Articles tagged with Observational Astrophysics
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 obtained critical data on a special type of exploding star, known as calcium-rich supernovae, which produce vast quantities of calcium. These events account for up to half of the calcium found in the universe and provide insights into how elements are expelled during a supernova explosion.
Researchers at Aalto University found that the quiet Sun is more active than previously thought, with radio brightenings and solar storms detected during the solar minimum period. These findings suggest that solar activity cycles may not always follow traditional 11-year patterns.
The Roman mission's ground system has successfully completed its preliminary design review, meeting all requirements for science operations. The new data system will enable scientists to conduct sweeping cosmic surveys, yielding a wealth of new information about the universe, including insights into dark matter and dark energy.
The Gemini Observatory has detected a distant short gamma-ray burst (SGRB) with an optical afterglow, providing new insights into the merger of two neutron stars. The observation, made just hours after the burst's detection, revealed the SGRB's distance and placed it in the epoch of cosmic high noon.
A new study reveals that low-mass stars become white dwarfs, producing carbon essential for life, challenging previous theories. The findings place a minimum mass threshold of 1.5 solar masses for star-induced carbon enrichment.
The Hubble Space Telescope captured an image of a young star surrounded by a disk that casts a huge, 200-light-year-long shadow. The shadow's movement was initially thought to be caused by planet warping the disk, but further observation revealed it was actually flapping like wings.
Astronomers have spotted evidence of a light-producing scenario during a black hole merger, with the flare likely resulting from the reaction of gas to the merging black holes. The event, observed by ZTF and other telescopes, provides insights into the behavior of supermassive black holes.
Astronomers have discovered the second-most distant quasar, Pōniuā`ena, powered by a supermassive black hole 1.5 billion times more massive than our Sun. The discovery challenges current theories of how these massive black holes formed and grew in the young universe.
Astronomers detect exoplanet AU Mic b, about the size of Neptune, using NASA's TESS and Spitzer space telescopes. The discovery provides a unique laboratory to study planetary formation and atmospheric interactions with a young star.
Scientists have discovered a planet about as large as Neptune that orbits the young star AU Mic in just over a week, providing valuable insights into planetary formation and evolution. The planet, named AU Mic b, was detected using data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and retired Spitzer Space Telescope.
The XENON1T experiment has observed a surprising excess of 53 events over expected backgrounds, sparking theories on potential sources such as tritium, axions, or altered neutrino properties. The solar axion hypothesis holds the most significance at 3.5 sigma, while other explanations remain consistent with data.
Researchers discovered that quasar gamma-ray emission extends over thousands of light-years along plasma jets, contradicting previous assumptions. This finding reveals that particle acceleration occurs not only near the black hole but also along the entire jet length.
A team of astronomers has detected a periodic pattern of fast radio bursts from an unknown source outside our galaxy, 500 million light years away. The pattern repeats every 16 days and is the most definitive one seen from a FRB source, offering a clue to the physics behind these intense flashes of radio waves.
Researchers have created a new 'sun clock' using 200 years of sunspot observations to map solar activity over 18 solar cycles. The analysis reveals sharp transitions between quiet and active periods in solar activity, allowing scientists to estimate the risk of future solar superstorms.
Scientists created a scaled-down shock wave in the lab, mimicking supernova remnants. The study found that turbulent electromagnetic fields within the shock boost electron speeds, allowing particles to escape and gain even more speed.
New research suggests black holes could be like holograms, with information concentrated in a two-dimensional surface. This idea aligns with Einstein's theory of relativity and has significant implications for understanding these cosmic bodies.
A new computer simulation theory suggests that supermassive black holes form from gas clouds enriched with heavy elements, explaining the large number observed in galaxies today. The simulations showed that a massive star can form 10,000 times more massive than the Sun, which will continue to grow and evolve into a giant black hole.
Researchers observed an accreting neutron star entering an outburst phase, studying its structure and material movement. The observation revealed a 12-day process, contradicting previous theories of two- to three-day timescales.
A study led by Arizona State University researchers found that classical novae are galactic producers of lithium. The team used simulations, observations, and laboratory studies to determine the role of these stellar explosions.
Researchers from the University of Helsinki have found strong evidence for the presence of exotic quark matter inside the cores of the largest neutron stars in existence. The new results were published in Nature Physics and combined recent findings from theoretical particle and nuclear physics with astrophysical measurements.
Astronomers found that stars in the cluster's periphery have planet-forming dust clouds, while those near the center lack them. The observations suggest that location plays a crucial role in planet formation, and massive stars may alter disk properties, making it harder for planets to form.
Astronomers have identified a new class of cosmic explosions, dubbed fast blue optical transients (FBOTs), which produce the fastest and heaviest outflows ever recorded. The newly discovered object, CSS161010, has surpassed the famous AT2018COW in speed and mass ejected during its event.
The Gemini North telescope has collected some of the highest resolution images of Jupiter ever obtained from the ground, complementing Hubble observations to reveal details about Jovian weather. The images show that lightning strikes and giant storm systems are formed in large convective cells over deep clouds of water ice and liquid.
Researchers at Special Astrophysical Observatory and Kazan Federal University studied the globular cluster NGC 6652 and found its age to be approximately 13.6 billion years. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that younger galaxies are more metal-rich, revealing a complex history for this ancient object.
A new framework, called a 'detectability index,' has been developed to help scientists narrow down the field of exoplanets that require additional study. The index takes into account factors such as oxygen levels and water content on planets, providing a tool for prioritizing targets for observation.
A study published in the Astrophysical Journal reveals that massive galaxies attain their size by merging with smaller ones. Researchers used a combination of observation and modelling to analyze how gases within galaxies move, finding evidence that many stars have been acquired from outside.
The BRITE Constellation has recorded a complete nova eruption, offering a unique perspective on the phenomenon. The data provides valuable insights into shock-powered optical emission in novae, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of star explosions.
Researchers have found a connection between the size and structure of galaxies and dark matter halos, using observations of faint galaxies around the Milky Way. They also discovered more evidence for the existence of Large Magellanic Cloud satellite galaxies, predicting an additional 150 or more very faint satellites awaiting discovery.
Researchers used XMM-Newton space telescope data to search for a 3.5 keV X-ray emission line, a predicted signature of dark matter decay. No evidence was found, ruling out the signal strength by over an order of magnitude and challenging previous interpretations.
Researchers predict a nested series of rings within black hole images, with each successive ring becoming increasingly sharper due to its higher number of orbits around the black hole. This discovery enables new possibilities for observing black holes using only two telescopes far apart.
Researchers detected chemical variations between day and night on the planet, revealing the presence of iron vapour condensing into drops on the dark side. This discovery provides insights into the extreme climate conditions on ultra-hot giant exoplanets.
Astronomers detected velocities of both brown dwarfs in a system orbiting each other, confirming the hypothesis that 2M1510 is composed of two brown dwarfs. The discovery provides rare data on the mass, radius, and age of brown dwarfs, allowing for verification of theoretical models.
Researchers at IAS and University of Michigan propose QCD axion as solution to cosmological excess of matter over antimatter. The QCD axion could explain three missing pieces of physics puzzle, including the strong CP problem and dark matter.
Researchers discovered a rare eclipsing binary brown dwarf system using the SPECULOOS project, confirming theoretical models of brown dwarfs' cooling processes and providing valuable insights. The system consists of two brown dwarfs orbiting each other, offering opportunities to study their atmospheres and climates.
Researchers at the University of Washington and Lowell Observatory found that Betelgeuse's surface temperature remains relatively stable despite recent dimming. The team calculated the average surface temperature of the star using a filter to 'dampen' its light, revealing a surface temperature of around 3,325 degrees Celsius.
A sub-Neptune sized planet, G 9-40b, has been validated as an exoplanet using the HPF at the Hobby-Eberly Telescope. The discovery confirms the planet's mass and orbits its low-mass host star 100 light years from Earth.
An international team of astronomers has discovered an unusual monster galaxy called XMM-2599, which formed most of its stars in a huge frenzy when the universe was less than 1 billion years old. The galaxy stopped forming stars and became inactive by the time the universe was only 1.8 billion years old.
Researchers observed solar energetic particle events and found that pre-accelerated particles build up in front of coronal mass ejections, creating a new phase of the energization process critical for radiation hazards. The study highlights the complex interplay between flares, particle populations and CMEs.
Superluminous supernova SN 2006gy was found to be a Type Ia explosion that interacted with a dense shell of circumstellar material, producing an unusual spectrum with unidentified emission lines. The iron lines were identified as evidence of the interaction, which is consistent with observations and simulations.
Astronomers have detected significant amounts of oxygen in the ancient star J0815+4729, which is one of the oldest and most elementally depleted stars known. This finding provides valuable insights into how oxygen and other essential elements were produced in the early universe.
A team of researchers discovered a massive galaxy dying 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang, with its core already fully formed at that time. This finding challenges previous measurements and adds to our understanding of the universe's formation.
A 'cold Neptune' and two temperate super-Earths, GJ180d and GJ229Ac, have been discovered orbiting nearby red dwarf stars, offering a chance to study potentially habitable worlds. The planets were found using the radial velocity method and offer insights into exoplanet formation and evolution.