2020

An FRB's journey to Earth (Image courtesy ICRAR)

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An article published in the journal “Nature” reports a measurement of the amount of the so-called baryonic matter, ordinary matter, in the universe analyzing the characteristics of fast radio bursts (FRBs). A team of researchers led by Professor Jean-Pierre Macquart from the Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), used detections carried out using the ASKAP radio telescope, which allowed to determine the position of the FRBs in the galaxies that host them with considerable precision. By analyzing their characteristics it was possible to determine the density of matter between their point of origin and the Earth.

Galaxy R5519 (Image courtesy Tiantian Yuan/Hubble Space Telescope)

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An article published in the journal “Nature Astronomy” reports the study of a very rare type of galaxy, called a cosmic ring of fire. A team of researchers led by Dr. Tiantian Yuan from Australia’s ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D) used spectroscopic images obtained at the Keck Observatory in Hawaii and images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope to identify the strange structure of the galaxy officially designated as R5519. It’s an ancient galaxy, and its discovery may require new changes to current galactic formation models.

The HTV-9 cargo spacecraft captured by the Canadarm2 robotic arm (Image NASA TV)

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A little while ago the HTV-9 “Kounotori” spacecraft was captured by the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm, operated by Chris Cassidy with the assistance of Ivan Vagner. The Japanese space cargo ship, which blasted off last Wednesday, carries a huge amount of supplies and experiments. After its capture, they started the slow moving of HTV-9 to its berthing location on the Harmony module, where it will be safely installed.

Wolfe Disk seen by ALMA

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An article published in the journal “Nature” reports a study on the galaxy nicknamed Wolfe Disk that shows that it formed very early, to the point that it already had the shape of a disk galaxy about 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang. A team of researchers used the ALMA radio telescope to study this galaxy and find evidence of its characteristics that make it the oldest with a rotating disk found so far. Its existence so early in the history of the universe poses a problem for the current galactic formation models.

The AB Aurigae system seen by SPHERE

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An article published in the journal “Astronomy & Astrophysics” reports evidence of the existence of a planet in formation in the protoplanetary disk surrounding the young star AB Aurigae. A team of researchers led by Anthony Boccaletti, of the Observatoire de Paris, PSL University, France, used the SPHERE instrument mounted on ESO’s VLT in Chile to find traces of what could be a planet. SPHERE takes real photos of the objects, so if the discovery was confirmed it would be the first direct evidence of a planet seen while it’s forming.