Articles tagged with Observational Astrophysics
A team of scientists from the University of Warsaw detected a population of massive black holes, which could comprise at most a few percent of dark matter. The findings were published in Nature and the Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series.
For the first time, a team of French scientists has observed brown dwarfs orbiting very close to bright stars using precise astronomical imaging. The findings provide new insights into the formation of these unusual celestial objects and massive exoplanets.
A new dataset from the VELOCE project has collected over 18,000 high-precision measurements of Cepheid radial velocities, providing insights into the structure and evolution of these stars. The data reveal complex patterns in pulsations that cannot be explained by traditional models, suggesting intricate processes within the stars.
Researchers discovered nine X-ray flares from Sagittarius A* and analyzed a decade's worth of data to understand the black hole's environment. They also examined the black hole's activity using echoes from a giant molecular cloud, providing insights into its past activity.
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured evidence of a cataclysmic asteroid collision in the Beta Pictoris star system, which is thought to be similar to our own solar system's early stages. The collision is believed to have occurred about 20 years ago and pulverized the asteroids into fine dust particles.
Astronomers have discovered a sulfurous atmosphere on the smallest and coldest exoplanet known, providing clues to its formation process. The planet's unique orbit and composition offer insights into how planets are created.
Astrophysicists record radio emissions from Earth and view it as an exoplanet to understand potential signals from intelligent life. The mission marks a major achievement for NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.
The MIRI Mid-INfrared Disk Survey (MINDS) discovered a large variety of carbon-rich gases in the disk surrounding a very low-mass star. This finding suggests that rocky planets with Earth-like characteristics may form more efficiently than Jupiter-like gas giants in such disks.
Researchers analyzed NASA satellite images of Jupiter's cyclones and found that storms are fueled by processes similar to those on Earth. Fronts in the space between cyclones also contribute to energy transport, sustaining giant storms.
Sean McWilliams' team will study stellar-mass and massive binary inspirals, improving modeling accuracy for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). The project aims to enhance the instrument's science mission by making necessary dramatic improvements in modeling accuracy.
Researchers captured a volcanic event on Io using the Large Binocular Telescope's SHARK-VIS instrument, achieving higher resolution than ever before with Earth-based observations. The images reveal surface details equivalent to taking a picture of a dime-sized object from 100 miles away.
The NASA TESS-Keck Survey catalog features 126 exotic planets with detailed measurements allowing for comparisons with our solar system. Several planets stand out as touchstones for deepening astronomers' understanding of planetary formation and evolution.
A team of UH astronomers has discovered a diverse range of exotic exoplanets using the TESS-Keck Survey, which provides new insights into their properties and environments. The study reveals rare worlds with extreme environments and potentially habitable planets.
Astronomers uncover evidence of a massive star's quiet demise into a black hole without a supernova explosion. The VFTS 243 system shows minimal signs of an explosion, offering insight into stellar evolution and collapse theories.
Scientists have discovered a new planet called WASP-193b that is 50% bigger than Jupiter yet has a density comparable to cotton candy. The planet's low density makes it an outlier among the over 5,400 planets discovered so far.
A research team from the University of Science and Technology of China studied a rare tidal disruption event (TDE) with an unprecedented early optical bump. The 'bump' lasted nearly a month and was separated by two months from the main peak, deviating from traditional TDE light curves.
Astronomers have discovered an enormous circular radio feature around a galaxy, dubbed the Cloverleaf, which was created by clashing groups of galaxies. The XMM-Newton satellite has detected X-ray emission associated with this structure for the first time, revealing clues about its formation and the merger process.
A new study using the James Webb Space Telescope found that the universe's early galaxies developed and matured much faster than previously believed. Almost 20% of disc galaxies observed had bar formations, indicating a more settled stage in galaxy evolution.
Researchers at Kyushu University discovered that baby stars expel plumes of dust, gas, and electromagnetic energy in a phenomenon called 'interchange instability', releasing magnetic flux within the protostellar disk. This finding sheds new light on how baby stars develop and may be crucial for understanding star formation.
Astronomers have detected a 'glory', a luminous phenomenon like a rainbow, in the atmosphere of WASP-76b, an ultra-hot giant exoplanet. The phenomenon occurs when light is reflected by clouds made up of perfectly uniform droplets, which could be iron or water.
A team of researchers, including Tom Maccarone, discovered a new phenomenon in the interaction between relativistic jets and neutron stars. The findings suggest that a thermonuclear burst occurs on the surface of neutron stars, leading to low-energy X-ray production.
Astronomers have discovered a new black hole behavior where a smaller black hole repeatedly punches through the disk of a larger black hole, releasing plumes of gas. The findings challenge conventional views on black hole accretion disks and suggest they may be more varied in their contents.
For the first time, astronomers have measured the speed of fast-moving jets in space, crucial to star formation and the distribution of elements needed for life. The jets of matter, expelled by stars deemed 'cosmic cannibals', were found to travel at over one-third of the speed of light.
A team from the University of Copenhagen contributed to an Antarctic experiment studying neutrinos, which may hold the answer to whether gravity also exists at the quantum level. The study found no conclusive changes in neutrino properties, but the results do not exclude the possibility of quantum gravity.
A team of scientists detected the tiniest 'starquakes' ever recorded in the smallest and coolest dwarf star, Epsilon Indi. The detection was made possible by the ESPRESSO spectrograph at the European Southern Observatory's VLT, allowing for unprecedented precision levels.
The expansion rate of the universe is faster than predicted, according to NASA's Webb and Hubble telescopes. By combining data from both telescopes, scientists have ruled out measurement errors as the cause, suggesting that new physics may be at play.
Astronomers discover tiny, red versions of massive black holes that could change our understanding of their origins. The 'baby quasars' are small-scale black holes with masses between ten and a hundred million solar masses, observed using the James Webb Space Telescope.
A study using machine learning classifies galaxy mergers and finds that mergers are not strongly associated with black-hole growth. Cold gas at the center of the host galaxy is necessary for rapid growth, suggesting a more complex relationship between galaxy evolution and supermassive black holes.
A team of 160 researchers from 60 institutions used supercomputers to simulate galaxy formation, correcting limitations and assumptions. The results show disc galaxies formed early in the Universe's history, solving the 'missing satellites problem'.
Researchers have detected tellurium in a kilonova afterglow, indicating that neutron star mergers can create rare heavy elements. This discovery sheds light on the formation of elements heavier than iron and provides new insights into the universe's chemical composition.
Researchers have discovered a unique signature of planetary material ingestion on the surface of a white dwarf star, WD 0816-310. The team observed a concentration of metals imprinted on the star's surface, indicating that the magnetic field played a key role in this process.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a method to accurately measure and predict neutron-induced transmutation, which can make nuclear waste more stable. This technique could lead to improved nuclear waste treatment facilities and new theories about the creation of heavier elements in the universe.
Astrophysicists from the University of Hong Kong have solved a 20-year-old mystery surrounding the lower-than-expected amounts of sulfur found in planetary nebulae. Using high-quality data, they found that sulfur and oxygen exhibit strong correlations, effectively dispelling previous claims about the anomaly.
Researchers observed molecular gas outflow from quasar J2054-0005 using ALMA, revealing suppression of star formation in its host galaxy. The findings confirm theoretical predictions and provide strong evidence for powerful molecular gas outflows in early Universe quasars.
Researchers have cataloged nearly 1400 slow-rising flares using Chandrayaan-2 data, revealing a significant increase in the number of slow-building flares compared to previous decades. The study suggests that solar flares may exhibit different behaviors, including varying rates of rise and fall.
A team of MIT scientists has detected 18 new tidal disruption events (TDEs) using infrared observations, more than doubling the catalog of known TDEs. The discoveries reveal that these star-shredding black holes occur in a range of galaxies across the entire sky, not just dusty galaxies.
Researchers have discovered a multi-planet system that provides a rare glimpse into the formation of planets around a young star. The system consists of six confirmed planets and potentially a seventh, all forming under similar conditions at an age of just 700 million years.
A team of MIT physicists analyzed Gaia and APOGEE data to find stars farther out in the galactic disk are rotating more slowly than expected. This flat rotation curve indicates a lower mass galactic core, potentially containing less dark matter than previously estimated.
Researchers at UTSA's Department of Physics and Astronomy have used deconvolution algorithms to enhance images of galaxy NGC 5728 obtained by the James Webb Space Telescope. The study reveals a faint extended feature that could be part of an outflow from a supermassive black hole interacting with the host galaxy.
A team of astronomers used JWST data to create detailed photos of nearby star-forming galaxies, revealing the intricate physics of cosmic dust. The study found consistent patterns in the distribution of diffuse gas across galaxies, suggesting universal principles in star and planet formation.
A team of astronomers created the first-ever 3D map of magnetic field structures within a spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy, showing that magnetic fields break away from the general picture and impact star-forming regions. The findings suggest that magnetic fields played a role in creating our own solar system.
Researchers analyze tidal disruption events (TDEs) to estimate the properties of supermassive black holes and stars. The CN22 model, proposed by Syracuse University researchers, provides a new way forward for understanding TDEs and their implications for galaxy evolution.
Astronomers have found an unexpected gamma-ray signal outside of our galaxy, with a magnitude 10 times greater than expected from Earth's motion. The discovery is linked to the highest-energy cosmic rays and may be related to unidentified sources producing both gamma-rays and ultrahigh-energy particles.
Astronomers have discovered a small, cold exoplanet with an orbital period of 146 days, providing insight into planetary formation and evolution. The planet, HD88986b, is about twice the size of Earth and orbits a star similar to the Sun.
Researchers have discovered a novel galactic 'fossil' in the spiral galaxy NGC 4945, which sheds light on the evolution of galaxies. The X-rays outline giant clouds of cold gas that were blasted through the galaxy after its central supermassive black hole erupted 5 million years ago.
Researchers have discovered a Jupiter-sized planet, WASP-69b, with a comet-like tail that trails the planet for at least 350,000 miles. The tail is shaped and pushed in the direction of Earth by radiation and an outflow of gas from its host star, providing a rare opportunity to study planetary mass-loss in real time.
Researchers believe radio wave circles are shells formed by outflowing galactic winds, possibly from massive exploding stars. The team studied massive starburst galaxies that drive ultra-fast winds, which can travel at up to 2,000 kilometers/second.
A new study by Adam Frank and Amedeo Balbi suggests that high levels of atmospheric oxygen are necessary for the emergence of advanced technology on distant planets. They propose the concept of an 'oxygen bottleneck,' which implies that only planets with significant oxygen concentrations can develop technospheres, leaving detectable te...
A team of researchers from Portugal used the ESPRESSO spectrograph to measure wind speeds on Jupiter, confirming the feasibility of Doppler velocimetry for monitoring the planet's atmospheric winds. The study also gathered historical data to compare results and validate the method.
A new theory, self-interacting dark matter (SIDM), proposes that dark matter particles interact through a dark force, explaining high-density halos and low-density halos of ultra-diffuse galaxies. SIDM simulates cosmic structure formation with strong dark matter self-interactions, diversifying halo density in central regions.
A team of astronomers has found that active black holes shine in microwave and X-ray light in the same way, regardless of their appetite, suggesting a new understanding of how these cosmic monsters consume matter. This discovery could provide a new method for estimating black hole masses, essential for understanding galaxy evolution.
Researchers discover substantial presence of frozen carbon monoxide in 'The Brick', a mysterious dark region at the Milky Way's center. The findings indicate a critical need to re-evaluate established theories regarding star formation.
The Telescope Array has detected the second-highest energy cosmic ray ever observed, with an energy equivalent to dropping a brick on your toe from waist height. The Amaterasu particle deepens the mystery of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, which may follow particle physics unknown to science.
Astronomers using the JWST have created the deepest spectrum of a distant galaxy ever seen, revealing the presence of eight distinct elements including nickel. The study helps scientists understand how galaxies mature and evolve over time, with surprising findings on the chemical composition of ancient galaxies.
Researchers analyzed the chemistry of distant teenage galaxies, finding they are unusually hot and contain unexpected elements like nickel. The study provides insight into galaxy formation and evolution, shedding light on why some galaxies appear 'red and dead' while others continue to form stars.
Scientists have observed bright, brief flashes months after a stellar explosion, confirming that the engine of the LFBOT is a black hole or neutron star. This unprecedented behavior shows that the object emitted multiple supernova-strength optical flares on timescales of less than a minute.
A new study using CALET data finds evidence for nearby, young sources of cosmic ray electrons, contributing to a greater understanding of the galaxy. The study suggests that these high-energy electrons originate in supernova remnants, offering insights into the galaxy and its sources.
Researchers confirmed the distance of two galaxies in Pandora's Cluster, which are larger than other galaxies at such extreme distances. The ancient galaxies offer insights into how the earliest galaxies might have formed and provide a window into the past.
A team of researchers at the University of Liège has observed a glow in the night sky over Mars using the UVIS-NOMAD instrument on board the Trace Gas Orbiter satellite. This detection provides new insights into the Martian upper atmosphere and its variations throughout the year.
Researchers found almost 90% of early universe galaxies had glowing gas, triggering intense star formation. The James Webb Space Telescope provided unprecedented clarity to study these infant galaxies, revealing their role in shaping the Universe.