Astronomers Discover Never-Before-Seen Way To Destroy a Star
Astronomers studying a powerful gamma-ray burst (GRB) with the Gemini South telescope, operated by NSF’s NOIRLab, may have detected a never-before-seen way to destroy a…
AURA News
Magnetic Monster Progenitor: Astronomers Discover Strange New Type of Star
Research team identifies a highly unusual star that may evolve into a magnetar — the most magnetic object in the known Universe. Astronomers found a…
Overflowing Cosmic “Jug” – Telescope Captures the Spectacular End-of-Life Display of a Red-Giant Star
The Toby Jug Nebula, a unique bipolar reflection nebula, was captured by the Gemini South telescope and offers valuable insights into the evolution of red…
Cosmic Tug of War: Dark Energy Camera Captures Galaxies in a Prelude to Merger
Haley’s Coronet and dwarf galaxy companion feel each other’s gravitational forces as they begin to coalesce. Galaxies undergo a process of growth and evolution spanning…
Sizzling Secrets of WASP-76b: Unmasking a Hot Jupiter’s Vaporized Rock Atmosphere
Chemistry of so-called ‘hot Jupiter’ provides new insights into the formation of our Solar System. Astronomers using the Gemini North telescope, one half of the…
Incredibly Detailed Close-Ups of the Sun From Earth’s Most Powerful Solar Telescope
Preview of early data from the Inouye Solar Telescope obtained during its Cycle 1 observing window showcases sunspots and quiet-Sun regions The NSF’s Inouye Solar…
Taffy Galaxies’ Collision Sculptures a Turbulent Bridge Devoid of Star Formation
Gemini North captures sprawling aftermath of head-on collision between a pair of galaxies. The Gemini North telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, operated…
Cosmic Cannibalism: Astronomers Witness Star Devouring Planet in Possible Preview of Earth’s Ultimate Fate
Gemini South captures first direct evidence of an exoplanet being swallowed by an ancient Sun-like star. For the first time, scientists have directly observed a…
When Galaxies Collide: Twin Quasars Blaze Bright at “Cosmic Noon”
Gemini North Telescope helps confirm nature of cosmic system on the verge of becoming a giant elliptical galaxy. Astronomers using an array of ground- and…
A One-in-Ten-Billion Binary Star System – First Kilonova Progenitor System Identified
Astronomers using the SMARTS 1.5-meter Telescope uncover a one-in-ten-billion binary star system. Astronomers using the SMARTS 1.5-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile,…
Stars Disappear Before Our Eyes: Startling Analysis From Globe at Night
NOIRLab’s Globe at Night educational program reveals how increasing light pollution is robbing us of the night sky. A startling analysis from Globe at Night…
Dark Energy Camera Unveils Billions of Celestial Objects in Unprecedented Survey of the Milky Way
NSF’s NOIRLab releases colossal astronomical data tapestry displaying the majesty of our Milky Way in unprecedented detail. Astronomers have released a gargantuan survey of the…
Unexpected Kilonova Discovery: Colossal Explosion Challenges Our Understanding of Gamma-Ray Bursts
International Gemini Observatory uncovers surprising evidence of colliding neutron stars after probing aftermath of gamma-ray burst. While investigating the aftermath of a long gamma-ray burst…
Astronomers Discover Closest Black Hole to Earth – In Our Cosmic Backyard
Gemini North telescope on Hawai‘i reveals the first dormant, stellar-mass black hole in our cosmic backyard. Using the International Gemini Observatory, astronomers have discovered the…
Potentially Hazardous “Planet Killer” Asteroid Discovered Lurking in the Inner Solar System
Twilight observations spot three large near-Earth objects lurking in the inner Solar System. Astronomers have spotted three near-Earth asteroids (NEA) hiding in the glare of…
“Marshmallow” World Discovered: Giant Fluffy Planet Orbiting a Cool Red Dwarf Star
Kitt Peak National Observatory telescope helps determines that Jupiter-like Planet is the lowest-density gas giant ever detected around a red dwarf. A gas giant exoplanet…
Immense Trail of Debris From DART Collision With Asteroid Dimorphos Captured by SOAR Telescope
SOAR Telescope Catches Dimorphos’s Expanding Comet-like Tail After DART Impact The SOAR Telescope in Chile imaged the more than 10,000 kilometers long trail of debris…
Unusual Fossil Galaxy Discovered on Outskirts of Andromeda – Could Reveal History of the Universe
Gemini North telescope reveals a relict of the earliest galaxies. A unique ultra-faint dwarf galaxy has been discovered on the outer fringes of the Andromeda…