Tag: #astronomy

Reanalysis finds no evidence of planetary‑mass primordial black holes in Andromeda data

Independent reanalysis finds 12 short events in Subaru observations of M31 are ordinary stellar variability, not planetary‑mass primordial black holes.

#darkmatter, #primordialblackholes, #astronomy, #andromeda

Study: Possible Thin Atmosphere Detected Around Small Trans‑Neptunian Object 2002 XV93

A May 4 Nature Astronomy paper reports a tenuous atmosphere around plutino (612533) 2002 XV93 based on a single 2024 occultation; independent verification needed.

#transneptunian, #astronomy, #occultation, #pluto

JWST Mid‑Infrared Spectrum Indicates Basaltic Surface, Little Atmosphere on Rocky Exoplanet LHS 3844 b

JWST mid-infrared observations of LHS 3844 b point to a dark, low-silica (basaltic) surface and rule out a thick CO2 or SO2 atmosphere.

#astronomy, #exoplanets, #jwst, #surfacecomposition

JWST and Lensing Reveal Abundant Ultra-Faint Galaxies, Bolstering the Case They Powered Reionization

JWST + lensing study finds abundant ultra-faint galaxies at z≈6–9 with no turnover down to MUV≈−12, bolstering the case that faint galaxies powered reionization.

#astronomy, #jwst, #reionization, #galaxies

Wide JWST Survey Finds Fewer Galaxies at z≈10, Bringing Counts Closer to Spectroscopy

A 36-sightline JWST NIRCam survey reports lower galaxy counts near redshift 10 than earlier photometric studies, aligning better with spectroscopic results.

#jwst, #astronomy, #galaxies, #cosmology

DESI completes five-year survey; will continue through 2028 to probe dark energy

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument finished its original five‑year survey, mapping 47M+ objects. DESI will continue through 2028 to test whether dark energy evolves.

#astronomy, #darkenergy, #cosmology, #desi

SPHEREx maps vast interstellar ices and carbon-rich dust across Cygnus X and North American Nebula

NASA’s SPHEREx produced large near-infrared spectral maps revealing water, CO2 and PAH distributions across star-forming regions like Cygnus X.

#astronomy, #spherex, #interstellarice, #milkyway

Astronomers Report Possible Direct Detection of Ionizing UV from Faint Galaxies at Redshift 6

A new arXiv preprint reports stacked detections of extreme‑UV photons from faint galaxies at z≈6, implying high escape fractions if confirmed.

#astronomy, #reionization, #astrosat, #hubble

JWST data suggest powerful galactic wind 300 million years after the Big Bang

JWST spectra show extended CIII] around a z≈14 galaxy, implying strong, metal‑rich outflows moved gas 300 million years after the Big Bang.

#astronomy, #jwst, #galaxies, #cosmicdawn

Sungrazing Comet MAPS Skims the Sun, Leaving Astronomers Waiting to See if It Survived

Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) whipped just 150,000 km above the Sun. Spacecraft images in coming days will reveal whether it held together.

#comet, #astronomy, #sun, #nasa, #space

Newly Found Sungrazing Comet Could Flare Brighter Than Venus—or Disintegrate at the Sun

Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) reaches a perilous April 4 sun-skimming perihelion. Astronomers say it could blaze briefly—or vanish in a breakup.

#comet, #astronomy, #sun, #space, #nasa