Tag

Formation Of Stars

All articles tagged with #formation of stars

astronomy2 years ago•1 min saved

"JWST Uncovers Unbelievably Tiny Brown Dwarf Defying Explanation"

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have studied a star cluster in the constellation Perseus to determine the smallest possible size for a star. The cluster, IC 348, was chosen because it is young and likely to have new brown dwarfs, which emit light from the fusion of deuterium. Using Webb and ground-based telescopes, astronomers identified three targets weighing between three to eight times Jupiter, with surface temperatures ranging from 830° to 1,500° degrees Celsius. The study of these small brown dwarfs has raised questions about their formation and the discovery of mysterious hydrocarbons.

via Ars Technica|

#astronomy #brown-dwarfs #formation-of-stars

astronomy2 years ago•15 min saved

The Pre-Stellar Era: A Glimpse into the Cosmic Darkness

The cosmic dark ages were a period in the early Universe when neutral atoms formed and photons stopped scattering off of free electrons. This marked the time when radiation began to travel in a straight line. The temperature of the photon bath during this period was around 2970.8 K. Overdense regions, with more matter, had stronger gravity and emitted colder photons, while underdense regions emitted hotter photons. Gravity and radiation pressure played crucial roles in the growth of matter clumps, but it took around 50 to 100 million years for the first star to form. The formation of neutral atoms and the subsequent emission of 21 cm light from hydrogen atoms were important milestones before the formation of stars.

via Big Think|

#astronomy #cosmic-dark-ages #formation-of-stars

astronomy2 years ago•3 min saved

Close Call: Ancient Supernova Nearly Wiped Out Our Solar System

New research suggests that a nearby supernova explosion around 4 billion years ago could have destroyed our solar system if not for a shield of molecular gas. Scientists studying isotopes in meteorite samples found varying concentrations of a radioactive isotope of aluminum, indicating an injection of radioactive material from a nearby supernova blast. The dense filament of molecular gas surrounding the infant solar system likely acted as a buffer, protecting it from the supernova shockwave. The findings have implications for understanding the formation and evolution of stars and their planetary systems.

via Yahoo Life|

#astronomy #astrophysics #formation-of-stars

astronomy2 years ago•2 min saved

Surviving a Nearby Supernova: How Our Infant Solar System Endured

Our solar system may have survived a nearby supernova explosion thanks to a shield of molecular gas, according to a study. Researchers analyzed isotopes of elements found in meteorites and discovered varying concentrations of a radioactive isotope of aluminum, indicating an injection of radioactive material around 4.6 billion years ago. The dense filament of gas surrounding the forming solar system likely acted as a buffer, protecting it from the supernova blast wave. This finding has important implications for understanding the formation and evolution of stars and their planetary systems.

via Space.com|

#astronomy #astrophysics #formation-of-stars