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Showing results 31 - 40 of 65
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Astronomers Discover Jupiter-sized Objects Drawn into Each Other’s Orbit
February 12, 2024 at 3:11 pm | News Release

What happens to planet-sized objects that don’t have a star? A team of astronomers studying Jupiter-mass binary objects (JuMBOs) in the Orion Nebula are gaining a new understanding of these unusual systems.

This artist’s illustration depicts the findings of a new study about the supermassive black hole at the center of our Galaxy called Sagittarius A (abbreviated as Sgr A). This result found that Sgr A* is spinning so quickly that it is warping spacetime – that is, time and the three dimensions of space – so that it can look more like a football. The new study suggests that Sgr A is, in fact, spinning very rapidly, which causes the spacetime around it to be squashed down. The illustration shows a cross-section of Sgr A and material swirling around it in a disk. The black sphere in the center represents the so-called event horizon of the black hole, the point of no return from which nothing, not even light, can escape. Looking at the spinning black hole from the side, as depicted in this illustration, the surrounding spacetime is shaped like a football. The faster the spin the flatter the football. The yellow-orange material to either side represents gas swirling around Sgr A*. This material inevitably plunges towards the black hole and crosses the event horizon once it falls inside the football shape. The area inside the football shape but outside the event horizon is therefore depicted as a cavity. The blue blobs show jets firing away from the poles of the spinning black hole. Looking down on the black hole from the top, along the barrel of the jet, spacetime is a circular shape.
Telescopes Show the Milky Way’s Black Hole is Ready for a Kick
February 8, 2024 at 11:55 am | News Release

A new study may help settle the question of how rapidly the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole is spinning.
This artist’s illustration depicts the findings of a new study about the supermassive black hole at the center of our Galaxy called Sagittarius A (abbreviated as Sgr A). This result found that Sgr A* is spinning so quickly that it is warping spacetime – that is, time and the three dimensions of space – so that it can look more like a football. The new study suggests that Sgr A is, in fact, spinning very rapidly, which causes the spacetime around it to be squashed down. The illustration shows a cross-section of Sgr A and material swirling around it in a disk. The black sphere in the center represents the so-called event horizon of the black hole, the point of no return from which nothing, not even light, can escape. Looking at the spinning black hole from the side, as depicted in this illustration, the surrounding spacetime is shaped like a football. The faster the spin the flatter the football. The yellow-orange material to either side represents gas swirling around Sgr A*. This material inevitably plunges towards the black hole and crosses the event horizon once it falls inside the football shape. The area inside the football shape but outside the event horizon is therefore depicted as a cavity. The blue blobs show jets firing away from the poles of the spinning black hole. Looking down on the black hole from the top, along the barrel of the jet, spacetime is a circular shape.
Mystery of Star Formation Revealed by Hearts of Molecular Clouds
January 8, 2024 at 11:31 am | News Release

An international team of astronomers has revealed mysterious star formation at the far edge of the galaxy M83. This research was presented today in a press conference at the 243rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) in New Orleans, Louisiana. The research used several instruments operated by the National Science Foundation’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), including the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), and the Green Bank Telescope (GBT), along with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan’s (NAOJ) Subaru Telescope and the NASA Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX).
This artist’s illustration depicts the findings of a new study about the supermassive black hole at the center of our Galaxy called Sagittarius A (abbreviated as Sgr A). This result found that Sgr A* is spinning so quickly that it is warping spacetime – that is, time and the three dimensions of space – so that it can look more like a football. The new study suggests that Sgr A is, in fact, spinning very rapidly, which causes the spacetime around it to be squashed down. The illustration shows a cross-section of Sgr A and material swirling around it in a disk. The black sphere in the center represents the so-called event horizon of the black hole, the point of no return from which nothing, not even light, can escape. Looking at the spinning black hole from the side, as depicted in this illustration, the surrounding spacetime is shaped like a football. The faster the spin the flatter the football. The yellow-orange material to either side represents gas swirling around Sgr A*. This material inevitably plunges towards the black hole and crosses the event horizon once it falls inside the football shape. The area inside the football shape but outside the event horizon is therefore depicted as a cavity. The blue blobs show jets firing away from the poles of the spinning black hole. Looking down on the black hole from the top, along the barrel of the jet, spacetime is a circular shape.
NRAO in the press at AAS 243
January 8, 2024 at 9:22 am | Announcement

New scientific results from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the Very Large Array (VLA), and Green Bank Observatory…
A birds eye view of a portion of a prototype ngVLA antenna, next to the mtex antenna technology facility in Saxony, Germany.
German tech factory reveals antenna prototype—ngVLA will open a new window into the Universe
September 28, 2023 at 11:57 am | Announcement

Usually it’s Octoberfest that draws a crowd to Germany this time of year. For hundreds of folks gathered at…
Artist's conception of the mtex design for the ngVLA prototype antenna.
$21 Million NSF Award Will Bring ngVLA Design to Life
September 14, 2023 at 10:32 am | Announcement

The largest astronomical array in North America is one step closer to becoming a reality. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is pleased to announce that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a 3-year, $21 million grant to Associated Universities, Inc.(AUI) to further the design of the next generation Very Large Array (ngVLA).
Artist's conception of the mtex design for the ngVLA prototype antenna.
Largest Telescope Array in North America Under Development by NRAO With Support from UNM
September 11, 2023 at 11:20 am | News Release

Through this partnership, NRAO and UNM will explore the potential of establishing the UNM College of Arts & Sciences’ Department of Physics & Astronomy as a host site for the ngVLA Data Processing and Science Operations Center.

NRAO_PressConference_242
NRAO and GBO Results Presented at Multiple AAS 242 Press Conferences
June 4, 2023 at 9:37 am | Announcement

New scientific results from the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), the Very Large Array (VLA), and the Green Bank Observatory (GBO) will be revealed at multiple press conferences during the 242nd meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) from June 5-7, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
VLA Panorama 1
2023 Jansky Fellows Awarded
April 12, 2023 at 9:00 am | Announcement

As a part of its central mission to nurture and inspire the next generation of radio astronomers, the National Science Foundation’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) has selected four outstanding early career professionals for its 2023 Jansky Fellowship. 
Artist's conception of the mtex design for the ngVLA prototype antenna.
Design Review for ngVLA Antenna Clears Way for Prototype Construction
December 20, 2022 at 10:00 am | Announcement

The design for the ngVLA prototype antenna has passed a thorough review by a panel of external experts and the project now is cleared to proceed to manufacture the prototype.
Showing results 31 - 40 of 65