The blazar PSO J0309+27 (Image Spingola et al.; Bill Saxton, NRAO/AUI/NSF.)

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An article published in the journal “Astronomy & Astrophysics” reports a study on the blazar PSO J030947.49+271757.31, or simply PSO J0309+27, the farthest ever identified being about 12.8 billion light-years from Earth. A team of researchers led by astrophysics Cristiana Spingola of the University of Bologna and associated with the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics used the VLBA radio telescope to study PSO J0309+27, discovering details in a jet of materials ejected at about three quarters of the speed of light that spans about 1,600 light-years.

Composed image of Abell 3391/95

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An article published in the journal “Astronomy & Astrophysics” reports the discovery of a filamentary structure of hot gas connecting two galaxy clusters about 50 million light-years long. A team of researchers used data collected by the eROSITA instrument, the ASKAP radio telescope, and the DECam instrument to study a system of three galaxy clusters called Abell 3391/95 and found what is the longest filament ever discovered. Its estimated mass confirms that the so-called missing baryon matter could be in those filaments.

GAL-CLUS-022058s, the Molten Ring (Image ESA/Hubble & NASA, S. Jha. Acknowledgement: L. Shatz)

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The Hubble Space Telescope has captured an image of GAL-CLUS-022058s, the largest and one of the most complete Einstein rings ever discovered. This type of structure’s name comes from the fact that it was theorized by Albert Einstein in his theory of general relativity. It’s in fact the result of a gravitational lensing effect, which distorts the image of an object behind a galaxy or a galaxy cluster. In this case, the ring’s “liquid” look and the fact that it was identified in the constellation of Fornax, the Furnace, led to the nickname of “Molten Ring”.

A cross-section of Enceladus, showing a summary of the processes SwRI scientists modeled in the Saturn moon

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An article published in the journal “Icarus” reports a study on the conditions under the surface of Saturn’s moon Enceladus, which indicate possible chemical processes that could support the metabolism of life forms. A team of researchers used data collected by the Cassini space probe to create a model of the chemical processes taking place in the Enceladus’ underground ocean, and concluded that there are possible redox chemical reactions that can fuel the metabolism of life forms.

The Chang'e 5 mission's capsule with the Moon samples (Image courtesy CGTN)

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It was night in China when the capsule carrying the Moon samples taken during the Chang’e-5 mission landed in the Siziwang Banner, meaning an autonomous county of Inner Mongolia. The lander with the return module landed on the Moon on December 1, spent about two days collecting samples, and the return module took off to transport the samples to orbit and start the voyage back to Earth. Recovery personnel found the capsule, which will be transported to a laboratory in Beijing, where operations will begin to open it without contaminating its contents.