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NASA's James Webb Telescope Identifies Earliest Supernova, Reveals Host Galaxy

NASA's James Webb Telescope Identifies Earliest Supernova, Reveals Host Galaxy

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has made a groundbreaking observation by identifying a supernova that exploded when the universe was only 730 million years old, marking the earliest detection of its kind. The telescope's high-resolution near-infrared images also allowed astronomers to locate the supernova's faint host galaxy. This observation was part of a coordinated effort with other international telescopes that detected a gamma-ray burst in mid-March. The supernova's light, stretched over billions of years due to the expanding universe, was observed to brighten over several months. This discovery not only sets a new record for the earliest supernova detected but also provides insights into the characteristics of early stars, which were expected to differ significantly from modern stars.

James Webb Space Telescope Captures Cosmic Tornado in Advent Calendar

James Webb Space Telescope Captures Cosmic Tornado in Advent Calendar

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured an image of Herbig-Haro 49/50, a cosmic phenomenon resembling a tornado, as part of the 2025 Space Telescope Advent Calendar. Located about 630 light-years from Earth, the image shows energetic jets from a newly-forming star interacting with dense gas and dust, creating a tornado-like shape. The image also features a distant spiral galaxy at the 'tip' of the tornado, unrelated to the Herbig-Haro object. This image is part of a series released daily until December 25, showcasing the telescope's capabilities.

Astronomers Predict V Sagittae Star System to Go Supernova, Visible in Daytime Skies

Astronomers Predict V Sagittae Star System to Go Supernova, Visible in Daytime Skies

The binary star system V Sagittae, located about 10,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagitta, is predicted to end in a spectacular supernova within the next century. This system consists of a white dwarf and a more massive stellar companion, which are locked in a tight orbit, completing a cycle every 12.3 hours. The white dwarf is currently accreting material from its companion at an unprecedented rate, leading researchers to anticipate a nova outburst in the coming years. This event could make V Sagittae visible to the naked eye, even during daylight. The study, led by an international team and published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, utilized data from the X-Shooter spectrograph at the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope to analyze the light emitted by the system, providing insights into its composition and behavior.

James Webb Space Telescope Identifies Earliest Known Supernova

James Webb Space Telescope Identifies Earliest Known Supernova

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has identified the earliest known supernova, which exploded when the universe was only 730 million years old. This discovery marks the earliest detection of a supernova to date, with the telescope's near-infrared images also revealing the supernova's faint host galaxy. The observation was part of a coordinated effort with other international telescopes following a gamma-ray burst detected in March. The supernova's light, stretched over billions of years due to cosmic expansion, was captured by Webb three and a half months after the gamma-ray burst.

Extremely Large Telescope Construction Advances in Chilean Andes

Extremely Large Telescope Construction Advances in Chilean Andes

The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), under construction in the Chilean Andes, is poised to become the world's largest optical telescope. Developed by the European Southern Observatory, the ELT features a segmented primary mirror 128 feet wide, significantly larger than any current ground-based optical telescope. The telescope aims to revolutionize observational astronomy by providing images 15 times sharper than those from the Hubble Space Telescope. Its mission includes directly imaging exoplanets, studying the universe's origins, and measuring its rate of expansion. The ELT is expected to push the boundaries of precision in astronomy, offering new insights into stellar dynamics and the potential for life beyond our solar system.

NASA's Webb Telescope Observes 13-Billion-Year-Old Supernova, Challenges Star Formation Theories

NASA's Webb Telescope Observes 13-Billion-Year-Old Supernova, Challenges Star Formation Theories

The James Webb Space Telescope, in collaboration with international observatories, has detected a supernova from 13 billion years ago, marking a significant milestone in astronomical observations. This supernova, which exploded when the universe was only 730 million years old, was accompanied by a gamma-ray burst. The discovery challenges existing theories as the supernova shares characteristics with modern supernovae, despite expectations of significant differences due to the early universe's conditions. The detection was a coordinated effort involving multiple observatories, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in space exploration.

NASA's James Webb Telescope Identifies Earliest Supernova, Revealing Host Galaxy

NASA's James Webb Telescope Identifies Earliest Supernova, Revealing Host Galaxy

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has made a groundbreaking observation by identifying a supernova that exploded when the universe was only 730 million years old. This marks the earliest detection of a supernova to date. The telescope's near-infrared images also allowed astronomers to locate the faint host galaxy of the supernova. The observation was part of a coordinated effort with other international telescopes following a gamma-ray burst detected in March. The gamma-ray burst, a super bright flash of light, was linked to the explosive death of a massive star. Webb's observations were strategically timed to capture the supernova at its brightest, three and a half months after the gamma-ray burst ended.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Reveals New Insights on Uranus's Moons

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Reveals New Insights on Uranus's Moons

Recent observations from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have provided new insights into the small inner moons of Uranus. These moons, which are much redder, darker, and more water-poor than the larger moons, were studied using infrared spectra. The research, to be presented at the 2025 AGU Annual Meeting, highlights the unique characteristics of these moons, such as Mab, which is bluer and more water-rich compared to others. The study also discovered a new moon, temporarily named S/2025 U1, orbiting just outside Uranus's epsilon ring. These findings expand the understanding of the composition and reflectivity of the moons' surfaces, offering clues about their origins and interactions within Uranus's ring system.

Uranus's Small Moons Revealed to be Dark, Red, and Water-Poor

Uranus's Small Moons Revealed to be Dark, Red, and Water-Poor

Recent observations using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have provided the first infrared spectra of Uranus's small inner moons, revealing that their surfaces are much redder, darker, and more water-poor compared to the larger moons. The research, to be presented at the 2025 AGU Annual Meeting, highlights the unique properties of these moons and their challenging observation due to their proximity to Uranus's bright surface. The study also discovered a new moon, temporarily named S/2025 U1, orbiting just outside Uranus's epsilon ring.

Scientists Model TRAPPIST-1 Star to Identify Habitable Exoplanets

Scientists Model TRAPPIST-1 Star to Identify Habitable Exoplanets

Researchers are using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to study the TRAPPIST-1 star system, located about 40 light-years away in the constellation Aquarius. This ultracool red dwarf star hosts seven Earth-sized planets, three of which are in the 'habitable zone' where liquid water might exist. However, the star is highly active, emitting energy bursts approximately six times a day, which can threaten the atmospheres of these planets. By analyzing six flares observed in 2022 and 2023, scientists are attempting to understand the impact of these flares on the planets' atmospheres. The study suggests that while the innermost planets may have lost their atmospheres, one planet, TRAPPIST-1e, might still retain a thin, Earth-like atmosphere, potentially supporting life.

NASA and ESA Capture Detailed Images of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS as It Nears Earth

NASA and ESA Capture Detailed Images of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS as It Nears Earth

NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have released new images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, which is making its final pass through the inner solar system. Discovered in late June and confirmed in July as the third known interstellar object, the comet is traveling at an estimated speed of 130,000 mph. It will make its closest approach to Earth on December 19, at a distance of approximately 170 million miles. The Hubble Space Telescope captured images of the comet's nucleus and coma, showing a bright white glow against streaked stars. The European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) also captured images, revealing a glowing coma and twin tails. These observations are part of a broader effort by various spacecraft to study the comet as it approaches Earth.

James Webb Space Telescope Captures Detailed Image of Cat's Paw Nebula

James Webb Space Telescope Captures Detailed Image of Cat's Paw Nebula

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured a detailed image of the Cat's Paw Nebula, also known as NGC 6334, located approximately 4,000 light-years away. This nebula is an emission nebula, a type of cloud in space that emits light due to the ionization of its gas. The telescope focused on a specific region of the nebula, referred to as a 'toe bean,' which is a star-forming area where the energy from young stars is dispersing dense clouds of gas and dust. This image is part of the 2025 Space Telescope Advent Calendar, which reveals a new astronomical image each day until December 25.