Universe

  Astronomers discover new evidence of intermediate-mass black holes Left: posterior distribution of the chirp mass of the binary in the source frame as a function of the inferred effective inspi In the world of black holes, there are generally three size categories: stellar-mass black holes (about five to 50 times the mass of the sun), supermassive black holes (millions to billions of times the mass of the sun), and intermediate-mass black holes with masses somewhere in between. While we know that intermediate-mass  black holes  should exist, little is known about their origins or characteristics—they are considered the rare "missing links" in black hole evolution. However, four new studies have shed new light on the mystery. The research was led by a team in the lab of Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Karan Jani, who also serves as the founding director of the Vanderbilt Lunar Labs Initiative. The primary paper, " Properties of 'Lite' Intermediate-...

  Radio Wave- and X-Ray-Emitting Star is Unlike Anything Astronomers Have Seen in Our Galaxy ASKAP J1832-0911  — likely a magnetar or an extremely magnetized white dwarf — emits pulses of radio waves and X-rays for two minutes every 44 minutes, according to a  paper  published in the journal  Nature . A composite of radio, X-ray, and infrared emission of the field of ASKAP J1832-0911. Image credit: Wang  et al ., doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09077-w. ASKAP J1832-0911 is located approximately 15,000 light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Scutum. The star was discovered by astronomers using the ASKAP radio telescope in Australia. It belongs to a class of objects called long-period radio transients,  first spotted  in 2022, that vary in radio wave intensity in a regular way over tens of minutes. This is thousands of times longer than the length of the repeated variations seen in pulsars, which are rapidly spinning neutron stars that have rep...

A bigger and better helicopter to Mars Ingenuity, the little helicopter that could, has undeniably proven that a helicopter can operate on another planet. Over the course of 72 flights, this resilient little quadcopter captured the imagination of space exploration enthusiasts worldwide. However, despite its impressive achievements, Ingenuity faced several limitations, prompting NASA researchers to envision something even more advanced. At the recent Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (March 10–14) in The Woodlands, Texas, two papers led by Pascal Lee from NASA Ames and Derric Loya from the SETI Institute and Colorado Mesa University outlined the concept of an innovative helicopter known as Nighthawk.     NASA's Mars Chopper concept shown in a design software rendering. NASA/JPL-Caltech Among the many intriguing locations on Mars, one stands out to dedicated Mars enthusiasts: Noctis Labyrinthus—the Labyrinth of the Night. Dr. Lee, who also serves as ...

James Webb Spots Daily Flares from Milky Way's Supermassive Black Hole Astronomers Unveil New Insights into Sagittarius A Astronomers have captured breathtaking new insights into Sagittarius A* , the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) . The observations reveal dazzling flares of light erupting near the black hole, shedding light on its chaotic and ever-changing behavior. Peering Into the Galactic Core While black holes themselves are invisible, the region surrounding Sagittarius A* is a hotbed of activity. A spinning disk of superheated gas and dust, called the accretion disk , orbits just outside the event horizon —the boundary where gravity becomes so strong that not even light can escape. This disk emits bursts of radiation as material is compressed and heated, creating brilliant flares that can last from seconds to hours. Unprecedented Observations with ...

Asteroid 2024 YR4 Could Hit Earth in 7 Years: What We Know So Far A newly discovered asteroid, 2024 YR4 , has a 2% chance of colliding with Earth in 2032 , according to astronomers. While the odds are low, scientists are closely monitoring this space rock, which is estimated to be between 131 and 295 feet (40 to 90 meters) wide—roughly the size of a large building. Although it’s far smaller than the "planet-killer" asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago, an impact from 2024 YR4 could still cause significant regional damage. Discovery and Tracking Efforts The asteroid was first spotted on December 27, 2024 , by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in Chile. Since then, observatories worldwide, including the Very Large Telescope in Chile and Hawaii’s Pan-STARRS system, have been tracking its movement. However, due to its distance—cur...

Astrophotography for Beginners 2025: A Step-by-Step Guide to Shooting the Night Sky Astrophotography is a captivating hobby that allows you to capture the beauty of the cosmos. Whether you're aiming to photograph the Milky Way, star trails, or even distant galaxies, this step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started in astrophotography by 2025. Step 1: Gather Your Equipment Before heading out to capture the night sky, you'll need the right gear. Here's what you'll need: 1.1 Camera DSLR or Mirrorless Camera: These cameras offer manual control over settings like ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. Canon EOS R6 Nikon Z6 II Sony Alpha 7 III 1.2 Lens Wide-Angle Lens: A fast lens with a wide aperture (f/2.8 or lower) is essential for...