A team of astronomers found that in typical galaxies, pressure from ionized gas generated by newly formed stars drives the expansion of star-forming regions. However, whether these regions continue to grow or stall depends strongly on their surrounding environment.
Recent News
NSF VLA and ALMA Reveal Hidden “Ring Factories” of Giant Star Clusters in Nearby Galaxies
Astronomers have used U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) radio telescopes in Chile and New Mexico to peer through cosmic smoke and haze, building one of the clearest pictures yet of how giant clusters of young stars are born in the hearts of nearby galaxies.
Radar Echoes From Europa Reveal Secrets Beneath the Ice
A team of scientists has used NASA’s Goldstone Solar System Radar and the U.S. National Science Foundation Green Bank Telescope (NSF GBT) to carry out the most extensive radar study to date of Europa, the ocean world orbiting Jupiter.
US Public to Name Newly Discovered Exoplanet
Astronomers need your help naming a newly discovered planet and the star it orbits. In recent years, astronomers have discovered thousands of planets and planetary systems orbiting around nearby stars. Some are small and rocky, like the Earth, while others are gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn.
Although the International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the authority responsible for assigning official designations and names to celestial bodies, the IAU is designating one planetary system — an exoplanet and its host star — for each country across the globe, and is working with astronomy education and outreach leaders in those countries to gather planetary system name recommendations from the public. Each nation’s designated star is visible from that country, and sufficiently bright to be observed through small telescopes. The star for the United States is currently identified as HD 17156, a sun-like star in the constellation Cassiopeia. While scientists cannot directly image the planet orbiting HD 17156, current data indicates it is a Jupiter-sized gas giant with a highly eccentric orbit.
The US Exoplanet Naming Campaign will open September 15, 2019 and will remain open for one month. The US National Exoplanet Naming Committee expects to receive many proposals. A team of 30 amateur and professional astronomers, educators and students from the US and its territories will identify the 10 semi-finalists that will be voted on by the public at large. This list of 10 semi-finalists will be made available to the public for voting in late October.
Submissions may be made by individuals of any age or teams residing in the US or any of its 14 territories. All submissions must be received by October 15, 2019.
The US National Exoplanet Naming Committee includes Carmen Pantoja, University of Puerto Rico, Derrick Pitts and Joy Montefusco, The Franklin Institute, Vivian White, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and Yasmin Catricheo and Tim Spuck, Associated Universities Inc.
For more information on requirements, and to make a submission, visit http://fi.edu/exo. The public can also follow the campaign via social media at #ourexoplanet.
The Exoplanet Naming Campaign is an IAU100 project celebrating the 100th anniversary of the International Astronomical Union. Stephen Pompea of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory is the US IAU National Outreach Coordinator and Carmen Pantoja of the University of Puerto Rico is the US IAU Deputy Outreach Coordinator.
Recent News
Young Stars Shape the Fate of Galaxies
A team of astronomers found that in typical galaxies, pressure from ionized gas generated by newly formed stars drives the expansion of star-forming regions. However, whether these regions continue to grow or stall depends strongly on their surrounding environment.
NSF VLA and ALMA Reveal Hidden “Ring Factories” of Giant Star Clusters in Nearby Galaxies
Astronomers have used U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) radio telescopes in Chile and New Mexico to peer through cosmic smoke and haze, building one of the clearest pictures yet of how giant clusters of young stars are born in the hearts of nearby galaxies.
Radar Echoes From Europa Reveal Secrets Beneath the Ice
A team of scientists has used NASA’s Goldstone Solar System Radar and the U.S. National Science Foundation Green Bank Telescope (NSF GBT) to carry out the most extensive radar study to date of Europa, the ocean world orbiting Jupiter.