News (Page 800)

Professor leads science study for new space-based observatory concept After two years of intensive work, led by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Space Science Division, the design for a conceptual space-based observatory is headed to the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics, which establishes the astronomy community’s priorities for the next decade. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →

AX J1949.8+2534 is a supergiant fast X-ray transient, observations confirm Based on the results from a set of telescopes, astronomers detected X-ray variability of the source AX J1949.8+2534 and confirmed that the object is a supergiant fast X-ray transient (SFXT). The finding is reported in a paper published April 22 on the arXiv pre-print repository. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →

How we found a white dwarf – a stellar corpse – by accident One of the great things about science is that, when you start to observe a new object in space, you can never be sure quite what you’ll find. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →

Chemical evidence shows how a dwarf galaxy contributes to growth of the Milky Way Small stellar systems like dwarf galaxies are thought to be the main building blocks of the Milky Way. However, it is unclear how many and what kind of stars in our galaxy originated from satellite dwarf galaxies. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →

Astronomers discover 2,000-year-old remnant of a nova For the first time, a European research team involving the University of Göttingen has discovered the remains of a nova in a galactic globular cluster. The remnant is located near the centre of the globular cluster Messier 22 and has recently been observed using modern instruments. The results will be published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →

Dark matter exists: Observations disprove alternate explanations As fascinating as it is mysterious, dark matter is one of the greatest enigmas of astrophysics and cosmology. It is thought to account for 90 percent of the matter in the universe, but its existence has been demonstrated only indirectly, and has recently been called into question. New research conducted by SISSA removes the recent doubts on the presence of dark matter within galaxies, disproving the empirical relations in support of alternative theories. The study, published in the Astrophysical Journal, also offers new insights into understanding the nature of dark matter and its relationship with ordinary matter. phys.orgRead More →

Researchers find ice feature on Saturn’s giant moon Rain, seas and a surface of eroding organic material can be found both on Earth and on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. However, on Titan it is methane, not water, that fills the lakes with slushy raindrops. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →

Ashes of a dying star’s hold clues about solar system’s birth A grain of dust forged in the death throes of a long-gone star was discovered by a team of researchers led by the University of Arizona. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →

Spinning black hole sprays light-speed plasma clouds into space Astronomers have discovered rapidly swinging jets coming from a black hole almost 8000 light-years from Earth. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →

Swan EGGs in the sky: Astronomers conduct radio observations of free-floating evaporating gas globules in Cygnus OB2 Using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), astronomers have carried out radio observations of the so-called free-floating evaporating gas globules or (frEGGs) in the Cygnus OB2 region. Results of this observational campaign, presented in a paper published April 17 on arXiv.org, provide more details about the properties of these peculiar objects. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →

Soon-to-be world’s most sensitive gamma ray observatory launches its first set of detectors China’s Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) launched its first set of detectors on April 26, 2019. It marked the beginning of comprehensive research effort in observing and detecting very high energy cosmic rays with the anticipated world most sensitive gamma ray detection facility. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →

Astrophysicists simulate the sounds of stars to reveal their secrets Sound may not be able to travel through the vacuum of space. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →

Image: Hubble snaps a crowded cluster This sparkling burst of stars is Messier 75. It is a globular cluster: a spherical collection of stars bound together by gravity. Clusters like this orbit around galaxies and typically reside in their outer and less-crowded areas, gathering to form dense communities in the galactic suburbs. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →

Researchers detect evidence of six new binary black hole mergers within LVC data Scholars at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) recently submitted a paper announcing the discovery of six new binary black hole mergers that exceed the detection thresholds defined by the LIGO-Virgo Collaboration (LVC), the group responsible for the first direct observation of gravitational waves on February 11, 2016. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →

New ultra metal-poor star discovered An international team of astronomers has detected a new ultra metal-poor star with the lowest ever measured abundance of iron. Designated SMSS J160540.18−144323.1, the newly found object is the most iron-deficient star for which iron has been detected. The finding is presented in a paper published April 16 on the arXiv pre-print repository. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →