Articles tagged with Observational Astrophysics
Researchers studied 304 developing stars and found that gas-clearing by a star's outflow may not be as important in determining its final mass. The team's results indicate cavities in the surrounding gas cloud do not grow regularly, suggesting another process gets rid of excess gas.
Astronomers have studied the rare RV Tauri variable U Monocerotis, a binary system with two stars orbiting within a sprawling disk of dust. The 130-year dataset reveals predictable brightness changes and X-ray emissions.
Researchers using the New Vacuum Solar Telescope observed a significant acceleration of magnetic reconnection due to propagating disturbances caused by filament eruptions. The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal, found that these disturbances led to shorter and brighter current sheets with increased reconnection rates.
A team of astronomers and astrophysicists detected and localized a fast radio burst using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, providing vital information on its origins. The detection was part of an international effort that improved understanding of fast radio bursts in distant galaxies.
Astronomers have detected streams of cold gas flowing through the dark matter halo of an early massive galaxy, supplying materials for star formation. The discovery provides direct evidence for cosmic filaments ferrying cold gas to galaxies during the early universe.
The CLASP2 space experiment has mapped the Sun's magnetic field in the outer layers of the solar atmosphere. This achievement provides new insights into the origin of violent solar activity and its effects on Earth's magnetosphere.
CRIRES+ is a high-resolution infrared spectrograph designed to study planets outside our solar system. It detects super-Earths, planets in the habitable zone around their star, and analyzes their atmospheres during transits.
Astronomers have discovered three hot worlds larger than Earth in the Pisces-Eridanus stream, a collection of young stars. The planets, TOI 451 b, c, and d, are expected to retain much of their atmospheres despite intense heat from their nearby star.
Researchers have mapped the orbit of a rare Nitrogen-rich Wolf-Rayet star in the WR 133 binary system, marking the first-ever visually observed orbit of this type. The team determined the dynamical mass of both stars, with the WN star having 9.3 times more mass than our Sun.
The SAMI survey has revealed the internal structures of galaxies, showing how they interact and grow over time. The study provides insights into the forces that shape galaxy evolution, including the role of supermassive black holes.
A combination of observational data and computer simulations have yielded advances in understanding intracluster light, a faint type of light found inside galaxy clusters. The results suggest that ICL might provide a new way to measure dark matter.
Researchers link magnetic waves in chromosphere to areas of abundant ionised particles in hot outer atmosphere, explaining the Sun's unique chemical make-up. The discovery provides a foundation for understanding the solar wind and its impact on Earth.
Astronomers at the Center for Astrophysics have detected a cloud-free exoplanet, WASP-62b, which is similar to Jupiter. The discovery was made using spectroscopy and revealed the presence of sodium in the planet's atmosphere. This finding provides valuable insights into the formation and composition of such rare planets.
A team of scientists has discovered the most distant quasar ever observed, J0313-1806, which is also the earliest known quasar in the universe. The quasar is powered by a supermassive black hole weighing over 1.6 billion times the mass of the Sun.
Researchers used Hubble's imagery to wind back the clock on a supernova remnant, pinpointing its age and centre. The study found that light from the blast arrived at Earth 1700 years ago, during the decline of the Roman Empire.
Astronomers have identified the most distant quasar known, powered by a supermassive black hole weighing over 1.6 billion times the mass of the Sun. The discovery provides insight into the formation of massive galaxies in the early universe and challenges theories of black hole growth.
The most distant quasar known has been discovered, powered by the earliest known supermassive black hole weighing over 1.6 billion times the mass of the Sun. This fully formed distant quasar is also the earliest yet discovered, providing insight into massive galaxy formation in the early Universe.
Scientists have discovered a rare cosmic phenomenon - an 'Old Faithful'-like eruption of light flashing about once every 114 days on a nearly predictable schedule. The flare is caused by a black hole ripping at a star, creating a regular series of tidal disruption events.
Astronomers have discovered a distant galaxy that erupts roughly every 114 days, creating a 'cosmic Old Faithful'. Using data from NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, scientists studied repeated outbursts of an event called ASASSN-14ko.
The Roman Space Telescope will enable new science in astrophysics by imaging an area 100 times larger than Hubble with the same crisp sharpness. It could reveal new insights into star formation during the universe's youth and galaxy clustering, as well as study the early universe and cosmic dawn.
Researchers from NANOGrav used Arecibo Observatory and Green Bank Telescope to study pulsar signals, detecting minute changes in Earth's position possibly due to gravitational waves. The findings provide new insights into the universe and expand knowledge of gravity beyond current limits.
Astronomers have estimated the universe's age to be nearly 14 billion years old using data from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope and the European Space Agency's Planck satellite. The findings match the predictions of the standard model of the universe, resolving a discrepancy that had sparked debate in the astrophysics community.
Researchers at Kavli IPMU propose a novel scenario for primordial black hole formation, suggesting they could account for all or part of dark matter. They also suggest that PBHs could be responsible for some gravitational wave signals and seed supermassive black holes found in the center of our Galaxy.
A team of scientists from Rochester Institute of Technology and Instituto Argentino de Radioastronomiá completed a yearlong pulsar timing study using two upgraded radio telescopes in Argentina. The observations provided accurate bounds to gravitational waves, increasing the sensitivity of existing pulsar timing arrays.
A new machine learning algorithm has classified over 2,300 supernovae with an accuracy rate of 82%, using real data from the Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Survey. The classifier was trained on a subset of supernovae with spectra and then applied to the remaining data, achieving high accuracy rates.
A team from University of Bonn observed a 50 million light year long gas filament, confirming the structure predicted by computer simulations. The findings suggest that more than half of matter in the universe is hidden in filaments.
Researchers have detected a possible radio signal from the exoplanet in the Tau Boötes system using the Low Frequency Array. The signal suggests that the planet's magnetic field may be contributing to its habitability by shielding its atmosphere from solar wind and cosmic rays.
The VENUS device simulates complex organic molecules in interstellar space conditions by replicating the strong vacuum and frigid temperatures found in space. This allows researchers to better understand how these molecules form and potentially identify prebiotic species involved in early life processes.
A team of researchers has analyzed data to infer the nature of compact object orbiting within LS 5039, the brightest gamma-ray binary system in the Galaxy. The team suggests that particle acceleration process is caused by interactions between dense stellar winds and ultra-strong magnetic fields of a rotating magnetar.
Researchers found that massive planets can wipe out spiral structures in young protoplanetary discs. This suggests that planets may form rapidly and early in the disc's lifecycle, requiring scientists to reassess formation times.
A team of astronomers using Gemini North's GNIRS instrument discovered that CK Vulpeculae, a bright new star in 1670, is approximately five times farther away and has ejected gas at much higher speeds than previously reported. The new findings suggest the explosion was far more violent, releasing roughly 25 times more energy than a nova.
The Blue Ring Nebula, a cloud of gas in space, is likely composed of debris from two stars that collided and merged into one. A new study using cutting-edge models applied to collected data reveals the nebula's age and nature.
Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill have linked quick flashes of light to growing satellite and space debris, providing a potential explanation for mysterious night sky phenomena. The study's findings may help reduce false alarms in astronomical surveys and improve data accuracy.
A supermagnetized stellar remnant, magnetar SGR 1935+2154 produced a mix of X-ray and radio signals, including the first fast radio burst (FRB) observed from within our Milky Way galaxy. The event suggests that magnetars in other galaxies may produce similar signals.
Astronomers detect tiny free-floating planet with timescale of just 42 minutes, shedding light on turbulent past of young planetary systems. The discovery demonstrates that low-mass free-floating planets can be detected and characterized using ground-based telescopes.
A team of scientists has created the most detailed family portrait of black holes to date, analyzing gravitational-wave data from LIGO and Virgo detectors. The study reveals new clues about black hole formation and tests Einstein's theory of general relativity, passing all tests with flying colors.
Researchers at Northern Arizona University have discovered activity on the Centaur 2014 OG392, a minor planet in the outer solar system. The discovery led to its reclassification as a comet, C/2014 OG392 (PANSTARRS), due to the presence of a coma and sublimation processes indicating the presence of carbon dioxide or ammonia.
Researchers have found a globular star cluster with 800 times less iron than the Sun and is three times more iron-poor than the previous record-holder. The study contradicts the standard picture of how these old star clusters formed in the early universe.
Researchers from UNC-Chapel Hill have measured the temperature of a large sample of super flares, providing insights into life-prohibiting levels of UV radiation. The study's findings will inform the choice of planetary systems to be observed by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.
Astronomers using Gemini South's adaptive optics system have captured detailed images of the Carina Nebula with a resolution comparable to the Webb Space Telescope. The high-def images reveal intricate structures within the nebula, including parallel ridges and fragments being sheared off by strong winds.
The team used adaptive optics on the Gemini South telescope to reveal a wealth of detail in the nebula, including unusual structures and evidence for a jet of material ejected from a newly-formed star. The image provides the sharpest view to date of how massive young stars affect their surroundings.
A University of Colorado Boulder astrophysicist is searching the light coming from a distant magnetar, PSR J1745-2900, for signs of dark matter. The scientist hopes to detect the faint signals of an axion particle transforming into light.
A new study reveals the binary nature of a trans-Neptunian object, with two objects orbiting each other only 350 kilometers apart. The discovery was made possible by the Research and Education Collaborative Occultation Network (RECON), a citizen science project.
Researchers at LSU have developed a method to remove quantum backaction in gravitational wave detectors, improving sensitivity and enabling deeper astrophysical observations. The new technique uses a mirror the size of a human hair and shows promising results, with potential implications for LIGO and future GW detector upgrades.
Astronomers have detected a Jupiter-sized planet, TOI-1899 b, orbiting a low-mass star, providing insights into the formation of giant planets. The discovery was made possible by the Habitable-zone Planet Finder spectrograph and offers a unique opportunity to study the properties of warm Jupiters.
A new study by Yale astrophysicist Priyamvada Natarajan and colleagues found that the smaller dollops of dark matter associated with cluster galaxies are significantly more concentrated than predicted by theorists. The discovery implies a possible gap in scientists' understanding of dark matter.
Astronomers used NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and VLT to map dark matter distribution in galaxy clusters. The data showed unexpected lensing effects 10 times stronger than expected, hinting at a missing ingredient in current theories.
The P-ONE initiative seeks to build a large-scale neutrino observatory in the Pacific Ocean to study high-energy cosmic particles. The project aims to uncover the origins of extragalactic neutrinos and potentially reveal the nature of dark matter.
Researchers at Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias confirm the presence of resonating cavities above sunspots. These cavities, similar to those found in wind instruments or guitar strings, trap certain frequencies and cause resonances.
Researchers found three large, misaligned dust rings around the young triple star system GW Ori, with sufficient dust for planet formation. A computer simulation suggests that a hidden planet may have carved out a dust gap and broken the disk at the location of the current inner and outer rings.
Sara Buson aims to confirm blazars as the most important extragalactic neutrino sources, revolutionizing our understanding of blazar astrophysics. She will analyze a large sample of observations and physical data to establish a new framework for multimessenger studies.
A team of experts identified a stellar system where planet formation might take place in inclined dust and gas rings within a warped circumstellar disc around multiple stars. The discovery reveals that the inner ring contains 30 Earth masses of dust, which could be enough to form planets.
Scientists have observed the heaviest black hole merger yet, with a massive object forming through a previous merger of two smaller black holes. This discovery pushes the boundaries of our understanding of astrophysics and provides new opportunities to test Einstein's theory of general relativity.
The detection of GW190521 reveals the existence of intermediate-mass black holes, weighing in at 100 to 100,000 solar masses. This finding offers insights into the origin of supermassive black holes and raises new questions about their formation.
A team of astrophysicists observes newborn stars' magnetospheric accretion region for the first time, providing insight into star formation mechanisms. The study uses the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) and GRAVITY instrument to measure angular size and prove magnetospheric accretion taking place close to stellar surfaces.
A new study resolves the Galactic bar paradox by proposing that the central region of the Milky Way is connected to the spiral arm in a 'cosmic dance', causing contradictory estimates of motion. The bar's size and rotational speed fluctuate rapidly, making it appear larger and slower at certain times.
Astronomers using NSF's NOIRLab facilities and citizen science project Backyard Worlds have discovered approximately 100 cool brown dwarfs near the Sun, with several of these worlds approaching Earth's temperature. These discoveries provide new insights into the formation and atmospheres of planets beyond our Solar System.
Scientists are using a High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer (HIRES) and iSHELL/IRTF to observe the newly discovered planet AU Mic, aiming to disentangle its radial velocity signal from stellar activity. This will allow for precise calculations of the planet's orbital parameters and mass.
New observations by Hubble reveal a massive dust cloud formed when superhot plasma was unleashed from an upwelling of a large convection cell on the star's surface, blocking light from about a quarter of Betelgeuse's surface.
Researchers discovered that the unexpected dimming of supergiant star Betelgeuse was most likely caused by an immense amount of hot material ejected into space, forming a dust cloud that blocked light from about a quarter of the star's surface. The resulting dust cloud led to the star returning to normal brightness in April 2020.