Latest news with #SpitzerSpaceTelescope
Scientific American
2 days ago
- Science
- Scientific American
Cosmic Tornado from Star's Birth Whirls in Dazzling JWST Image
When a star is born, the process leaves behind a flurry of high-energy gas, dust and debris. Some of this remnant material clumps together into planets, the way Earth likely formed. Others end up floating endlessly as meteors and space dust. But when conditions are just right, powerful plasma jets blasting out of a young star whip some of the debris into a giant, helical tower of steamy-looking cosmic dust—one of which we now can see better than ever before, thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Astronomers had long been aware of these so-called Herbig-Haro objects—brilliant flares of ionized gas, often near newborn stars, that can be light-years long—including one named HH 49/50, whose characteristic shape led to its nickname of 'cosmic tornado.' This object shines in the Chamaeleon I Cloud complex 625 light-years from Earth. Back in 2006, when HH 49/50 was first spotted by the now decommissioned Spitzer Space Telescope, astronomers could make out only an out-of-focus (albeit recognizably helical) lump of heated gas and dust with something shining at its tip. Although it was an exciting discovery at the time, the image's low resolution left the situation blurry. Now, with the much bigger JWST, the full picture snaps into focus: the telescope captured this field of dust and debris just as a baby protostar (probably located somewhere on its lower right, outside the boundary of the image shown here) was blasting it into this very particular shape. The fuzzy blob at the top resolves into a distant spiral galaxy unrelated to the object itself. Its apparent position atop this ongoing event is just a quirk of our perspective. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. This view, and the great distance, also creates a few other optical illusions, says Macarena Garcia Marin, an astrophysicist at the European Space Agency who was part of the team that took the new image. For example, the smaller dots appearing to float in front of the cosmic tornado aren't dust; they're actually entire galaxies shining through from behind it. The pointy dots are lone stars. Still, the chance alignment of these cosmic entities lets scientists study a rich array of extraterrestrial phenomena, says Melissa McClure, an astronomer at Leiden University in the Netherlands who was not on the imaging team. Notably, we can see processes such as accretion in action, she says—'And the image is just gorgeous!' Garcia Marin is particularly struck by the JWST picture's ephemeral nature, at least on cosmic scales. When the protostar eventually grows up, most likely beyond our lifetimes, the jets it produces and the accompanying cosmic tornado will fade, Garcia Marin says: 'You're looking at a snapshot of a moment in the universe.'
Gizmodo
16-07-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
Wild New Image Shows a Twin of Our Solar System Being Born
The first-ever baby pictures of a solar system that's not our own are finally here—and they're beautiful—and as adorable as space entities can get. In a paper published today in Nature, astronomers presented HOPS-315: a Sun-like protostar cooking up a brew of hot minerals and silicon monoxide gas, located about 1,300 light-years away from Earth. The special thing about HOPS-315 is that the baby star and its surrounding environment bear a striking resemblance to an earlier version of our own solar system, making it the quintessential candidate for astronomers hoping to better understand how our Solar System came to be. For study lead author Melissa McClure, the most intriguing aspect of HOPS-315 is its protoplanetary disk, or the stormy region around a newborn star where planets are born, she told Gizmodo in a video call. Astronomers have already observed protoplanetary disks by the hundreds, some of which even have (gassy) planets. But none have been as young, robust, and filled with planet-forming compounds as the one encircling HOPS-315, McClure, an astronomer at Leiden University in the Netherlands, told Gizmodo in a video call. McClure and her team analyzed data on nearly 3,000 protostars gathered by the now-retired Spitzer Space Telescope. Most of them were too old—'like, at least a million years, maybe five million years old'—and only had enormous gas giants floating in their vicinity, she said. On the other hand, stars that did fit the 'age requirement,' so to speak, were enveloped by a thick, cold molecular cloud concealing their stormy insides from view. Of the thousands of stars they sifted through, HOPS-315—about 100,000 years old—happened to be positioned at an angle that allowed the team to get a rare peek past the thick, gassy barrier. Using a combination of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), they singled out what McClure described as 'wiggly, hairy-looking' signatures of chemical compounds strongly correlated with early planet formation. One of those, silicon monoxide, according to McClure, was a 'clear smoking gun for interstellar grains' that evolve to become planets, so she knew they'd struck on something meaningful. 'And we also saw these hot minerals in the same part from JWST, so we could put these two things together and say we're clearly seeing this 't=0' moment for the first time,' McClure said. 'HOPS-315 is very similar, in terms of mass, size, and the age we're seeing it at, to what the Sun would have looked like [earlier on]. Because of that, it's like an analog to the Sun—that's why we're saying we're seeing another solar system being formed.' Looking ahead, McClure's team plans to conduct a deeper dive into these signals, some of which didn't quite match what theoretical models would have predicted for similar situations, she noted. In particular, HOPS-315 offers an extremely rare opportunity to study planetesimals—hard fragments of loose cosmic mass that eventually bunch up to form the more solid parts of a planet. Because they're so ephemeral and just generally very tiny, the only way astronomers could study planetesimals was by indirectly tracking their formation through meteorite samples—until now, that is. Webb Telescope Spots a Small Asteroid From 62 Million Miles Away 'We're actually seeing right now that these planetesimals are actively forming,' McClure said. 'And we're absolutely going to follow that up—and this would be a cool new way to access [our galaxy's origins] that you can't do in any other way.' A fair number of recent discoveries in astronomy have come from revisiting previously observed objects using newer, more advanced instruments. In this case, astronomers used JWST and ALMA to supplement pre-existing Spitzer data. A similar example is Herbig-Haro 49/50, or the 'Cosmic Tornado.' Astronomers initially observed this steaming pillar of space dust—the product of fierce plasma jets from protostars—with Spitzer in 2006. Almost 20 years later, JWST captured the same object but in much finer resolution, revealing details that weren't so clear back then. This, in part, is evidently thanks to the continuous advances in observational technology. But it's also the product of the grueling tenacity of astrophysicists who refuse to forget about the pressing mysteries surrounding the universe, no matter how dated they may be. So, HOPS-315, as with many discoveries in astrophysics, is a testament to just how long certain findings can take—the reason why, perhaps, the answers we finally arrive at feel ever more rewarding, illuminating, and, of course, beautiful!
Otago Daily Times
18-06-2025
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
Space discoveries to be shared
Stargazing dreams first kindled in childhood will soon be shared in Dunedin. American astrophysicist and former Nasa communicator Dr Michelle Thaller arrives this month as the special guest of the New Zealand International Science Festival, which opens on June 28. During a series of talks she will share nearly three decades of space discoveries, ranging from neutron stars to tantalising hints of possible life on other planets. Dr Thaller's career began with the pioneering infrared Spitzer Space Telescope at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "We had never had a telescope that looked at the universe quite that way before," Dr Thaller said. "It was literally a new set of eyes, we were detecting light and creating images, we just never had seen anything like it." Stars form inside vast clouds of gas and dust that block light, so it was previously impossible to see within them. By tracing heat rather than visible light, the observatory peered inside and caught the moment new solar systems formed. "It is just incredible to see these discoveries coming in, your jaw drops every time." She later served as assistant director of science, for communication, at Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Centre, a role that involved translating findings such as neutron stars, the collapsed remnants of giant stars. "They are only about 30km across, they are tiny little things but they have about the mass of two times the sun." Despite scientists studying thousands of these "monsters", it is still not fully understood how they work because there is no physics to describe such mass packed into so small a volume; ordinary atoms could not withstand those conditions. "That is so much gravity in so small a place that it actually bends space and time and when you look at a neutron star, you can see the back of it as well as the front of it because light is actually bending around." "There is so much gravity and so much mass there it is actually warping space and time so that light travels from the back side towards you as well." The discovery that had eluded her during nearly 30 years at Nasa was solid scientific evidence of life beyond Earth. "With our Mars rovers we have seen some chemical signals that could be life, but we are not sure, there is no smoking gun." There have been close calls, such as a planet about 100 light-years away observed with the new James Webb Space Telescope. "There was this tiny little signal that actually got stronger over time that we thought could be what we would call a biosignature, something that is only produced by biology." However, recent analysis has suggested it may be something else. "It was definitely an organic molecule, definitely a carbon-based molecule, the kind that is our chemistry. "But we had to sort of slow our hopes down a little bit, it wasn't quite ready yet." Festival New Zealand International Science Festival June 28 — July 6 Visit for details
Economic Times
29-05-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
Mysterious object found in Milky Way works like an X-ray machine, sends signals every 44 minutes
AP This image provided by NASA shows X-rays from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory (represented in blue) that have been combined with infrared data from NASA's retired Spitzer Space Telescope (cyan, light blue, teal and orange), and radio from MeerKat (red). An inset shows a more detailed view of the immediate area around this unusual object in X-ray and radio light. (NASA/Chandra/Spitzer/MeerKat via AP) A mysterious object in our galaxy is sending powerful signals into space every 44 minutes, and scientists are still trying to figure out what it is. The object, designated as ASKAP J1935+2148, was discovered by chance and has behavior unlike anything seen discovery is exciting and puzzling because it doesn't match the known patterns of any existing space object. Also Read: Bigger than 5,000 Suns; here's why this massive near-earth space cloud remained hidden till now? The object was first detected in 2023 using Australia's ASKAP (Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder) radio telescope. It was observed while scientists were looking at something else entirely, a supernova remnant. A supernova remnant is the structure resulting from the explosion of a star in a supernova. Soon after, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory picked up X-rays from the same sky spot. The two telescopes working together confirmed that the object was emitting both X-rays and radio waves in sync every 44 minutes, lasting for a few minutes each pattern of emissions makes it the first known example of a "long-period transient" emitting in both radio and X-ray wavelengths. So far, scientists believe it could be a type of dead star, such as a neutron star or a white dwarf. These stars remain after larger stars explode or collapse. But this one is strange; it behaves like nothing else in its stars usually spin fast and send out bursts every few seconds or milliseconds. This object is slow but emits X-rays in 44 minutes, making it unique. It's too slow to be a typical pulsar but too active to be considered completely dormant. Some astronomers think it may represent a new type of magnetar, a neutron star with a powerful magnetic field. Others believe it could be entirely new and not yet classified by scientists. The mysterious object is located about 15,000 light-years from Earth, within the Milky Way galaxy. That's relatively close in space terms, especially considering the galaxy spans 100,000 lies in a dense part of the galaxy filled with gas, dust, and other stars, which makes it hard to observe in detail. However, its powerful and periodic signals reach us loud and clear. This discovery is important because it challenges our knowledge of dead stars and cosmic signals. Astronomers have studied stars for decades, but this object doesn't fit existing theories.'If it's a neutron star, it's unlike any we've ever seen,' said Ziteng Wang, lead author of the research from Curtin University in also shows that even well-known parts of space can surprise us. Also Read: 300 years after alchemy failed, CERN scientists finally turn lead into gold Scientists plan to use different telescopes to observe ASKAP J1935+2148 closely. They hope to learn more about how it works and what it's made new telescopes like the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) come online in the next few years, researchers may discover more objects like this, and maybe even explain what they now, this strange X-ray emitting thing remains one of the most mysterious objects in our galaxy. The Milky Way is named for its milky white appearance as a dim band of light across the night sky, caused by countless distant stars. Its name comes from a Greek myth where the goddess Hera's spilled milk formed this glowing band. Our Solar System, including Earth, is located about 26,000 to 27,000 light-years from the Milky Way's center, situated on the inner edge of the Orion Arm (also called the Orion Spur), a minor spiral arm between the larger Sagittarius and Perseus Milky Way is a single galaxy and does not contain other galaxies within it. However, it has about 100 to 400 billion stars and is part of the Local Group, which includes over 50 galaxies, such as the Andromeda and Triangulum galaxies.
Economic Times
29-05-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
'Dead star or something new': Mysterious object found in Milky Way emits X-rays and radio waves every 44 minutes
Astronomers have identified ASKAP J1832−091, a peculiar object in the Milky Way, emitting synchronized X-ray and radio waves every 44 minutes. Discovered by chance during Chandra X-ray Observatory observations, its unique behavior challenges existing astrophysical classifications. Researchers suggest it could be a highly magnetized dead star or an entirely new cosmic entity, prompting further investigation into stellar evolution. This image provided by NASA shows X-rays from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory (represented in blue) that have been combined with infrared data from NASA's retired Spitzer Space Telescope (cyan, light blue, teal and orange), and radio from MeerKat (red). An inset shows a more detailed view of the immediate area around this unusual object in X-ray and radio light. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A Puzzling Celestial Phenomenon Discovery by Chance Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What This Means for Astronomy Astronomers have discovered a highly unusual object within the Milky Way that emits both X-rays and radio waves in a synchronized cycle roughly every 44 minutes. The object, named ASKAP J1832−091, was first identified during a period of heightened activity using NASA 's Chandra X-ray Observatory, and its peculiar behavior has scientists J1832−091 is located around 15,000 light-years away in a dense region of the galaxy rich in stars, gas, and dust. What makes this object remarkable is its coordinated emission of X-rays and radio signals in regular bursts—a pattern never observed before in any known Galactic discovery, published in Nature, suggests that ASKAP J1832−091 could be a highly magnetized dead star, such as a neutron star or white dwarf. However, researchers also acknowledge that it may represent an entirely new and exotic class of object, prompting a reexamination of existing astrophysical X-ray signals were detected by chance in 2023, while Chandra was observing a nearby supernova remnant—the remains of an exploded star. During this period, the object entered a hyperactive state that lasted about a month, emitting strong signals before falling silent. Interestingly, it's unclear whether the object is connected to the nearby remnant due to uncertainty in its exact researcher Ziteng Andy Wang from Curtin University called the detection of X-rays from such a long-period radio transient "a first" and a major step forward in understanding these elusive discovery challenges long-standing theories and hints that many more such objects could be lurking undetected in the galaxy. According to Wang, 'We're either witnessing a completely new kind of cosmic object or seeing a known one behave in a way never documented before.'The findings reinforce the importance of space-based observatories like Chandra, which orbits Earth and captures high-energy X-ray emissions from distant cosmic environments. Continued observations of ASKAP J1832−091 and similar objects may offer fresh insights into stellar evolution and the complex dynamics of our plan to monitor this object further using a combination of radio and X-ray telescopes to better understand its nature—and perhaps uncover more like it.
