Articles tagged with Stars
Researchers have detected intra-group light, a faint glow between distant galaxies, and studied its properties. The stars in this light are younger and less metal-rich than surrounding galaxies, suggesting they were stripped from their home galaxies by massive satellite galaxies.
A new study has revealed the true shape of the diffuse cloud of stars surrounding the disk of our galaxy, with the stellar halo found to be oblong and tilted. The findings shed light on the history of our galaxy and galactic evolution, while also offering clues in the ongoing hunt for dark matter.
Astronomers have discovered the closest-known black hole to Earth, a dormant stellar-mass black hole located about 1600 light-years away in the constellation Ophiuchus. This discovery was made possible by precise observations of the motion of the black hole's companion star using the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph instrument.
Researchers investigated open star clusters, finding they dissolve faster than predicted by Newton's laws. The team developed a new method to count stars in tidal tails, revealing a significant difference in the number of stars between the front and rear tails.
Researchers developed a new technique using femtosecond laser pulses to fabricate precision ultrathin mirrors for space telescopes. The method can help correct errors in mirror fabrication and enable sharper images of astronomical x-rays.
Researchers at Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Montpellier have developed an early warning system for massive star supernovae. These stars will suddenly dim by a factor of 100 in visible light as they accumulate material around them, forming a 'cocoon' that obscures their light.
Astronomers have observed dust plumes from the binary star system WR140 being accelerated into interstellar space by intense starlight. The team used the James Webb Space Telescope to capture images of the dusty plumes, which form a cone-shaped shock front between the two stars.
The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can survive in the vicinity of supermassive black holes at the centers of active galaxies. This challenges previous studies that predicted their destruction, and reveals new insights into galaxy evolution.
Researchers found that dark matter halos in ultra-diffuse galaxies have lower concentrations than expected, raising questions about their formation and evolution. The study's surprising results indicate these galaxies may be younger and contain more gas than normal galaxies.
Researchers have discovered young stars spiraling into the center of a massive cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. The spiral motion is thought to be feeding star formation in a river-like motion of gas and stars, an efficient way to fuel star birth.
Researchers propose using precision data from upcoming experiments to test the cosmological collider effect and unravel the mystery of matter's origin. They suggest that leptogenesis, a well-known mechanism, could be used to explain the imbalance between matter and antimatter in the early universe.
Researchers detected a bipolar gas stream flowing out of a young stellar object in the Small Magellanic Cloud, revealing a rotational motion suppressed by molecular outflow during gravitational contraction. This finding suggests that star formation has been common throughout the past 10 billion years.
Scientists discovered that the galaxy stopped forming stars because most of its gas fuel was thrown out of the system as it merged with another galaxy. The result is a first for ALMA scientists and challenges long-held theories about galaxy mergers and deaths.
Researchers use Gemini Observatory's Zorro instrument to observe R136a1, finding it may be less massive than previously thought, potentially altering understanding of element formation. This breakthrough pushes the capabilities of ground-based telescopes, rivaling those of Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes.
Researchers used Stampede2 supercomputer to simulate star seeding, heating effects of primordial black holes. The study found that these two effects cancel each other out, with little impact on star formation.
Researchers from the University of Bonn found that dwarf galaxies in one of Earth's nearest galaxy clusters show signs of disturbance without dark matter halos. The study's results contradict previous models, suggesting an alternative gravity theory might be more accurate.
Astronomers have found that short gamma-ray bursts did not originate as castaways, but instead occurred in distant galaxies up to 10 billion light-years away. The discovery suggests that these events may have been more common in the past than expected and could have seeded the Universe with precious metals.
A UMass Amherst undergraduate student's work has provided key insight into how galaxies evolve, linking supermassive black hole growth to star formation. The study uses mid-infrared spectra to quantify the connection between these phenomena, paving the way for the James Webb Space Telescope to investigate galaxy evolution.
A new Caltech project, COMAP, will peer beneath the 'tip of the iceberg' of galaxies to unveil a hidden era of star formation. The project aims to answer questions about what caused the universe's rapid increase in star production.
Astronomers discovered five isolated 'blue blob' systems containing young, blue stars and little atomic hydrogen gas. The presence of mostly young stars and lack of gas suggests recent gas loss, contradicting expectations of older red stars.
Researchers used ALMA to study 30 Doradus, a large star-forming region in the LMC, and discovered that gravity is shaping molecular clouds despite intense stellar feedback. The observations revealed a pattern of highly organized filaments, which are likely an important step in the process of star formation.
Scientists have discovered a new multiplanet system about 33 light-years from Earth, featuring two rocky, Earth-sized planets. The inner planet orbits every 2.8 days and is twice as massive as the Earth, while the outer planet orbits every 5.7 days and is three times as massive.
A team of astronomers found that black holes played a crucial role in preventing rejuvenated star formation in massive quiescent galaxies. By analyzing the combined light from thousands of galaxies, they discovered a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus that may have heated the galaxy's gas, preventing new stars from forming.
An international team analyzed infrared data from five dim galaxies, revealing no significant metal deficiency, contrary to earlier studies. The findings suggest heavy dust obscuration associated with starburst as the cause.
Researchers have found that stars in distant galaxies are typically more massive than those in the Milky Way, changing our understanding of astronomical phenomena like black holes, supernovae, and galaxy death. This discovery may also explain why galaxies die and stop forming new stars.
Researchers have found a significant number of massive black holes in dwarf galaxies, contradicting previous assumptions that they are rare. The newly discovered black holes offer insights into the life story of the Milky Way's supermassive black hole and its potential mergers with other galaxies.
Researchers found that planetary systems around binary stars form differently than those around single stars, potentially creating new targets for extraterrestrial life. The study also suggests that comets could play a key role in delivering organic molecules necessary for life.
A unique new instrument and powerful telescope allow researchers to peer into galactic nurseries at the heart of the young universe. The team used gravitationally lensed galaxies to observe two DLA clouds, determining their size and mass for the first time.
Researchers conducted wave-optics simulations to study the impact of turbulence on light beams, finding that branch point density grows non-linearly with grid resolution. The study's results could lead to more accurate modeling and improved performance in Adaptive Optics systems.
A team of University of Illinois researchers, led by Charles Gammie, has captured the first direct visual evidence of a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The image reveals a dark central region surrounded by a bright ringlike structure, providing valuable clues about the workings of such giants.
A new study suggests that younger rocky exoplanets are more likely to support temperate climates due to the decay of radioactive isotopes. This critical heat source is necessary for a planet's mantle convection and surface volcanic degassing, which helps regulate climate.
A Northwestern University astrophysics team proposes that fast blue optical transients (FBOTs) originate from the cocoons of jets launched by dying stars. The new model, fully consistent with all FBOT observations, suggests that as the jet pushes the cocoon outward, it cools and releases heat, emitting an observed FBOT emission.
A team of astronomers has discovered micronovae, extremely powerful events that occur on the surface of white dwarfs and can burn through billions of kilograms of material in a few hours. These new stellar explosions challenge our understanding of thermonuclear reactions in stars and may be more abundant than previously thought.
Astronomers identify GNz7q, a dusty compact object with properties of both galaxies and quasars, born 750 million years after Big Bang. The discovery provides new insights into the rapid growth of supermassive black holes in early universe.
Researchers create high-power laser and foam ball to simulate supernova remnants and observe compression of molecular cloud material. This experiment demonstrates the potential for laboratory astrophysics to understand star formation mechanisms.
Scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope have discovered a single star, nicknamed Earendel, located an astonishing 28 billion light-years away. The star is estimated to be up to 500 times more massive than our Sun and millions of times brighter.
Astronomers have identified a nearby Sun-like star that has paused its own cycles and entered a similar period of rare starspots, sparking hope for understanding the Sun's 70-year Maunder Minimum. Continued observation could provide crucial insights into the Sun's stellar magnetic activity, potentially affecting climate on Earth.
The new database provides access to almost all observational data on water masers since 1989, enabling quick analysis and prediction of maser locations. With its technological solutions, researchers can now study the early stages of star formation more efficiently.
Three exoplanets mistakenly identified as planets are actually small stars, according to a new MIT study. The discovery was made using updated measurements of planet-hosting stars from the European Space Agency's Gaia mission.
Researchers propose a new mechanism for eccentric black hole mergers, suggesting that interactions between three black holes in a flat disk environment could lead to chaotic orbits. This finding challenges previous studies on the rarity of such events.
Researchers detected dimethyl ether, the largest molecule identified in a planet-forming disc, using ALMA in Chile. The discovery suggests that complex molecules like dimethyl ether are available to feed forming planets, shedding light on the origin of life.
Astronomers have found that the HR 6819 system, once thought to be the closest black hole to Earth, is actually a binary system without a black hole. The discovery was made using new data from ESO's Very Large Telescope and Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer instruments.
Researchers analyzed individual stars to identify components of the Milky Way, finding that it consumed smaller galaxies. The study used advanced spectrographic techniques to measure elemental abundances, providing early insights into the galaxy's formation and evolution.
Astronomers have detected a new planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our Solar System, with a mass comparable to that of Earth. The newly discovered planet, named Proxima d, orbits its star at just five days, within the habitable zone.
Researchers created a new sample catalog of over 24 million stars to decipher the chemical history of the Milky Way Galaxy. The catalog provides detailed information on elemental abundances, distances, motions, and ages of individual stars, allowing for a better understanding of the galaxy's formation and evolution.
A team of astronomers discovered an unusual massive cluster of young galaxies forming in the early universe. The newly found growing galactic metropolis, MAGAZ3NE J0959, consists of at least 38 member galaxies and is about 11.8 billion light-years away from Earth.
A new FQXi report re-assesses the 'fine-tuned universe' hypothesis, proposing that intelligent life could have evolved under drastically different physical conditions. This challenges popular arguments for a multiverse and suggests that the universe may be able to produce life under a wider range of circumstances than previously thought.
Researchers found that massive stars can be far from their birthplace due to mergers of medium-mass stars. The study of HD93521 and IT Librae reveals that these stars can rotate quickly enough to create black holes with large spins.
Researchers discovered that a large cavity in the discs surrounding evolved binary stars could be evidence of planet formation. The presence of heavy elements on the surface of dying stars suggests that dust particles rich in these elements were trapped by planets, supporting this hypothesis.
The study reveals the presence of titanium oxide in the atmosphere of WASP-189b, a hot gas giant planet 322 light years from Earth. The researchers used high-resolution spectroscopy to analyze the exoplanet's atmosphere, finding a layered type of chemistry that suggests three-dimensional effects and winds play a crucial role.
A unique stellar structure in the Milky Way, C-19, has been found to consist of stars with extremely low metallicity, challenging current understanding of star formation models. This discovery provides a direct window into the earliest ages of star formation and the development of stellar structures in the distant past.
Three young stars have been discovered at the center of our galaxy, contradicting initial assumptions about a gas and dust cloud called G2. The unusual temperature of G2 has sparked debate among astronomers, but new observations reveal it is actually composed of three evolving young stars.
Astronomers observed a young, sun-like star ejecting a massive burst of energy and charged particles, potentially bad news for satellites and power grids. The study suggests that similar events could have shaped planets like Earth and Mars over billions of years.
A team of astronomers discovered eight new stars and three more previously known stars belonging to the rare 'Main-sequence Radio Pulse emitters' (MRPs) using the GMRT. These discoveries suggest that MRPs may be more common than thought, but are difficult to detect due to their radio pulses being visible only at certain times.
New astronomical models suggest the Magellanic Stream could be just 20 kiloparsecs from Earth, potentially colliding with the Milky Way and fueling new star formation. The revised distance may also affect estimates of the stream's mass and density, which could require revision.
Astronomers have discovered two previously invisible galaxies 29 billion light-years away that were camouflaged by cosmic dust. The discovery suggests that up to one in five such distant galaxies may still be hiding behind the cosmic veil.
Researchers used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to focus on a post-starburst galaxy nearly 500 million light years away. They discovered two periods of intense starburst before the galaxy stopped forming stars, shedding new light on its history and evolution.
The University of Sydney's project searches for Earth-like planets around Alpha Centauri to determine if life could survive there. The team is using advanced telescope technology to analyze the stars' atmospheres and detect signs of life.
A new study suggests that black holes grow in lockstep with the expanding universe, a phenomenon called cosmological coupling. This idea improves the explanation for large black hole masses observed in gravitational wave observatories.
A new study suggests that a gravitational 'kick' from colliding supermassive black holes could be responsible for the strange shape of stars at the center of the Andromeda Galaxy. The team used computer simulations to track the consequences of such a merger, finding that it could knock millions of stars into wonky orbits.