Latest news with #Inter-UniversityCentreforAstronomyandAstrophysics
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Surprising discovery by Pune IUCAA astronomers: A small galaxy that blows large bubbles
Two astronomers from the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, in collaboration with an astronomer from the University of Tokyo, have captured a spectacular galactic wind phenomenon around a very tiny galaxy called J1044+0353. 'This tiny galaxy (diameter 7.100 light-years) is vigorously forming stars. It is at a distance of 170 million light-years from us. The surprising finding is that it is surrounded by seven giant bubbles,' said IUCAA astronomers Dr Edmund Christian Herenz (Vaidya-Raychaudhuri Fellow) and Soumil Maulick on Thursday. The diameter of those bubbles, 23.000 light-years, is almost as large as the distance from Earth to the black hole in the centre of the Milky Way, they said in a statement. 'While a few of these bubbles look like they have popped, others are still remarkably intact,' they added. According to them, stars that are 25 to 100 times more massive than the Sun do not live very long. After three to five million years, their cores collapse and giant nuclear explosions, dubbed supernovae, blast vast amounts of material into the surrounding space. 'In our Milky Way, such supernovae occur, on average, thrice a century. Given our home Galaxy's large mass and size, these explosions only have a modest effect on the overall interstellar gas distribution,' the scientists explained. However, similar supernovae rates may have dramatic consequences for galaxies that are 10,000 times less massive than the Milky Way. This is because their gravitational pull cannot hold back the high-velocity gas released from all the explosions in such systems. Thus, gas is being blown out in a so-called galactic wind. Making direct images of this wind material is challenging, even with the largest telescopes, since the wind material is very diffuse. According to the astronomers, large-scale wind-driven bubbles around small galaxies have been known for two decades, but the newly discovered bubbles are twice to thrice as large as anything seen before. Classical models of large-scale bubble formation due to the combined effect from supernovae fail to reproduce the properties of the observed structure around J1044+0353. 'Understanding wind phenomena around starburst galaxies is key for grasping galaxy formation and evolution in the early universe, where galaxies such as J1044+0353 are the norm. Yet, to comprehend how these winds really work, we need to collect more such images of diffuse gas around tiny galaxies. Currently, we even do not know whether the structure around J1044+0353 is truly special or whether many more tiny galaxies may blow similar super-sized bubbles,' Maulick added.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Pune astronomers make vital space discovery: Galactic wind around tiny galaxy
In what could be an important step towards the study of space and exploration of its depths, two astronomers from the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune and a collaborator from the University of Tokyo in Japan have captured an image that shows a rare and powerful phenomenon called 'galactic wind' around a tiny but extremely active galaxy. They chanced upon it during the course of their research and captured it for posterity. Galaxy J1044+0355, just 7,100 light-years wide, is surrounded by a 20,000 light-year filamentary gas structure, revealed using the Yepun telescope. The loops, shown in yellow to red, are likely shaped by over 50,000 supernovae in the past 20 million years. (SOURCED) Sharing about this discovery with Hindustan Times on Thursday, the astronomers from IUCAA, Dr Edmund Christian Herenz (Vaidya-Raychaudhuri Fellow) and Soumil Maulick, said that this galaxy, named J1044+0354, is only about 7,100 light-years wide, which is very small as the Milky Way is over 100,000 light-years wide. This tiny galaxy lies at a distance of 170 million light years from Earth and is forming new stars at a very fast rate. But, what surprised the astronomers most was that this galaxy is surrounded by seven huge gas bubbles. According to them, some of the bubbles appear to have burst, but others are still whole and clearly visible, and each one is about 23,000 light-years wide, which is nearly equivalent to the distance from Earth to the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way. Soumil Maulick said that these giant bubbles are believed to have been caused by explosions of massive stars. He explained: 'Stars that are 25 to 100 times heavier than the Sun do not live long - only about 3 to 5 million years. When they die, they explode in powerful events called supernovae, throwing out huge amounts of gas and energy. In large galaxies like the Milky Way, such explosions happen about three times every century, but the galaxy's strong gravity keeps most of the gas from escaping farther into space.' He further said that in small galaxies like J1044+0354, the gravity is much weaker. 'So, when many such supernovae occur, the gas escapes easily, creating what scientists call a 'galactic wind'. This wind is made of hot, fast-moving gas blowing out from the galaxy. Observing this wind directly is difficult because the gas is very thin and faint, even when using the biggest telescopes,' he explained. According to the two astronomers, large gas bubbles created by such galactic winds have been known for about 20 years. But the bubbles seen around J1044+0354 are two to three times larger than any bubble seen before. 'In fact, existing scientific models that explain how these bubbles form from supernova explosions cannot fully explain what has been observed around this galaxy,' Maulick added. Dr Edmund Christian Herenz said that studying galactic winds in star-forming galaxies like J1044+0354 is very important as these kinds of galaxies were common in the early universe. So, understanding them helps scientists learn how galaxies formed and evolved over time. 'However, to fully understand these winds, astronomers need to find and study more examples of small galaxies with similar bubbles. Right now, they do not know if J1044+0354 is a rare case or if many other small galaxies might also be blowing out such enormous bubbles,' he added.
Time of India
26-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Digboi girl picked for solar astronomy workshop
Dibrugarh: In a proud moment for Assam and the northeast, Himani Gurung, a 23-year-old student from the remote village of Pawoi Bongao in Digboi, Tinsukia district, has been selected to participate in the prestigious Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics hands-on workshop on Solar Astronomy using Aditya-L1, reports Rajib Dutta. The event, scheduled for Aug 6-8 at the University College Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala will see 37 participants from across India — with Himani being the sole representative from the is pursuing her Master's in Physics at Tezpur University.
Indian Express
04-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
At memorial for Jayant Narlikar, IUCAA remembers a legend
Written by Kivi Lydia Vito The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune hosted a heartfelt memorial on Tuesday to commemorate the life and legacy of the late Jayant Narlikar, one of India's foremost astrophysicists and a visionary pioneer in cosmology. 'We organised this public memorial because the earlier ceremony was private. This gathering is our way of honouring how profoundly he touched lives across disciplines and institutions,' said Professor R Srianand, director of IUCAA. Narlikar, who was instrumental in setting up the IUCAA, passed away in Pune last month. His eldest daughter, Dr Geeta Narlikar, called the event both a tribute and a celebration of her father's lasting legacy. Representing her sisters, she shared personal stories highlighting his unwavering support and dedication to family, revealing a more intimate side of the celebrated scientist. 'We have often been asked what it is like to have a well-known father. But if it were not for the occasional newspaper articles or his travels to accept awards, we would not have grasped the extent of Baba's impact on astrophysics and Indian society. At home, he was simply a devoted family man, never one to draw attention to his accomplishments,' Geeta said. Narlikar was married to accomplished mathematician, teacher and science educator Mangala Narlikar. 'We later realised how much Baba and Aai truly enjoyed their work. Research and teaching energised them. Baba's zest for life shaped his parenting. While he inspired many in science, he also deeply influenced us at home,' Geeta added. The IUCAA memorial for Narlikar featured 15 speakers, including Geeta, Srianand and former IUCAA directors Naresh Dadhich, Ajit Kembhavi, and Somak Raychaudhury. Professor Sanjeev Dhurandhar, Dr Anil Kakodkar, Professor N C Wickramasinghe, Professor Jayaram Chengalur, Professor Tarun Souradeep, Dr Pushpa Khare, Arvind Paranjpye, Satish Alekar, A P Deshpande, and Dileep Majgaonkar also reflected on Narlikar's legacy. Many recalled Narlikar's foundational role in setting up the IUCAA, emphasising how he fostered a collaborative environment where researchers felt at home. 'Narlikar made IUCAA feel like a home for all who came here. It is now our responsibility to uphold that legacy and ensure every visitor experiences the same warmth and respect he cultivated,' Srianand said. Echoing this sentiment, Professor Tarun Souradeep said, 'Professor Jayant Narlikar's passing is an immeasurable loss to the nation. For all of us, IUCAA and JVN are synonymous, making it difficult to imagine the institute without him. The greatest tribute we can pay to his legacy is to unite and work together to fulfil his vision of an eminent centre that spreads excellence across the nation and the world.' 'Professor Narlikar's vision and leadership have had a profound and lasting impact on all of us,' Chengalur said. Kivi Lydia Vito is an intern with The Indian Express.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
What was it like to have Jayant Narlikar as a father? A daughter answers
1 2 3 4 5 6 Pune: Throughout their lives, the three Narlikar sisters — Geeta, Girija, and Leelavati — were often asked variations of this question: What is it like to have a famous father? On behalf of the three daughters of renowned astrophysicist Jayant Narlikar (86), who passed away on May 20, Geeta, a US-based biochemist, answered the question at Narlikar's memorial meeting organised by the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) on Tuesday. "If Baba were there, he might be thinking, 'Why are you doing this?' Speaking on behalf of all three sisters, I would say we have heard variations of these lines — 'Your father was a major influence on me when growing up', 'What is it like to have a famous father?' If it was not for these questions, occasional newspaper articles, and Baba's travels to accept an award, we would not have known the huge impact he had on the world of astrophysics or the scientific consciousness of Marathi and Indian society more broadly. This is because his behaviour at home was of a deeply engaging family man, not of someone flaunting fame," said Geeta. She spoke of how their father, together with mother Mangala Narlikar, a mathematician who passed away in 2023, were ahead of their time in society in raising three girls. "Looking back, we were influenced more by his actions than his words. We internalised the deep respect Baba showed for Aai and the freedom to make our choices in our careers and life partners. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo This was implicit in how they fostered our independence of thoughts and actions," said Geeta, while sharing several memories about the noted astrophysicist with the gathered audience. The memorial meeting was attended by renowned scientists such as Naresh Dadhich, Ajit Kembhavi, and Anil Kakodkar, among others. Geeta further spoke about her parents, saying they enjoyed the work they did and never thought of research and teaching as a chore. "It was energising for them. Baba's zest for life and his creativity were integral parts of his parenting. We see it now in reflection. This ranged from setting up puzzles for all of us to solve to telling us stories using characters we made up on the spot. We would make all kinds of characters and weave them into a story that was engaging, fascinating, and novel. This also ranged from making sure, as much as possible, to take the family with him on sabbatical trips, so we would experience what it meant to live in another country and be influenced by their culture. His ready laughter also resulted in happy tears at jokes he told or stories he recounted, and this is one of the most joyous memories of him. What it showed us is a father who loved to be happy, a father who was not stuck in the seriousness of his achievements," said Geeta. Narlikar also had a deep love for good food. "Some of you are also familiar with how much Baba loved good food," Geeta told the gathering, adding, "Every trip to other countries involved savouring local delicacies, from street food to gourmet meals. Even in his last few days, he made a request for a full English breakfast, a pot of biryani, and, of course, chocolates and mango with ice cream, living life to the fullest. His parenting, in collaboration with Aai, prepared us to meet the challenges of life and career with courage and an open mind, to enjoy the little things in life, and never take ourselves too seriously. "
