Astronomers want your help hunting for asteroids
Anyone can become an asteroid hunter thanks to a new program launched by astronomers at the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. As part of the Catalina Sky Survey, the scientists created an online portal that opens their mission—t.....»»
Contact binary asteroids are common, but we"ve never seen one form. Now, researchers want to make one
Ever want to play a game of cosmic billiards? That's commonly how the DART mission was described when it successfully changed the orbit of a near-Earth asteroid last year. If you want an idea of how it works, just Google it and an Easter egg from the.....»»
Chandra catches spider pulsars destroying nearby stars
A group of dead stars known as "spider pulsars" are obliterating companion stars within their reach. Data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory of the globular cluster Omega Centauri is helping astronomers understand how these spider pulsars prey on.....»»
Astronomers inspect supernova remnants with MeerKAT
Using the MeerKAT radio telescope, astronomers from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in Charlottesville, Virginia, and elsewhere have investigated a batch of 36 high latitude supernova remnants. Results of the observations campaign, pu.....»»
Astronomers spot giant stream of stars between galaxies
To their surprise, an international team of researchers has discovered a giant and extremely faint stream of stars between galaxies. While streams are already known in our own galaxy and in nearby galaxies, this is the first time that a stream runnin.....»»
New astrophysics model sheds light on additional source of long gamma-ray bursts
Cutting-edge computer simulations combined with theoretical calculations are helping astronomers better understand the origin of some of the universe's most energetic and mysterious light shows—gamma-ray bursts, or GRBs. The new unified model confi.....»»
Research investigates a high-frequency bump in the X-ray binary GX 339-4
An international team of astronomers has inspected a low-mass X-ray binary system known as GX 339-4. Results of the study, reported in a paper published Nov. 21 on the pre-print server arXiv, shed more light on the high-frequency bump observed in the.....»»
Astronomers detect first extragalactic circumstellar disk around a massive young star outside of the Milky Way
An international team of astronomers led by Durham University and including astronomers at the UK Astronomy Technology Center has reported the first detection of a rotating disk structure around a forming high-mass star outside of our Milky Way in an.....»»
Distant stars spotted for the first time in the vast Magellanic Stream
For nearly fifty years, astronomers have come up empty-handed in their search for stars within the sprawling structure known as the Magellanic Stream. A colossal ribbon of gas, the Magellanic Stream spans nearly 300 moon diameters across the Southern.....»»
For its next trick, Gaia could help detect background gravitational waves in the universe
Ripples in a pond can be captivating on a nice sunny day as can ripples in the very fabric of space, although the latter are a little harder to observe. Using the highly tuned Gaia probe, a team of astronomers proposes in a paper posted to arXiv prep.....»»
Astronomers find "tilted" planets even in pristine solar systems
Scientists have long puzzled over why all of the planets in Earth's solar system have slightly slanted orbits around the sun. But a new, Yale-led study suggests this phenomenon may not be so unusual after all. Even in "pristine" solar systems, planet.....»»
Astronomers discover the Milky Way"s faintest satellite
By analyzing the images from the Ultraviolet Near Infrared Optical Northern Survey (UNIONS), an international team of astronomers has discovered a new compact satellite of the Milky Way, which received designation Ursa Major III/UNIONS 1. The newfoun.....»»
How astronomers used James Webb to detect methane in the atmosphere of an exoplanet
Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope recently announced they had made a rare detection of methane in an exoplanet atmosphere......»»
KiDS in the sky: New stellar system discovered by the Kilo-Degree Survey
Astronomers have discovered a new stellar system in the outskirts of the Milky Way as part of the Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS). The newfound system, named Sextans II, is most likely an ultra-faint dwarf galaxy. The finding is reported in a paper publish.....»»
Meet “Amaterasu”: Astronomers detect highest energy cosmic ray since 1991
The Telescope Array in Utah's West Desert picked up a rare particle with 244 EeV energy. Artist’s illustration of extensive air showers induced by ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. Credit: Toshihiro Fujii/L-INSIGHT/Kyoto.....»»
Astronomers discover two "hot Jupiters" orbiting red-giant stars
Using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), an international team of astronomers has discovered two new "hot Jupiter" exoplanets. The newfound alien worlds, designated TOI-4377 b and TOI-4551 b, both orbit distant red-giant stars. The.....»»
Recently discovered nova investigated by astronomers
Astronomers from the Liverpool John Moores University have performed photometric and spectroscopic observations of a recently discovered nova, known as AT 2023prq. Results of the observational campaign, published in the November issue of the Research.....»»
"Triple star" discovery could revolutionize understanding of stellar evolution
A ground-breaking new discovery by University of Leeds scientists could transform the way astronomers understand some of the biggest and most common stars in the universe. The paper, "Gaia uncovers difference in B and Be star binarity at small scales.....»»
Webb reveals new features in heart of Milky Way
The latest image from the James Webb Space Telescope shows a portion of the dense center of our galaxy in unprecedented detail, including never-before-seen features astronomers have yet to explain. The star-forming region, named Sagittarius C (Sgr C).....»»
Q&A: How chronic wasting disease threatens deer populations
With the firearm deer hunting season kicking off, many Michigan hunters have their minds set to bring home a winning whitetail. But for Sonja Christensen, an assistant professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife in Michigan State University.....»»
Peculiar nova eruption inspected by astronomers
An international team of astronomers has employed NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) to observe the eruption of Nova Vulpeculae 2021. Results of the observational campaign, published November 8 on the pre-print server arXiv, provide.....»»