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Astrochemistry

Image Gallery : Astrochemistry

The study of molecules and chemical reactions in space. This primarily involves chemical interactions of gas and dust surrounding young stars and in interstellar space.

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These images from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) show where various gas molecules were found in the disc around the IRS 48 star, also known as Oph-IRS 48. The disc contains a cashew-nut-shaped region in its southern part, which traps millimetre-sized dust grains that can come together and grow into kilometre-sized objects like comets, asteroids and potentially even planets. Recent observations spotted several complex organic molecules in this region, including formaldehyde (H2CO; orange), methanol (CH3OH; green) and dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3; blue), the last being the largest molecule found in a planet-forming disc to date. The emission signaling the presence of these molecules is clearly stronger in the disc’s dust trap, while carbon monoxide gas (CO; purple) is present in the entire gas disc. The location of the central star is marked with a star in all four images. The dust trap is about the same size as the area taken up by the methanol emission, shown on the bottom left.

Molecules in the disc around the star IRS 48more_horiz

These science images show the molecular lines and dust continuum seen in ALMA observations of the pair of early massive galaxies known as SPT0311-58. On left: A composite image combining the dust continuum with molecular lines for H20 and CO. On right: The dust continuum seen in red (top), molecular line for H20 shown in blue (2nd from top), molecular line transitions for carbon monoxide, CO(6-5) shown in purple (middle), CO(7-6) shown in magenta (second from bottom), and CO(10-9) shown in pinks and deep blue (bottom).

Dust Continuum and Molecular Transition Lines for SPT0311-58more_horiz

This animated gif moves through the dust continuum and molecular lines for water and carbon monoxide seen in ALMA observations of the pair of early massive galaxies known as SPT0311-58. This gif begins with a composite combining the dust continuum with molecular lines for H20 and CO. It is followed by the dust continuum seen in red, molecular lines for H20 seen in blue, molecular lines for carbon monoxide, CO(10-9) shown in pinks and deep blue, CO(7-6) shown in magenta, and CO(6-5) shown in purple.

Animated Composite View of SPT0311-58more_horiz

This artist’s conception shows the dust continuum and molecular lines of carbon monoxide and water seen in the pair of galaxies known as SPT0311-58. ALMA data reveals abundant CO and H20 in the larger of the two galaxies, indicating that the molecular Universe was going strong shortly after the elements were initially forged.

Artist’s conception of SPT0311-58more_horiz

This image may look spooky to you, but astronomers see a galaxy. It was captured by the Very Large Array (VLA) as part of the Local Group L-Band Survey (LGLBS) and is an atomic gas emission image of the nearby galaxy IC 1613.

A Spooky View of Galactic Gasmore_horiz

a bright blue young star with a cloud of cold gas surrounding it

Hydrogen Cyanide in HD 163296more_horiz

ALMA has detected sodium chloride emanating from the dusty disk surrounding ORION SOURCE I

Salt Discovered Around Massive Young Star postermore_horiz

A Molecular Fountain In Abell 2597more_horiz

ALMA Observes Most Distant Galactic Outflowmore_horiz

Chart comparing ALMA and Herschel spectral line detections

Spectral Lines in the Cat’s Paw Nebulamore_horiz

Heavy Water in NGC 6334Imore_horiz

Illustration highlighting ALMA's high-frequency observing capabilities

ALMA’s Highest-Frequency Capabilitiesmore_horiz

Pair of Colliding Stars Spill Radioactive Molecules into Spacemore_horiz

Artist impression of the collision of two stars

Artist Impression of CK Vulmore_horiz

First Detection of Aluminium Nuclear Isotope in Spacemore_horiz

Galaxy cluster MACS J1149.5+2223, inset image: galaxy MACS1149-JD1

ALMA Finds Most-Distant Oxygen in the Universemore_horiz

Image illustrating the detection of molecules found by ALMA in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Stellar Embryos in Nearby Dwarf Galaxy Contain Surprisingly Complex Organic Moleculesmore_horiz

Still from video explaining the discovery of benzonitrile in interstellar space

GBT Detection Unlocks Exploration of ‘Aromatic’ Interstellar Chemistrymore_horiz

Showing images 1 - 18 of 41

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