Using the advanced capabilities of the Magellan Telescopes in Chile, astronomers have conducted detailed photometric observations of the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 4696. These observations have uncovered a complex globular cluster system within the galaxy, as detailed in a paper published on June 12 on the pre-print server arXiv. NGC 4696, positioned approximately 145 million … Read more
Utilizing the Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array (ALMA), a collaborative team of astronomers has conducted a detailed examination of NGC 613, a nearby barred spiral galaxy. The findings, published on May 30 on the arXiv preprint server, provide significant insights into the giant molecular clouds (GMCs) populating the galaxy’s center. Molecular clouds are expansive regions of … Read more
Recent discoveries by the James Webb Space Telescope have unveiled surprising details about WASP-107 b, an exoplanet that has intrigued astronomers with its puffy, cotton candy-like appearance. The findings reveal an unexpectedly low amount of methane and a massive core, providing new insights into the planet’s structure and composition. WASP-107 b orbits a star roughly … Read more
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), a cutting-edge instrument in space exploration, has recently shed light on the mysteries of young stellar objects (YSOs) within the NGC 346 open cluster. Published on April 24 and available on the arXiv preprint server, the study conducted by an international team of astronomers presents invaluable insights into the … Read more
A group of researchers at the University of Waterloo and the University of British Columbia have uncovered a potential “cosmic glitch” in the fabric of the universe’s gravitational framework, shedding light on the peculiar behavior of gravity on a cosmic scale. Their findings, published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, challenge the long-standing … Read more
Astronomers from Armenia have delved into the mysteries of star formation by examining three distinct star-forming regions using data from space telescopes and astronomical surveys. Their study, recently published in the Astrophysics and Space Science journal on April 5, sheds light on the young stellar objects (YSOs) and the intricate dynamics within these cosmic nurseries. … Read more
In the constellation Virgo, 700 light years away from Earth, the planet WASP-39b orbits the star WASP-39. The gas giant, which takes little more than four days to complete one orbit, is one of the best-studied exoplanets. Shortly after its commissioning in July 2022, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope turned its high-precision gaze on the … Read more
A new telescope called the “Condor Array Telescope” may open up a new world of the very-low-brightness universe for astrophysicists. Four new papers, published back to back in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS) this month, present the first scientific findings based on observations acquired by Condor. The project is a collaborative … Read more
If you explore the night sky it won’t be long before you realize there is a lot of dust and gas up there. The interstellar dust between the stars accounts for 1% of the mass of the interstellar medium but reflects 30% of the starlight in infrared wavelengths. The dust plays a key role in … Read more
Utilizing the powerful capabilities of NASA’s Chandra X-ray spacecraft, astronomers have conducted a thorough investigation of a potential super-star cluster, designated HSO BMHERICC J72.971176-69.391112, affectionately known as H72.97−69.39. Their recent observations have unveiled a remarkable discovery: the presence of diffuse hot gas enveloping this intriguing cluster, as detailed in a paper published on the pre-print … Read more
A groundbreaking collaboration among astronomers leveraging the capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has recently illuminated new facets of SN 1987A, a nearby supernova nestled within the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). This celestial event, whose brilliance captured the gaze of astronomers since its discovery in February 1987, continues to unveil mysteries about the … Read more
European astronomers recently conducted extensive Very Long Baseline Interferometric (VLBI) observations on the radio jet structure of PKS 2215+020, a powerful quasar. The acquired VLBI data yielded crucial insights into the characteristics of this jet, indicating that PKS 2215+020 exhibits traits typical of a blazar. These findings, unveiled on February 17 in the Universe journal, … Read more
Using the powerful Magellan Telescopes in Chile, a team of Italian astronomers has turned their gaze toward the enigmatic giant galaxy cluster known as Abell 2744, affectionately dubbed the Pandora’s Cluster. Their findings, detailed in a paper published on February 13 via the preprint server arXiv, offer fresh insights into the intricate properties of this … Read more