Tucked away in a star-forming region in the Taurus constellation, a pair of circling stars are displaying some unexpected differences in the circumstellar disks of dust and gas that surround them. A new study led by researchers at Lowell Observatory, combining data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and Keck Observatory, has unveiled intriguing findings about planet formation in this binary star system, known as DF Tau, along with other systems in this region.
Recent News
Young Stars in the Milky Way’s Backyard Challenge Our Understanding of How They Form
Astronomers have made groundbreaking discoveries about young star formation in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), along with observations from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal, gives new insight into the early stages of massive star formation outside our galaxy.
Astronomers Catch Unprecedented Features at Brink of Active Black Hole
International teams of astronomers monitoring a supermassive black hole in the heart of a distant galaxy have detected features never seen before using data from NASA missions and other facilities including the National Science Foundation (NSF) National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). The features include the launch of a plasma jet moving at nearly one-third the speed of light and unusual, rapid X-ray fluctuations likely arising from near the very edge of the black hole.
AUI Statement on the August 11th-12th Events in Charlottesville
AUI STATEMENT ON THE WEEKEND EVENTS IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
All of us, of course, were shocked by the scenes in Charlottesville on Friday and Saturday, and by the consequences of this vile domestic terrorism. As an organization with long-standing roots in Charlottesville we know it as a diverse and welcoming community to all people. The white supremacist and racist groups that descended upon Charlottesville did so with the intent of publicizing their hateful ideology and intimidating anyone who opposes it. AUI stands with the Charlottesville community in repudiating the Nazis, the KKK, the supremacists and all who spread hate and intolerance, for which there is no place in a free society.
We wish to thank the many members of the AUI community who have asked about the well-being of our employees in Charlottesville after last weekend’s events. NRAO leadership has stated that to the best of its knowledge, all Charlottesville families are safe. Faye Giles, NRAO AD-Human Resources, and Lyndele von Schill, NRAO Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, have offered assistance for those who feel particularly disturbed or disheartened by the appalling events.
AUI opposes bigotry, and promotes diversity and inclusion at all levels and areas of our organization, and in all our interactions with the broader community, to benefit our mission, and for and on behalf of the community we serve. The occurrences of the last few days only strengthen this sense of purpose and moral duty.
Roscoe Giles Chair of the AUI Board of Trustees
Ethan Schreier AUI President
Recent News
Double the Disks, Double the Discovery: New Insights into Planet Formation in DF Tau
Tucked away in a star-forming region in the Taurus constellation, a pair of circling stars are displaying some unexpected differences in the circumstellar disks of dust and gas that surround them. A new study led by researchers at Lowell Observatory, combining data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and Keck Observatory, has unveiled intriguing findings about planet formation in this binary star system, known as DF Tau, along with other systems in this region.
Young Stars in the Milky Way’s Backyard Challenge Our Understanding of How They Form
Astronomers have made groundbreaking discoveries about young star formation in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), along with observations from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal, gives new insight into the early stages of massive star formation outside our galaxy.
Astronomers Catch Unprecedented Features at Brink of Active Black Hole
International teams of astronomers monitoring a supermassive black hole in the heart of a distant galaxy have detected features never seen before using data from NASA missions and other facilities including the National Science Foundation (NSF) National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). The features include the launch of a plasma jet moving at nearly one-third the speed of light and unusual, rapid X-ray fluctuations likely arising from near the very edge of the black hole.