Articles tagged with Observational Astrophysics
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 team of researchers discovered a massive black hole with nearly 7 billion solar masses in an otherwise normal, distant galaxy called CID-947. The finding contradicts previous theories on the co-evolution of galaxies and their central black holes.
Astronomers detected high-energy x-rays from five previously clouded supermassive black holes, supporting the theory of millions more existing but hidden from view. The research uses NuSTAR to study nine candidate black holes, confirming five were obscured by dust and gas.
A collaborative project between Caltech and the Weizmann Institute of Science observed a unique radiation spike in ultraviolet range, supporting a giant companion model for white dwarf explosions. The findings highlight the importance of ultraviolet-range observations in understanding type Ia supernovae.
Researchers found strong outflows in ultra-luminous X-ray sources (ULXs), suggesting smaller black holes than expected. The team's observations shed light on ULXs and their impact on our understanding of supermassive black hole formation.
Scientists used Sandia's Z machine to verify the metallic phase of hydrogen, solving a long-standing discrepancy in Saturn's age. The experiment found that dense hydrogen can become atomic, releasing energy that could explain Saturn's temperature.
A team of astronomers using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope discovered the brightest galaxy yet found in the early universe. The galaxy, CR7, contains massive blue stars - the first generation of stars that forged the heavy elements necessary for life.
The Rosetta spacecraft's ultraviolet instrument has made a surprising discovery about Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, revealing that electrons near the comet's surface break up water and carbon dioxide molecules, not solar photons. This finding fundamentally transforms our knowledge of comets.
Recent NuSTAR observations of supernova SN 1987A confirm the predicted lopsided nature of stellar giant deaths, with most material moving away from the observer. This finding supports supercomputer simulations that assume asymmetrical core collapse and could help solve the mystery of dual black hole and neutron star formation.
Researchers at Yale University and the University of California-Santa Cruz have detected an exceptionally luminous galaxy more than 13 billion years in the past, EGS-zs8-1. The galaxy is one of the brightest and most massive objects in the early universe, with a mass equivalent to over 15% of our Milky Way.
Scientists at NJIT's Big Bear Solar Observatory have captured groundbreaking images of the Sun's interior structure, revealing complex dynamics of sunspots' dark cores. The high-resolution images show finely structured plasma flows and oscillating cool jets piercing the hot atmosphere.
A 3D map of galaxy superclusters has been created, providing insights into dark matter and its distribution in the universe. The map, published online in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, spans nearly two billion light years.
Astronomers have combined telescopes across the Earth to create the Event Horizon Telescope, which will take detailed images of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. The South Pole Telescope has joined the EHT, bringing a two-to-three times increase in resolution to study black holes and test Einstein's the...
The LEECH exoplanets survey has obtained new images of HR 8799, a 30-million-year-old star with four known giant planets. The team found that the system likely consists of multiple double resonances, indicating gravitational interactions between the planets.
Astronomers have determined the pre-explosion mass of a white dwarf star that blew up thousands of years ago using archival data from the Japan-led Suzaku X-ray satellite. The study suggests that only a single white dwarf was involved in the explosion, contradicting a well-established alternative scenario.
Research from the University of Waterloo and Perimeter Institute demonstrates that quantum mechanics can distinguish between cause-effect relations and common causes, unlike classical physics. This breakthrough enables a new approach to causal inference, potentially solving long-standing problems in science.
Researchers from UGR have set limits to the properties of axions, which aspire to be identified as dark matter. The study uses numerical simulations of stellar evolution and suggests that axion emission can significantly affect the timing of helium burning in stars.
A team of researchers has discovered a very distant galaxy that contains a large amount of dust, changing astronomers' previous calculations of how quickly the dust was formed. The discovery suggests that galaxies were enriched with dust particles containing elements such as carbon and oxygen, which could form planets.
Researchers successfully demonstrate a new technique combining a solar telescope with a laser frequency comb to analyze distant stars with unprecedented accuracy, potentially leading to the discovery of Earth-like planets. The technique enhances spectral analysis and advances research in astrophysics.
An international team of astrophysicists has witnessed the formation of a quadruple star system, consisting of a young star and three gas clouds that will develop into stars in 40,000 years. The system is unstable and prone to interference due to its multiple members.
The $344 million Daniel K Inouye Solar Telescope will utilize cameras designed by a UK university consortium led by Queen's University Belfast to observe the Sun's surface in unprecedented detail. The telescope aims to address fundamental questions in contemporary solar physics.
A team of astronomers successfully restored the Half-wave Spectropolarimeter (HPOL) instrument, allowing it to conduct measurements with improved performance. The upgraded HPOL is now fully operational at the University of Toledo's Ritter Observatory and enables researchers to study variable or transient objects more effectively.
A team of researchers from Case Western Reserve University has discovered new features of the 'Whirlpool Galaxy', M51a, using a 20-hour exposure photograph. The image reveals faint plumes extending from the galaxy's northeast and south, providing valuable insights into its history and interaction with neighboring galaxies.
A recent study confirms that galactic contaminants are too intense to distinguish cosmological gravitational waves, casting doubt on the detection. The Planck-BICEP2 collaboration used multiple instruments to rule out contamination, but acknowledge the need for sharper eyes to detect the signal.
Astronomers successfully observed a 'fast radio burst', a brief flash of radio waves, in real-time using the Parkes telescope. The event was detected up to 5.5 billion light years away and suggested the presence of a magnetic field nearby.
An international team of astronomers has observed a fast radio burst happening live for the first time, providing new insights into this mysterious phenomenon. The burst is believed to have originated up to 5.5 billion light years away, making it an extremely bright and potentially useful tool for understanding our universe.
The University of Warwick's Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) aims to detect small planets from Neptune size down to twice the size of Earth. Researchers hope to study the atmospheres and composition of these super-Earths, which are thought to be common around other stars.
Astronomers have developed a comprehensive picture of Eta Carinae, including Hubble Space Telescope images showing ionized gas racing away from the star at high speeds. New 3-D models reveal features of the stars' interactions, including spine-like protrusions in the gas flow along the edges of a spiral cavity.
Researchers found that stars in large middle-aged clusters are of similar age, suggesting a complex formation process. The discovery challenges current understanding of stellar evolution and may require re-evaluation of models.
Astronomers have successfully detected a super-Earth's transit using a ground-based telescope, marking the first time this has been done. The transit occurred in front of a bright Sun-like star and demonstrates that small planets can be characterized with existing facilities.
A team of astronomers successfully measured the passing of a super-Earth in front of a nearby Sun-like star using a ground-based telescope. The detection bodes well for characterizing dozens of super-Earths revealed by upcoming surveys.
A team led by Andrea Ghez determined that G2 is most likely a pair of binary stars that had been orbiting the black hole in tandem and merged together into an extremely large star. The research suggests that many of the stars at the center of the galaxy are massive and mostly binaries.
Astronomers have discovered a pulsar that emits an incredible amount of energy, shining brighter than previously thought possible. This find challenges the previous assumption that ultra-luminous X-ray sources are likely black holes.
Researchers at the University of Bonn and Cardiff develop a new observational strategy for imaging extremely distant galaxies, using ALMA radio telescope data. This method improves upon previous efforts by accurately estimating molecular hydrogen presence in these galaxies, providing insights into galaxy formation and star creation.