Tag Archives: Astronomers

The Lambda Cold Dark Matter (LCDM) theory suggests that most galaxies are low-mass dwarf galaxies, many of which orbit larger galaxies like the Milky Way. More broadly, the LCDM represents our best understanding of how the universe works. But there’s a problem. According to the theory, the Milky Way should have significantly more satellite galaxies than scientists have observed with …

Astronomers have spotted a monster-sized planet that could be up to ten times the size of Jupiter emerging from the stellar fog surrounding a young star. Prior observations of the roughly 13 million-year-old star MP Mus (also known as PDS 66) located around 280 light-years away had failed to distinguish features in the swirling cloud of gas and dust, or …

IN A NUTSHELL 🔭 The James Webb Space Telescope has directly imaged its first exoplanet, TWA 7b, revolutionizing exoplanet discovery. 🪐 TWA 7b, a planet with a mass similar to Saturn, is located about 100 light-years from Earth, offering insights into planetary formation. 🌟 Webb’s advanced infrared capabilities and coronagraph technology enable it to overcome challenges in direct imaging of …

IN A NUTSHELL 🌌 The Quipu superstructure, spanning over 1.3 billion light-years, is the largest known entity in the universe. 🔭 Astronomers utilize X-ray galaxy clusters to map and analyze these massive cosmic formations. 📊 The immense size of superstructures like Quipu can distort critical cosmological measurements, affecting our understanding of the universe’s expansion. ⏳ Despite their current significance, these …

A recent breakthrough in astronomy has illuminated the mysterious dynamics of a binary star system, HD 135344 AB, where a giant planet was discovered orbiting the primary star— a star that had previously been overlooked. This discovery, documented in a recent study published in Astronomy and Astrophysics, reveals the fascinating ways in which planets form in binary systems. In the …

Gravitational waves—ripples in space-time caused by violent cosmic events—travel at the speed of light in every direction, eventually fading out like ripples in water. But some events are so destructive and extreme that they create disturbances in spacetime more like powerful waves than small ripples, with enough energy to reach our own detectors here on Earth.  Today, the LIGO Collaboration …

NASA’s Juno spacecraft has unveiled an exciting breakthrough: the discovery of an entirely new type of plasma wave near Jupiter. These waves, unlike any previously observed in space, provide fresh insights into the mysterious behavior of the gas giant’s auroral plasmas. Scientists believe these waves play a critical role in the unique auroras visible at Jupiter’s poles, expanding our understanding …

The astronomical community is abuzz over a newly discovered “interstellar object,” only the third of its kind ever seen, which is currently shooting toward us on a one-way trip through the solar system. The race is now on to study the alien interloper, named 3I/ATLAS, before it leaves forever. “We only have one shot at this object and then it’s …

IN A NUTSHELL 🌟 Researchers reveal that up to 40% of explosive white dwarf pairs may form in triple-star systems. 🔭 The Gaia mission’s data helped identify 50 cataclysmic variables in hierarchical triple-star systems. 💫 Simulations show that a third star’s gravity can influence inner binary orbits, challenging traditional formation theories. 🪐 Findings suggest new avenues for exploring stellar dynamics …