Articles tagged with Observational Astronomy
Researchers have discovered a new millisecond pulsar in the globular cluster NGC 6397, shedding light on the apparent overabundance of isolated pulsars. The newly found pulsar, PSR J1740-5340B, has a faint radio signal and extended quiescent periods, suggesting it may be representative of a subgroup of hard-to-detect binary pulsars.
A recent study published in Nature Communications has uncovered the likely Martian origin of a 4.48-billion-year-old meteorite named Black Beauty. The team found that this ancient fragment may have come from a region on Mars similar to Earth's continents, providing valuable insights into our planet's geological past.
A team of astronomers discovered an unusual ultra-faint dwarf galaxy, Pegasus V, on the outer edge of the Andromeda Galaxy using NSF's NOIRLab facilities. The galaxy appears to be extremely deficient in heavier elements, indicating it is very old and likely a fossil of the first galaxies.
A Southwest Research Institute-led team used the Hubble Space Telescope to create near-global UV maps of Europa, revealing concentrations of sulfur dioxide on the moon's trailing side. The results provide insights into the composition of Europa's subsurface ocean and its potential for life.
Researchers from the University of Arizona suggest that dying stars can forge carbon nanotubes in the envelopes of dust and gas surrounding them. This process involves the spontaneous formation of carbon nanotubes, which are highly structured rod-like molecules consisting of multiple layers of carbon sheets.
Astronomers discovered five isolated 'blue blob' systems containing young, blue stars and little atomic hydrogen gas. The presence of mostly young stars and lack of gas suggests recent gas loss, contradicting expectations of older red stars.
Asteroid Psyche's varied surface suggests a dynamic history, with metallic eruptions, asteroid-shaking impacts, and a lost rocky mantle. The new maps hint at the asteroid's ancient core, which could be composed of silicate-rich material that has since disappeared.
The Hubble Space Telescope has released the largest near-infrared image ever taken, allowing researchers to map star-forming regions and understand how the earliest galaxies originated. This high-resolution survey will enable the identification of rare objects such as massive galaxies, highly active black holes, and colliding galaxies.
A machine learning algorithm has outperformed astronomers in analyzing microlensing data to find new exoplanets, revealing connections hidden in complex mathematics from general relativity. The AI algorithm uncovered a degeneracy that had been missed by experts, suggesting a broader theory is likely incomplete.
Researchers found that planetary systems around binary stars form differently than those around single stars, potentially creating new targets for extraterrestrial life. The study also suggests that comets could play a key role in delivering organic molecules necessary for life.
Researchers conducted wave-optics simulations to study the impact of turbulence on light beams, finding that branch point density grows non-linearly with grid resolution. The study's results could lead to more accurate modeling and improved performance in Adaptive Optics systems.
Researchers have identified the rarest type of black widow binary yet, featuring a pulsar and a third star that orbits every 10,000 years. The system, ZTF J1406+1222, has the shortest orbital period ever recorded, with the pulsar and companion star circling each other in just 62 minutes.
An international team of scientists has discovered 30 exocomets in the β Pictoris planetary system, determining their size range and estimating a similar size distribution to those orbiting the Sun. This discovery sheds new light on the origin and evolution of comets in planetary systems.
A new theory offers an explanation for the formation and evolution of gas giants in our solar system, proposing that a 'rebound' effect triggered their current paths. Researchers found that the primordial gas disk dissipated from the inside out, providing a natural trigger for the instability.
Researchers at MIT and University of Waterloo propose stimulating the Unruh effect to increase its probability of detection, potentially shaving wait time from billions of years to just a few hours. The new approach, known as acceleration-induced transparency, enhances the Unruh effect while suppressing competing effects.
A 80-mile wide comet, one of the oldest objects in the solar system, is heading towards Earth at 22,000 miles per hour. The comet's massive nucleus, 50 times larger than most known comets, will pass within 1 billion miles of the sun in 2031.
A new study by University of Leicester researchers reveals Neptune's atmospheric temperatures have dropped by roughly 8 degrees Celsius between 2003 and 2018, with unexpected stratospheric warming at the south pole. The cause of these changes is currently unknown, but may be related to seasonal variations in atmospheric chemistry.
Scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope have discovered a single star, nicknamed Earendel, located an astonishing 28 billion light-years away. The star is estimated to be up to 500 times more massive than our Sun and millions of times brighter.
Researchers observed rapid electron precipitation from low-Earth orbit using the ELFIN mission, which was caused by whistler waves affecting electrons in the Earth's magnetosphere. The findings demonstrate that whistler waves are responsible for far more electron rain than current theories and space weather models predict.
Researchers analyzed polarized properties of five repeating FRB sources using FAST and GBT, revealing systematic frequency evolution and rotation measure scattering. This unified description indicates complex environments around bursting sources, including supernova remnants or plasma near massive blackholes.
The new database provides access to almost all observational data on water masers since 1989, enabling quick analysis and prediction of maser locations. With its technological solutions, researchers can now study the early stages of star formation more efficiently.
Researchers observed a binary star system in formation, revealing two stars with disks of gas and dust surrounding them. The newly discovered disks may be the beginnings of new planet systems that will orbit the binary stars in the future. This study provides unprecedented detail on a binary system in formation.
A team of astronomers discovered neutron stars blowing hot, warm and cold winds while consuming matter from a nearby star. The discovery provides key information about the behaviors of these extreme cosmic objects, which contribute to the formation of new stars and galaxy evolution.
Dr Henrik Melin, a researcher at the University of Leicester, has been awarded the third-ever Webb Fellowship to study the atmospheres of giant planets using the James Webb Space Telescope. He aims to understand the mechanisms driving powerful aurorae on these planets and address the 'energy crisis' in their upper atmospheres.
Researchers from HSE University have developed a mathematical model that explains the levitation of charged dust particles over the sunlit lunar surface for almost any latitude. The study takes into account the Earth's magnetotail and its impact on particle movement, leading to vertical oscillation and eventual levitation.
Astronomers have discovered fast radio bursts originating from a globular cluster in the spiral galaxy M 81, surprising scientists with this unexpected location. The source of these unpredictable flashes has been pinpointed to old stars, contrary to previous discoveries which often occurred near young stars.
A team of astronomers led by the University of Birmingham detected a rare circumbinary planet, Kepler-16b, using radial velocity method. The discovery provides clues on planetary accretion and demonstrates that ground-based telescopes can be used for modern exoplanet research.
Researchers have discovered a ring of planetary debris orbiting close to a white dwarf star, suggesting the presence of a nearby planet in the habitable zone. The planet is thought to be similar in size to terrestrial planets in our solar system and could support liquid water, making it potentially habitable.
Researchers confirm a rare and massive black hole merger with an eccentric orbit, shedding light on the formation of supermassive black holes in dense star clusters. The study's findings have significant implications for our understanding of black hole dynamics and the evolution of galaxies.
Researchers have found the Milky Way to be significantly lighter than previously thought, with a total mass of 500-800 billion solar masses. This new estimate is based on high-precision data from Gaia EDR3 and advanced dynamical modeling methods.
Astronomers have discovered a binary system consisting of a rapidly spinning neutron star and the precursor to an extremely-low-mass white dwarf, dubbed a 'cosmic spider'. The system emits powerful gamma-rays and has been observed using the SOAR Telescope in Chile.
Researchers discover Amazon basin as main mechanism for precipitation in Atacama Desert, accounting for 40-80% of total precipitation. The findings reveal a new pathway of water supply for the driest region on Earth, aside from summer rain, through moist easterly winds and winter storms.
NAU astronomers, planetary astronomers and their students will conduct experiments using the JWST to expand their research and advance our understanding of the solar system. The telescope's advanced suite of instruments will explore planets, stars, nebulae, galaxies and beyond.
Researchers found over 70-170 free-floating planets (FFPs) in the Upper Scorpius young stellar association, almost doubling the number of known FFPs. The sheer number suggests that planets formed around stars and then banished to darkness are an important contribution.
Researchers studied 15 unusual stars in the Milky Way galaxy, discovering that all have recently undergone a rare phase where one star engulfs another. The findings provide new insight into the sky's most dramatic phenomena and may help answer questions about how stars live and die.
A team of astronomers has made the most precise measurements yet of the motions of stars around Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The research, using cutting-edge facilities like Gemini Observatory and the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, shows that nearly all of the mass c...
A team of researchers has discovered a new object orbiting a Sun-like star that was missed by previous searches. The object is estimated to be between 10 and 20 times the mass of Jupiter and is thought to be a large planet or a small brown dwarf.
Researchers have found no dark matter in the ultra-diffuse dwarf galaxy AGC 114905, which can be explained by normal matter. The discovery confirms previous measurements and raises questions about the existence of dark matter in galaxies.
The newly discovered planet is classified as a rocky planet and has similarities to Mercury, with a mass 55% of Earth's. Its high density indicates an iron core, but the surface temperature could reach up to 1500 degrees Celsius due to its proximity to its star.
Scientists from Niigata University, Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan detected a newborn star and its surrounding cocoon of complex organic molecules in the extreme outer Galaxy. The discovery reveals the hidden chemical complexity of our Universe.
A new study reveals that the largest comet, Bernardinelli-Bernstein, was active long before previously thought, with its ice vaporizing and forming a coma. This finding will help determine the comet's composition and provide insight into conditions during solar system formation.
Astronomers have detected a white dwarf star that spins at an incredible rate of once every 25 seconds, completing one rotation faster than Earth. The star is thought to be the size of the Earth but massive enough to pull material from its companion star, creating a magnetic propeller system.
Researchers from NTU Singapore found significant increases in pollutant emissions at major international seaports during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emissions rose by over 100% in some ports, with container ships and dry bulk carriers experiencing the largest spikes.
A team of astronomers from the University of Arizona suggests that near-Earth asteroid Kamo`oalewa could be a miniature moon, with its spectrum matching lunar rocks from NASA's Apollo missions. The asteroid's orbit is similar to Earth's but with a slight tilt, making it unlikely to have originated from a typical near-Earth asteroid.
Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis have discovered a new type of exoplanet known as 'eggshell planets,' which are likely to have little topography and no plate tectonics. These planets may resemble the lowlands on Venus, with vast expanses of lava but little high-standing terrain.
A new technique developed by University of Hawaii astronomer Nader Haghighipour has successfully detected a transiting circumbinary planet in TESS data. The discovery validates the method, which reduces the time to detect such planets from over a year to just five days.
Jupiter's banded pattern extends deep beneath the clouds, and the appearance of its belts and zones inverts near the base of the water clouds. The planet's microwave emissions reveal a transition zone between five and 10 bars, where the zones become bright and the belts dark.
A team of astronomers used Hubble and Gran Telescopio Canarias data to study faint galaxies, revealing a 'fitful' start to the Universe. The first stars likely formed in bursts, followed by long periods of inactivity.
The special issue covers observations of exoplanet geology, composition, atmosphere, and potential habitability. SwRI researchers Dr. Natalie Hinkel and Dr. Cayman Unterborn collaborated with Dr. Oliver Shorttle to create a diverse overview of exoplanets, making it accessible to a wide community of scientists.
A team led by Prof. LI Di and Dr. WANG Pei detected 1,652 independent bursts of Fast Radio Burst (FRB) 121102 within 47 days using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). The characteristic energy and energy distribution of FRBs were determined for the first time.
A team of astronomers used LAMOST observations to classify hundreds of unidentified gamma-ray sources as blazars. The study provides insight into the nature of these sources and their potential counterparts in active galaxies.
Researchers from DTU Space and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that solar eruptions reduce cosmic ray flux, leading to reduced aerosol production and decreased cloud cover. This results in an increase in the Earth's energy budget by almost 2 W/m2 within 4-6 days.
Researchers identified a potential circumtriple planet in the star system GW Ori, with implications for our understanding of planet formation. The discovery, made using ALMA telescope observations, suggests that planet formation may be more active than previously thought.
Researchers warn that future exoplanet direct-imaging missions need to make multiple observations to differentiate between planets. In 36% of solar systems, an Earth-like planet can be misidentified with a Mercury-like planet, and in 72% of cases, it could be mistaken for a Venus-like planet.
Scientists study potential for life around M-dwarf planets with new telescope, finding atmospheres may be dried out due to intense radiation. The James Webb Space Telescope can detect gases in heavy carbon dioxide or oxygen-dominated atmospheres.
The 2021 Fall Meeting of the APS Division of Nuclear Physics presents cutting-edge research on nuclear astrophysics, quantum technology, and rare isotopes. Researchers will discuss breakthroughs such as the most precise measurement of neutron lifetime and novel experiments measuring neutron skin in calcium.
A study by Finnish researchers confirms that aerosols formed from plant emitted compounds make clouds more reflective, reducing solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface. This natural mechanism can slow down climate warming, with effects becoming stronger as temperature increases.
A team of astronomers has observed six massive galaxies in the early universe that have mysteriously stopped forming stars due to depleted gas reserves. The discovery was made possible by the Hubble Space Telescope's high resolution and gravitational lensing, allowing researchers to study these galaxies in unprecedented detail.
Researchers used ALMA to observe distant galaxies and discovered two new, dusty galaxies near original targets, challenging our understanding of early galaxy formation. The discovery suggests that a significant portion of early galaxies may be hidden from view due to cosmic dust.
Researchers found that Maya rulers altered their cities' structures and alignments to reflect their own desires and authority. Many temples were built on top of existing ones or abandoned altogether, shifting the focus from community ritual to ruler-centric politics.