Stars

Artist's impression of the GRB221009A gamma-ray burst with relativistic jets coming from the black hole at the center (Image courtesy Aaron M. Geller / Northwestern / CIERA / IT Research Computing and Data Services)

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An article published in the journal “Nature Astronomy” reports a study on the gamma-ray burst cataloged as GRB221009A, the brightest ever detected, which confirms that it was caused by the collapse of a massive star, which subsequently exploded in a supernova. A team of researchers led by Northwestern University used data collected with the James Webb Space Telescope and the ALMA radio telescope to obtain the information needed to support their conclusions. The mystery remains of the absence of traces of the generation of heavy elements such as platinum and gold, which they thought could be associated with supernovae that lead to very powerful gamma-ray bursts.

The nebula NGC 6164/6165 surrounding the system HD 148937 as seen by the VLT Survey Telescope (Image ESO/VPHAS+ team. Acknowledgment: CASU)

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An article published in the journal “Science” reports a study on the HD 148937 system, a binary system surrounded by a double nebula known as NGC 6164/6165. A team of researchers used the PIONIER and GRAVITY instruments mounted on ESO’s VLT Interferometer (VLTI) in Chile and archival data from the FEROS instrument at the La Silla Observatory, also an ESO’s telescope in Chile, to collect the data necessary to conclude that it was originally at least a triple system and at some point two of the stars merged. It was a violent event that created the cloud of materials around the system.

The M82 galaxy in Hubble's view on the left and the area of very intense star formation seen by Webb on the right

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An article submitted for publication in “The Astrophysical Journal” reports a study of the exceptional rate of star formation in the M82 galaxy. A team of researchers led by Alberto Bolatto of the University of Maryland, College Park, used the James Webb Space Telescope to map powerful galactic winds that expel vast amounts of gas caused by star formation and supernova explosions.

The NIRCam instrument is the one used in particular to trace the origin of that activity back to dense star clusters in the galactic disk. This new study of M82 offers advances in understanding star formation and how this activity is affecting the galaxy.

A region of a molecular cloud (Image ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, W. Rocha et al. (Leiden University))

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An article published in the journal “Astronomy & Astrophysics” reports the discovery of various complex organic molecules such as ethanol among the icy materials surrounding two protostars. A team of researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to identify icy organic compounds around the low-mass protostar NGC 1333 IRAS 2A, or simply IRAS 2A, and the high-mass protostar IRAS 23385+ 6053, or simply IRAS 23385. Various molecules constitute building blocks for Earth-like life forms that could be like “seeds” on planets still in the process of formation.

Some of the systems observed with the VLT and represented here not in scale to appear similar in size

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Three articles published in the journal “Astronomy & Astrophysics” report different aspects of a large study of 86 protoplanetary disks located in three different regions of the Milky Way. Teams of researchers with several shared members used the SPHERE instrument mounted on ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile as part of the GTO and DESTINYS observation programs. The findings offer a treasure trove of information about planetary formation in the cosmic neighborhood that could lead to advances in current models and aid follow-up studies.