Paul M. Sutter, Author at Universe Today

May 14, 2021May 10, 2021 by Paul M. Sutter

Older Stars Rotate Faster Than Expected

Forming Star's Magnetic Field Interacting With Disc Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (SSC).

Older stars should slow down, but new observations reveal that they have just as much of a spring in their step as their younger cousins. Astronomers suspect that complex interactions with the star’s magnetic field might be to blame.

May 13, 2021May 10, 2021 by Paul M. Sutter

Exploding Stars are Titanium Factories

Titanium, shaded in blue, superimposed on observations of the supernova Cas A. Image credit: Chandra: NASA/CXC/RIKEN/T. Sato et al.; NuSTAR: NASA/NuSTAR; Hubble: NASA/STScI

If you’re a fan of titanium, you should head to the nearest supernova. You’ll get more than enough of it. And its presence can help astronomers understand how supernovae work.

May 13, 2021May 10, 2021 by Paul M. Sutter

A Comet Seen at the end of its Life. It’s covered in talcum powder

Comet C/2019 Y4 ATLAS in Ursa Major on February 15, 2020. Credit: Hisayoshi Kato.

Astronomers finally managed to observe a comet nearing the end of its life. And they found that it’s covered in talcum powder. They have no idea why.

May 12, 2021May 10, 2021 by Paul M. Sutter

How Squeezable are Neutron Stars?

An artist's impression of a magnetar, a highly magnetic, slowly rotating neutron star. Credit: ESO/L. Calçada

Two neutron stars. One is 50% more massive than the other, yet they are almost exactly the same size. The results have big implications for understanding what neutron stars are really made of.

May 12, 2021May 10, 2021 by Paul M. Sutter

Astronomers see a Rare “Double Quasar” in a Pair of Merging Galaxies

Artist's conception of a double quasar. Image credit: ASA, ESA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)

What’s better than a quasar? That’s right, two quasars. Astronomers have spotted for the first time two rare double-quasars, and the results show us the dynamic, messy consequences of galaxy formation.

May 11, 2021May 10, 2021 by Paul M. Sutter

Starlink and OneWeb Have Their First Avoidance Maneuver With Each Other’s Constellations

Two companies, OneWeb and SpaceX, are racing to put fleets of thousands of communication satellites into orbit. In March they had their first near-miss. Avoidance maneuvers were successful, but how many more close calls will they face in the future?

May 11, 2021May 10, 2021 by Paul M. Sutter

How can White Dwarfs Produce Such Powerful Magnetic Fields?

Illustration of the internal layers of a white dwarf star. Credit: University of Warwick/Mark Garlick

White dwarfs have some surprisingly strong magnetic fields, and one team of astronomers may have finally found the reason why. When they cool, they can activate a dynamo mechanism similar to what powers the Earth’s magnetic field.

May 10, 2021May 10, 2021 by Paul M. Sutter

Both Uranus and Neptune Have Really Bizarre Magnetic Fields

These composite images show Uranian auroras, which scientists caught glimpses of through the Hubble in 2011. In the left image, you can clearly see how the aurora stands high above the planet's denser atmosphere. These photos combine Hubble pictures made in UV and visible light by Hubble with photos of Uranus' disk from the Voyager 2 and a third image of the rings from the Gemini Observatory in Hawaii and Chile. The auroras are located close to the planet's north magnetic pole, making these northern lights. Credit: NASA, ESA, and L. Lamy (Observatory of Paris, CNRS, CNES)

The magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune are really, seriously messed up. And we don’t know why.

May 10, 2021May 10, 2021 by Paul M. Sutter

Young Stars can Evaporate Nearby Disks Before They can Form Planets

Artist's conceptualization of the dusty TYC 8241 2652 system as it might have appeared several years ago when it was emitting large amounts of excess infrared radiation. Credit: Gemini Observatory/AURA artwork by Lynette Cook. https://www.gemini.edu/node/11836

Many planetary systems may get snuffed out before they even get a chance to form, according to new research. The culprit: nearby stars, capable of evaporating entire protoplanetary disks just when they begin to form.

April 5, 2021April 4, 2021 by Paul M. Sutter

Is Dark Matter Responsible for Extra Gamma Rays Coming From the Center of the Milky Way?

For years astronomers have puzzled over a strange excess of gamma rays coming from the galactic center. Annihilating dark matter has always been a tantalizing explanation, and new research claims that it’s the best answer.