This document summarizes key findings from a study of the radio jet in galaxy 3C84 using very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) with the RadioAstron space telescope. The observations resolve the edge-brightened jet structure only 30 microarcseconds from the core, corresponding to ~350 gravitational radii. This is 10 times closer to the central engine than previous ground-based observations. The measurements show the jet has an initially wide opening angle of 130 degrees that rapidly collimates into an almost cylindrical profile out to ~8,000 gravitational radii. The wide jet observed so close to the core poses challenges for models where the jet originates from the black hole ergosphere.
A giant galaxy in the young Universe with a massive ringSérgio Sacani
In the local (redshift z ≈ 0) Universe, collisional ring galaxies make up only ~0.01% of galaxies1 and are formed by head-on galactic collisions that trigger radially propagating density waves2–4. These striking systems provide key snapshots for dissecting galactic disks and are studied extensively in the local Universe5–9. However, not much is known about distant (z > 0.1) collisional rings10–14. Here we present a detailed study of a ring galaxy at a look-back time of 10.8 Gyr (z = 2.19). Compared with our Milky Way, this galaxy has a similar stellar mass, but has a stellar half-light radius that is 1.5–2.2 times larger and is forming stars 50 times faster. The extended, dif- fuse stellar light outside the star-forming ring, combined with a radial velocity on the ring and an intruder galaxy nearby, provides evidence for this galaxy hosting a collisional ring. If the ring is secularly evolved15,16, the implied large bar in a giant disk would be inconsistent with the current understand- ing of the earliest formation of barred spirals17–21. Contrary to previous predictions10–12, this work suggests that massive col- lisional rings were as rare 11 Gyr ago as they are today. Our discovery offers a unique pathway for studying density waves in young galaxies, as well as constraining the cosmic evolution of spiral disks and galaxy groups.
Mapping the complex_kinematics_of_l_lobjects_in_the_orion_nebulaSérgio Sacani
This document presents a study of the kinematics of two LL Orionis-type objects (LL objects) in the Orion nebula, LL 1 and LL 2, and their associated Herbig-Haro jets HH 888 and HH 505. The authors combine long-slit spectroscopic observations of the objects with proper motion measurements to construct 3D velocity maps. The maps reveal:
1) Low velocities (10-20 km/s) in the stellar bowshocks of LL 1 and LL 2, with LL 1 showing symmetric motions and LL 2 showing asymmetric motions following nebula gradients.
2) Jet knot velocities over 200 km/s near the stars declining to under 100 km/s farther out in HH 8
Alma observations of_the_hh46_47_molecular_outflowSérgio Sacani
ALMA observations of the HH 46/47 molecular outflow reveal striking differences between the blue and red lobes. The blue lobe morphology and kinematics are consistent with entrainment by a wide-angle wind, while the red lobe shows a more complex structure with evidence of entrainment by both a wide-angle wind and collimated episodic winds. Three major clumps along the red lobe axis have velocity distributions consistent with prompt entrainment by periodic mass ejection episodes occurring every few hundred years. Position-velocity cuts show velocity gradients increasing toward the outflow axis, inconsistent with outflow rotation.
Clusters of cyclones encircling Jupiter’s polesSérgio Sacani
The familiar axisymmetric zones and belts that characterize
Jupiter’s weather system at lower latitudes give way to pervasive
cyclonic activity at higher latitudes1
. Two-dimensional turbulence
in combination with the Coriolis β-effect (that is, the large
meridionally varying Coriolis force on the giant planets of the Solar
System) produces alternating zonal flows2
. The zonal flows weaken
with rising latitude so that a transition between equatorial jets and
polar turbulence on Jupiter can occur3,4
. Simulations with shallowwater
models of giant planets support this transition by producing
both alternating flows near the equator and circumpolar cyclones
near the poles5–9. Jovian polar regions are not visible from Earth
owing to Jupiter’s low axial tilt, and were poorly characterized by
previous missions because the trajectories of these missions did
not venture far from Jupiter’s equatorial plane. Here we report
that visible and infrared images obtained from above each pole
by the Juno spacecraft during its first five orbits reveal persistent
polygonal patterns of large cyclones. In the north, eight circumpolar
cyclones are observed about a single polar cyclone; in the south, one
polar cyclone is encircled by five circumpolar cyclones. Cyclonic
circulation is established via time-lapse imagery obtained over
intervals ranging from 20 minutes to 4 hours. Although migration of
cyclones towards the pole might be expected as a consequence of the
Coriolis β-effect, by which cyclonic vortices naturally drift towards
the rotational pole, the configuration of the cyclones is without
precedent on other planets (including Saturn’s polar hexagonal
features). The manner in which the cyclones persist without merging
and the process by which they evolve to their current configuration
are unknown.
Variability of solar eruptions during cycle 23Carlos Bella
This document analyzes solar eruptions during solar cycle 23 from 1996-2001 using data from the SOHO mission. It finds that both the rate of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and their average and median speeds increased from solar minimum to maximum. The CME rate increased by a factor of 10, while speeds increased by a factor of 2. There was also a poor correlation found between metric and DH type II radio bursts, attributed to different Alfven speeds in their source regions.
Gas physical conditions_and_kinematics_of_the_giant_outflow_ou4Sérgio Sacani
This document discusses observations of the giant outflow Ou4, located near the HII region Sh 2-129. Spectroscopic observations of Ou4 reveal shock-excited gas consistent with a fast collimated outflow. Mid-infrared images show a bubble of hot dust emission inside Ou4 that corresponds to [OIII] features. The distance and properties of Ou4 are consistent with it being launched about 90,000 years ago from the young massive star cluster HR 8119, located at the center of Sh 2-129. However, the possibility that Ou4 is a planetary nebula or resulted from an eruptive event on a massive asymptotic giant branch star cannot be ruled out.
This document summarizes the results of a 180 ks Chandra-LETGS observation of Mrk 509 as part of a larger multi-wavelength campaign. The observation detected several absorption features in the X-ray spectrum originating from an ionized absorber, including ions with three distinct ionization degrees. The lowest ionized component is slightly redshifted and not in pressure equilibrium with the others, likely belonging to the host galaxy's interstellar medium. The other two components are outflowing at velocities of around -200 and -455 km/s. Simultaneous HST-COS observations detected 13 UV kinematic components, and at least three can be associated with the X-ray components, providing evidence that the UV and X-
Dust in the_polar_region_as_a_major_contributor_to_the_infrared_emission_of_a...Sérgio Sacani
The mid-infrared emission of the active galactic nucleus NGC 3783 was observed using interferometry over multiple epochs, providing dense coverage of position angles and baselines. The emission was found to be strongly elongated along a position angle of -52 degrees, closely aligned with the polar axis orientation of -45 degrees. The half-light radii were measured to be 20.0 mas by 6.7 mas, corresponding to an axis ratio of 3:1. This implies that 60-90% of the 8-13 micron emission is from the polar-elongated component. The observations support a scenario where the majority of mid-infrared emission in Seyfert galaxies originates from a dusty wind in the polar region,
A giant galaxy in the young Universe with a massive ringSérgio Sacani
In the local (redshift z ≈ 0) Universe, collisional ring galaxies make up only ~0.01% of galaxies1 and are formed by head-on galactic collisions that trigger radially propagating density waves2–4. These striking systems provide key snapshots for dissecting galactic disks and are studied extensively in the local Universe5–9. However, not much is known about distant (z > 0.1) collisional rings10–14. Here we present a detailed study of a ring galaxy at a look-back time of 10.8 Gyr (z = 2.19). Compared with our Milky Way, this galaxy has a similar stellar mass, but has a stellar half-light radius that is 1.5–2.2 times larger and is forming stars 50 times faster. The extended, dif- fuse stellar light outside the star-forming ring, combined with a radial velocity on the ring and an intruder galaxy nearby, provides evidence for this galaxy hosting a collisional ring. If the ring is secularly evolved15,16, the implied large bar in a giant disk would be inconsistent with the current understand- ing of the earliest formation of barred spirals17–21. Contrary to previous predictions10–12, this work suggests that massive col- lisional rings were as rare 11 Gyr ago as they are today. Our discovery offers a unique pathway for studying density waves in young galaxies, as well as constraining the cosmic evolution of spiral disks and galaxy groups.
Mapping the complex_kinematics_of_l_lobjects_in_the_orion_nebulaSérgio Sacani
This document presents a study of the kinematics of two LL Orionis-type objects (LL objects) in the Orion nebula, LL 1 and LL 2, and their associated Herbig-Haro jets HH 888 and HH 505. The authors combine long-slit spectroscopic observations of the objects with proper motion measurements to construct 3D velocity maps. The maps reveal:
1) Low velocities (10-20 km/s) in the stellar bowshocks of LL 1 and LL 2, with LL 1 showing symmetric motions and LL 2 showing asymmetric motions following nebula gradients.
2) Jet knot velocities over 200 km/s near the stars declining to under 100 km/s farther out in HH 8
Alma observations of_the_hh46_47_molecular_outflowSérgio Sacani
ALMA observations of the HH 46/47 molecular outflow reveal striking differences between the blue and red lobes. The blue lobe morphology and kinematics are consistent with entrainment by a wide-angle wind, while the red lobe shows a more complex structure with evidence of entrainment by both a wide-angle wind and collimated episodic winds. Three major clumps along the red lobe axis have velocity distributions consistent with prompt entrainment by periodic mass ejection episodes occurring every few hundred years. Position-velocity cuts show velocity gradients increasing toward the outflow axis, inconsistent with outflow rotation.
Clusters of cyclones encircling Jupiter’s polesSérgio Sacani
The familiar axisymmetric zones and belts that characterize
Jupiter’s weather system at lower latitudes give way to pervasive
cyclonic activity at higher latitudes1
. Two-dimensional turbulence
in combination with the Coriolis β-effect (that is, the large
meridionally varying Coriolis force on the giant planets of the Solar
System) produces alternating zonal flows2
. The zonal flows weaken
with rising latitude so that a transition between equatorial jets and
polar turbulence on Jupiter can occur3,4
. Simulations with shallowwater
models of giant planets support this transition by producing
both alternating flows near the equator and circumpolar cyclones
near the poles5–9. Jovian polar regions are not visible from Earth
owing to Jupiter’s low axial tilt, and were poorly characterized by
previous missions because the trajectories of these missions did
not venture far from Jupiter’s equatorial plane. Here we report
that visible and infrared images obtained from above each pole
by the Juno spacecraft during its first five orbits reveal persistent
polygonal patterns of large cyclones. In the north, eight circumpolar
cyclones are observed about a single polar cyclone; in the south, one
polar cyclone is encircled by five circumpolar cyclones. Cyclonic
circulation is established via time-lapse imagery obtained over
intervals ranging from 20 minutes to 4 hours. Although migration of
cyclones towards the pole might be expected as a consequence of the
Coriolis β-effect, by which cyclonic vortices naturally drift towards
the rotational pole, the configuration of the cyclones is without
precedent on other planets (including Saturn’s polar hexagonal
features). The manner in which the cyclones persist without merging
and the process by which they evolve to their current configuration
are unknown.
Variability of solar eruptions during cycle 23Carlos Bella
This document analyzes solar eruptions during solar cycle 23 from 1996-2001 using data from the SOHO mission. It finds that both the rate of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and their average and median speeds increased from solar minimum to maximum. The CME rate increased by a factor of 10, while speeds increased by a factor of 2. There was also a poor correlation found between metric and DH type II radio bursts, attributed to different Alfven speeds in their source regions.
Gas physical conditions_and_kinematics_of_the_giant_outflow_ou4Sérgio Sacani
This document discusses observations of the giant outflow Ou4, located near the HII region Sh 2-129. Spectroscopic observations of Ou4 reveal shock-excited gas consistent with a fast collimated outflow. Mid-infrared images show a bubble of hot dust emission inside Ou4 that corresponds to [OIII] features. The distance and properties of Ou4 are consistent with it being launched about 90,000 years ago from the young massive star cluster HR 8119, located at the center of Sh 2-129. However, the possibility that Ou4 is a planetary nebula or resulted from an eruptive event on a massive asymptotic giant branch star cannot be ruled out.
This document summarizes the results of a 180 ks Chandra-LETGS observation of Mrk 509 as part of a larger multi-wavelength campaign. The observation detected several absorption features in the X-ray spectrum originating from an ionized absorber, including ions with three distinct ionization degrees. The lowest ionized component is slightly redshifted and not in pressure equilibrium with the others, likely belonging to the host galaxy's interstellar medium. The other two components are outflowing at velocities of around -200 and -455 km/s. Simultaneous HST-COS observations detected 13 UV kinematic components, and at least three can be associated with the X-ray components, providing evidence that the UV and X-
Dust in the_polar_region_as_a_major_contributor_to_the_infrared_emission_of_a...Sérgio Sacani
The mid-infrared emission of the active galactic nucleus NGC 3783 was observed using interferometry over multiple epochs, providing dense coverage of position angles and baselines. The emission was found to be strongly elongated along a position angle of -52 degrees, closely aligned with the polar axis orientation of -45 degrees. The half-light radii were measured to be 20.0 mas by 6.7 mas, corresponding to an axis ratio of 3:1. This implies that 60-90% of the 8-13 micron emission is from the polar-elongated component. The observations support a scenario where the majority of mid-infrared emission in Seyfert galaxies originates from a dusty wind in the polar region,
Jupiter’s atmospheric jet streams extend thousands of kilometres deepSérgio Sacani
The document summarizes findings from measurements taken by the Juno spacecraft orbiting Jupiter. It finds that Jupiter's atmospheric jet streams extend thousands of kilometers deep, likely to depths where magnetic dissipation occurs around 3,000 km. By inverting gravity measurements, the researchers calculated the most likely vertical profile of deep atmospheric flows, with an exponential decay depth of around 1,500 km. Considering angular momentum, the deep flows are likely driven by a balance between drag from Lorentz forces and eddy momentum fluxes near the cloud level.
A suppression of differential rotation in Jupiter’s deep interiorSérgio Sacani
Jupiter’s atmosphere is rotating differentially, with zones and
belts rotating at speeds that differ by up to 100 metres per
second. Whether this is also true of the gas giant’s interior has
been unknown1,2
, limiting our ability to probe the structure and
composition of the planet3,4
. The discovery by the Juno spacecraft
that Jupiter’s gravity field is north–south asymmetric5
and the
determination of its non-zero odd gravitational harmonics J3, J5, J7
and J9 demonstrates that the observed zonal cloud flow must persist
to a depth of about 3,000 kilometres from the cloud tops6
. Here we
report an analysis of Jupiter’s even gravitational harmonics J4, J6,
J8 and J10 as observed by Juno5
and compared to the predictions
of interior models. We find that the deep interior of the planet
rotates nearly as a rigid body, with differential rotation decreasing
by at least an order of magnitude compared to the atmosphere.
Moreover, we find that the atmospheric zonal flow extends to more
than 2,000 kilometres and to less than 3,500 kilometres, making
it fully consistent with the constraints obtained independently
from the odd gravitational harmonics. This depth corresponds
to the point at which the electric conductivity becomes large and
magnetic drag should suppress differential rotation7
. Given that
electric conductivity is dependent on planetary mass, we expect the
outer, differentially rotating region to be at least three times deeper
in Saturn and to be shallower in massive giant planets and brown
dwarfs.
Measurement of Jupiter’s asymmetric gravity fieldSérgio Sacani
The gravity harmonics of a fluid, rotating planet can be decomposed
into static components arising from solid-body rotation and dynamic
components arising from flows. In the absence of internal dynamics,
the gravity field is axially and hemispherically symmetric and is
dominated by even zonal gravity harmonics J2n that are approximately
proportional to qn, where q is the ratio between centrifugal
acceleration and gravity at the planet’s equator1
. Any asymmetry in the
gravity field is attributed to differential rotation and deep atmospheric
flows. The odd harmonics, J3, J5, J7, J9 and higher, are a measure of the
depth of the winds in the different zones of the atmosphere2,3
. Here
we report measurements of Jupiter’s gravity harmonics (both even
and odd) through precise Doppler tracking of the Juno spacecraft
in its polar orbit around Jupiter. We find a north–south asymmetry,
which is a signature of atmospheric and interior flows. Analysis of
the harmonics, described in two accompanying papers4,5
, provides
the vertical profile of the winds and precise constraints for the depth
of Jupiter’s dynamical atmosphere.
This document describes observations of the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 509 using the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The observations detected absorption features in the ultraviolet spectrum, which are attributed to outflowing gas from the active galactic nucleus as well as gas in the galaxy's interstellar medium and halo. The COS observations provide higher signal-to-noise and resolution than previous observations, detecting additional complexity in the absorption features. Variability in some features constrains the distances of absorbing gas components to be less than 250 pc and 1.5 kpc from the active nucleus. The absorption lines only partially cover the emission from the active nucleus, possibly due to
This document summarizes the detection of a super-Earth planet orbiting the star GJ 832. Radial velocity data from three telescopes revealed a planet, GJ 832c, with an orbital period of 35.68 days and a minimum mass of 5.4 Earth masses. GJ 832c has a low eccentricity orbit of 0.18 near the inner edge of the star's habitable zone. However, given its large mass, the planet likely has a massive atmosphere that could render it uninhabitable. The GJ 832 system resembles a miniature version of our solar system, with an interior potentially rocky planet and a distant gas giant.
Successful search for ether drift in a modified michelson morley experiment u...Võ Hồng Quý
This modified Michelson-Morley experiment directly measured the travel times of light using GPS clocks placed along the arms, instead of indirectly measuring fringe shifts. It detected differences in travel times for light moving east-west, consistent with the Earth's rotational motion causing ether drift, but no differences north-south. This provides evidence for the existence of ether drift in a way not subject to the length contraction effects that obscured results of previous experiments. The GPS clocks precisely confirmed the light travel times predicted by ether theory for the changing speed of light due to the apparatus moving through the ether as the Earth rotates.
Millimetre-wave emission from an intermediatemass black hole candidate in the...Sérgio Sacani
This document reports the discovery of a point-like continuum source (CO–0.40–0.22*) located near the center of a peculiar molecular cloud (CO–0.40–0.22) in the Milky Way galaxy. CO–0.40–0.22* has properties consistent with being an intermediate-mass black hole of around 105 solar masses, including its luminosity, spectrum, and ability to reproduce the kinematics of gas in simulations. This would make it one of the most promising intermediate-mass black hole candidates identified in the Milky Way to date.
1. This paper presents results from a 600 ks XMM-Newton observation of Mrk 509 as part of a large multiwavelength campaign.
2. The high quality spectrum allows an unprecedented investigation of the ionized outflow through the detection of multiple absorption lines.
3. The outflow is found to consist of at least two velocity components that have been observed previously, as well as a tentative high velocity component. Discrete ionization components are detected spanning four orders of magnitude in ionization parameter.
Herschel far infrared_spectroscopy_of_the_galactic_centerSérgio Sacani
The document summarizes observations from the Herschel Space Observatory of the Galactic Center region, focusing on a spectral scan toward Sagittarius A*. Key findings include:
1) Strong emission from atomic fine structure lines and rotationally excited lines of molecules like CO, H2O and HCO+ are detected.
2) The excitation of the CO ladder is consistent with either a hot isothermal gas component at 103.1 K and 104 cm-3, or a distribution of warmer gas at higher densities, with most CO at 300 K.
3) The detected molecular features suggest heating is from a combination of UV irradiation and shocks in the gas, rather than very enhanced X-ray or cosmic
This document summarizes a blind HI survey of the southern Milky Way zone of avoidance conducted with the Parkes radio telescope. The survey detected 883 galaxies at Galactic longitudes 212° < l < 36° and latitudes |b| < 5° to a sensitivity of 6 mJy per 27 km/s channel. Fifty-one percent of detections had known optical/near-infrared counterparts, while 27% had new counterparts identified. The survey delineated large-scale structures in the Puppis and Great Attractor regions for the first time. Several newly identified galaxy concentrations and clusters were revealed that help trace the Great Attractor Wall.
Herschel galactic plane_survey_the_global_distribution_of_ism_gas_componnentSérgio Sacani
This document summarizes a study using Herschel observations of the [C ii] 158μm line to analyze the distribution of different gas components in the Milky Way galaxy. The observations provide high-resolution maps of [C ii] emission across the Galactic plane. By comparing these maps to observations of HI, CO, and other tracers, the study finds that [C ii] emission is associated with spiral arms between 4-10 kpc from the Galactic center. It estimates that [C ii] traces dense photon-dominated regions (47%), CO-dark H2 gas (28%), cold atomic gas (21%), and ionized gas (4%). The study also analyzes the distribution of cold neutral medium versus
Spitzer Observations of the Predicted Eddington Flare from Blazar OJ 287Sérgio Sacani
Binary black hole (BH) central engine description for the unique blazar OJ 287 predicted that the
next secondary BH impact-induced bremsstrahlung flare should peak on 2019 July 31. This prediction
was based on detailed general relativistic modeling of the secondary BH trajectory around the primary
BH and its accretion disk. The expected flare was termed the Eddington flare to commemorate the
centennial celebrations of now-famous solar eclipse observations to test general relativity by Sir Arthur
Corresponding author: Lankeswar Dey
lankeswar.dey@tifr.res.in
arXiv:2004.13392v1 [astro-ph.HE] 28 Apr 2020
2 Laine et al.
Eddington. We analyze the multi-epoch Spitzer observations of the expected flare between 2019 July
31 and 2019 September 6, as well as baseline observations during 2019 February–March. Observed
Spitzer flux density variations during the predicted outburst time display a strong similarity with
the observed optical pericenter flare from OJ 287 during 2007 September. The predicted flare appears
comparable to the 2007 flare after subtracting the expected higher base-level Spitzer flux densities at
3.55 and 4.49 µm compared to the optical R-band. Comparing the 2019 and 2007 outburst lightcurves
and the previously calculated predictions, we find that the Eddington flare arrived within 4 hours of
the predicted time. Our Spitzer observations are well consistent with the presence of a nano-Hertz
gravitational wave emitting spinning massive binary BH that inspirals along a general relativistic
eccentric orbit in OJ 287. These multi-epoch Spitzer observations provide a parametric constraint
on the celebrated BH no-hair theorem.
A nearby yoiung_m_dwarf_with_wide_possibly_planetary_m_ass_companionSérgio Sacani
This document summarizes the identification of two young objects, TYC 9486-927-1 and 2MASS J21265040−8140293, as a likely very wide binary system. It presents revised astrometry showing they have common proper motion. Spectroscopy of the secondary yields a radial velocity consistent with the primary. Analysis of lithium absorption and kinematics suggests an age range of 10-45 Myr, with the secondary having an estimated mass in the planetary mass regime. If confirmed, this would be the widest known exoplanet system at over 4500 AU separation.
This document summarizes observations of the lensed galaxy HATLAS J142935.3-002836 (H1429-0028) from the Herschel-ATLAS survey. Optical spectroscopy revealed the foreground lens is at redshift 0.218, while the background galaxy is at redshift 1.027. High-resolution imaging from Hubble Space Telescope and Keck adaptive optics show the background galaxy is comprised of two components and a tidal tail, resembling a major merger. Analysis of ALMA observations of CO emission provides a dynamical mass estimate of one component as 5.8 ± 1.7 × 1010 M☉. Modeling of the spectral energy distribution indicates the total stellar mass is 1.32
Evidence for a_distant_giant_planet_in_the_solar_systemSérgio Sacani
A descoberta de um novo planeta, atualmente não é uma manchete que chama tanto assim a atenção das pessoas. Muito disso, graças ao Telescópio Espacial Kepler, que já descobriu quase 2000 exoplanetas e todo instante uma nova descoberta é anunciada, certo? Mais ou menos, a descoberta anunciada hoje, dia 20 de Janeiro de 2016, é um pouco diferente, pois não se trata de um exoplaneta, e sim de um novo planeta no Sistema Solar, e esse é um fato que intriga os astrônomos a muitos e muitos anos.
Porém, temos que ir com calma com esses anúncios. No artigo aceito para publicação no The Astronomical Journal (artigo no final do post), os autores, Mike Brown e Konstantin Batygin, do Instituto de Tecnologia da Califórnia, apresentaram o que eles dizem ser evidências circunstâncias fortes para a existência de um grande planeta ainda não descoberto, talvez, com uma massa 10 vezes a massa da Terra, orbitando os confins do nosso Sistema Solar, muito além da órbita de Plutão. Os cientistas inferiram sua presença, por meio de anomalias encontradas nas órbitas de seis objetos do chamado Cinturão de Kuiper.
O objeto, que os pesquisadores estão chamando de Planeta Nove, não chega muito perto do Sol, no ponto mais próximo da sua órbita ele fica a 30.5 bilhões de quilômetros, ou seja, cinco vezes a distância entre o Sol e Plutão. Apesar do seu grande tamanho, ele é muito apagado, e por isso ninguém até o momento conseguiu observá-lo.
Não existe ainda uma confirmação observacional da descoberta, mas as evidências são tão fortes que fizeram com que outros especialistas como Chad Trujilo do Observatório Gemini no Havaí e David Nesvorny, do Southwest Research Institute em Boulder no Colorado, ficassem impressionados e bem convencidos de que deve mesmo haver um grande planeta nas fronteiras da nossa vizinhança cósmica.
The importance of comets for the origin of life on Earth has been advocated for many decades. Amino acids are
key ingredients in chemistry, leading to life as we know it. Many primitive meteorites contain amino acids, and it
is generally believed that these are formed by aqueous alterations. In the collector aerogel and foil samples of the
Stardust mission after the flyby at comet Wild 2, the simplest form of amino acids, glycine, has been found
together with precursor molecules methylamine and ethylamine. Because of contamination issues of the samples,
a cometary origin was deduced from the 13C isotopic signature. We report the presence of volatile glycine
accompanied by methylamine and ethylamine in the coma of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko measured by
the ROSINA (Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis) mass spectrometer, confirming the
Stardust results. Together with the detection of phosphorus and a multitude of organic molecules, this result
demonstrates that comets could have played a crucial role in the emergence of life on Earth.
This document summarizes new results from a study of proper motions in the optical jet of the galaxy M87 using over 13 years of Hubble Space Telescope imaging data. Key findings include:
1) Superluminal velocities (above the speed of light) were measured for knots as far out as knot C in the jet, suggesting these speeds persist over large distances.
2) Significant apparent accelerations both parallel and transverse to the jet axis were found, as well as evidence for stationary features in some knots.
3) Complex motions including differing velocities between nearby features and changes in velocity over time were observed throughout the jet, placing constraints on theoretical jet models.
A measurement of_the_black_hole_mass_in_ngc_1097_using_almaSérgio Sacani
Artigo descreve a maneira como os astrônomos usaram pela primeira vez o ALMA para medir a massa de um buraco negro supermassivo no interior de uma galáxias espiral barrada.
A mildly relativistic wide-angle outflow in the neutron-star merger event GW1...Sérgio Sacani
GW170817 was the first gravitational wave detection of a binary
neutron-star merger1
. It was accompanied by radiation across the
electromagnetic spectrum and localized2
to the galaxy NGC 4993
at a distance of 40 megaparsecs. It has been proposed that the
observed γ-ray, X-ray and radio emission is due to an ultrarelativistic
jet launched during the merger, directed away from
our line of sight3–6. The presence of such a jet is predicted from
models that posit neutron-star mergers as the central engines
that drive short hard γ-ray bursts7,8
. Here we report that the radio
light curve of GW170817 has no direct signature of an off-axis
jet afterglow. Although we cannot rule out the existence of a jet
pointing elsewhere, the observed γ-rays could not have originated
from such a jet. Instead, the radio data require a mildly relativistic
wide-angle outflow moving towards us. This outflow could be the
high-velocity tail of the neutron-rich material dynamically ejected
during the merger or a cocoon of material that breaks out when a
jet transfers its energy to the dynamical ejecta. The cocoon model
explains the radio light curve of GW170817 as well as the γ-rays
and X-rays (possibly also ultraviolet and optical emission)9–15, and
is therefore the model most consistent with the observational data.
Cocoons may be a ubiquitous phenomenon produced in neutronstar
mergers, giving rise to a heretofore unidentified population of
radio, ultraviolet, X-ray and γ-ray transients in the local Universe
Solving the Multimessenger Puzzle of the AGN-starburst Composite Galaxy NGC 1068Sérgio Sacani
Multiwavelength observations indicate that some starburst galaxies show a dominant nonthermal contribution from
their central region. These active galactic nuclei (AGN)-starburst composites are of special interest, as both
phenomena on their own are potential sources of highly energetic cosmic rays and associated γ-ray and neutrino
emission. In this work, a homogeneous, steady-state two-zone multimessenger model of the nonthermal emission
from the AGN corona as well as the circumnuclear starburst region is developed and subsequently applied to the
case of NGC 1068, which has recently shown some first indications of high-energy neutrino emission. Here, we
show that the entire spectrum of multimessenger data—from radio to γ-rays including the neutrino constraint—can
be described very well if both, starburst and AGN corona, are taken into account. Using only a single emission
region is not sufficient.
Jupiter’s atmospheric jet streams extend thousands of kilometres deepSérgio Sacani
The document summarizes findings from measurements taken by the Juno spacecraft orbiting Jupiter. It finds that Jupiter's atmospheric jet streams extend thousands of kilometers deep, likely to depths where magnetic dissipation occurs around 3,000 km. By inverting gravity measurements, the researchers calculated the most likely vertical profile of deep atmospheric flows, with an exponential decay depth of around 1,500 km. Considering angular momentum, the deep flows are likely driven by a balance between drag from Lorentz forces and eddy momentum fluxes near the cloud level.
A suppression of differential rotation in Jupiter’s deep interiorSérgio Sacani
Jupiter’s atmosphere is rotating differentially, with zones and
belts rotating at speeds that differ by up to 100 metres per
second. Whether this is also true of the gas giant’s interior has
been unknown1,2
, limiting our ability to probe the structure and
composition of the planet3,4
. The discovery by the Juno spacecraft
that Jupiter’s gravity field is north–south asymmetric5
and the
determination of its non-zero odd gravitational harmonics J3, J5, J7
and J9 demonstrates that the observed zonal cloud flow must persist
to a depth of about 3,000 kilometres from the cloud tops6
. Here we
report an analysis of Jupiter’s even gravitational harmonics J4, J6,
J8 and J10 as observed by Juno5
and compared to the predictions
of interior models. We find that the deep interior of the planet
rotates nearly as a rigid body, with differential rotation decreasing
by at least an order of magnitude compared to the atmosphere.
Moreover, we find that the atmospheric zonal flow extends to more
than 2,000 kilometres and to less than 3,500 kilometres, making
it fully consistent with the constraints obtained independently
from the odd gravitational harmonics. This depth corresponds
to the point at which the electric conductivity becomes large and
magnetic drag should suppress differential rotation7
. Given that
electric conductivity is dependent on planetary mass, we expect the
outer, differentially rotating region to be at least three times deeper
in Saturn and to be shallower in massive giant planets and brown
dwarfs.
Measurement of Jupiter’s asymmetric gravity fieldSérgio Sacani
The gravity harmonics of a fluid, rotating planet can be decomposed
into static components arising from solid-body rotation and dynamic
components arising from flows. In the absence of internal dynamics,
the gravity field is axially and hemispherically symmetric and is
dominated by even zonal gravity harmonics J2n that are approximately
proportional to qn, where q is the ratio between centrifugal
acceleration and gravity at the planet’s equator1
. Any asymmetry in the
gravity field is attributed to differential rotation and deep atmospheric
flows. The odd harmonics, J3, J5, J7, J9 and higher, are a measure of the
depth of the winds in the different zones of the atmosphere2,3
. Here
we report measurements of Jupiter’s gravity harmonics (both even
and odd) through precise Doppler tracking of the Juno spacecraft
in its polar orbit around Jupiter. We find a north–south asymmetry,
which is a signature of atmospheric and interior flows. Analysis of
the harmonics, described in two accompanying papers4,5
, provides
the vertical profile of the winds and precise constraints for the depth
of Jupiter’s dynamical atmosphere.
This document describes observations of the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 509 using the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The observations detected absorption features in the ultraviolet spectrum, which are attributed to outflowing gas from the active galactic nucleus as well as gas in the galaxy's interstellar medium and halo. The COS observations provide higher signal-to-noise and resolution than previous observations, detecting additional complexity in the absorption features. Variability in some features constrains the distances of absorbing gas components to be less than 250 pc and 1.5 kpc from the active nucleus. The absorption lines only partially cover the emission from the active nucleus, possibly due to
This document summarizes the detection of a super-Earth planet orbiting the star GJ 832. Radial velocity data from three telescopes revealed a planet, GJ 832c, with an orbital period of 35.68 days and a minimum mass of 5.4 Earth masses. GJ 832c has a low eccentricity orbit of 0.18 near the inner edge of the star's habitable zone. However, given its large mass, the planet likely has a massive atmosphere that could render it uninhabitable. The GJ 832 system resembles a miniature version of our solar system, with an interior potentially rocky planet and a distant gas giant.
Successful search for ether drift in a modified michelson morley experiment u...Võ Hồng Quý
This modified Michelson-Morley experiment directly measured the travel times of light using GPS clocks placed along the arms, instead of indirectly measuring fringe shifts. It detected differences in travel times for light moving east-west, consistent with the Earth's rotational motion causing ether drift, but no differences north-south. This provides evidence for the existence of ether drift in a way not subject to the length contraction effects that obscured results of previous experiments. The GPS clocks precisely confirmed the light travel times predicted by ether theory for the changing speed of light due to the apparatus moving through the ether as the Earth rotates.
Millimetre-wave emission from an intermediatemass black hole candidate in the...Sérgio Sacani
This document reports the discovery of a point-like continuum source (CO–0.40–0.22*) located near the center of a peculiar molecular cloud (CO–0.40–0.22) in the Milky Way galaxy. CO–0.40–0.22* has properties consistent with being an intermediate-mass black hole of around 105 solar masses, including its luminosity, spectrum, and ability to reproduce the kinematics of gas in simulations. This would make it one of the most promising intermediate-mass black hole candidates identified in the Milky Way to date.
1. This paper presents results from a 600 ks XMM-Newton observation of Mrk 509 as part of a large multiwavelength campaign.
2. The high quality spectrum allows an unprecedented investigation of the ionized outflow through the detection of multiple absorption lines.
3. The outflow is found to consist of at least two velocity components that have been observed previously, as well as a tentative high velocity component. Discrete ionization components are detected spanning four orders of magnitude in ionization parameter.
Herschel far infrared_spectroscopy_of_the_galactic_centerSérgio Sacani
The document summarizes observations from the Herschel Space Observatory of the Galactic Center region, focusing on a spectral scan toward Sagittarius A*. Key findings include:
1) Strong emission from atomic fine structure lines and rotationally excited lines of molecules like CO, H2O and HCO+ are detected.
2) The excitation of the CO ladder is consistent with either a hot isothermal gas component at 103.1 K and 104 cm-3, or a distribution of warmer gas at higher densities, with most CO at 300 K.
3) The detected molecular features suggest heating is from a combination of UV irradiation and shocks in the gas, rather than very enhanced X-ray or cosmic
This document summarizes a blind HI survey of the southern Milky Way zone of avoidance conducted with the Parkes radio telescope. The survey detected 883 galaxies at Galactic longitudes 212° < l < 36° and latitudes |b| < 5° to a sensitivity of 6 mJy per 27 km/s channel. Fifty-one percent of detections had known optical/near-infrared counterparts, while 27% had new counterparts identified. The survey delineated large-scale structures in the Puppis and Great Attractor regions for the first time. Several newly identified galaxy concentrations and clusters were revealed that help trace the Great Attractor Wall.
Herschel galactic plane_survey_the_global_distribution_of_ism_gas_componnentSérgio Sacani
This document summarizes a study using Herschel observations of the [C ii] 158μm line to analyze the distribution of different gas components in the Milky Way galaxy. The observations provide high-resolution maps of [C ii] emission across the Galactic plane. By comparing these maps to observations of HI, CO, and other tracers, the study finds that [C ii] emission is associated with spiral arms between 4-10 kpc from the Galactic center. It estimates that [C ii] traces dense photon-dominated regions (47%), CO-dark H2 gas (28%), cold atomic gas (21%), and ionized gas (4%). The study also analyzes the distribution of cold neutral medium versus
Spitzer Observations of the Predicted Eddington Flare from Blazar OJ 287Sérgio Sacani
Binary black hole (BH) central engine description for the unique blazar OJ 287 predicted that the
next secondary BH impact-induced bremsstrahlung flare should peak on 2019 July 31. This prediction
was based on detailed general relativistic modeling of the secondary BH trajectory around the primary
BH and its accretion disk. The expected flare was termed the Eddington flare to commemorate the
centennial celebrations of now-famous solar eclipse observations to test general relativity by Sir Arthur
Corresponding author: Lankeswar Dey
lankeswar.dey@tifr.res.in
arXiv:2004.13392v1 [astro-ph.HE] 28 Apr 2020
2 Laine et al.
Eddington. We analyze the multi-epoch Spitzer observations of the expected flare between 2019 July
31 and 2019 September 6, as well as baseline observations during 2019 February–March. Observed
Spitzer flux density variations during the predicted outburst time display a strong similarity with
the observed optical pericenter flare from OJ 287 during 2007 September. The predicted flare appears
comparable to the 2007 flare after subtracting the expected higher base-level Spitzer flux densities at
3.55 and 4.49 µm compared to the optical R-band. Comparing the 2019 and 2007 outburst lightcurves
and the previously calculated predictions, we find that the Eddington flare arrived within 4 hours of
the predicted time. Our Spitzer observations are well consistent with the presence of a nano-Hertz
gravitational wave emitting spinning massive binary BH that inspirals along a general relativistic
eccentric orbit in OJ 287. These multi-epoch Spitzer observations provide a parametric constraint
on the celebrated BH no-hair theorem.
A nearby yoiung_m_dwarf_with_wide_possibly_planetary_m_ass_companionSérgio Sacani
This document summarizes the identification of two young objects, TYC 9486-927-1 and 2MASS J21265040−8140293, as a likely very wide binary system. It presents revised astrometry showing they have common proper motion. Spectroscopy of the secondary yields a radial velocity consistent with the primary. Analysis of lithium absorption and kinematics suggests an age range of 10-45 Myr, with the secondary having an estimated mass in the planetary mass regime. If confirmed, this would be the widest known exoplanet system at over 4500 AU separation.
This document summarizes observations of the lensed galaxy HATLAS J142935.3-002836 (H1429-0028) from the Herschel-ATLAS survey. Optical spectroscopy revealed the foreground lens is at redshift 0.218, while the background galaxy is at redshift 1.027. High-resolution imaging from Hubble Space Telescope and Keck adaptive optics show the background galaxy is comprised of two components and a tidal tail, resembling a major merger. Analysis of ALMA observations of CO emission provides a dynamical mass estimate of one component as 5.8 ± 1.7 × 1010 M☉. Modeling of the spectral energy distribution indicates the total stellar mass is 1.32
Evidence for a_distant_giant_planet_in_the_solar_systemSérgio Sacani
A descoberta de um novo planeta, atualmente não é uma manchete que chama tanto assim a atenção das pessoas. Muito disso, graças ao Telescópio Espacial Kepler, que já descobriu quase 2000 exoplanetas e todo instante uma nova descoberta é anunciada, certo? Mais ou menos, a descoberta anunciada hoje, dia 20 de Janeiro de 2016, é um pouco diferente, pois não se trata de um exoplaneta, e sim de um novo planeta no Sistema Solar, e esse é um fato que intriga os astrônomos a muitos e muitos anos.
Porém, temos que ir com calma com esses anúncios. No artigo aceito para publicação no The Astronomical Journal (artigo no final do post), os autores, Mike Brown e Konstantin Batygin, do Instituto de Tecnologia da Califórnia, apresentaram o que eles dizem ser evidências circunstâncias fortes para a existência de um grande planeta ainda não descoberto, talvez, com uma massa 10 vezes a massa da Terra, orbitando os confins do nosso Sistema Solar, muito além da órbita de Plutão. Os cientistas inferiram sua presença, por meio de anomalias encontradas nas órbitas de seis objetos do chamado Cinturão de Kuiper.
O objeto, que os pesquisadores estão chamando de Planeta Nove, não chega muito perto do Sol, no ponto mais próximo da sua órbita ele fica a 30.5 bilhões de quilômetros, ou seja, cinco vezes a distância entre o Sol e Plutão. Apesar do seu grande tamanho, ele é muito apagado, e por isso ninguém até o momento conseguiu observá-lo.
Não existe ainda uma confirmação observacional da descoberta, mas as evidências são tão fortes que fizeram com que outros especialistas como Chad Trujilo do Observatório Gemini no Havaí e David Nesvorny, do Southwest Research Institute em Boulder no Colorado, ficassem impressionados e bem convencidos de que deve mesmo haver um grande planeta nas fronteiras da nossa vizinhança cósmica.
The importance of comets for the origin of life on Earth has been advocated for many decades. Amino acids are
key ingredients in chemistry, leading to life as we know it. Many primitive meteorites contain amino acids, and it
is generally believed that these are formed by aqueous alterations. In the collector aerogel and foil samples of the
Stardust mission after the flyby at comet Wild 2, the simplest form of amino acids, glycine, has been found
together with precursor molecules methylamine and ethylamine. Because of contamination issues of the samples,
a cometary origin was deduced from the 13C isotopic signature. We report the presence of volatile glycine
accompanied by methylamine and ethylamine in the coma of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko measured by
the ROSINA (Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis) mass spectrometer, confirming the
Stardust results. Together with the detection of phosphorus and a multitude of organic molecules, this result
demonstrates that comets could have played a crucial role in the emergence of life on Earth.
This document summarizes new results from a study of proper motions in the optical jet of the galaxy M87 using over 13 years of Hubble Space Telescope imaging data. Key findings include:
1) Superluminal velocities (above the speed of light) were measured for knots as far out as knot C in the jet, suggesting these speeds persist over large distances.
2) Significant apparent accelerations both parallel and transverse to the jet axis were found, as well as evidence for stationary features in some knots.
3) Complex motions including differing velocities between nearby features and changes in velocity over time were observed throughout the jet, placing constraints on theoretical jet models.
A measurement of_the_black_hole_mass_in_ngc_1097_using_almaSérgio Sacani
Artigo descreve a maneira como os astrônomos usaram pela primeira vez o ALMA para medir a massa de um buraco negro supermassivo no interior de uma galáxias espiral barrada.
A mildly relativistic wide-angle outflow in the neutron-star merger event GW1...Sérgio Sacani
GW170817 was the first gravitational wave detection of a binary
neutron-star merger1
. It was accompanied by radiation across the
electromagnetic spectrum and localized2
to the galaxy NGC 4993
at a distance of 40 megaparsecs. It has been proposed that the
observed γ-ray, X-ray and radio emission is due to an ultrarelativistic
jet launched during the merger, directed away from
our line of sight3–6. The presence of such a jet is predicted from
models that posit neutron-star mergers as the central engines
that drive short hard γ-ray bursts7,8
. Here we report that the radio
light curve of GW170817 has no direct signature of an off-axis
jet afterglow. Although we cannot rule out the existence of a jet
pointing elsewhere, the observed γ-rays could not have originated
from such a jet. Instead, the radio data require a mildly relativistic
wide-angle outflow moving towards us. This outflow could be the
high-velocity tail of the neutron-rich material dynamically ejected
during the merger or a cocoon of material that breaks out when a
jet transfers its energy to the dynamical ejecta. The cocoon model
explains the radio light curve of GW170817 as well as the γ-rays
and X-rays (possibly also ultraviolet and optical emission)9–15, and
is therefore the model most consistent with the observational data.
Cocoons may be a ubiquitous phenomenon produced in neutronstar
mergers, giving rise to a heretofore unidentified population of
radio, ultraviolet, X-ray and γ-ray transients in the local Universe
Solving the Multimessenger Puzzle of the AGN-starburst Composite Galaxy NGC 1068Sérgio Sacani
Multiwavelength observations indicate that some starburst galaxies show a dominant nonthermal contribution from
their central region. These active galactic nuclei (AGN)-starburst composites are of special interest, as both
phenomena on their own are potential sources of highly energetic cosmic rays and associated γ-ray and neutrino
emission. In this work, a homogeneous, steady-state two-zone multimessenger model of the nonthermal emission
from the AGN corona as well as the circumnuclear starburst region is developed and subsequently applied to the
case of NGC 1068, which has recently shown some first indications of high-energy neutrino emission. Here, we
show that the entire spectrum of multimessenger data—from radio to γ-rays including the neutrino constraint—can
be described very well if both, starburst and AGN corona, are taken into account. Using only a single emission
region is not sufficient.
Probing the innermost_regions_of_agn_jets_and_their_magnetic_fields_with_radi...Sérgio Sacani
Desde 1974, observações feitas com o chamado Long Baseline Interferometry, ou VLBI, combinaram sinais de um objeto cósmico recebidos em diferentes rádio telescópios espalhados pelo globo para criar uma antena com o tamanho equivalente à maior separação entre elas. Isso fez com que fosse possível fazer imagens com uma nitidez sem precedentes, com uma resolução 1000 vezes melhor do que Hubble consegue na luz visível. Agora, uma equipe internacional de astrônomos quebrou todos os recordes combinando 15 rádio telescópios na Terra e a antena de rádio da missão RadioAstron, da agência espacial russa, na órbita da Terra. O trabalho, liderado pelo Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, o IAA-CSIC, forneceu novas ideias sobre a natureza das galáxias ativas, onde um buraco negro extremamente massivo engole a matéria ao redor enquanto simultaneamente emite um par de jatos de partículas de alta energia e campos magnéticos a velocidades próximas da velocidade da luz.
Observações feitas no comprimento de onda das micro-ondas são essenciais para explorar esses jatos, já que os elétrons de alta energia se movendo em campos magnéticos são mais proficientes em produzir micro-ondas. Mas a maioria das galáxias ativas com jatos brilhantes estão a bilhões de anos-luz de distância da Terra, de modo que esses jatos são minúsculos no céu. Desse modo a alta resolução é essencial para observar esses jatos em ação e então revelar fenômenos como as ondas de choque e a turbulência que controla o quanto de luz é produzida num dado tempo. “Combinando pela primeira vez rádio telescópios na Terra com rádio telescópios no espaço, operando na máxima resolução, tem permitido que a nossa equipe crie uma antena que tem um tamanho equivalente a 8 vezes o diâmetro da Terra, correspondendo a 20 micro arcos de segundo”, disse José L; Gómez, o líder da equipe no Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, IAA-CSIC.
Probing the jet_base_of_blazar_pks1830211_from_the_chromatic_variability_of_i...Sérgio Sacani
This document summarizes ALMA observations of the blazar PKS 1830-211 taken over multiple epochs in 2012. The blazar is lensed by a foreground galaxy, producing two resolved images (NE and SW) separated by 1". The observations were taken at frequencies corresponding to 350-1050 GHz in the blazar rest frame. Analysis of the flux ratio between the two images over time and frequency revealed a remarkable frequency-dependent behavior, implying a "chromatic structure" in the blazar jet. This is interpreted as evidence for a "core-shift effect" caused by plasmon ejection very near the base of the jet. The observations provide a unique probe of activity in the region where plasma acceleration occurs in blazar
1. Astronomers detected a dense gas cloud falling into the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy.
2. The cloud will reach its closest approach to the black hole, within 3,100 times the event horizon, in 2013. It has begun disrupting due to tidal forces.
3. Observing the cloud's disruption and interaction with the black hole's region in the coming years will provide insights into the feeding and accretion processes of supermassive black holes.
Unexpectedly large mass_loss_during_the_thermal_pulse_cycle_of_the_red_giantSérgio Sacani
1) Observations of the red giant star RSculptoris using ALMA revealed an unexpected spiral structure extending from the central star to its detached dust and gas shell, indicating it is likely a binary system.
2) Hydrodynamic modeling suggests the star underwent a thermal pulse around 1800 years ago, ejecting 0.003 solar masses of material at 14.3 km/s, about 30 times the pre-pulse rate.
3) This challenges existing theories about mass loss during thermal pulses, finding much more mass is lost during and shortly after pulses than previously estimated.
X raying the ejecta of supernova 1987 aSérgio Sacani
This study analyzed observations of Supernova 1987A (SN 1987A) from 1994 to 2009 using the Hubble Space Telescope. [1] From 1994 to 2001, the brightness of the ejecta faded as expected due to radioactive decay. [2] After 2001, the brightness began increasing, reaching over twice the 2001 level by 2009. [3] This study finds that the increase is caused by X-rays from the collision between the ejecta and surrounding circumstellar ring, which deposits heat in the ejecta and powers its increased brightness.
Magnetic support of_the_optical_emission_line_filaments_in_ngc_1275Sérgio Sacani
1) New Hubble Space Telescope observations of the galaxy NGC 1275 reveal thin thread-like structures within its emission line filaments that extend over 6 kpc but are only 70 pc wide.
2) It is concluded that magnetic fields within the threads, in pressure balance with the surrounding hot gas, are stabilizing the filaments and allowing a large mass of cold gas to accumulate without forming stars.
3) The inferred magnetic field strengths of 10-100 microgauss are sufficient to support the filaments against gravity and tidal forces, and would make the filaments magnetically dominated structures similar to molecular clouds in the Milky Way.
Alma observations of_feed_and_feedback_in_nearby_seyfert_galaxiesSérgio Sacani
The ALMA observations of NGC 1433 reveal a nuclear gaseous spiral structure within the central kpc. This spiral winds up into a pseudo-ring at ~200 pc from the center. Near the nucleus, there is intense high-velocity CO emission up to 200 km/s that is interpreted as an outflow, involving 3.6 million solar masses of molecular gas and a flow rate of ~7 solar masses per year. The outflow could be driven by both the central star formation and AGN through its radio jets. Continuum emission at 0.87 mm is detected only at the very center and likely comes from thermal dust emission from the molecular torus expected in this Seyfert 2 galaxy.
A dust-enshrouded tidal disruption event with a resolved radio jet in a galax...Sérgio Sacani
Tidal disruption events (TDEs) are transient flares produced when a star is ripped apart by the
gravitational field of a supermassive black hole (SMBH). We have observed a transient source in the
western nucleus of the merging galaxy pair Arp 299 that radiated >1.5 × 1052 erg in the infrared and radio
but was not luminous at optical or x-ray wavelengths. We interpret this as a TDE with much of its emission
reradiated at infrared wavelengths by dust. Efficient reprocessing by dense gas and dust may explain the
difference between theoretical predictions and observed luminosities of TDEs. The radio observations
resolve an expanding and decelerating jet, probing the jet formation and evolution around a SMBH.
Using observations from the Very Large Telescope, astronomers have discovered a dense gas cloud approximately three times the mass of Earth that is falling towards the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The cloud is on a highly eccentric orbit that will bring it as close as 3,100 times the event horizon of the black hole in 2013. Over the past three years, the cloud has begun to disrupt due to tidal shearing from the black hole's gravitational forces, and its dynamic evolution over the next few years will provide insights into the black hole's accretion processes.
Galaxy growth in a massive halo in the first billion years of cosmic historySérgio Sacani
According to the current understanding of cosmic structure formation, the precursors of the most massive structures in the Universe began to form shortly after the Big Bang, in regions corresponding to the largest fluctuations in the cosmic density field1–3. Observing these structures during their period of active growth and assembly—the first few hundred million years of the Universe—is challenging because it requires surveys that are sensitive enough to detect the distant galaxies that act as signposts for these structures and wide enough to capture the rarest objects. As a result, very few such objects have been detected so far4,5. Here we report observations of a far-infrared-luminous object at redshift 6.900 (less than 800 million years after the Big Bang) that was discovered in a wide-field survey6. High-resolution imaging shows it to be a pair of extremely massive star-forming galaxies. The larger is forming stars at a rate of 2,900 solar masses per year, contains 270 billion solar masses of gas and 2.5 billion solar masses of dust, and is more massive than any other known object at a redshift of more than 6. Its rapid star formation is probably triggered by its companion galaxy at a projected separation of 8 kiloparsecs. This merging companion hosts 35 billion solar masses of stars and has a star-formation rate of 540 solar masses per year, but has an order of magnitude less gas and dust than its neighbour and physical conditions akin to those observed in lower-metallicity galaxies in the nearby Universe7. These objects suggest the presence of a dark-matter halo with a mass of more than 100 billion solar masses, making it among the rarest dark-matter haloes that should exist in the Universe at this epoch.
This document provides a multiwavelength summary of GRB 130427A, one of the brightest gamma-ray bursts ever detected. It was observed across the electromagnetic spectrum from gamma-rays to radio wavelengths. Key points:
1) GRB 130427A had an extremely high luminosity and energy release, similar to the most powerful high-redshift bursts.
2) Follow-up observations detected associated supernova SN 2013cq, showing that very energetic bursts can still be accompanied by supernovae.
3) Light curves at X-ray, optical, and ultraviolet wavelengths show evidence for a jet break approximately 37 kiloseconds after the burst.
4) Standard synchrotron shock models
The document summarizes observations of two giant radio lobes emanating from the center of the Milky Way galaxy. The lobes extend about 60 degrees from the galactic center and correspond closely with previously observed gamma-ray "Fermi bubbles". The lobes contain three ridge-like substructures that curve towards the galactic west as they extend away from the center. Strong magnetic fields of up to 15 microgauss permeate the lobes. The observations indicate that the radio lobes originate from a biconical outflow driven by intense star formation in the galactic center, rather than activity from the supermassive black hole, and have transported a huge amount of magnetic energy into the galactic halo over at least the past 10 million years.
Giant magnetized outflows from the centre of the Milky WayCarlos Bella
The document summarizes observations of two giant radio lobes emanating from the center of the Milky Way galaxy. The lobes extend about 60 degrees from the galactic center and correspond closely to previously observed gamma-ray "Fermi bubbles". The lobes contain three ridge-like substructures that curve towards the galactic west as they extend away from the center. Strong magnetic fields of up to 15 microgauss permeate the lobes. The observations indicate that the radio lobes originate from a biconical outflow driven by intense star formation in the galactic center, rather than activity from the supermassive black hole, and have transported a huge amount of magnetic energy into the galactic halo over at least the past 10 million years. The ridges
PROBING THE SOLAR INTERIOR WITH LENSED GRAVITATIONAL WAVES FROM KNOWN PULSARSSérgio Sacani
When gravitational waves (GWs) from a spinning neutron star arrive from behind the Sun, they are
subjected to gravitational lensing that imprints a frequency-dependent modulation on the waveform.
This modulation traces the projected solar density and gravitational potential along the path as
the Sun passes in front of the neutron star. We calculate how accurately the solar density prole
can be extracted from the lensed GWs using a Fisher analysis. For this purpose, we selected three
promising candidates (the highly spinning pulsars J1022+1001, J1730-2304, and J1745-23) from the
pulsar catalog of the Australia Telescope National Facility. The lensing signature can be measured
with 3 condence when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the GW detection reaches 100 (f=300Hz)1
over a one-year observation period (where f is the GW frequency). The solar density prole can be
plotted as a function of radius when the SNR improves to & 104.
An interacting binary_system_powers_precessing_outflows_of_an_evolved_starSérgio Sacani
1) The authors discovered that the central star system in the planetary nebula Fleming 1 is a binary system with an orbital period of 1.1953 days.
2) They determine that the binary likely consists of a white dwarf primary star with a mass of 0.56-0.7 solar masses and a hotter white dwarf secondary star with a temperature over 120,000 K that provides the ionizing photons to power the nebula.
3) The discovery confirms that binary interactions can explain the precessing outflows and point-symmetric structures seen in Fleming 1 and other planetary nebulae with similar features.
Observations of gas_flows_inside_a_protoplanetary_gapSérgio Sacani
1) ALMA observations of the protoplanetary disk around HD 142527 reveal diffuse CO gas and denser HCO+ filaments inside the dust gap.
2) The HCO+ filaments extend from the outer disk towards the inner disk and star, indicating gas flowing across the gap.
3) Estimates of the gas flow rate through the filaments are sufficient to sustain the observed rate of accretion onto the star, supporting the interpretation that the filaments are planet-induced gap-crossing accretion streams.
Assymetries in core_collapse_supernovae_from_maps_of_radioactive_ti_in_cassio...Sérgio Sacani
The document summarizes findings from observations of Cassiopeia A using the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR).
1) NuSTAR detected two clear emission lines from the decay of radioactive titanium-44, confirming previous measurements of titanium-44 yield with high significance. The spatial distribution of titanium-44 emission shows it is clumpy and extended along the jet axis seen in X-ray images, with knots off the jet axis.
2) There is no correlation between the distribution of titanium-44 and iron detected by Chandra X-ray Observatory. This suggests much of the iron-rich ejecta has not been shock-heated and is "invisible", constraining models of the remnant.
Alma observations of_feeding_and_feedback_in_nearby_seyfert_galaxies_outflow_...Sérgio Sacani
ALMA observations of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1433 reveal a nuclear gaseous spiral structure within a nuclear ring encircling a nuclear stellar bar. Near the nucleus, there is intense high-velocity CO emission interpreted as an AGN-driven molecular outflow. The outflow involves a molecular mass of 3.6 million solar masses and a flow rate of about 7 solar masses per year. Continuum emission at the center is likely thermal dust emission from a molecular torus expected in this Seyfert 2 galaxy. The observations probe gas dynamics within 24 parsecs of the active galactic nucleus.
Similar to A wide and collimated radio jet in 3C84 on the scale of a few hundred gravitational radii (20)
Compositions of iron-meteorite parent bodies constrainthe structure of the pr...Sérgio Sacani
Magmatic iron-meteorite parent bodies are the earliest planetesimals in the Solar System,and they preserve information about conditions and planet-forming processes in thesolar nebula. In this study, we include comprehensive elemental compositions andfractional-crystallization modeling for iron meteorites from the cores of five differenti-ated asteroids from the inner Solar System. Together with previous results of metalliccores from the outer Solar System, we conclude that asteroidal cores from the outerSolar System have smaller sizes, elevated siderophile-element abundances, and simplercrystallization processes than those from the inner Solar System. These differences arerelated to the formation locations of the parent asteroids because the solar protoplane-tary disk varied in redox conditions, elemental distributions, and dynamics at differentheliocentric distances. Using highly siderophile-element data from iron meteorites, wereconstruct the distribution of calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs) across theprotoplanetary disk within the first million years of Solar-System history. CAIs, the firstsolids to condense in the Solar System, formed close to the Sun. They were, however,concentrated within the outer disk and depleted within the inner disk. Future modelsof the structure and evolution of the protoplanetary disk should account for this dis-tribution pattern of CAIs.
Signatures of wave erosion in Titan’s coastsSérgio Sacani
The shorelines of Titan’s hydrocarbon seas trace flooded erosional landforms such as river valleys; however, it isunclear whether coastal erosion has subsequently altered these shorelines. Spacecraft observations and theo-retical models suggest that wind may cause waves to form on Titan’s seas, potentially driving coastal erosion,but the observational evidence of waves is indirect, and the processes affecting shoreline evolution on Titanremain unknown. No widely accepted framework exists for using shoreline morphology to quantitatively dis-cern coastal erosion mechanisms, even on Earth, where the dominant mechanisms are known. We combinelandscape evolution models with measurements of shoreline shape on Earth to characterize how differentcoastal erosion mechanisms affect shoreline morphology. Applying this framework to Titan, we find that theshorelines of Titan’s seas are most consistent with flooded landscapes that subsequently have been eroded bywaves, rather than a uniform erosional process or no coastal erosion, particularly if wave growth saturates atfetch lengths of tens of kilometers.
SDSS1335+0728: The awakening of a ∼ 106M⊙ black hole⋆Sérgio Sacani
Context. The early-type galaxy SDSS J133519.91+072807.4 (hereafter SDSS1335+0728), which had exhibited no prior optical variations during the preceding two decades, began showing significant nuclear variability in the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) alert stream from December 2019 (as ZTF19acnskyy). This variability behaviour, coupled with the host-galaxy properties, suggests that SDSS1335+0728 hosts a ∼ 106M⊙ black hole (BH) that is currently in the process of ‘turning on’. Aims. We present a multi-wavelength photometric analysis and spectroscopic follow-up performed with the aim of better understanding the origin of the nuclear variations detected in SDSS1335+0728. Methods. We used archival photometry (from WISE, 2MASS, SDSS, GALEX, eROSITA) and spectroscopic data (from SDSS and LAMOST) to study the state of SDSS1335+0728 prior to December 2019, and new observations from Swift, SOAR/Goodman, VLT/X-shooter, and Keck/LRIS taken after its turn-on to characterise its current state. We analysed the variability of SDSS1335+0728 in the X-ray/UV/optical/mid-infrared range, modelled its spectral energy distribution prior to and after December 2019, and studied the evolution of its UV/optical spectra. Results. From our multi-wavelength photometric analysis, we find that: (a) since 2021, the UV flux (from Swift/UVOT observations) is four times brighter than the flux reported by GALEX in 2004; (b) since June 2022, the mid-infrared flux has risen more than two times, and the W1−W2 WISE colour has become redder; and (c) since February 2024, the source has begun showing X-ray emission. From our spectroscopic follow-up, we see that (i) the narrow emission line ratios are now consistent with a more energetic ionising continuum; (ii) broad emission lines are not detected; and (iii) the [OIII] line increased its flux ∼ 3.6 years after the first ZTF alert, which implies a relatively compact narrow-line-emitting region. Conclusions. We conclude that the variations observed in SDSS1335+0728 could be either explained by a ∼ 106M⊙ AGN that is just turning on or by an exotic tidal disruption event (TDE). If the former is true, SDSS1335+0728 is one of the strongest cases of an AGNobserved in the process of activating. If the latter were found to be the case, it would correspond to the longest and faintest TDE ever observed (or another class of still unknown nuclear transient). Future observations of SDSS1335+0728 are crucial to further understand its behaviour. Key words. galaxies: active– accretion, accretion discs– galaxies: individual: SDSS J133519.91+072807.4
Discovery of An Apparent Red, High-Velocity Type Ia Supernova at 𝐳 = 2.9 wi...Sérgio Sacani
We present the JWST discovery of SN 2023adsy, a transient object located in a host galaxy JADES-GS
+
53.13485
−
27.82088
with a host spectroscopic redshift of
2.903
±
0.007
. The transient was identified in deep James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)/NIRCam imaging from the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES) program. Photometric and spectroscopic followup with NIRCam and NIRSpec, respectively, confirm the redshift and yield UV-NIR light-curve, NIR color, and spectroscopic information all consistent with a Type Ia classification. Despite its classification as a likely SN Ia, SN 2023adsy is both fairly red (
�
(
�
−
�
)
∼
0.9
) despite a host galaxy with low-extinction and has a high Ca II velocity (
19
,
000
±
2
,
000
km/s) compared to the general population of SNe Ia. While these characteristics are consistent with some Ca-rich SNe Ia, particularly SN 2016hnk, SN 2023adsy is intrinsically brighter than the low-
�
Ca-rich population. Although such an object is too red for any low-
�
cosmological sample, we apply a fiducial standardization approach to SN 2023adsy and find that the SN 2023adsy luminosity distance measurement is in excellent agreement (
≲
1
�
) with
Λ
CDM. Therefore unlike low-
�
Ca-rich SNe Ia, SN 2023adsy is standardizable and gives no indication that SN Ia standardized luminosities change significantly with redshift. A larger sample of distant SNe Ia is required to determine if SN Ia population characteristics at high-
�
truly diverge from their low-
�
counterparts, and to confirm that standardized luminosities nevertheless remain constant with redshift.
Evidence of Jet Activity from the Secondary Black Hole in the OJ 287 Binary S...Sérgio Sacani
Wereport the study of a huge optical intraday flare on 2021 November 12 at 2 a.m. UT in the blazar OJ287. In the binary black hole model, it is associated with an impact of the secondary black hole on the accretion disk of the primary. Our multifrequency observing campaign was set up to search for such a signature of the impact based on a prediction made 8 yr earlier. The first I-band results of the flare have already been reported by Kishore et al. (2024). Here we combine these data with our monitoring in the R-band. There is a big change in the R–I spectral index by 1.0 ±0.1 between the normal background and the flare, suggesting a new component of radiation. The polarization variation during the rise of the flare suggests the same. The limits on the source size place it most reasonably in the jet of the secondary BH. We then ask why we have not seen this phenomenon before. We show that OJ287 was never before observed with sufficient sensitivity on the night when the flare should have happened according to the binary model. We also study the probability that this flare is just an oversized example of intraday variability using the Krakow data set of intense monitoring between 2015 and 2023. We find that the occurrence of a flare of this size and rapidity is unlikely. In machine-readable Tables 1 and 2, we give the full orbit-linked historical light curve of OJ287 as well as the dense monitoring sample of Krakow.
Candidate young stellar objects in the S-cluster: Kinematic analysis of a sub...Sérgio Sacani
Context. The observation of several L-band emission sources in the S cluster has led to a rich discussion of their nature. However, a definitive answer to the classification of the dusty objects requires an explanation for the detection of compact Doppler-shifted Brγ emission. The ionized hydrogen in combination with the observation of mid-infrared L-band continuum emission suggests that most of these sources are embedded in a dusty envelope. These embedded sources are part of the S-cluster, and their relationship to the S-stars is still under debate. To date, the question of the origin of these two populations has been vague, although all explanations favor migration processes for the individual cluster members. Aims. This work revisits the S-cluster and its dusty members orbiting the supermassive black hole SgrA* on bound Keplerian orbits from a kinematic perspective. The aim is to explore the Keplerian parameters for patterns that might imply a nonrandom distribution of the sample. Additionally, various analytical aspects are considered to address the nature of the dusty sources. Methods. Based on the photometric analysis, we estimated the individual H−K and K−L colors for the source sample and compared the results to known cluster members. The classification revealed a noticeable contrast between the S-stars and the dusty sources. To fit the flux-density distribution, we utilized the radiative transfer code HYPERION and implemented a young stellar object Class I model. We obtained the position angle from the Keplerian fit results; additionally, we analyzed the distribution of the inclinations and the longitudes of the ascending node. Results. The colors of the dusty sources suggest a stellar nature consistent with the spectral energy distribution in the near and midinfrared domains. Furthermore, the evaporation timescales of dusty and gaseous clumps in the vicinity of SgrA* are much shorter ( 2yr) than the epochs covered by the observations (≈15yr). In addition to the strong evidence for the stellar classification of the D-sources, we also find a clear disk-like pattern following the arrangements of S-stars proposed in the literature. Furthermore, we find a global intrinsic inclination for all dusty sources of 60 ± 20◦, implying a common formation process. Conclusions. The pattern of the dusty sources manifested in the distribution of the position angles, inclinations, and longitudes of the ascending node strongly suggests two different scenarios: the main-sequence stars and the dusty stellar S-cluster sources share a common formation history or migrated with a similar formation channel in the vicinity of SgrA*. Alternatively, the gravitational influence of SgrA* in combination with a massive perturber, such as a putative intermediate mass black hole in the IRS 13 cluster, forces the dusty objects and S-stars to follow a particular orbital arrangement. Key words. stars: black holes– stars: formation– Galaxy: center– galaxies: star formation
JAMES WEBB STUDY THE MASSIVE BLACK HOLE SEEDSSérgio Sacani
The pathway(s) to seeding the massive black holes (MBHs) that exist at the heart of galaxies in the present and distant Universe remains an unsolved problem. Here we categorise, describe and quantitatively discuss the formation pathways of both light and heavy seeds. We emphasise that the most recent computational models suggest that rather than a bimodal-like mass spectrum between light and heavy seeds with light at one end and heavy at the other that instead a continuum exists. Light seeds being more ubiquitous and the heavier seeds becoming less and less abundant due the rarer environmental conditions required for their formation. We therefore examine the different mechanisms that give rise to different seed mass spectrums. We show how and why the mechanisms that produce the heaviest seeds are also among the rarest events in the Universe and are hence extremely unlikely to be the seeds for the vast majority of the MBH population. We quantify, within the limits of the current large uncertainties in the seeding processes, the expected number densities of the seed mass spectrum. We argue that light seeds must be at least 103 to 105 times more numerous than heavy seeds to explain the MBH population as a whole. Based on our current understanding of the seed population this makes heavy seeds (Mseed > 103 M⊙) a significantly more likely pathway given that heavy seeds have an abundance pattern than is close to and likely in excess of 10−4 compared to light seeds. Finally, we examine the current state-of-the-art in numerical calculations and recent observations and plot a path forward for near-future advances in both domains.
Anti-Universe And Emergent Gravity and the Dark UniverseSérgio Sacani
Recent theoretical progress indicates that spacetime and gravity emerge together from the entanglement structure of an underlying microscopic theory. These ideas are best understood in Anti-de Sitter space, where they rely on the area law for entanglement entropy. The extension to de Sitter space requires taking into account the entropy and temperature associated with the cosmological horizon. Using insights from string theory, black hole physics and quantum information theory we argue that the positive dark energy leads to a thermal volume law contribution to the entropy that overtakes the area law precisely at the cosmological horizon. Due to the competition between area and volume law entanglement the microscopic de Sitter states do not thermalise at sub-Hubble scales: they exhibit memory effects in the form of an entropy displacement caused by matter. The emergent laws of gravity contain an additional ‘dark’ gravitational force describing the ‘elastic’ response due to the entropy displacement. We derive an estimate of the strength of this extra force in terms of the baryonic mass, Newton’s constant and the Hubble acceleration scale a0 = cH0, and provide evidence for the fact that this additional ‘dark gravity force’ explains the observed phenomena in galaxies and clusters currently attributed to dark matter.
The binding of cosmological structures by massless topological defectsSérgio Sacani
Assuming spherical symmetry and weak field, it is shown that if one solves the Poisson equation or the Einstein field
equations sourced by a topological defect, i.e. a singularity of a very specific form, the result is a localized gravitational
field capable of driving flat rotation (i.e. Keplerian circular orbits at a constant speed for all radii) of test masses on a thin
spherical shell without any underlying mass. Moreover, a large-scale structure which exploits this solution by assembling
concentrically a number of such topological defects can establish a flat stellar or galactic rotation curve, and can also deflect
light in the same manner as an equipotential (isothermal) sphere. Thus, the need for dark matter or modified gravity theory is
mitigated, at least in part.
EWOCS-I: The catalog of X-ray sources in Westerlund 1 from the Extended Weste...Sérgio Sacani
Context. With a mass exceeding several 104 M⊙ and a rich and dense population of massive stars, supermassive young star clusters
represent the most massive star-forming environment that is dominated by the feedback from massive stars and gravitational interactions
among stars.
Aims. In this paper we present the Extended Westerlund 1 and 2 Open Clusters Survey (EWOCS) project, which aims to investigate
the influence of the starburst environment on the formation of stars and planets, and on the evolution of both low and high mass stars.
The primary targets of this project are Westerlund 1 and 2, the closest supermassive star clusters to the Sun.
Methods. The project is based primarily on recent observations conducted with the Chandra and JWST observatories. Specifically,
the Chandra survey of Westerlund 1 consists of 36 new ACIS-I observations, nearly co-pointed, for a total exposure time of 1 Msec.
Additionally, we included 8 archival Chandra/ACIS-S observations. This paper presents the resulting catalog of X-ray sources within
and around Westerlund 1. Sources were detected by combining various existing methods, and photon extraction and source validation
were carried out using the ACIS-Extract software.
Results. The EWOCS X-ray catalog comprises 5963 validated sources out of the 9420 initially provided to ACIS-Extract, reaching a
photon flux threshold of approximately 2 × 10−8 photons cm−2
s
−1
. The X-ray sources exhibit a highly concentrated spatial distribution,
with 1075 sources located within the central 1 arcmin. We have successfully detected X-ray emissions from 126 out of the 166 known
massive stars of the cluster, and we have collected over 71 000 photons from the magnetar CXO J164710.20-455217.
The debris of the ‘last major merger’ is dynamically youngSérgio Sacani
The Milky Way’s (MW) inner stellar halo contains an [Fe/H]-rich component with highly eccentric orbits, often referred to as the
‘last major merger.’ Hypotheses for the origin of this component include Gaia-Sausage/Enceladus (GSE), where the progenitor
collided with the MW proto-disc 8–11 Gyr ago, and the Virgo Radial Merger (VRM), where the progenitor collided with the
MW disc within the last 3 Gyr. These two scenarios make different predictions about observable structure in local phase space,
because the morphology of debris depends on how long it has had to phase mix. The recently identified phase-space folds in Gaia
DR3 have positive caustic velocities, making them fundamentally different than the phase-mixed chevrons found in simulations
at late times. Roughly 20 per cent of the stars in the prograde local stellar halo are associated with the observed caustics. Based
on a simple phase-mixing model, the observed number of caustics are consistent with a merger that occurred 1–2 Gyr ago.
We also compare the observed phase-space distribution to FIRE-2 Latte simulations of GSE-like mergers, using a quantitative
measurement of phase mixing (2D causticality). The observed local phase-space distribution best matches the simulated data
1–2 Gyr after collision, and certainly not later than 3 Gyr. This is further evidence that the progenitor of the ‘last major merger’
did not collide with the MW proto-disc at early times, as is thought for the GSE, but instead collided with the MW disc within
the last few Gyr, consistent with the body of work surrounding the VRM.
Observation of Io’s Resurfacing via Plume Deposition Using Ground-based Adapt...Sérgio Sacani
Since volcanic activity was first discovered on Io from Voyager images in 1979, changes
on Io’s surface have been monitored from both spacecraft and ground-based telescopes.
Here, we present the highest spatial resolution images of Io ever obtained from a groundbased telescope. These images, acquired by the SHARK-VIS instrument on the Large
Binocular Telescope, show evidence of a major resurfacing event on Io’s trailing hemisphere. When compared to the most recent spacecraft images, the SHARK-VIS images
show that a plume deposit from a powerful eruption at Pillan Patera has covered part
of the long-lived Pele plume deposit. Although this type of resurfacing event may be common on Io, few have been detected due to the rarity of spacecraft visits and the previously low spatial resolution available from Earth-based telescopes. The SHARK-VIS instrument ushers in a new era of high resolution imaging of Io’s surface using adaptive
optics at visible wavelengths.
Earliest Galaxies in the JADES Origins Field: Luminosity Function and Cosmic ...Sérgio Sacani
We characterize the earliest galaxy population in the JADES Origins Field (JOF), the deepest
imaging field observed with JWST. We make use of the ancillary Hubble optical images (5 filters
spanning 0.4−0.9µm) and novel JWST images with 14 filters spanning 0.8−5µm, including 7 mediumband filters, and reaching total exposure times of up to 46 hours per filter. We combine all our data
at > 2.3µm to construct an ultradeep image, reaching as deep as ≈ 31.4 AB mag in the stack and
30.3-31.0 AB mag (5σ, r = 0.1” circular aperture) in individual filters. We measure photometric
redshifts and use robust selection criteria to identify a sample of eight galaxy candidates at redshifts
z = 11.5 − 15. These objects show compact half-light radii of R1/2 ∼ 50 − 200pc, stellar masses of
M⋆ ∼ 107−108M⊙, and star-formation rates of SFR ∼ 0.1−1 M⊙ yr−1
. Our search finds no candidates
at 15 < z < 20, placing upper limits at these redshifts. We develop a forward modeling approach to
infer the properties of the evolving luminosity function without binning in redshift or luminosity that
marginalizes over the photometric redshift uncertainty of our candidate galaxies and incorporates the
impact of non-detections. We find a z = 12 luminosity function in good agreement with prior results,
and that the luminosity function normalization and UV luminosity density decline by a factor of ∼ 2.5
from z = 12 to z = 14. We discuss the possible implications of our results in the context of theoretical
models for evolution of the dark matter halo mass function.
THE IMPORTANCE OF MARTIAN ATMOSPHERE SAMPLE RETURN.Sérgio Sacani
The return of a sample of near-surface atmosphere from Mars would facilitate answers to several first-order science questions surrounding the formation and evolution of the planet. One of the important aspects of terrestrial planet formation in general is the role that primary atmospheres played in influencing the chemistry and structure of the planets and their antecedents. Studies of the martian atmosphere can be used to investigate the role of a primary atmosphere in its history. Atmosphere samples would also inform our understanding of the near-surface chemistry of the planet, and ultimately the prospects for life. High-precision isotopic analyses of constituent gases are needed to address these questions, requiring that the analyses are made on returned samples rather than in situ.
Multi-source connectivity as the driver of solar wind variability in the heli...Sérgio Sacani
The ambient solar wind that flls the heliosphere originates from multiple
sources in the solar corona and is highly structured. It is often described
as high-speed, relatively homogeneous, plasma streams from coronal
holes and slow-speed, highly variable, streams whose source regions are
under debate. A key goal of ESA/NASA’s Solar Orbiter mission is to identify
solar wind sources and understand what drives the complexity seen in the
heliosphere. By combining magnetic feld modelling and spectroscopic
techniques with high-resolution observations and measurements, we show
that the solar wind variability detected in situ by Solar Orbiter in March
2022 is driven by spatio-temporal changes in the magnetic connectivity to
multiple sources in the solar atmosphere. The magnetic feld footpoints
connected to the spacecraft moved from the boundaries of a coronal hole
to one active region (12961) and then across to another region (12957). This
is refected in the in situ measurements, which show the transition from fast
to highly Alfvénic then to slow solar wind that is disrupted by the arrival of
a coronal mass ejection. Our results describe solar wind variability at 0.5 au
but are applicable to near-Earth observatories.
Gliese 12 b: A Temperate Earth-sized Planet at 12 pc Ideal for Atmospheric Tr...Sérgio Sacani
Recent discoveries of Earth-sized planets transiting nearby M dwarfs have made it possible to characterize the
atmospheres of terrestrial planets via follow-up spectroscopic observations. However, the number of such planets
receiving low insolation is still small, limiting our ability to understand the diversity of the atmospheric
composition and climates of temperate terrestrial planets. We report the discovery of an Earth-sized planet
transiting the nearby (12 pc) inactive M3.0 dwarf Gliese 12 (TOI-6251) with an orbital period (Porb) of 12.76 days.
The planet, Gliese 12 b, was initially identified as a candidate with an ambiguous Porb from TESS data. We
confirmed the transit signal and Porb using ground-based photometry with MuSCAT2 and MuSCAT3, and
validated the planetary nature of the signal using high-resolution images from Gemini/NIRI and Keck/NIRC2 as
well as radial velocity (RV) measurements from the InfraRed Doppler instrument on the Subaru 8.2 m telescope
and from CARMENES on the CAHA 3.5 m telescope. X-ray observations with XMM-Newton showed the host
star is inactive, with an X-ray-to-bolometric luminosity ratio of log 5.7 L L X bol » - . Joint analysis of the light
curves and RV measurements revealed that Gliese 12 b has a radius of 0.96 ± 0.05 R⊕,a3σ mass upper limit of
3.9 M⊕, and an equilibrium temperature of 315 ± 6 K assuming zero albedo. The transmission spectroscopy metric
(TSM) value of Gliese 12 b is close to the TSM values of the TRAPPIST-1 planets, adding Gliese 12 b to the small
list of potentially terrestrial, temperate planets amenable to atmospheric characterization with JWST.
Gliese 12 b, a temperate Earth-sized planet at 12 parsecs discovered with TES...Sérgio Sacani
We report on the discovery of Gliese 12 b, the nearest transiting temperate, Earth-sized planet found to date. Gliese 12 is a
bright (V = 12.6 mag, K = 7.8 mag) metal-poor M4V star only 12.162 ± 0.005 pc away from the Solar system with one of the
lowest stellar activity levels known for M-dwarfs. A planet candidate was detected by TESS based on only 3 transits in sectors
42, 43, and 57, with an ambiguity in the orbital period due to observational gaps. We performed follow-up transit observations
with CHEOPS and ground-based photometry with MINERVA-Australis, SPECULOOS, and Purple Mountain Observatory,
as well as further TESS observations in sector 70. We statistically validate Gliese 12 b as a planet with an orbital period of
12.76144 ± 0.00006 d and a radius of 1.0 ± 0.1 R⊕, resulting in an equilibrium temperature of ∼315 K. Gliese 12 b has excellent
future prospects for precise mass measurement, which may inform how planetary internal structure is affected by the stellar
compositional environment. Gliese 12 b also represents one of the best targets to study whether Earth-like planets orbiting cool
stars can retain their atmospheres, a crucial step to advance our understanding of habitability on Earth and across the galaxy.
The importance of continents, oceans and plate tectonics for the evolution of...Sérgio Sacani
Within the uncertainties of involved astronomical and biological parameters, the Drake Equation
typically predicts that there should be many exoplanets in our galaxy hosting active, communicative
civilizations (ACCs). These optimistic calculations are however not supported by evidence, which is
often referred to as the Fermi Paradox. Here, we elaborate on this long-standing enigma by showing
the importance of planetary tectonic style for biological evolution. We summarize growing evidence
that a prolonged transition from Mesoproterozoic active single lid tectonics (1.6 to 1.0 Ga) to modern
plate tectonics occurred in the Neoproterozoic Era (1.0 to 0.541 Ga), which dramatically accelerated
emergence and evolution of complex species. We further suggest that both continents and oceans
are required for ACCs because early evolution of simple life must happen in water but late evolution
of advanced life capable of creating technology must happen on land. We resolve the Fermi Paradox
(1) by adding two additional terms to the Drake Equation: foc
(the fraction of habitable exoplanets
with significant continents and oceans) and fpt
(the fraction of habitable exoplanets with significant
continents and oceans that have had plate tectonics operating for at least 0.5 Ga); and (2) by
demonstrating that the product of foc
and fpt
is very small (< 0.00003–0.002). We propose that the lack
of evidence for ACCs reflects the scarcity of long-lived plate tectonics and/or continents and oceans on
exoplanets with primitive life.
A Giant Impact Origin for the First Subduction on EarthSérgio Sacani
Hadean zircons provide a potential record of Earth's earliest subduction 4.3 billion years ago. Itremains enigmatic how subduction could be initiated so soon after the presumably Moon‐forming giant impact(MGI). Earlier studies found an increase in Earth's core‐mantle boundary (CMB) temperature due to theaccumulation of the impactor's core, and our recent work shows Earth's lower mantle remains largely solid, withsome of the impactor's mantle potentially surviving as the large low‐shear velocity provinces (LLSVPs). Here,we show that a hot post‐impact CMB drives the initiation of strong mantle plumes that can induce subductioninitiation ∼200 Myr after the MGI. 2D and 3D thermomechanical computations show that a high CMBtemperature is the primary factor triggering early subduction, with enrichment of heat‐producing elements inLLSVPs as another potential factor. The models link the earliest subduction to the MGI with implications forunderstanding the diverse tectonic regimes of rocky planets.
Climate extremes likely to drive land mammal extinction during next supercont...Sérgio Sacani
Mammals have dominated Earth for approximately 55 Myr thanks to their
adaptations and resilience to warming and cooling during the Cenozoic. All
life will eventually perish in a runaway greenhouse once absorbed solar
radiation exceeds the emission of thermal radiation in several billions of
years. However, conditions rendering the Earth naturally inhospitable to
mammals may develop sooner because of long-term processes linked to
plate tectonics (short-term perturbations are not considered here). In
~250 Myr, all continents will converge to form Earth’s next supercontinent,
Pangea Ultima. A natural consequence of the creation and decay of Pangea
Ultima will be extremes in pCO2 due to changes in volcanic rifting and
outgassing. Here we show that increased pCO2, solar energy (F⨀;
approximately +2.5% W m−2 greater than today) and continentality (larger
range in temperatures away from the ocean) lead to increasing warming
hostile to mammalian life. We assess their impact on mammalian
physiological limits (dry bulb, wet bulb and Humidex heat stress indicators)
as well as a planetary habitability index. Given mammals’ continued survival,
predicted background pCO2 levels of 410–816 ppm combined with increased
F⨀ will probably lead to a climate tipping point and their mass extinction.
The results also highlight how global landmass configuration, pCO2 and F⨀
play a critical role in planetary habitability.
CLASS 12th CHEMISTRY SOLID STATE ppt (Animated)eitps1506
Description:
Dive into the fascinating realm of solid-state physics with our meticulously crafted online PowerPoint presentation. This immersive educational resource offers a comprehensive exploration of the fundamental concepts, theories, and applications within the realm of solid-state physics.
From crystalline structures to semiconductor devices, this presentation delves into the intricate principles governing the behavior of solids, providing clear explanations and illustrative examples to enhance understanding. Whether you're a student delving into the subject for the first time or a seasoned researcher seeking to deepen your knowledge, our presentation offers valuable insights and in-depth analyses to cater to various levels of expertise.
Key topics covered include:
Crystal Structures: Unravel the mysteries of crystalline arrangements and their significance in determining material properties.
Band Theory: Explore the electronic band structure of solids and understand how it influences their conductive properties.
Semiconductor Physics: Delve into the behavior of semiconductors, including doping, carrier transport, and device applications.
Magnetic Properties: Investigate the magnetic behavior of solids, including ferromagnetism, antiferromagnetism, and ferrimagnetism.
Optical Properties: Examine the interaction of light with solids, including absorption, reflection, and transmission phenomena.
With visually engaging slides, informative content, and interactive elements, our online PowerPoint presentation serves as a valuable resource for students, educators, and enthusiasts alike, facilitating a deeper understanding of the captivating world of solid-state physics. Explore the intricacies of solid-state materials and unlock the secrets behind their remarkable properties with our comprehensive presentation.
Authoring a personal GPT for your research and practice: How we created the Q...Leonel Morgado
Thematic analysis in qualitative research is a time-consuming and systematic task, typically done using teams. Team members must ground their activities on common understandings of the major concepts underlying the thematic analysis, and define criteria for its development. However, conceptual misunderstandings, equivocations, and lack of adherence to criteria are challenges to the quality and speed of this process. Given the distributed and uncertain nature of this process, we wondered if the tasks in thematic analysis could be supported by readily available artificial intelligence chatbots. Our early efforts point to potential benefits: not just saving time in the coding process but better adherence to criteria and grounding, by increasing triangulation between humans and artificial intelligence. This tutorial will provide a description and demonstration of the process we followed, as two academic researchers, to develop a custom ChatGPT to assist with qualitative coding in the thematic data analysis process of immersive learning accounts in a survey of the academic literature: QUAL-E Immersive Learning Thematic Analysis Helper. In the hands-on time, participants will try out QUAL-E and develop their ideas for their own qualitative coding ChatGPT. Participants that have the paid ChatGPT Plus subscription can create a draft of their assistants. The organizers will provide course materials and slide deck that participants will be able to utilize to continue development of their custom GPT. The paid subscription to ChatGPT Plus is not required to participate in this workshop, just for trying out personal GPTs during it.
TOPIC OF DISCUSSION: CENTRIFUGATION SLIDESHARE.pptxshubhijain836
Centrifugation is a powerful technique used in laboratories to separate components of a heterogeneous mixture based on their density. This process utilizes centrifugal force to rapidly spin samples, causing denser particles to migrate outward more quickly than lighter ones. As a result, distinct layers form within the sample tube, allowing for easy isolation and purification of target substances.
The cost of acquiring information by natural selectionCarl Bergstrom
This is a short talk that I gave at the Banff International Research Station workshop on Modeling and Theory in Population Biology. The idea is to try to understand how the burden of natural selection relates to the amount of information that selection puts into the genome.
It's based on the first part of this research paper:
The cost of information acquisition by natural selection
Ryan Seamus McGee, Olivia Kosterlitz, Artem Kaznatcheev, Benjamin Kerr, Carl T. Bergstrom
bioRxiv 2022.07.02.498577; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.07.02.498577
(June 12, 2024) Webinar: Development of PET theranostics targeting the molecu...Scintica Instrumentation
Targeting Hsp90 and its pathogen Orthologs with Tethered Inhibitors as a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategy for cancer and infectious diseases with Dr. Timothy Haystead.
BIRDS DIVERSITY OF SOOTEA BISWANATH ASSAM.ppt.pptxgoluk9330
Ahota Beel, nestled in Sootea Biswanath Assam , is celebrated for its extraordinary diversity of bird species. This wetland sanctuary supports a myriad of avian residents and migrants alike. Visitors can admire the elegant flights of migratory species such as the Northern Pintail and Eurasian Wigeon, alongside resident birds including the Asian Openbill and Pheasant-tailed Jacana. With its tranquil scenery and varied habitats, Ahota Beel offers a perfect haven for birdwatchers to appreciate and study the vibrant birdlife that thrives in this natural refuge.
ESA/ACT Science Coffee: Diego Blas - Gravitational wave detection with orbita...Advanced-Concepts-Team
Presentation in the Science Coffee of the Advanced Concepts Team of the European Space Agency on the 07.06.2024.
Speaker: Diego Blas (IFAE/ICREA)
Title: Gravitational wave detection with orbital motion of Moon and artificial
Abstract:
In this talk I will describe some recent ideas to find gravitational waves from supermassive black holes or of primordial origin by studying their secular effect on the orbital motion of the Moon or satellites that are laser ranged.