astronomers

'Missing link' galaxies discovered

EurekAlert! - Chemistry, Physics and Materials Sciences  Mon, 11/24/2008 - 23:00

(University of Nottingham) Astronomers at the University of Nottingham have identified a type of galaxy that could be the missing link in our understanding of galaxy evolution.


 

First Detection Of Magnetic Field In Distant Galaxy Surprises As...

ScienceDaily  Thu, 10/02/2008 - 00:00

Using a powerful radio telescope to peer into the early universe, a team of California astronomers has obtained the first direct measurement of a nascent galaxy's magnetic field as it appeared 6.5 billion years ago.


 

Dark Matter Disk In Our Galaxy, Supercomputer Simulation Shows

ScienceDaily  Mon, 09/15/2008 - 23:15

The Milky Way contains a disk of "dark matter," according to new calculations by astronomers. They have used the results of a supercomputer simulation to deduce the presence of this disk.


 

The double firing burst

EurekAlert! - Chemistry, Physics and Materials Sciences  Tue, 09/09/2008 - 23:00

(ESO) Astronomers from around the world combined data from ground- and space-based telescopes to paint a detailed portrait of the brightest explosion ever seen.

The observations reveal that the jets of the gamma-ray burst called GRB 080319B were aimed almost directly at the Earth.


 

Mind the gap

EurekAlert! - Chemistry, Physics and Materials Sciences  Sun, 09/07/2008 - 23:00

(ESO) Astronomers have been able to study planet-forming discs around young Sun-like stars in unsurpassed detail, clearly revealing the motion and distribution of the gas in the inner parts of the disc.

This result, which possibly implies the presence of giant planets, relies on the use of a very clever method enabled by ESO's Very Large Telescope.


 

How Do Galaxies Grow? Massive Galaxies Caught In The Act Of Merg...

ScienceDaily  Tue, 08/26/2008 - 16:30

Astronomers have caught multiple massive galaxies in the act of merging about 4 billion years ago. This discovery, made possible by combining the power of the best ground- and space-based telescopes, uniquely supports the favoured theory of how galaxies form.


 

How do galaxies grow?

EurekAlert! - Chemistry, Physics and Materials Sciences  Mon, 08/25/2008 - 23:00

(ESO) Astronomers have caught multiple massive galaxies in the act of merging about 4 billion years ago. This discovery, made possible by combining the power of the best ground- and space-based telescopes, uniquely supports the favored theory of how galaxies form.


 

Watching A 'New Star' Make The Universe Dusty

ScienceDaily  Sun, 07/27/2008 - 01:30

Astronomers were able for the first time to witness the appearance of a shell of dusty gas around a star that had just erupted, and follow its evolution for more than 100 days.

This provides the astronomers with a new way to estimate the distance of this object and obtain invaluable information on the operating mode of stellar vampires, dense stars that suck material from a companion.


 

Watching a 'new star' make the Universe dusty

EurekAlert! - Chemistry, Physics and Materials Sciences  Wed, 07/23/2008 - 23:00

(ESO) Using ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer, and its remarkable acuity, astronomers were able for the first time to witness the appearance of a shell of dusty gas around a star that had just erupted, and follow its evolution for more than 100 days.

This provides the astronomers with a new way to estimate the distance of this object and obtain invaluable information on the operating mode of stellar vampires, dense stars that suck material from a companion.


 

Venus Express discovers hydroxyl in the atmosphere of Venus thro...

EurekAlert! - Chemistry, Physics and Materials Sciences  Wed, 05/14/2008 - 23:00

(Astronomy & Astrophysics) Using observations from the Venus Express spacecraft, an international team of astronomers presents the first detection of hydroxyl in the atmosphere of Venus through its nightglow emission.

Observing atmospheric airglow is a major tool for inferring the composition and chemistry of the upper planetary atmospheres.

These results will be published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.