Tag

Spectrograph

All articles tagged with #spectrograph

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Galactic Collision Unleashes Powerful Shockwaves Across the Cosmos

The WEAVE spectrograph on the William Herschel Telescope has provided new insights into the dual nature of shock waves in Stephan's Quintet, a group of five galaxies. Led by Dr. Marina Arnaudova, the study reveals that the shock, caused by a high-speed collision of galaxy NGC 7318b, behaves differently in cold and hot gas regions. In cold gas, the shock travels at hypersonic speeds, ionizing the gas, while in hot gas, it weakens and compresses, emitting radio waves. This research highlights WEAVE's potential to enhance our understanding of galactic interactions.

via Phys.org|

#astronomy #galaxies #science

science-and-technology2 years ago•5 min saved

Unveiling the Enigmatic Origins of Atmospheric Green Ghosts

The origin of mysterious green "ghosts" in the sky, a type of transient luminous phenomenon, has been discovered by a team of Spanish scientists. These green lights, which occasionally appear above red sprites, are caused by the presence of metals, particularly iron and nickel, from interstellar dust entering the atmosphere. The scientists used a spectrograph to analyze the light and found that while there is some oxygen involved, the majority of the emissions are from iron. The discovery could explain why these green ghosts are so rare.

via EL PAÍS USA|

#atmospheric-physics #green-ghosts #interstellar-dust

science-and-astronomy2 years ago•4 min saved

Unveiling the Secrets of a Dying Star: Astronomers Analyze 'Jewel Bug Nebula'

Astronomers using the new IGRINS-2 spectrograph on the Gemini North Telescope have obtained the first spectrum of the Jewel Bug Nebula, a planetary nebula located 3,000 light years away. The spectrograph operates at near-infrared wavelengths, allowing it to penetrate cosmic dust and reveal details of the expanding cloud of gas and dust ejected by a dying star. IGRINS-2 identified elements such as bromine, helium, iron, krypton, and selenium, as well as molecular hydrogen. The instrument will be used to study star-birth, star-death, exoplanets, brown dwarfs, and distant galaxies.

via Space.com|

#astronomers #cosmic-dust #infrared-wavelengths

space2 years ago•2 min saved

Exoplanet Smashes Record for Heaviest Element Detected in Atmosphere

Astronomers have detected the heaviest single element, samarium, in the atmosphere of an ultra-hot Jupiter exoplanet called MASCARA-4. The planet also has rubidium, which is the first time this element has been found in an exoplanet's atmosphere. The team used a spectrograph to measure starlight as the planet passed in front of its host star and hopes for follow-up observations to confirm the presence of these new chemical elements and refine their quantities in the atmosphere.

via IFLScience|

#exoplanet #rubidium #samarium