Articles tagged with Observational Astronomy
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
Researchers analyzed deuterium abundance ratios in protoplanetary disks and found significant variations within a single disk, suggesting differences in chemical composition and physical state at formation sites. The study also reveals the presence of complex organic molecules, including nitriles, in planet-forming disks.
A nearly $2 million NSF grant will accelerate the hunt for low-frequency gravitational waves using high-precision timing observations of exotic stars called millisecond pulsars. WVU's Maura McLaughlin is principal investigator on the project, which aims to discover new types of gravitational waves and expand the IPTA's reach globally.
Researchers from Osaka University and NASA discovered that cold planets exist throughout the Milky Way, even in the Galactic bulge, a region previously thought to be inhospitable to planet formation. The study used gravitational microlensing to determine the distribution of planets across the galaxy.
A new study published in Nature Communications sheds light on the nature of Betelgeuse's mysterious dimming, which was observed from October 2019 to March 2020. The research team found that a temperature drop of 170 K could explain the dimming, suggesting the presence of a large dark star-spot on Betelgeuse's surface.
Researchers use Keck Observatory's MOSFIRE instrument to analyze the layer-cake structure of a nearby free-floating brown dwarf's atmosphere. The study reveals complex cloud formations, including hot sand grains and exotic elements, with depths reaching up to 446 miles.
Recent theoretical findings and astrophysical modeling suggest that scientists can accurately interpret gravitational wave signals from these events, hinting at the existence of so-called 'hierarchical' black holes. The detection of GW190521 in 2019 is thought to be the most promising candidate for such an event.
Astronomers have discovered a 0.6-second gamma-ray burst caused by the implosion of a massive star, revealing that some short GRBs might be imposters in disguise. The discovery suggests that most collapsing stars fail to produce a GRB jet, making this event an effective fizzle.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery about the Sun's magnetic field, revealing that field lines become knotted before emerging at the visible surface. The findings provide conclusive evidence for one of two dominant theories explaining how solar activity occurs.
Scientists use infrared sensors to study the nighttime weather of Venus, discovering that north-south winds run in the opposite direction at night. This observation could help build more accurate models of the Venusian weather system and provide insights into Earth's weather patterns.
Researchers have developed a new radio receiver capable of capturing radio waves at frequencies several times wider than conventional ones. This allows for the detection of multiple types of molecules in space simultaneously, enabling significant progress in studying the evolution of the Universe and star formation.
Researchers at Shinshu University and the National Polar Research Institute found a Forbush decrease in cosmic ray counts during a CME event, but the CR density exceeded its original level before exiting the Magnetic Flux Rope. The high-speed solar wind caused this unusual enhancement of CR density through local compression of the MFR.
Researchers have discovered a unique 'blinking giant' binary star system, where a giant star is eclipsed by an unseen orbital companion every few decades. The system has been spotted near the centre of the Milky Way, more than 25,000 light years away.
The newly discovered exoplanet, TOI-1231 b, has a substantial atmosphere making it an attractive target for atmospheric studies. Its similarity in size and density to Neptune suggests it may have a large, gaseous atmosphere.
Researchers at Tohoku University have discovered a dying supermassive black hole in the Arp 187 galaxy through analyzing radio images and multi-wavelength data. The study indicates that AGN turn-off occurs within a 3000-year time scale, with the nucleus becoming over 1000 times fainter during the last 3,000 years.
Scientists have recorded the most energetic radiation and longest gamma-ray afterglow of a gamma-ray burst, revealing similar spectral characteristics between X-ray and very-high energy gamma-rays. This challenge to established theory highlights the need for further studies of very-high energy GRB afterglow emission.
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured the first-ever direct image of a giant exoplanet, PDS 70b, which is feeding off material surrounding its young star. The observations provide a unique look at radiation from extremely hot gas falling onto the planet, allowing scientists to estimate how fast it's gaining mass.
An international team of researchers searched for pieces of the small asteroid 2018 LA, tracked in space and observed to impact Botswana on June 2, 2018. The recovered meteorites showed it likely came from Vesta, a second-largest asteroid in our Solar System.
The University of Texas at Austin, in partnership with the Arecibo Observatory and other organizations, has successfully moved telescope data to a secure storage system. This move will ensure the continued discovery and innovation sparked by Arecibo's legacy, making its vast astronomy data accessible for over 50 years.
Researchers observed that X-ray emissions coincide with giant radio pulses from the Crab Pulsar, providing constraints on mechanisms underlying these phenomena. The study found that total emitted energy during GRPs is tens to hundreds of times higher than previously known.
Researchers discovered a 800-meter diameter comet nucleus with large grains of phyllosilicate, similar to talcum powder, and evidence of organic molecules. The team used the Subaru Telescope to observe thermal infrared radiation, indicating the surface temperature had reached over 330 degrees Celsius in the past.
Astronomers discovered over 800 dense gas and dust cores near the Galactic Center, which may be 'stellar eggs' hatching into baby stars despite harsh conditions. The findings suggest that star formation is more resilient than thought, with ALMA observations detecting small outflows indicative of star birth.
Scientists have imaged a rare bolide, an extremely bright meteoroid explosion, in Jupiter's upper atmosphere using the Ultraviolet Spectrograph on board the Juno spacecraft. The event was observed for just 17 milliseconds and had distinct spectral characteristics different from the planet's auroras.
The latest observations from Insight-HXMT have discovered the origin of fast radio bursts (FRBs), revealing they come from soft-gamma repeater (SGR) J1935+2154, a magnetar in our Milky Way. This discovery resolves the longstanding puzzle concerning the origin of FRBs.
Researchers have developed a method to reconstruct the early Universe's state, removing gravitational effects from large-scale structure. The ATERUI II supercomputer was used to create simulated universes, revealing that the method can correct primordial density fluctuations and improve inflation constraints.
A team led by Masato Shirasaki applied a reconstruction method to turn back the cosmic clock and remove gravitational effects from simulated universes. They found that their method can correct for gravitational effects and improve constraints on primordial density fluctuations.
An international team of astronomers has developed a new system to directly image exoplanets in the habitable zone of nearby stars, potentially harboring life. Using mid-infrared imaging and adaptive optics, they captured images of planets about three times the size of Earth within habitable zones around Alpha Centauri A and B.
Researchers observed complex magnetic field behavior in a 'radio-loud' magnetar, deviating from previous theories. The findings suggest that the radio pulses originate from loops of magnetic field lines connecting two closely spaced poles.
Researchers at Goethe University and the University of Oklahoma have successfully filmed a quantum wave in a helium dimer. The study uses an extremely powerful laser flash to twist the bond between two helium atoms, allowing them to observe and record the atom flying away as a wave.
The five-layer sunshield of the James Webb Space Telescope has completed a final series of large-scale deployment and tensioning tests, putting the observatory one step closer to its launch. The sunshield protects the telescope from heat and light, maintaining an extremely cold temperature for groundbreaking science in infrared light.
Researchers used combined signals from binary neutron star mergers to study ultra-dense matter and constrain the Hubble constant. The analysis, led by Tim Dietrich, provided new insights into neutron star equation of state and expansion rate of the Universe.
Astronomers observing a dark vortex on Neptune noticed it change direction by August 2020, doubling back to the north. A smaller dark spot, possibly a fragment of the giant vortex, was also spotted near its larger cousin in January this year.
Astronomers use a novel spectrograph to measure the redshift of GN-z11, a ancient galaxy located 13.4 billion light years away, marking it as the farthest detectable galaxy in the universe. The team's precise measurement improves the accuracy of the galaxy's distance by a factor of 100.
Researchers have successfully combined radar and optical observations to study interplanetary dust, gaining insights into meteor mass and composition. By correlating subtle signals in radar data with detailed optical information, scientists can now explore comets and aspects of solar system evolution.
The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) detected a weak correlation between fast radio bursts and soft gamma-ray repeater J1935+2154, suggesting a magnetar origin for FRBs. The study provides crucial clues to the generation of FRBs.
A team of researchers used the FAST telescope to detect over 15 fast radio bursts, revealing a galaxy 3 billion light years away as the source. The bursts' polarization signals showed diverse swings, indicating production in compact star magnetospheres and disfavoring shock models.
The study provides new insights into the asteroid's composition, suggesting it may be a dense, metallic object made of iron and nickel. The findings also indicate that oxidation is occurring on the surface, which could be a result of solar wind interaction.
Tropical Storm Nangka generated up to 30 mm of rain per hour around its center, while fragmented bands experienced rates between 5-15 mm/hour. The storm is forecast to strengthen in the Gulf of Tonkin before weakening as it moves towards Vietnam.
A team of astronomers studied sunspots to characterize star conditions, which is crucial for finding exoplanets. The research aimed to create a single emission profile similar to other stars, allowing astronomers to identify dimming caused by exoplanet shadows.