirty snowball' hypothesis. Cometary nuclei like Comet 9P/Tempel 1 exhibit dynamic and volatile properties, with impacts triggering outbursts of dust and gas.