ALMA – Astronomy Now

ALMA spots merging galaxies in infant universe

18 June 2019 Astronomy Now

The ALMA radio telescope array has spotted what appears to be the merger of two galaxies in the infant universe, the earliest such encounter yet observed.

ALMA focuses on factors influencing star birth in nearby galaxies

30 April 2019 Astronomy Now

The Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array, or ALMA, is in the process of studying stellar nurseries in nearby galaxies to learn more about the factors influencing rates of star formation and the roles a host galaxy’s overall structure and dynamics might play.

Intermediate mass black hole found near galactic centre

28 February 2019 Astronomy Now

Astronomers studying a swirling cloud of gas near the centre of the Milky Way have found what appears to be an intermediate mass black hole.

Surprisingly salty young star found in Orion complex

8 February 2019 Astronomy Now

Astronomers have identified sodium chloride – table salt – in a vast ring of debris around a massive young star, the first such discovery to date.

Jet from Milky Way’s central black hole may be facing Earth

24 January 2019 Astronomy Now

High-resolution virtual views of the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole indicate one if its powerful jets could be aimed roughly in the direction of Earth.

Binary star ‘odd couple’ spotted by ALMA

16 December 2018 Astronomy Now

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array has spotted a young binary star system in which two very different size suns are in the process of forming in a swirling cloud of gas and dust.

ALMA finds well-developed protoplanetary discs around young suns

12 December 2018 Astronomy Now

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array has captured stunning views of 20 protoplanetary discs around young, nearby stars, all of them suggesting planets are forming faster than expected

ALMA helps solve an astronomical cold case

10 October 2018 Astronomy Now

Astronomers say an apparent nova that appeared in the constellation Cygnus 348 years ago likely was caused by a collision between a compact white dwarf and a ‘failed star’ known as a brown dwarf.

Fierce molecular winds slow runaway starbirth in early galaxy

6 September 2018 Astronomy Now

Astronomers have detected a powerful molecular wind being blasted away from a starburst galaxy in the early universe, the earliest example yet of a mechanism thought to prevent galaxies from growing too large too fast.

ALMA reveals dusty anatomy of an ancient starburst galaxy

3 September 2018 Astronomy Now

New observations of a starburst galaxy using the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array resolve vast, unstable clouds thousands of light years apart that are thought to be sites for rapid-fire star formation.