Articles tagged with Observational Astrophysics
Astronomers have discovered unexpected changes in the Crab Nebula's X-ray emission, revealing it is not as stable as previously thought. The findings indicate the nebula has brightened and faded by up to 3.5% a year since 1999.
Scientists observed temperatures of millions of degrees in gas jets, known as spicules, which could contribute to coronal heating. The discovery offers a new framework for understanding the sun's high atmosphere and its role in space weather.
Scientists have discovered that narrow jets of plasma, known as spicules, shoot up from the Sun's surface and insert heated plasma into its outer atmosphere. This finding addresses a fundamental question in astrophysics and provides an observational challenge to existing theories of coronal heating.
Astrophysicists can now obtain accurate answers to the mystery of accelerating universe expansion thanks to a calibrated Pan-STARRS telescope. The telescope's performance was fine-tuned at many individual wavelengths, allowing for consistent information about supernovae.
Researchers discover that jets of plasma shooting up from just above the Sun's surface are a major source of hot gas replenishing the corona. This finding addresses a fundamental question in astrophysics and provides new insight into the Sun's subtle influence on the Earth's upper atmosphere.
The IceCube observatory, located in the crystal clear ice of the South Pole, has been completed as a world-first large-scale neutrino telescope. The telescope will investigate the sources and properties of neutrinos, which originate in spectacular phenomena in the universe.
Astronomers used Hubble Space Telescope to observe eight massive stars in Small Magellanic Cloud, finding five without large neighbors and three in tiny clusters. The study suggests that giant stars can form randomly across the universe, including in isolation.
The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is a cubic kilometer instrumented ice detector that records rare collisions of neutrinos with the atomic nuclei of water molecules in the Antarctic ice. The observatory provides an innovative means to investigate fundamental particles originating from cosmic phenomena.
Astronomers have discovered a new alien world, Qatar-1b, a hot Jupiter located 550 light-years from Earth. The planet orbits extremely close to its star, resulting in scorching temperatures and a unique rotational period.
Astronomers have made new discoveries about exploding stars, including pauses, flickers, and flares that were not previously observed. Using sensitive data from a satellite, they studied four novae and found three stalls before reaching peak brightness, with all experiencing flickering or flaring during the outburst.
A new study predicts where neutron star mergers are likely to occur in the local galactic neighborhood, providing valuable information for researchers at gravitational-wave detectors. The predictions suggest that astronomers might not want to look in the nearest galaxies for optical counterparts of gravitational waves.
Astronomers at Yale University have discovered that small red dwarfs are much more prolific than previously believed, increasing the total number of stars in the universe. The discovery found 20 times more red dwarfs in elliptical galaxies than in the Milky Way, with potential implications for galaxy formation and evolution.
Researchers found five to ten times more massive galaxies existed 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang, with high infrared luminosities indicating intense growth and activity, challenging current understanding of galaxy formation.
Astronomers Andrey Kravtsov and Nick Gnedin's simulations reveal why galaxies were less efficient at making stars in the early universe. The team's model explains the connection between dust, gas, and star formation, shedding light on the evolution of spiral galaxies.
The National Science Foundation has signed a five-year, $34.5-million agreement with the University of Wisconsin-Madison to operate the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica. The observatory records rare collisions of neutrinos with ice, providing insights into these elusive sub-atomic particles.
A team of Rutgers and Chilean astrophysicists has discovered 10 new massive galaxy clusters, shedding light on the universe's birth and evolution. The breakthrough technique uses 'cosmic shadows' to reveal these previously unseen clusters.
Using new optics technology developed at the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory, astronomers have obtained images of a planet on a closer orbit around its parent star than any other extrasolar planet previously found. The discovery enables scientists to search for planets closer to the star than has been previously possible.
Researchers at Princeton University have developed 3D computer simulations of supernovae explosions, providing new insights into the universe. The simulations match massive blow-outs observed by astronomers and may lead to a better understanding of the physics involved.
Astronomers have found evidence for stellar cannibalism in the star BP Piscium, which appears to be an old red giant. The discovery suggests that stars like our Sun may engulf companion stars or planets as they age.
Two amateur astronomers independently observed an asteroid impact on Jupiter, opening a potential giant research lab in space for planetary scientists. The initial observations could help understand the behavior of meteoroids and their effects on Jupiter's atmosphere.
Physicist Adilson E. Motter and colleague Katrin Gelfert show that chaos is absolute in the universe's early expansion, disagreeing with previous studies' relative views. The study implies that the early universe experienced erratic changes between red- and blue-shift directions, confirming chaotic behavior.
Roger Angel will receive the Kavli Prize for his pioneering work on telescope design, which has allowed astronomers to observe distant and ancient objects. His innovative approach has resulted in lightweight and rigid mirrors that can be used in larger telescopes, enabling more compact and cost-effective designs.
Astronomers measure velocity and composition of 'star guts' from nearby supernova Supernova 1987A using Hubble Space Telescope observations. The study reveals the deposition of energy and heavy elements into the host galaxy, including elements necessary for life on Earth.
Scientists have discovered a magnetic cycle in a distant star using stellar seismology, finding a pattern similar to the Sun's solar cycle. The study aims to better understand how magnetic activity cycles differ from star to star and its impact on potential planets.
The discovery of two planets, Kepler 9b and 9c, confirms the first planetary system with more than one planet transiting the same star. The planets, both Saturn-sized gas giants, exhibit orbital resonance and gravitational interaction.
Scientists have observed a magnetic cycle in a distant star, HD49933, that is similar to the sun's solar cycle. The team used stellar seismology to detect acoustic fluctuations and found a signature of starspots, areas of intense magnetic activity on the surface.
Astronomers studying a galactic black hole have found similarities between its eruption and the Eyjafjallajokull volcano on Earth. The cosmic eruption prevents hundreds of millions of new stars from forming by lifting cooler gas upwards.
Astronomers detected X-ray eclipses from a fast pulsar, shedding light on compressed matter and testing relativity. The system's unique properties revealed the size and mass of the companion star with unprecedented accuracy.
Physicists have discovered evidence of natural nuclear accelerators at work in the Milky Way galaxy, based on an analysis of data from the world's largest cosmic ray detector. The researchers found that stellar explosions in our own galaxy can accelerate both protons and nuclei, explaining the origin of ultra-high-energy nuclei.
Researchers credited with discovery, PSR J2007+2722, a neutron star rotating 41 times per second, has no orbiting companion and is likely recycled or young, sparking interest in basic physics of neutron stars. This is the first genuine astronomical discovery by a public volunteer distributed computing project.
A team of volunteer researchers have discovered a new radio pulsar, PSR J2007+2722, in data from the Arecibo Observatory. The pulsar is believed to be a disrupted recycled pulsar, spinning at an unprecedented 41 times per second, offering insights into neutron star formation and evolution.
Astronomers have discovered a quasar that acts as a gravitational lens, allowing them to weigh and measure a distant galaxy containing a black hole. This groundbreaking observation was made possible by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey database and will provide new insights into the distribution of matter in the universe.
Astronomers have discovered the first case of a distant galaxy being magnified by a quasar, allowing them to measure the masses of these host galaxies. This breakthrough provides new insights into galaxy formation and evolution, enabling scientists to better understand the relationship between quasars and their host galaxies.
Researchers used a technique called spectro-astrometry to observe protoplanetary disks in great detail, distinguishing between gas and dust distributions. They discovered that hydrogen gas is incorporated into the star through accretion, which can occur violently or smoothly, depending on the star's magnetic field.
Astronomers have identified a possible new class of supernovae that produces high levels of calcium, which could explain the element's abundance in galaxies and life on Earth. The 'calcium-rich' supernovae were discovered by detecting unusual elements in their spectra.
Researchers identify third type of supernova with unique chemical composition, suggesting a pair of white dwarves are involved. This discovery may explain the prevalence of certain elements in the universe and account for observed concentrations of particles called positrons.
Astronomers discovered a runaway star in the Large Magellanic Cloud's 30 Doradus Nebula, with a speed of over 400,000 km/h. The star is estimated to be around 10 times hotter than the Sun and has been ejected from its home cluster through dynamical interaction.
Theoretical physicist Nikodem Poplawski proposes that our universe could be born from the interior of an Einstein-Rosen bridge (wormhole) within a black hole, potentially resolving issues with the Big Bang theory and black hole information loss. This model may also explain cosmic inflation.
Astronomers have observed fast-growing primitive black holes at the center of distant galaxies, weighing between 100 million and 10 billion solar masses. The researchers found that these black holes are active and growing, and their growth is linked to the formation of stars in the galaxy.
A galaxy study confirms the validity of general relativity on a cosmic scale, with the existence of dark matter as the most likely explanation for observed phenomena. The study rules out alternative theories of gravity, including tensor-vector-scalar gravity and f(R), which fail to predict the observed galaxy clustering and distortion.
The HM Cancri binary system consists of two white dwarfs with an orbital period of 5.4 minutes, making it the smallest and closest to Earth. Mass is flowing from one star to another, and this system has the potential to emit gravitational waves.
Researchers have found conclusive evidence of a binary quasar formed by the merger of two galaxies. The discovery uses images from the Carnegie Institution's Magellan telescope in Chile to show tidal tails produced by gravitational attraction, confirming the merger origin for the binary quasar system.
Researchers observed the sun's outer atmosphere during eclipses, capturing the first images of the solar corona in a near-infrared emission line of highly ionized iron. The observations revealed localized regions of enhanced density and extended beyond three solar radii above the sun's surface.
The Herschel Space Observatory has revealed thousands of newly discovered galaxies in their early stages of formation, providing a detailed view of the universe up to 12 billion years ago. The images are helping astronomers detect distant galaxies that would have been impossible to discover with current ground-based telescopes.
Astronomers have discovered that blue stragglers, which appear youthful despite being older than expected, steal mass from companion stars through stellar smashups. In a star cluster, binary systems brush up against each other, sometimes leading to collision-course orbits and the formation of more massive stars.
Lowell Observatory Director Eileen Friel has been selected as an AAAS Fellow for her contributions to the astronomical community. She is recognized for her diligence in mentoring young scientists through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.
An international team of astronomers has discovered six low-mass planets, including two super-Earths, around two nearby Sun-like stars. The discovery indicates that low-mass planets are common and potentially habitable worlds may be found within a few years.
Astronomers study the galaxy's most active black-hole binary, revealing a dramatic change in the accretion disk's behavior. The Suzaku observations show that at low brightness, the inner edge of the disk retreats up to 600 miles from the black hole.
A faint star Alcor has been found to have a smaller red dwarf companion, orbiting it every 90 years. The discovery was made using the 'common parallactic motion' technique developed by Project 1640, which measures the movement of nearby stars relative to more distant ones.
Scientists have measured magnetic fields in the afterglow of a gamma-ray burst for the first time using a specialized camera on a telescope. This breakthrough observation opens up the study of magnetic fields in these cosmic events, potentially changing our understanding of their role in powering and collimating gamma-ray bursts.
Ray Jayawardhana, a University of Toronto astronomer, has been awarded the 2009 Steacie Prize for his exceptional contributions to astrophysics research. His discoveries have made headlines on several occasions, including capturing the first direct image of a giant planet revolving around a young sun-like star.
Researchers discover supernova that fits predictions for a star hundreds of times the sun's mass, revealing new insights into star formation and heavy metal creation. The study also suggests hyper-giant stars may exist beyond 150 suns, challenging our understanding of celestial physics.
Astronomers have found a middleweight black hole in galaxy NGC 5408, with masses between 1,000 and 9,000 solar masses. The discovery was made using the Swift satellite and XMM-Newton observatory, which detected quasi-periodic oscillations from the black hole.
A new class of supernova was discovered, predicted by UC Santa Barbara scientists Lars Bildsten and colleagues. The event is fainter than typical supernovae and rises and falls in brightness over a few weeks.
The University of Utah has celebrated the 'first light' of its new research telescope at 9,600 feet elevation on Frisco Peak. The 32-inch reflecting telescope took initial pictures on Oct. 15 and will be used for scientific observations starting next spring.
New research suggests that dirty stars with a high abundance of elements like iron and oxygen are more likely to host planets. The study's findings support the idea that the composition of a star reflects its disk, leading to an increased number of exoplanets around such stars.
Scientists from the University of Gothenburg found that a mysterious flux of electrons and positrons originates from supernova remnants, not dark matter. The study shows that a star 15 times more massive than the sun exploded in the Milky Way, creating a shock-wave that accelerated particles.
Researchers have successfully cooled LIGO mirrors to near absolute zero, enabling the observation of quantum mechanical behavior at massive scales. This breakthrough suggests that interferometric gravitational wave detectors can also become sensitive probes of macroscopic quantum mechanics.
The SPIRE instrument package has successfully made its first observations, targeting two galaxies near the Milky Way. The telescope's high-resolution images will aid in studying the birth and development of galaxies, shedding light on star formation processes.
Researchers will explore dark matter particles and neutrinos at the SNOLAB facility, seeking answers about the universe's building blocks and evolution. The studies aim to make new discoveries, including a rare nuclear decay related to unique neutrino properties.