Articles tagged with Observational Astronomy
A new study has identified a chemically peculiar star in the Galactic halo as clear evidence of the existence of pair-instability supernovae (PISNe) from very massive first stars. The star's low sodium and cobalt abundances are consistent with predictions for primordial PISN from first-generation stars with 260 solar masses.
A team of astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope has detected complex organic molecules in a galaxy over 12 billion light-years away. The discovery suggests that the presence of these molecules does not necessarily indicate star formation, contradicting a long-held assumption.
The CALET team, including researchers from Waseda University, found that cosmic ray helium particles follow a Double Broken Power Law, indicating spectral hardening and softening in high-energy ranges. This deviation from expected power-law distribution suggests unique sources or mechanisms accelerating and propagating helium nuclei.
Astronomers have discovered a new temperate exoplanet, LP 791-18 d, with properties similar to those of Earth. The planet is believed to be covered in volcanoes due to tidal heating, which causes heat to build up in its interior.
The explosion, known as AT2021lwx, is more than ten times brighter than any known supernova and has lasted for nearly three years, compared to most supernovae which are only visibly bright for a few months. The researchers believe that the explosion is a result of a vast cloud of gas being violently disrupted by a supermassive black hole.
The telescope has imaged three nested belts extending up to 14 billion miles from the star, with inner belts revealed for the first time. The discovery provides insights into the structure of exoplanetary systems and the formation of planets.
Researchers determined the Martian crust's global structure using seismic data from a massive marsquake. The crust averages 42-56 kilometers in thickness, with variations between the northern and southern hemispheres.
Scientists observe streams of intergalactic gas enriched with elements heavier than helium surrounding a massive galaxy. The findings suggest that the gas was recycled during earlier periods of star formation and is now fueling the galaxy's rapid growth.
The Zhurong rover found evidence of liquid water on dune surfaces at low Martian latitudes, contradicting the widely held assumption that water can only exist in solid or gaseous forms. The discovery provides key observational proof and sheds light on the evolutionary history of Mars' climate.
NASA solar observatories have discovered that asteroid Phaethon's comet-like tail is not composed of dust, but rather sodium gas. The findings contradict previous theories and suggest a new explanation for Phaethon's behavior, which is the source of the annual Geminid meteor shower.
The researchers used the Near-Infrared Sky Brightness Monitor (NISBM) to collect data on sky brightness in Antarctica. The results show that the background intensity of the sky is not influenced by the Sun at a specific inflection point, and the NISBM detected significantly lower brightness in the Ks band compared to other locations.
A recent study found that food processing facilities and high-rise apartments with 10 stories or higher are major contributors to nitrogen dioxide emissions in California. The research, published in Science of the Total Environment, used satellite remote sensing data to analyze NO2 emissions from various property types.
Research reveals connection between star brightness and dust concentrations, paving way for study of dust's role in planetary formation. The University of Tokyo's latest findings may help unravel the secrets of life's creation.
Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope discovered a pair of gravitationally bound quasars inside two merging galaxies when the universe was just 3 billion years old. The finding provides insights into early galaxy mergers and supermassive black holes.
Space-based gravitational wave observatories offer longer arm lengths, enabling detection of low-frequency GWs. Configuration design and stability control are key factors for success, with geocentric configurations showing promise due to their simplicity and ease of deployment.
A team of astronomers discovered a population of reddish Neptunian asteroids, which are thought to have formed beyond the transition boundary between neutral-colored and redder objects. The red coloration suggests these asteroids contain more volatile ices, providing insight into the early Solar System's conditions.
Astrophysicists used AI to improve mass estimates of galaxy clusters by adding a simple term to an existing equation. The new equation downplays the importance of complex cores in calculations, providing more reliable mass inferences.
Researchers attribute unusual radar properties to coherent backscatter opposition effect (CBOE) and ice surface irregularities. The CBOE model, improved by Hofgartner and Hand, can explain all icy satellite radar properties.
The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has captured a dynamic animation of the gamma-ray sky, revealing frenzied activity over nearly 15 years. The data, now publicly available, includes records of source brightness changes and sheds light on blazars and multimessenger astronomy.
The DART mission observed a 33-minute change in the orbit of Dimorphos, indicating that ejecta escaped the system and contributed to the orbital changes. The team will use this data to understand how the entire system's orbit changes over time.
Citizen scientists from Unistellar network observe and analyze NASA's DART impact, supporting the efficiency of kinetic impactor technique to deflect asteroids. The study confirms the success of planetary defense methods, making significant contributions to humanity's quest to understand the universe.
Recent planetary missions have revealed significant advances in our understanding of Mercury's metal composition and magnetic field, as well as Venus' dense atmosphere and geological activity. On Mars, the InSight mission has detected marsquakes, suggesting a similar internal structure to Earth.
Astronomers have discovered a rapidly growing supermassive black hole in the very early Universe, which provides new clues on its formation. The galaxy, named COS-87259, contains over a billion solar masses worth of interstellar dust and is forming stars at a rate 1000 times that of our Milky Way.
A team of researchers has uncovered the source location of a 'heartbeat-like' radio signal in a C-class solar flare, more than 5,000 kilometers above the Sun's surface. The discovery sheds light on the physical processes behind energy release and dissipation in solar flares.
The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered frozen forms of complex molecules on the surface of small dust grains, providing insight into planetary system formation. The study reveals that these ice-cold conditions facilitate the creation of essential molecules for life, with potential implications for exoplanet atmospheres.
The BOOTES network, a pioneer in space surveillance and transient cosmic phenomena study, has been successfully deployed on all continents. With seven facilities, it provides an automated response in real time for the detection of gamma-ray bursts, neutrino sources, and other astrophysical events.
A study published in Nature Astronomy suggests that a volcano-like rupture on the surface of a neutron star could have caused its sudden slowdown. The research used X-ray data from orbiting telescopes to analyze the magnetar's rotation and found evidence supporting this theory.
Researchers utilized the James Webb Space Telescope to observe dense interstellar clouds, revealing a treasure trove of pristine ices from the early universe. The study provides new insights into chemical processes in one of the coldest places in the universe, offering clues on molecular origins and sulfur storage.
A new study by Globe at Night reveals that artificial lighting is dulling the night sky more rapidly than satellite measurements indicate. The loss of visible stars has alarming implications for human health and wildlife.
Researchers used the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury Triangulum Extended Region — or PHATTER — survey to study the Triangulum galaxy. The team discovered two drastically different structures depending on the age of the stars, with younger and older stars having distinct distributions.
Scientists have identified a new Earth-size world, TOI 700 e, orbiting within the habitable zone of its star, making it an exciting prospect for further study. The planet is likely rocky and might be tidally locked, offering insights into our solar system's history.
Researchers at the University of Washington have discovered a unique binary star system where a small companion star is surrounded by a large disk of dusty material. The companion star caused a seven-year-long eclipse of the main star, Gaia17bpp, which is one of the longest recorded eclipses.
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.
The James Webb Space Telescope has detected galaxies with stellar bars, similar to the Milky Way, at a time when the universe was just 25% of its present age. This discovery shakes up galaxy evolution scenarios and challenges theoretical models.
A research team has detected circular polarization in two active repeating fast radio bursts and one non-repeater, increasing the number of FRBs with circular polarization from one to three. The detection of circular polarization sheds new light on the emission mechanism of FRBs.
Researchers used new data from the European Space Agency's GAIA space observatory to project the orbits of satellite galaxies into the past and future, revealing the plane form and dissolve in a few hundred million years. The findings remove one of the main objections to the validity of the standard model of cosmology.
Researchers created a magneto-impedance sensor magnetometer that measures Earth's geomagnetic field fluctuations, enabling real-time monitoring of space weather and advancement of space research. The device is lightweight, power-efficient, and low-cost, making it suitable for constructing multi-point observation networks.
The Aztecs tracked seasonal variations in weather by watching the sunrise against the peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Their agricultural system accurately fed a population of up to 3 million people before the Spanish arrival.
Four early galaxies have been confirmed by spectroscopic observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), with two of them being the most distant galaxies to date. The galaxies are estimated to be around 13.4 billion years old, dating back to less than 400 million years after the Big Bang.
Researchers discovered that 55 Cnc e orbits its star along the equator, unlike other planets in the system. This unique orbit likely formed when the planet fell toward its star over time, resulting in a scorching surface and interior with possible diamond formation.
Research shows that the Southwestern North American megadrought caused a significant reduction (~30%) in wave activity after its onset, which may be related to reduced storm generation and altered precipitation patterns. The findings demonstrate that regional changes in the lower atmosphere can impact the upper atmosphere.
Researchers believe a black hole suddenly began devouring a nearby star, releasing energy and creating the brightest ever recorded TDE. The jet's direction may be pointing towards Earth, causing Doppler boosting, and could reveal insights into how supermassive black holes grow.
Researchers detected a long-sought after innermost dusty ring around the type 1 active galactic nucleus (AGN) NGC 4151 with unprecedented clarity. The CHARA Array Interferometer achieved this milestone by resolving the dust sublimation region at a hundred microarcsecond scale.
A team of researchers used images from the Hubble Space Telescope to determine the age and composition of a distant supernova. The study suggests that the heavier atomic elements necessary for life were created inside stars and released during supernovae explosions.
The Tianma 65-m radio telescope helped detect over 600 emission lines in the Orion Kleinmann–Low Nebula, including 21 new species. High-Δn RRLs and complex organic molecules like NH3 were also identified, providing valuable insights into the region's physical and chemical properties.
A new model accounts for the interplay of forces acting on newborn planets, explaining two puzzling observations: the radius valley and peas in a pod. The research suggests that giant impacts, like the one that formed our moon, are probably a generic outcome of planet formation.
A new study published in Science found that a highly magnetised dead star, known as a magnetar, is likely to have a solid surface with no atmosphere. The research team used data from the NASA satellite IXPE to observe the polarisation of X-ray light emitted by the star, which revealed a signature consistent with a solid crust.
The study includes 191 asteroids' radar cross sections and Doppler-frequency broadening, offering clues to asteroids' spin periods and sizes. The research also discovered two metal-rich near-Earth asteroids and five possible enstatite-rich asteroids, shedding new light on the formation and evolution of the solar system.
A team of researchers using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) has discovered a massive atomic gas structure, approximately 2 million light years in length, surrounding the compact group of galaxies Stephan's Quintet. This finding challenges current theories on galaxy-group formation and evolution.
Researchers have developed a method to map an asteroid's interior structure based on its spin changes during close encounters with Earth. This technique, called AIME, could help scientists plan more effective defense strategies for asteroids like Apophis, which poses a significant hazard if it were to make impact.
A new multimodality prediction method jointly learned vision and sequence information for accurate solar wind speed prediction. The model achieved best performance in many metrics, including RMSE, MAE, and CORR, and demonstrated the effectiveness of each module in improving prediction accuracy.
Astronomers have discovered a stellar binary with an extremely short orbit of just 51 minutes, confirming a decades-old prediction. The system is believed to be a cataclysmic variable, in which a white dwarf is accreting material from its companion star.
Researchers using JWST's First Deep Field image identified the most distant globular clusters, potentially relics of the first and oldest stars. These discoveries provide a detailed look at the earliest phase of star formation, confirming JWST's power in uncovering the universe's origins.
Researchers at Cornell University suggest that bright reflections on Mars' South Pole may be caused by layered composition rather than liquid water. The team's simulations showed that layer thickness and separations have a greater impact on reflection power than material composition.
A study at Europlanet Science Congress 2022 found that super-thin planet nurseries can accelerate the formation of big planets. The team observed a remarkably thin disc of dust and gas around a young star, where large particles settled into a dense midplane, creating conditions favourable for planetary growth.
Researchers in Japan analyzed Byzantine Empire texts to identify five total solar eclipses near Eastern Mediterranean. This study improves understanding of the Earth's rotation and sheds light on variations in day length over time. The new data refine models of global phenomena, such as sea-level and ice-volume variability.
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.
Researchers found that topography influences comet surface activity across hundreds of meters, with hotspots observed even on uniform surfaces. The study used Rosetta mission data to track changes in 16 topographic depressions on Comet 67P.
Researchers use Gemini Observatory's Zorro instrument to observe R136a1, finding it may be less massive than previously thought, potentially altering understanding of element formation. This breakthrough pushes the capabilities of ground-based telescopes, rivaling those of Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes.
Astronomers use telescopes to analyze light from distant worlds, but 'photobombing' can occur when nearby planets contaminate the view. Researchers propose methods to mitigate this effect, such as data processing and multiple telescope observations, to improve habitable planet detection.