Stellar Dynamics
Articles tagged with Stellar Dynamics
We are not alone: Our Sun escaped together with stellar “twins” from galaxy center
Researchers found our Sun joined a mass migration of similar stars 4-6 billion years ago, shedding light on galaxy evolution and the corotation barrier. The discovery reveals the time range over which the bar structure at the galactic center was formed.
Caught in the act: Astronomers watch a vanishing star turn into a black hole
Researchers discovered a star in the Andromeda Galaxy that vanished without going supernova, instead collapsing directly into a black hole. The team's analysis revealed the process of stellar collapse and provided evidence for convection's role in shaping a black hole's outer layers.
Kissing the sun: Unraveling mysteries of the solar wind
A University of Arizona-led research team has measured the dynamics and ever-changing hot gas shell from where the solar wind originates. The study helps scientists answer fundamental questions about energy and matter moving through the heliosphere, affecting space weather events and planetary orbits.
The path to solar weather forecasts
Scientists used multiple space-based instruments to track the evolution of a solar eruption, observing how it reduced background cosmic-ray activity. This approach has potential for improving space-weather forecasting and protecting satellites, astronauts, and power grids.
Philanthropic partnerships fund next-generation instruments for mid-sized telescopes
Two new research projects will bring advanced tools to Lick and McDonald Observatories, studying planet and star formation. The programs aim to extend the scientific reach of mid-sized telescopes, delivering new insights and demonstrating technologies for larger observatories.
New research on flares from a hot-tempered star could inform the search for habitable planets
A new study on TRAPPIST-1's flares could help scientists unravel how the star shapes its nearby planets, potentially in drastic ways. The researchers used observations from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope and computer simulations to understand the physics behind TRAPPIST-1's temper tantrums.
Close brush with two hot stars millions of years ago left a mark just beyond our solar system
Scientists studied the effects of two hot stars, Epsilon and Beta Canis Majoris, on the local interstellar clouds around our solar system. The team found that these stars' ultraviolet radiation ionized about 20% of the hydrogen atoms and 40% of the helium atoms in the clouds.
A sparkling ‘Diamond Ring’ in space: Astronomers in Cologne unravel the mystery of a cosmic ring
The team discovered a flat, spherical gas and dust structure resembling a diamond ring, formed by a massive star's radiation and winds. The 'Diamond Ring' is around 20 light years in diameter and shines strongly in infrared light.
The Pleiades is part of an enormous stellar complex birthed by the same star-forming event
New research reveals Pleiades star cluster as core of larger structure spanning 1,950 light-years, with similar ages and chemical compositions among its members. The study uses rotation-based approach to identify stars sharing origin story.
Webb Telescope unveils doomed star hidden in dust
A Northwestern University-led team of astronomers used NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to capture the most detailed glimpse yet of a doomed star before it exploded. The study reveals that massive red supergiants rarely explode due to thick clouds of dust, but JWST's new capabilities can pierce through the dust to spot these phenomena.
Astronomers map stellar ‘polka dots’ using NASA’s Tess, Kepler
Astronomers have devised a method to map the spottiness of distant stars using observations from NASA missions, improving understanding of planetary atmospheres and potential habitability. The new model, called StarryStarryProcess, can help discover more about exoplanet properties.
One survey by NASA’s Roman could unveil 100,000 cosmic explosions
Roman will scan a large region of the cosmos every five days for two years, detecting around 27,000 type Ia supernovae and 60,000 core-collapse supernovae. These observations will help scientists understand dark energy, the universe's expansion, and fill gaps in our understanding of cosmic history.
Artificial solar eclipses in space could shed light on Sun
A UK-led mission plans to recreate artificial solar eclipses in space to study the Sun's atmosphere and shed light on space weather. The MESOM mission would use a mini-satellite and the Moon's shadow to capture unprecedented views of the Sun's corona.
Einstein Probe releases its Science White Paper
The Einstein Probe mission aims to probe X-ray transient sources and explosive astrophysical phenomena, contributing significantly to astronomical research. The mission's sophisticated observational instruments will enhance the detection of sudden X-ray transients and monitor variability in known celestial sources.
Young star clusters give birth to rogue planetary-mass objects
Advanced simulations reveal that PMOs form directly from disk interactions, inheriting material and moving synchronously with host stars. This discovery reshapes our understanding of cosmic diversity, suggesting a new class of objects born from gravitational chaos.
Astronomers take the first close-up picture of a star outside our galaxy
Scientists have imaged a star outside our galaxy for the first time, using ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer. The star, WOH G64, is a red supergiant in its last stages before becoming a supernova, and the image shows a unique egg-shaped cocoon of gas and dust surrounding it.
Astronomers track bubbles on star’s surface in most detailed video yet
Convection motions have been tracked in detail on a red giant star for the first time, providing new insights into stellar behavior. The observations reveal giant, hot bubbles of gas appearing on the surface and sinking back into the star's interior faster than expected.
Gravitational waves unveil previously unseen properties of neutron stars
Researchers unveil previously unseen properties of neutron stars through gravitational wave analysis, providing insight into internal composition and dynamic material properties. The study places observational constraints on viscosity within neutron stars.
Most massive stellar black hole in our galaxy found
Astronomers have identified a massive stellar black hole with a mass of 33 solar masses, making it the most massive found in the Milky Way. The black hole is located at 2000 light-years away and was discovered using data from the European Space Agency's Gaia mission.
Stellar collisions produce strange, zombie-like survivors
Astrophysicists simulated 1,000 stars orbiting the galaxy's central supermassive black hole and found that collision survivors can lose mass to become stripped down low-mass stars or merge with other stars. The likelihood of collision increases for stars closer to the supermassive black hole.
Metal scar found on cannibal star
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.
Grasping the three-dimensional morphology of kilonovae
Researchers have created a three-dimensional computer simulation of the light emitted following a neutron star merger, producing results similar to an observed kilonova. The simulation takes into account various processes and material interactions, enabling predictions for any viewing direction.
Dead stars cast long shadows: WVU astronomer hunts for the glowing ghosts of supernovas
A WVU astronomer is searching the Milky Way for debris left behind by supernovas, with $331,170 in NSF funding. He hopes to discover new supernova remnants using radio wavelength data from telescopes and machine-learning software.
James Webb Telescope catches glimpse of possible first-ever ‘dark stars’
Astrophysicists analyze James Webb Space Telescope images to find three bright objects that might be 'dark stars,' powering themselves with annihilating particles of dark matter. The discovery could reveal the nature of dark matter and solve the puzzle of galaxy formation.
How 1,000 undergraduates helped solve an enduring mystery about the sun
A team of 995 undergraduate and graduate students analyzed 600 real solar flares, casting doubt on the theory that nanoflares heat up the sun's corona. The students' work provided a unique opportunity for early-career scientists to learn about collaborative research.
Astrophysics: Scientists observe high-speed star formation
A team of scientists observed the dynamic formation process of interstellar gas clouds, revealing speeds of up to 20 km/s that compress gas into denser regions where massive stars form. The findings challenge previous assumptions of slow and quasi-static star formation processes in this region.
Astronomers observe light bending around an isolated white dwarf
A team of astronomers has directly measured the mass of a dead star using gravitational microlensing, a phenomenon predicted by Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. The measurement, made for an isolated white dwarf called LAWD 37, provides new insights into star evolution and testing current theories of how white dwarfs evolve.
How did the Butterfly Nebula get its wings? It’s complicated
The Butterfly Nebula's unique shape is caused by a second star orbiting the central star, creating wing-like lobes. New research reveals powerful winds are altering the material within these lobes, contradicting existing models of planetary nebulae formation and evolution.
Old and new stars paint very different pictures of the Triangulum Galaxy
Researchers used the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury Triangulum Extended Region — or PHATTER — survey to study the Triangulum galaxy. The team discovered two drastically different structures depending on the age of the stars, with younger and older stars having distinct distributions.
Astronomers capture red supergiant’s death throes
Astronomers have imaged a red supergiant star's rapid self-destruction and final death throes before collapsing into a type II supernova. The discovery challenges previous ideas of how red supergiants evolve right before exploding.
A young, sun-like star may hold warnings for life on Earth
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.
SwRI scientists curate special exoplanet issue of Elements Magazine
The special issue covers observations of exoplanet geology, composition, atmosphere, and potential habitability. SwRI researchers Dr. Natalie Hinkel and Dr. Cayman Unterborn collaborated with Dr. Oliver Shorttle to create a diverse overview of exoplanets, making it accessible to a wide community of scientists.
Cosmic rays may be key to understanding galactic dynamics
Recent studies suggest that cosmic rays, originating from supernova remnants and pulsars, have a significant impact on galactic dynamics and star formation. The streaming instability triggered by cosmic rays in the interstellar medium can create plasma waves that heat and scatter gas, influencing the formation of planets and stars.
Superflares may be less harmful to exoplanets than previously thought, study shows
A new study published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society found that superflares on red dwarf stars occur at high latitudes, near the star's poles, which means they are not directed towards orbiting exoplanets. This reduces the danger to planetary atmospheres and habitability.
$1M Schmidt Futures grant awarded to accelerate computer modeling of the cosmos at IAS
The Institute for Advanced Study has been awarded a $1 million grant from Schmidt Futures to leverage advances in high-performance computing and deepen our understanding of cosmic phenomena, including neutron star mergers, star formation, and galaxy dynamics. The project aims to develop new numerical methods and tools to address challe...