Articles tagged with Observational Astrophysics
Researchers have detected spiraling plasma around a magnetic field in the active nucleus of galaxy Cygnus A, providing insights into the cosmic monster's influence on its surroundings. The observations also confirm that the plasma is highly confined by the effect of the magnetic field.
Researchers used the Gran Telescopio CANARIAS to observe a superluminous supernova almost from its occurrence, revealing surprising behavior including an initial increase in brightness followed by a decline and later stronger increase. The study sheds new light on these rare events, which are up to 100 times more energetic than Type 1a's.
Astronomers confirm 104 exoplanets outside our solar system using NASA's Kepler spacecraft on its K2 mission. The discoveries include a planetary system with four promising rocky planets orbiting the M dwarf star K2-72.
Astronomers discovered a rare cosmic tadpole galaxy, LEDA 36252, with its bright head and elongated tail. The galaxy features surprisingly young stars with a total mass equivalent to 10,000 Suns, indicating a recent burst of star formation triggered by the accretion of primordial gas.
Computer simulations of evolving binary stars predict the formation of massive black hole binaries that can be detected by LIGO. The simulations show a high likelihood of these events occurring due to the production of low-metallicity stars in the early universe.
Scientists observed gravitational waves for the second time, produced during the merger of two black holes. The detection was made possible by the enhanced capabilities of Advanced LIGO and Virgo detectors.
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory has detected a second pair of colliding black holes, validating the landmark discovery from earlier this year. RIT scientists played a crucial role in identifying and analyzing the gravitational wave signal, revealing diverse sizes and spins among black holes in the universe.
The KELT Follow-Up Network, the largest coordinated network of its kind, contributed key observations to confirm the existence of Kepler-1647 b. The planet, a gas giant, orbits two stars and takes nearly 3 years to complete its orbit, making it the longest-period transiting exoplanet found so far.
Astronomers have discovered a new 'Canarias Einstein ring', a rare and unusual phenomenon that provides insight into the composition of distant galaxies. The discovery was made using data from the Gran Telescopio CANARIAS (GTC) and offers valuable information about the structure of gravitational fields and dark matter in galaxy lenses.
Italian researchers used Hubble data and computer models to identify two objects as potential seeds for supermassive black holes. These early black hole seed candidates are seen less than a billion years after the Big Bang and have an initial mass of about 100,000 times the Sun.
Researchers at the IAC discovered a powerful wind of neutral material in the outer layers of V404 Cygni's accretion disc. This wind regulates accretion, causing shorter outbursts, and has been detected for the first time in a black hole system.
A team of astrophysicists has detected an intense wind in the neighborhood of a black hole, which is formed in the outer layers of the accretion disc. The wind has a high velocity of 3,000 km/s and plays a crucial role in regulating the accretion of material by the black hole.
The Gruber Foundation Cosmology Prize recognizes the first observation of gravitational waves by the LIGO team, confirming a key prediction of Einstein's theory of general relativity. This achievement opens up new means of studying the universe and provides direct evidence for the existence of black holes.
Researchers use ALMA's high-resolution data to map the rotation of cold molecular gas and dust orbiting a giant elliptical galaxy, determining the massive supermassive black hole at its center has a mass 660 million times greater than the Sun. The precise measurement is among the most accurate for a galaxy's central black hole.
Astrophysicists have observed a distant star in Andromeda with a different positioning of sunspots, indicating a magnetic field driven by unique internal dynamics. The star's rapid rotation creates a powerful magnetic field, resulting in asymmetrical distribution of sunspots on its surface.
Astronomers have linked a record-breaking cosmic neutrino, Big Bird, detected in 2012 to a powerful outburst from the black hole at PKS B1424-418. The association is supported by data from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and other space-based observatories.
The PIPER (Primordial Inflation Polarization Explorer) balloon mission aims to detect primordial gravitational waves and prove the universe expanded faster than light after the Big Bang. The discovery could establish a link between gravity and quantum mechanics, resolving long-standing puzzles in physics.
A giant star exploded 30 million years ago in a galaxy near Earth, releasing energy equivalent to 100 million suns. The analysis revealed the star's mass, radius, and chemical composition before its spectacular demise.
Scientists at NJIT's Big Bear Solar Observatory captured unprecedented images of a recent solar flare, including bright flare ribbons and coronal rain. These observations provide new insights into the complex dynamics of the Sun's atmosphere and the massive eruptions on its surface.
Scientists observed a current sheet during a December 2013 solar flare, confirming the role of magnetic reconnection in solar flares. The detailed measurements from three NASA missions provide unprecedented insight into the complex physics behind solar eruptions.
Astronomers discover that the 'afterglow' of a fast radio burst was actually a persistent radio source from a supermassive black hole. The discovery resolves the mystery of the black hole's behavior, which varies randomly due to scintillation and changes in matter consumption.
A Penn State-led research group has been selected by NASA to build a new instrument to detect planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. The NEID instrument will use the tiny gravitational tug of planets on their stars to discover and measure the orbits of rocky planets with liquid water.
The mission aims to observe the emission of soft X-rays from solar particles colliding with Earth's upper atmosphere and neutral gases in interplanetary space. The data will help scientists understand charge exchange processes, atmospheric loss on Mars, and radiation effects on near-Earth space.
Scientists René Heller and Ralph Pudritz suggest focusing on Earth's transit zone, where our planet passes in front of the sun, to maximize the chances of detecting signals from extraterrestrial observers. The proposed method involves studying the dimming of starlight as a planet crosses its host star's face.
Researchers have observed that three years after its explosion, the brightness of a type Ia supernova continues to shine brighter than expected. This finding suggests that the powerful explosions produce an abundance of heavy cobalt, which provides an extra energy boost.
Astronomers have discovered a binary star system with the longest duration stellar eclipse, lasting three and a half years, and the longest period between eclipses in a binary system. The system, TYC 2505-672-1, is approximately 20 astronomical units from Earth and consists of two red giant stars.
A team of astronomers searched for visible light after the first direct detection of gravitational waves by LIGO, but found none. The Dark Energy Camera was rapidly pointed at the location of the event, using large telescopes to scan a vast sky area.
Researchers have discovered young populations of stars within globular clusters that originated from external gas and dust, rather than internal processes. This study suggests that globular clusters can form new stars by 'adopting' stray cosmic gases, turning a complex picture into a more nuanced one.
Researchers discovered young star populations in old globular clusters that formed from gas flowing in from outside the cluster itself. This challenge traditional understanding of star birth and highlights the complex nature of globular clusters.
Scientists propose using 'primordial standard clocks' to label and reconstruct the expansion or contraction history of the primordial universe. This method enables researchers to distinguish between competing scenarios and verify the evolutionary history of our universe.
A new theory suggests a novel way to probe the beginning of space and time, shedding light on initial conditions. The researchers propose using 'primordial standard clocks' to put time labels on seed fluctuations, allowing for the distinction between inflation and contraction scenarios.
A team of astronomers has detected a gas cloud with a wide velocity dispersion, suggesting the presence of an intermediate mass black hole. The cloud's elliptical shape and composition indicate a compact but low-density component and a dense component extending 10 light years.
Astronomers have witnessed a cosmic explosion about 200 times more powerful than a typical supernova, shedding light on the mysterious 'superluminous' explosions. The record-breaking blast, ASASSN-15lh, shone with 570 billion times the brightness of the Sun and is thought to be an outstanding example of a rare stellar scenario.
Researchers are investigating an explosion brighter than the Milky Way, with a tiny magnetar at its center. The object could be a millisecond magnetar spinning 1,000 times per second, shedding light on superluminous supernovae.
A new method of galactoseismology has confirmed the existence of a dark-matter dominated dwarf galaxy and may help locate satellite galaxies. The method uses waves in the galactic disk to map the interior structure and mass of galaxies, offering a fresh perspective on understanding dark matter.
Astronomers have detected a massive galaxy cluster, IDCS J1426.5+3508, 10 billion light years from Earth, formed just 3.8 billion years after the Big Bang. The cluster is about 1,000 times more massive than the Milky Way and is undergoing significant upheaval.
A UTSA-led team detected a powerful galactic blast from a nearby supermassive black hole using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The research found that the black hole's outbursts have impacted the surrounding galaxy, triggering the formation of new stars and affecting the climate.
Researchers developed a new method to test Einstein's General Relativity using brief blasts of rare radio signals from space called Fast Radio Bursts. This method is considered a significant tribute to Einstein on the 100th anniversary of his first formulation of the Equivalence Principle.
Astronomers at the University of New South Wales have discovered three potentially habitable planets around a nearby red dwarf star called Wolf 1061. The middle planet, Wolf 1061c, is located within the Goldilocks zone and may be able to support liquid water and life.
A University of Sydney graduate student has reconstructed images of the star CW Leo, which appears to be a changing 'inkblot pattern' due to dust and gas ejections. The star's appearance evolved over eight years, revealing it is not buried under its own dust as previously thought.
Researchers have imaged a shock and its time evolution during a long-lasting solar flare, demonstrating its role in accelerating particles. The study used the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array to capture over 40,000 individual images per second, revealing the dynamic evolution of the termination shock.
Researchers have discovered a stellar superflare on KIC9655129 with wave patterns similar to those observed in solar flares, suggesting the potential for the Sun to also produce a superflare. This could lead to catastrophic consequences, including power blackouts and disruptions to GPS and radio communication systems.
Researchers discovered the majority of missing ordinary matter in the universe, found in hot gas associated with intergalactic filaments. The study validates models of galaxy formation and could lead to a better understanding of heavy elements formed by stars since the beginning of the universe.
Researchers have found that young stars in Serpens South form through distinct, episodic growth spurts. CARMA-7 experienced 22 episodes of gravitational push-pull during star formation, indicating a chaotic environment common for star birth.
The Soft X-ray focusing Telescope (SXT) onboard Astrosat successfully saw its first light on Oct. 26, 2015, after the camera door was opened at 06:30UT. The telescope's mirrors were aligned perfectly to image a single point, and data quality is excellent.
A team of astronomers has used data from the VVV survey to discover a previously unknown component of our home galaxy, the Milky Way. The new component is a thin disc of young stars across the galactic bulge, which was buried behind thick clouds of dust.
Astronomers at the University of Leeds used ALMA telescope to observe a massive star forming in a similar way to low-mass stars. The discovery suggests that massive stars may form in a disk-like structure, just like low-mass stars, and mirrors their formation process.
The discovery of over 250 dwarf galaxies at z=6-8 provides strong evidence that faint dwarf galaxies were responsible for cosmic reionization. The team's analysis determined that the smallest and most abundant galaxies in the study were vital to the process.
A team of scientists analyzed observations of sunspots as they formed using data from Hinode, SDO, and IRIS satellites. They modeled the observations using state-of-the-art numerical simulations performed on the Pleiades supercomputer at NASA Ames Research Center. The study reveals that the territorial struggles between magnetic bundle...
The Global Relay of Observatories Watching Transients Happen (GROWTH) project aims to improve understanding of cosmic transients by extending night-time observing hours. The network, supported by NSF's PIRE program, enables researchers to monitor rare events like neutron star mergers and heavy element synthesis.
Researchers use the Very Large Telescope Interferometer to study a young star with a large proto-planetary disk. They find a significant gap in the inner regions, suggesting a gravitational influence from forming planets.
Researchers found a distant galaxy cluster producing over 800 solar masses of new stars annually, significantly higher than our Milky Way. The discovery reveals a rare 'wet merger' event where a gas-rich spiral galaxy collides with the massive cluster's central galaxy.
Astronomers discovered 'irregular heartbeats' in a dying star, caused by massive outbursts that break its regular pulse and heat up its surface. The phenomenon may reveal new physics behind stellar pulsations and could be triggered by resonance.
Researchers confirm coronal heating mechanism using observations from NASA's IRIS and Japan's Hinode solar observatory. Resonant absorption process converts magnetic waves into heat energy, explaining why the sun's corona is hotter than its surface.
A research team combined high-resolution observations from Hinode and IRIS with numerical simulations to detect resonant absorption in a solar prominence. This process heats the prominence through turbulent flow, providing a solution to the long-standing coronal heating problem.
The causes of stellar explosions known as Type Ia supernovae have been debated for decades. Recent studies suggest that either one or two white dwarfs can trigger these events, shedding light on the evolution of galaxies and dark energy. Understanding this phenomenon will inform our study of the universe's expansion.
A new stellar model developed by researchers at SISSA reveals that cosmological 'lost' lithium in metal-poor stars was not destroyed, but rather accreted from the surrounding environment. The model, which agrees with observations, provides a plausible explanation for the low abundance of lithium-7 in ancient stars.
Astronomers confirm exoplanet orbiting far from its central star using gravitational microlensing, opening new discovery space for long-period orbits. The Uranus-sized planet is about 370 million miles from its parent star, with a host star about 70% as massive as our Sun.
Researchers at the University of York have revealed a new understanding of nucleosynthesis in stars, providing insight into massive star evolution and the origins of the Solar System. By studying radioactive aluminium production, scientists can now better understand gamma radiation maps of the galaxy and simulate star behavior.
A recent study suggests that dense star clusters in the universe could be 'factories' of binary black holes. Researchers predict that advanced observatories will detect over 100 merging black holes per year from these clusters.