astronomical discoveries

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope uncovers ‘boiling ocean’ exoplanet – could it harbour life?

9Mar

By adminNo Comments

Technology

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope uncovers ‘boiling ocean’ exoplanet – could it harbour life?

[ad_1] In a groundbreaking discovery, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has revealed intriguing details about a distant exoplanet, sparking a debate among scientists about its potential habitability. The exoplanet, known as TOI-270 d, lies approximately 70 light-years away and boasts twice the radius of Earth.Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope exposed the presence of water vapour, methane, and carbon dioxide in the exoplanet's atmosphere, suggesting a composition consistent with a colossal water world. Researchers from the University of Cambridge propose that an entire surface ocean, potentially reaching temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Celsius, envelops TOI-270 d. However, they caution against envisioning this as an inviting seascape, emphasizing the extreme cond...

NASA, JAXA XRISM mission unveils cosmic secrets with mesmerising X-ray imagery

6Jan

By adminNo Comments

Technology

NASA, JAXA XRISM mission unveils cosmic secrets with mesmerising X-ray imagery

[ad_1] In a groundbreaking revelation, the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) observatory, spearheaded by Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), has provided an initial glimpse of the extraordinary data it will soon gather as it embarks on its scientific operations later this year. A snapshot released by the satellite's science team showcases a conglomerate of hundreds of galaxies and a spectrum of stellar remnants from a nearby galaxy, offering scientists an intricate understanding of its chemical composition.According to Richard Kelley, the U.S. principal investigator for XRISM at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, the mission promises to unveil the hidden facets of the X-ray sky, enabling the examination of sources not just through images but also through the study...

India’s new ILMT telescope achieves milestone with supernova discovery

26Nov

By adminNo Comments

Technology

India’s new ILMT telescope achieves milestone with supernova discovery

[ad_1] The International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT) located at the Devasthal Observatory in Nainital, India, has recently marked a milestone by identifying its inaugural supernova, SN 2023af. This breakthrough, detailed in a November 8 report on the arXiv preprint server, signals the ILMT's potential to unearth numerous supernovae in the years to come. These cosmic events, known for their intense luminosity and stellar explosions, offer valuable insights into the evolution of stars and galaxies, providing astronomers with crucial data.The ILMT telescope, boasting a 4-meter diameter and pointing towards the zenith, focuses on photometric and astrometric direct imaging surveys. Astronomers anticipate that this innovative telescope will prove instrumental in discovering transient pheno...

James Webb Space Telescope just unraveled mystery of vanishing neon, NASA says

19Nov

By adminNo Comments

Technology

James Webb Space Telescope just unraveled mystery of vanishing neon, NASA says

[ad_1] In a groundbreaking revelation, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has observed a significant transformation in a planet-forming disk, shedding light on the fleeting nature of these cosmic nurseries. NASA says that unlike traditional observations that capture planetary disks as static snapshots over vast timescales, the James Webb Telescope has offered a dynamic glimpse into the evolution of one such disk. The Neon Puzzle UnveiledBack in 2008, researchers led by Catherine Espaillat, then at the University of Michigan and now at Boston University, detected a distinctive infrared emission line associated with doubly ionized neon ([Ne III]) in the planet-forming disk encircling the young star SZ Chamaeleontis (SZ Cha) using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, Space.com reported. Ini...

This 2-faced white dwarf star defies astrophysical norms

22Jul

By adminNo Comments

Technology

This 2-faced white dwarf star defies astrophysical norms

[ad_1] Behold Janus, a celestial enigma that defies conventional norms! Unlike the figurative phrase denoting two-facedness, this white dwarf star embodies the very essence of duality, quite literally. Drawing inspiration from the ancient Roman god, Janus, with one face gazing forward and the other backward, symbolizing transitions, this peculiar stellar remnant has earned its fitting moniker. Scientists have been captivated by the unique composition of Janus, as it bears an extraordinary feature - hydrogen dominates one side, while helium graces the other.The magnetic field's role in an unconventional StarJanus, located about 1,300 light years from Earth in the direction of the Cygnus constellation, is fairly massive for a white dwarf. Its mass is 20% larger than that of our sun, compr...