AAS NOVA — Research Highlights 2018

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AAS NOVA — Research Highlights 2018

Post by bystander » Mon Jan 08, 2018 8:37 pm

AAS NOVA — Research Highlights 2018
American Astronomical Association

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Galaxies Growing Up on the Edge of the Void

Post by bystander » Mon Jan 08, 2018 8:44 pm

Galaxies Growing Up on the Edge of the Void
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Jan 05
Kerry Hensley wrote:
As effective laboratories for studying the impact of nature on galaxy evolution without the influence of nurture, galaxies in cosmic voids stand alone. What does the dearth of galactic neighbors mean for the morphology of galaxies in cosmic voids? ...

Morphological Segregation in the Surroundings of Cosmic Voids - Elena Ricciardelli et al
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Backyard Telescopes Watch an Expanding Binary

Post by bystander » Fri Jan 19, 2018 3:09 pm

Backyard Telescopes Watch an Expanding Binary
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Jan 17
Susanna Kohler wrote:
What can you do with a team of people armed with backyard telescopes and a decade of patience? Test how binary star systems evolve under Einstein’s general theory of relativity! ...

Orbital Period Increase in ES Ceti - Enrique de Miguel et al
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Update on an Interstellar Asteroid

Post by bystander » Sat Jan 20, 2018 5:45 pm

Update on an Interstellar Asteroid
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Jan 19
Susanna Kohler wrote:
What’s the news coming from the research world on the interstellar asteroid visitor, asteroid 1I/’Oumuamua? Read on for an update from a few of the latest studies. ...

Pole, Pericenter, and Nodes of the Interstellar Minor Body A/2017 U1 - C. de la Fuente Marcos, R. de la Fuente Marcos Origin of Interstellar Object A/2017 U1 in a Nearby Young Stellar Association? - Eric Gaidos, Jonathan P. Williams, Adam Kraus Is 1I/2017 U1 really of interstellar origin? - Jean Schneider Kinematics of the Interstellar Vagabond 1I/'Oumuamua (A/2017 U1) - Eric Mamajek On Distinguishing Interstellar Objects Like `Oumuamua From Products of Solar System Scattering - Jason T. Wright On the Consequences of the Detection of an Interstellar Asteroid - Gregory Laughlin, Konstantin Batygin Explaining the Elongated Shape of 'Oumuamua by the Eikonal Abrasion Model - Gábor Domokos et al Breakthrough Listen Observations of 1I/'Oumuamua with the GBT - J. Emilio Enriquez et al On the Rotation Period and Shape of the Hyperbolic Asteroid 1I/'Oumuamua (2017 U1) from Its Lightcurve - Matthew M. Knight et al Col-OSSOS: Colors of the Interstellar Planetesimal 1I/`Oumuamua - Michele T. Bannister et al
viewtopic.php?t=37698
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Forming Stars Near Our Supermassive Black Hole

Post by bystander » Fri Jan 26, 2018 4:36 pm

Forming Stars Near Our Supermassive Black Hole
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Jan 24
Susanna Kohler wrote:
Is it possible to form stars in the immediate vicinity of the hostile supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy? New evidence suggests that nature has found a way. ...

ALMA Detection of Bipolar Outflows: Evidence for Low-mass Star Formation within 1 pc of Sgr A* - F. Yusef-Zadeh et al
viewtopic.php?t=37797
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Lightweight Double Neutron Star Found

Post by bystander » Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:28 pm

Lightweight Double Neutron Star Found
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Jan 26
Susanna Kohler wrote:
More than forty years after the first discovery of a double neutron star, we still haven’t found many others — but a new survey is working to change that.

In 1974, Russell Hulse and Joseph Taylor discovered the first double neutron star: two compact objects locked in a close orbit about each other. Hulse and Taylor’s measurements of this binary’s decaying orbit over subsequent years led to a Nobel prize — and the first clear evidence of gravitational waves carrying energy and angular momentum away from massive binaries. ...

Since the Hulse-Taylor binary, we’ve found a total of 16 additional double neutron-star systems — which represents only a tiny fraction of the more than 2,600 pulsars currently known. Recently, however, a large number of pulsar surveys are turning their eyes toward the sky, with a focus on finding more double neutron stars — and at least one of them has had success.

Conducted with the 1,000-foot Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico, the Arecibo 327 MHz Drift Pulsar Survey has enabled the recent discovery of dozens of pulsars and transients. Among them, as reported by Jose Martinez (Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy) and coauthors in a recent publication, is PSR J1411+2551: a new double neutron star with one of the lowest masses ever measured for such a system. ...

Pulsar J1411+2551: A Low-Mass Double Neutron Star System - J. G. Martinez et al
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Pinning Down Properties of TRAPPIST-1

Post by bystander » Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:40 pm

Pinning Down Properties of TRAPPIST-1
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Jan 29
Susanna Kohler wrote:
TRAPPIST-1, a nearby ultracool dwarf star, was catapulted into the public eye roughly a year ago when it was determined to host seven transiting, Earth-sized planets — three of which are located in its habitable zone. But how correct are the properties we’ve measured for this system? ...

Stellar Parameters for Trappist-1 - Valérie Van Grootel et al
viewtopic.php?t=36874
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A Nine-Year Hunt for Neutrinos

Post by bystander » Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:48 pm

A Nine-Year Hunt for Neutrinos
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Jan 31
Susanna Kohler wrote:
How do we hunt for elusive neutrinos emitted by distant astrophysical sources? Submerge a huge observatory under ice or water … and then wait patiently. ...

All-Flavor Search for a Diffuse Flux of Cosmic Neutrinos with Nine Years of ANTARES Data - ANTARES Collaboration
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Hubble’s View of Little Blue Dots

Post by bystander » Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:55 pm

Hubble’s View of Little Blue Dots
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Feb 02
Susanna Kohler wrote:
The recent discovery of a new type of tiny, star-forming galaxy is the latest in a zoo of detections shedding light on our early universe. What can we learn from the unique “little blue dots” found in archival Hubble data? ...

Little Blue Dots in the Hubble Space Telescope Frontier Fields:
Precursors to Globular Clusters?
- Debra Meloy Elmegreen, Bruce G. Elmegreen
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A New Look at Speeding Outflows

Post by bystander » Sun Feb 11, 2018 5:47 pm

A New Look at Speeding Outflows
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Feb 07
Susanna Kohler wrote:
The compact centers of active galaxies — known as active galactic nuclei, or AGN — are known for the dynamic behavior they exhibit as the supermassive black holes at their centers accrete matter. New observations of outflows from a nearby AGN provide a more detailed look at what happens in these extreme environments. ...

The Ultra-fast Outflow of the Quasar PG 1211+143 as Viewed by
Time-averaged Chandra Grating Spectroscopy
- Ashkbiz Danehkar et al
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Probing the Structure of Our Solar System’s Edge

Post by bystander » Sun Feb 11, 2018 5:54 pm

Probing the Structure of Our Solar System’s Edge
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Feb 09
Kerry Hensley wrote:
The boundary between the solar wind and the interstellar medium (ISM) at the distant edge of our solar system has been probed remotely and directly by spacecraft, but questions about its properties persist. What can models tell us about the structure of this region? ...

Three-dimensional Features of the Outer Heliosphere Due to Coupling between the Interstellar and Heliospheric Magnetic Field.
V. The Bow Wave, Heliospheric Boundary Layer, Instabilities, and Magnetic Reconnection
- N. V. Pogorelov et al
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Are We Really Missing Small Galaxies?

Post by bystander » Fri Feb 16, 2018 4:37 pm

Are We Really Missing Small Galaxies?
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Feb 12
Susanna Kohler wrote:
One long-standing astrophysical puzzle is that of so-called “missing” dwarf galaxies: the number of small dwarf galaxies that we observe is far fewer than that predicted by theory. New simulations, however, suggest that perhaps there’s no mystery after all. ...

How to Reconcile the Observed Velocity Function of Galaxies with Theory - Alyson M. Brooks et al
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Galactic Pairs in the Early Universe

Post by bystander » Fri Feb 16, 2018 4:42 pm

Galactic Pairs in the Early Universe
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Feb 14
Susanna Kohler wrote:
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, today we’ll be exploring apparent pairs of galaxies in the distant, early universe. How can we tell whether these duos are actually paired galaxies, as opposed to disguised singles? ...

Observing Galaxy Mergers at the Epoch of Reionization - Evgenii A. Chaikin, Nadezda V. Tyulneva, Alexander A. Kaurov
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An Eccentric Planet Skims a Giant Star

Post by bystander » Sat Feb 17, 2018 7:43 pm

An Eccentric Planet Skims a Giant Star
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Feb 16
Susanna Kohler wrote:
As part of a major survey of evolved stars, scientists have discovered the most eccentric planet known to orbit a giant. What can we learn from this unusual object before it’s eventually consumed by its host? ...

The Pan-Pacific Planet Search. VII. The Most Eccentric Planet Orbiting a Giant Star - Robert A. Wittenmyer et al
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Driving Jets from the Sun

Post by bystander » Sun Feb 25, 2018 5:31 pm

Driving Jets from the Sun
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Feb 21
Susanna Kohler wrote:
What launches small jets and enormous coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun’s surface? New simulations explore how changing magnetic fields can drive these powerful eruptions. ...

A Breakout Model for Solar Coronal Jets with Filaments - P. F. Wyper, C. R. DeVore, S. K. Antiochos
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Our Galactic Neighbor Hosts Complex Organic Molecules

Post by bystander » Sun Feb 25, 2018 5:38 pm

Our Galactic Neighbor Hosts Complex Organic Molecules
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Feb 23
Kerry Hensley wrote:
For the first time, data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) reveal the presence of methyl formate and dimethyl ether in a star-forming region outside our galaxy. This discovery has important implications for the formation and survival of complex organic compounds — important for the formation of life — in low-metallicity galaxies both young and old. ...

The Detection of Hot Cores and Complex Organic Molecules in the Large Magellanic Cloud - Marta Sewiło et al
viewtopic.php?t=37990
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PALFA Discovers Neutron Stars on a Collision Course

Post by bystander » Sat Mar 03, 2018 7:39 pm

PALFA Discovers Neutron Stars on a Collision Course
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Feb 26
Susanna Kohler wrote:
Got any plans in 46 million years? If not, you should keep an eye out for PSR J1946+2052 around that time — this upcoming merger of two neutron stars promises to be an exciting show! ...

PALFA Discovery of a Highly Relativistic Double Neutron Star Binary - K. Stovall et al
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Jets from Young Stars in Cygnus-X

Post by bystander » Sat Mar 03, 2018 7:47 pm

Jets from Young Stars in Cygnus-X
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Feb 28
Susanna Kohler wrote:
How do you spot very young, newly formed stars? One giveaway is the presence of jets and outflows that interact with the stars’ environments. In a new study, scientists have now discovered an unprecedented number of these outflows in a nearby star-forming region of our galaxy. ...

YSO Jets in the Galactic Plane from UWISH2. IV. Jets and Outflows in Cygnus-X - S. V. Makin, D. Froebrich
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The Fate of Exomoons when Planets Scatter

Post by bystander » Sat Mar 10, 2018 2:54 pm

The Fate of Exomoons when Planets Scatter
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Mar 07
Susanna Kohler wrote:
Planet interactions are thought to be common as solar systems are first forming and settling down. A new study suggests that these close encounters could have a significant impact on the moons of giant exoplanets — and they may generate a large population of free-floating exomoons. ...

Innocent Bystanders: Orbital Dynamics of Exomoons during Planet-Planet Scattering - Yu-Cian Hong et al
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Re: The Fate of Exomoons when Planets Scatter

Post by bystander » Sat Mar 10, 2018 2:56 pm

Susanna Kohler wrote:
... free-floating exomoons. ...

As the Innocent Bystander here, I didn't think a "moon" could be "free-floating"
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Signs of Asymmetry in Exploding Stars

Post by bystander » Sat Mar 10, 2018 3:04 pm

Signs of Asymmetry in Exploding Stars
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Mar 09
Kerry Hensley wrote:
Supernova explosions enrich the interstellar medium and can even briefly outshine their host galaxies. However, the mechanism behind these massive explosions still isn’t fully understood. Could probing the asymmetry of supernova remnants help us better understand what drives these explosions? ...

Light Curves and Spectra from a Unimodal Core-Collapse Supernova - Ryan T. Wollaeger et al
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NICER Eyes on Bursting Stars

Post by bystander » Fri Mar 16, 2018 8:06 pm

NICER Eyes on Bursting Stars
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Mar 12
Susanna Kohler wrote:
What happens to a neutron star’s accretion disk when its surface briefly explodes? A new instrument recently deployed at the International Space Station (ISS) is now watching bursts from neutron stars and reporting back. ...

NICER Observes the Effects of an X-Ray Burst on the Accretion Environment in Aql X-1 - L. Keek et al
viewtopic.php?t=37390
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Modeling the Variable Heliopause Location

Post by bystander » Fri Mar 16, 2018 8:13 pm

Modeling the Variable Heliopause Location
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Mar 14
Kerry Hensley wrote:
In 2012, Voyager 1 zipped across the heliopause. Five and a half years later, Voyager 2 still hasn’t followed its twin into interstellar space. Can models of the heliopause location help determine why? ...

Time-varying Heliospheric Distance to the Heliopause - Haruichi Washimi et al
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Shaping Globular Clusters with Black Holes

Post by bystander » Mon Mar 26, 2018 3:02 pm

Shaping Globular Clusters with Black Holes
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Mar 21
Susanna Kohler wrote:
How many black holes lurk within the dense environments of globular clusters, and how do these powerful objects shape the properties of the cluster around them? One such cluster, NGC 3201, is now helping us to answer these questions. ...

How Black Holes Shape Globular Clusters: Modeling NGC 3201 - Kyle Kremer et al
viewtopic.php?t=37952
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Unusual Metals in Galactic Center Stars

Post by bystander » Mon Mar 26, 2018 3:14 pm

Unusual Metals in Galactic Center Stars
NOVA | American Astronomical Society | 2018 Mar 23
Kerry Hensley wrote:
Far from the galactic suburbs where the Sun resides, a cluster of stars in the nucleus of the Milky Way orbits a supermassive black hole. Can chemical abundance measurements help us understand the formation history of the galactic center nuclear star cluster? ...

Super-Solar Metallicity Stars in the Galactic Center Nuclear
Star Cluster: Unusual Sc, V, and Y Abundances
- Tuan Do et al
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