Category Astronomy/Space

Magnetic fields control the collapse of the molecular clouds in the nuclear ring of the galaxy NGC 1097. As a result, formation of massive stars is suppressed in zones of strong magnetic fields (contours). Credit: Gabriel Pérez, SMM (IAC)

Study points to the role of the magnetic field as responsible for decelerating the formation of massive stars in the center of galaxies. Without this process the Big Bang would be questioned. Research has revealed that this process occurs around the center of the galaxy NGC 1097.

The current cosmological model to explain our universe, the “Big Bang” model, aims to describe all the phenomena we observe, which includes the galaxies and their evolution from earliest times to the present day...

The movement of stars depends mostly on the invisible dark matter halo around a galaxy. Credit: ESO/Digitized Sky Survey 2

By combining data from Hubble and Gaia mission, astronomers have been able to measure the proper motion of 15 stars in the Sculptor Galaxy, the first such measurement outside the Milky Way. Analysis shows an unexpected preference in the direction of movement, which suggests that the standard theoretical models used to describe the motion of stars and dark matter halos in other galaxies might be invalid.

Astronomers have long been able to measure the movement of stars in our ‘line of sight’ (i.e. the movement towards or away from us) by measuring the redshift, which is caused by the Doppler effect...

Picture of the GRS 1758-258 microquasar, obtained with the Jansky Very Large Array radiotelescope at 5 GHz frequency radio waves. The white line shows the Z-shape path formed by the relativistic plasma produced in the core region, where the black hole is located. Credit: Image courtesy of University of Barcelona

The results of a study allow researchers progressing in the study of the distribution of gravitational waves from distant sources. Researchers from the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB) and the University of Jaén have described, for the first time, the structure of a Z-shaped galactic microquasar...

Surface, ocean and core of Saturn’s moon Enceladus. The illustration shows the ice shell, which is thinner at the polar regions, with the ocean underneath. The core of Enceladus is assumed to be porous and thus permeable to ocean water. The graphic is based on a new model used to produce a three-dimensional simulation of these processes under the influence of Saturn’s tidal forces. The orange “glowing” parts of the core represent the areas that reach temperatures of at least 90 degrees Celsius. Credit: Surface – NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute; Core – Choblet et al (2017); Graphic composition – ESA

A computer simulation shows how icy moon heats water in a porous rock core...