All articles tagged with #radio observations
Recent studies of 3I/ATLAS using radio telescopes and other data suggest its nucleus is about 1 kilometer in diameter, with no significant radio signals detected, and provide insights into its non-gravitational acceleration and mass loss, highlighting ongoing efforts to understand this interstellar object.
Astronomers using radio telescopes discovered a peculiar mini-halo in the galaxy cluster Abell 3558, extending about 1.8 million light years and likely powered by turbulence from gas sloshing, providing insights into galaxy cluster dynamics and evolution.
Astronomers from Curtin University and other institutions have discovered a new supernova remnant (SNR) named G321.3-3.9, located 3,300 light years away. The elliptical SNR is estimated to be a few thousand years old and was confirmed using radio and X-ray data. The SNR's distance, diameter, and age were estimated, but uncertainties remain due to limited data. Further observations are planned to search for a pulsar association, which could provide more accurate measurements of the SNR's properties.
Astronomers are conducting a new search for supernova remnants in our galaxy using radio observations captured with the Very Large Array (VLA) and the MeerKAT array. Between 300 and 400 supernova remnants have been found in the Milky Way so far, but based on observations of other galaxies, astronomers believe there could be as many as 1,000 in our galaxy. The researchers aim to use machine learning and visual inspection to distinguish the remnants from other forms of nebulosity in the galaxy and study their shape and element distribution to understand how supernovae eject debris and interact with the interstellar medium.
New radio observations have revealed that Saturn, despite its dull appearance, experiences powerful storms every 20 to 30 years that alter its chemical compositions for years afterward. These storms, similar to Jupiter's Great Red Spot, make lasting changes to Saturn's atmosphere, including the precipitation of ammonia vapor. Scientists are studying the effects of these storms and hope to further understand the differences between disturbances on Saturn and Jupiter. Radio telescopes are proving useful in revealing variations in Saturn's atmosphere not visible in light.
A new study has revealed that Saturn, like Jupiter, experiences persistent megastorms that can last for centuries and leave deep atmospheric scars. By analyzing radio waves emitted by Saturn, astronomers have discovered long-lasting signatures of giant storms, including equatorial storms that occurred hundreds of years ago. The research provides insights into the dynamics of Saturn's megastorms and challenges our current understanding of hurricanes. The study also found anomalous concentrations of ammonia deep in Saturn's atmosphere, which are records of ancient megastorms that can persist for hundreds of years. The findings highlight the differences between Saturn and Jupiter and can help in understanding the evolution of gas giant exoplanets.
European astronomers have used the LOFAR and MeerKAT telescopes to conduct radio observations of the galaxy cluster Abell 1413. The observations revealed new insights into the cluster's morphology and properties, including the detection of compact radio sources and tailed radio galaxies. The study found that the mini-halo of Abell 1413 is asymmetric and larger than previously thought, with a spectral steepening. The radio/X-ray surface brightness of the cluster was strongly correlated, providing further evidence of spectral steepening. The researchers proposed a hybrid model to explain the mechanism powering the mini-halo, suggesting the presence of large-scale turbulence in the cluster.
A new study has revealed that Saturn, often considered more subdued than Jupiter, experiences colossal megastorms that can last for centuries. Using radio emissions analysis, researchers discovered disturbances in ammonia gas distribution linked to past megastorms in Saturn's northern hemisphere. The study found that these storms can cause long-lasting shifts in the planet's atmosphere, challenging current knowledge of terrestrial meteorology. The findings highlight the differences between Jupiter and Saturn's atmospheric behaviors and could reshape our understanding of megastorms on other planets and exoplanets.
Astronomers have used the upgraded Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) to observe the pulsar PSR J0026–1955, shedding light on its subpulse drifting and nulling behavior. The observations revealed unusual drifting behavior with both evolutionary and non-evolutionary drift rates, as well as the presence of short- and long-duration nulls. The study also found evidence of subpulse memory across nulls, suggesting the presence of an uninterrupted stable discharge in the polar gap during nulls. PSR J0026–1955 represents a small fraction of pulsars exhibiting these phenomena.
New filaments have been discovered near the Milky Way's supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*. These filaments are shorter and lie horizontally, pointing directly to Sagittarius A*. They are related to the activity of Sagittarius A*, but it is unclear if the two types of filaments are related. The vertical filaments are magnetic accelerating particles close to the speed of light, while the horizontal ones appear to emit heat, accelerating thermal material in a molecular cloud. The newly discovered filaments are estimated to be about 6 million years old and may have originated from an outflow from an activity that happened a few million years ago.
Astronomers have discovered hundreds of previously unknown "filaments" at the center of the Milky Way, each measuring between 5 and 10 light-years in length and visible only in radio wavelengths. These structures appear to point directly at the central supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, suggesting that they may be the unhealed scars of an ancient, high-energy black hole outburst that tore through the surrounding clouds of gas. The filaments were likely created by bursts of high-energy particles that are invisible to the naked eye, and may have been caused by an eruption of energy from the black hole around 6 million years ago.