Neptune’s Clouds Perform a Surprise Disappearing Act
Neptune’s clouds have nearly disappeared for the first time in three decades. Observations indicate a potential link between the planet’s cloud patterns and the solar…
W. M. Keck Observatory News
The W. M. Keck Observatory, located atop the dormant Mauna Kea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii, is a pivotal astronomical research facility known for its two twin telescopes, each 10 meters in diameter. These telescopes, among the largest optical and infrared telescopes in the world, have been operational since 1993 and 1996, respectively. They enable scientists to observe celestial phenomena with exceptional clarity and depth, contributing significantly to the fields of astronomy and astrophysics. The observatory has facilitated numerous discoveries, including the identification of distant galaxies, the study of black holes, and the detection of exoplanets. Supported by a consortium of prestigious research institutions, Keck Observatory remains at the forefront of astronomical research, providing valuable insights into the universe’s most fundamental mysteries.
Neptune’s Vanishing Cloud Mystery: Astronomers Discover a Solar Connection
As Sunspots Come and Go, So Does the Cloudy Weather on the Blue Giant Planet Weather forecast for Neptune: After sunny weather for the past…
New Era of Exoplanet Discovery: Direct Imaging of “Jupiter’s Younger Sibling”
Scientists have used a technique called astrometry to directly image one of the lowest-mass planets, AF Lep b, orbiting a young Sun-like star. This method…
Astronomers Unravel the Mystery of the Missing Twins in Galactic Center
Astronomers have found that young supermassive stars near the Milky Way’s black hole are single, not binary, a finding contrary to normal supermassive star formation….
Breaking the Cosmic Silence: First Detection of Radio Waves From Type Ia Supernova
An unusual Type Ia supernova has been discovered by Stockholm University astronomers. For the first time, it was detected in radio waves and showed strong…
The Cosmic Potato: M87 Galaxy’s True 3D Shape Revealed
A Huge City of Myriad Stars Turns Out to be Potato-Shaped Though it’s estimated that the universe contains 1 trillion galaxies, they come in just…
Black Hole Brawl: Astronomers Discover Rare Quasar Pair Ready to Rumble
Astronomers have discovered a rare pair of actively feeding supermassive black holes, or quasars, on the verge of colliding. This unique system, J0749+2255, was found…
New Aurorae Detected on All Four of Jupiter’s Major Moons
Astronomers using W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea in Hawaiʻi have discovered that aurorae at visible wavelengths appear on all 4 major moons of Jupiter:…
Astronomers Watch a Star Die and Then Explode as a Supernova – For the Very First Time
It’s another first for astronomy. For the first time, a team of astronomers has imaged in real-time as a red supergiant star reached the end…
Worlds Can Change: Puffy Planets Lose Atmospheres & Become Super-Earths
Worlds Around Other Stars Can Change Their Classification If our solar system were a hobbyist kit, it would come boxed up with four rocky terrestrial…
Explosion of Supergiant Star Captured by Astronomers
For the first time, the last days of a red supergiant star were directly observed as it transitioned into a supernova, challenging prior assumptions about…
Astronomers Witness a Massive Dying Star Reach Its Explosive End
Two Hawai’i Telescopes Capture a Massive Star Moments Before Going Supernova Astronomers observed a red supergiant’s transformation into a supernova in real-time, using Hawaii’s telescopes….
Astronomers Capture Red Supergiant Star Exploding in Massive Supernova – For the Very First Time
For the first time, researchers observed a red supergiant’s transition into a supernova in real-time, noting unexpected violent emissions and gas ejections in its final…
Planet Discovered That Survived Its Star’s Death: A Crystal Ball Into Our Solar System’s Future
Giant gas planet orbiting a dead star gives glimpse into the predicted aftermath of our sun’s demise. Astronomers have discovered the very first confirmed planetary…
International Observatories Assemble To Solve “Energy Crisis” on Jupiter
Sitting more than five times the distance from the Sun as Earth, Jupiter is not expected to be particularly warm. Based on the amount of…
Astronomers Probe Layer-Cake Structure of Monster Brown Dwarf’s Alien Atmosphere
Jupiter may be the bully planet of our solar system because it’s the most massive planet, but it’s actually a runt compared to many of…
Tragic Teardrop Star Reveals Hidden Supernova Doom
Astronomers have made the rare sighting of two stars spiraling to their doom by spotting the tell-tale signs of a teardrop-shaped star. The tragic shape…
A Smoldering Stellar Corpse on the Edge: Astronomers Spot a White Dwarf So Massive It Might Collapse
Astronomers have discovered the smallest and most massive white dwarf ever seen. The smoldering cinder, which formed when two less massive white dwarfs merged, is…