August 2020

The galaxy TXS 0128+554 seen by VLBA at various frequencies (Image Lister, et al.; Sophia Dagnello, NRAO/AUI/NSF)

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An article published in “The Astrophysical Journal” reports a study of the galaxy TXS 0128+554 and in particular of the jets of particles emitted by the supermassive black hole at its center that form two lobes that appear to have different ages. A team of researchers led by Matthew Lister of Purdue University used the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) and NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory to observe the jets of materials and gamma-ray emissions. The conclusion is that the jets started about 80 years ago, stopped and then started again about 10 years ago.

The dual quasar SDSS J141637.44+003352.2

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An article published in “The Astrophysical Journal” reports the confirmation of three pairs of supermassive black holes in close proximity to the point that we will see them merge in a future that is near from an astronomical point of view. A team of researchers led by Dr. John Silverman of the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe used three observatories on Mount Maunakea in Hawaii: the Subaru Telescope, the Keck Observatory, and the Gemini Observatory to examine a huge amount of quasars in search of traces of a dual center, and among 421 candidates they confirmed three. These are rare cases, to the point that the estimate is that 0.3% of quasars are dual with two supermassive black holes on a collision course.

The area where hydroxylamine was detected

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An article published in “The Astrophysical Journal Letters” reports the discovery of hydroxylamine, a precursor of RNA nucleotides, in the molecular cloud G+0.693-0.027, in the heart of the Milky Way. A team led by Víctor M. Rivilla, of the Centro de Astrobiología in Madrid and associated with the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics in Arcetri used the IRAM radio telescope to detect the chemical signature of hydroxylamine. Other molecules important in the formation of RNA and DNA were already detected in space, this is more evidence that at least part of life building blocks can somehow seed a newly formed planet bearing fruit where conditions are suitable.

The galaxy NGC 1365 seen by MUSE (Image ESO/TIMER survey)

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ESO has published an image of the galaxy NGC 1365, also known as The Great Barred Spiral Galaxy, captured with the MUSE instrument mounted on the VLT in Chile. The nickname is due to its particular shape with two structures running from its center that extend to its borders. It’s an uncommon type of galaxy since about 15% of galaxies belong to it while spiral ones are common. In this case, there’s a second bar inside the main one. The observations conducted with MUSE will help to understand the dynamics of the stars within NGC 1365 and its supermassive black hole.

Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE seen from the Earth and its coma seen by Hubble (Image NASA, ESA, Q. Zhang (California Institute of Technology), A. Pagan (STScI), and Z. Levay)

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The Hubble Space Telescope was used to observe comet NEOWISE, formally C/2020 F3, which notably shows the coma surrounding its nucleus. The images released were captured on August 8, and are the first photos taken by Hubble of such a bright comet at such a high resolution after it passed close to the Sun. On July 3, NEOWISE passed approximately 43 million kilometers from the Sun, the most critical moment because sometimes comets are torn to pieces. The new images show that this time the comet survived in its entirety and will return to the inner solar system only in 7,000 years.