Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, is a fascinating celestial body that has captured the imagination of astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. Discovered by German-born British astronomer Sir William Herschel on March 13, 1781, Uranus is unique for various reasons, including its axial tilt, rotational characteristics, and its distinctive blue-green hue. One of the … Read more
For those familiar with astronomical imaging, stacking multiple images to enhance signal strength is a common technique. However, in research projects requiring data spanning longer time frames from different locations and conditions, matching observations across survey runs poses a challenge. A team from the John Hopkins Institute introduces a novel approach, “mixed integer quadratically constrained … Read more
The latest Picture of the Month captured by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope unveils intricate details of Herbig Haro object 797 (HH 797). These luminous regions surround newborn stars, known as protostars, forming when stellar winds or jets of gas collide with nearby gas and dust at high speeds, creating shockwaves. Dominating the lower … Read more
Utilizing cutting-edge computer simulations alongside theoretical calculations, astronomers are gaining deeper insights into the origins of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), some of the universe’s most energetic phenomena. The newly proposed unified model affirms that certain prolonged GRBs result from cosmic mergers, giving rise to an infant black hole enveloped by a substantial disk of birth material. … Read more
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and the international Fermi Large Area Telescope Collaboration have unveiled a groundbreaking discovery – almost 300 gamma-ray pulsars showcased in their Third Catalog of Gamma Ray Pulsars. This achievement marks a significant milestone, emerging 15 years after Fermi’s launch in 2008 when the count of known gamma-ray pulsars was … Read more
The mystery of why planets in Earth’s solar system have slightly tilted orbits may not be so perplexing after all, according to a recent Yale-led study. In contrast to the common assumption that planets with tilted orbits result from cosmic disturbances, the research suggests that even in “pristine” solar systems—where planetary orbits have remained relatively … Read more
In a nearby star system, scientists have unearthed an extraordinary phenomenon: a rhythmic orbital dance involving six planets gracefully encircling their central star. This celestial ballet unfolds with such precision that it can be translated into musical harmony, representing a rare instance of gravitational synchronicity. The unique gravitational lockstep observed in this system provides an … Read more
Researchers at the Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India, based at IISER Kolkata, have unearthed a novel connection between the sun’s magnetic field and its sunspot cycle, offering potential insights into predicting the peak of solar activity. Their findings, detailed in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters, suggest that the climax … Read more
In March 2022, a defunct part of a space rocket hurled toward the moon’s surface and impacted near the Hertzsprung Crater, an enormous impact feature on the far side of the moon that is never directly visible from Earth. Curiously, and unlike any other space hardware that ended up on the moon’s surface, this one … Read more
A recent astronomical breakthrough emerged from the Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS), revealing a novel stellar system on the fringes of the Milky Way. Designated Sextans II, this discovery, likely an ultra-faint dwarf galaxy, was unveiled through extensive observations employing the VLT Survey Telescope at ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile. KiDS, initially focused on unraveling large-scale cosmic … Read more