Astronomers see distant eruption as black hole destroys star
2018-06-14
Researchers at the Department of Astronomy, Stockholm University, contributed to a new study, directly imaging the jet of material formed when a black hole rips a star apart. The results are published in the journal Science.
Astronomers Release Most Complete Ultraviolet-Light Survey of Nearby Galaxies
2018-05-24
NASA and ESA have recently announced the release of the most comprehensive ultra-violet light survey of nearby galaxies. The data have been acquired with the Hubble space Telescope which provides superb spatial resolution at this spectral range. An international team formed by more than 50 astronomers across 4 continents has carefully analysed the data.
SPICA candidate for ESA’s next medium-class science mission
2018-05-09
The infrared space telescope SPICA has been selected from about 25 mission proposals to be further developed and studied in full detail by the European Space Agency. The selection of SPICA is a crucial step towards solving a number of fundamental questions in modern astronomy – with SPICA the growth and evolution of galaxies from over cosmic time can be fully characterised, in addition and also it will allow us to better understand the conditions that promote the formation of planetary systems like our own.
Solving the riddle of why the Suns atmosphere is so hot
2018-05-09
Using a new instrument at the Swedish 1-m solar telescope researchers at our department have observed the Suns atmosphere in unprecedented detail. In a study published in the international scientific journal Astronomy & Astrophysics they have been able to demonstrate that the magnetic field plays a crucial role in heating the solar atmosphere.
Update on Neutron Star Smash-Up: Jet Hit a Roadblock
2017-12-21
Light detected from a neutron star merger is not from a super-fast jet as previously suspected, but rather a bubble-like cocoon. Poonam Chandra, Guest Professor at the Department of Astronomy, contributes to this new study.
Zwicky Transient Facility sees "first light"
2017-11-20
A new robotic camera with the ability to capture hundreds of thousands of stars and galaxies in a single shot has taken its first image of the sky, an event astronomers refer to as "first light." The recently installed camera is part of a new automated sky-survey project called the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), in which Stockholm University is a partner. Observations are done at Palomar Observatory, USA.
iPTF14hls, a strange supernova with swaying brightness
2017-11-09
Supernova iPTF14hls was discovered in 2014 with a survey telescope on Palomar Mountain, USA, by a collaboration where the Department of Astronomy at Stockholm University took part. This supernova, located 500 million light years away in the constellation of the Great Bear, is puzzling.
MOSAIC at the ELT: A Gigantic Step into the Deep Universe
2017-10-20
The Department of Astronomy at Stockholm University, together with colleagues at the universities in Lund and Uppsala, delivers the Swedish contribution to the new MOSAIC spectrograph. This instrument is planned for the upcoming European 39 metre telescope E-ELT. During a conference in Toledo, Spain, 17-19 October, scientific studies possible to perform with MOSAIC are being discussed.
Merging neutron stars detected in gravitation waves and electromagnetic radiation
2017-10-17
Researchers at the Department of Astronomy at Stockholm University are involved in the international co-operation aiming at detecting and explaining merging compact objects. The project is not only about observations at different wavelengths, but also utilizes results from computer simulations. Participants from the Department of Astronomy are Cristina Barbarino, Alexis Brandeker, Poonam Chandra, Stephan Rosswog, Jesper Sollerman and Francesco Taddia, and Magnus Axelsson affiliated to both the Department of Astronomy and Fysikum.
Flash spectroscopy of a supernova reveals its progenitor star
2014-05-22
The intermediate Palomar Transient Factory (iPTF) and researchers at the Department of Astronomy of Stockholm University have observed the supernova SN 2013cu a few hours after explosion, unveiling the nature of its precursor, a massive Wolf-Rayet star.
Prospects brighten for solving cosmic reionization puzzle
2013-11-18
After the Big Bang, the Universe expanded, cooled off and eventually allowed protons and electrons to form neutral hydrogen atoms. However, at some point during the first billion years of cosmic history, the Universe was flooded with highly energetic photons which brought the hydrogen in the intergalactic medium back into a highly ionized state. The origin of these ionizing photons remains unclear, which makes cosmic reionization one of the great unsolved puzzles of the early Universe.
Large grant for supernova research
2013-10-03
Researchers at the Department of astronomy have received a grant of 30 million SEK from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation.
Dwarf galaxy questions current galaxy formation models
2012-03-08
Researchers from the Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto (Center for Astrophysics of the University of Porto) observed the dwarf galaxy I Zw 18, and found that much of what is known about galaxy formation and evolution might need substantial revision.
Doctoral dissertation on AGB stars by Matthias Maercker
2011-11-21
On January 18, Matthias Maercker will defend his thesis "Asymptotic Giant Branch stars viewed up-close and far-off: The physics, chemistry, and evolution of their circumstellar envelopes".
The reionization of the universe gathers international researchers
2011-11-21
Researchers from all over the world gather at the AlbaNova University Center to discuss how new observations will increase our understanding of how the first stars and galaxies lit up the universe.
New discoveries concerning the Crab pulsar
2011-11-21
Researchers at the Department of Astronomy have studied the Crab pulsar and its closest surroundings in optical and infrared light.
A new eye towards the infrared universe
2011-11-21
On May 14, ESA launched the telescope Herschel into space. Researchers at the Department of Astronomy have contributed during the development phase and look forward to revolutionising discoveries of how stars and planets form.
Does the Crab have a shell?
2011-11-21
Researchers at the Department of Astronomy have searched for a shell of ejected material surrounding the Crab nebula.
AlbaNova telescope observes new supernova
2011-11-21
Using the AlbaNova telescope, astronomers at the Department of Astronomy became the first to confirm supernova SN 2009ab. This shows that the telescope can also be used for scientifically interesting observations, besides education and instrumental development.
Oskar Klein Centre inaugurated
2011-11-21
The newly established centre for cosmoparticle physics, the Oskar Klein Centre, will seek the answers to some of the most fundamental questions about the nature of the Universe.
New results on two black hole binaries
2011-11-21
Researchers at the Department of Astronomy have studied the
high-energy radiation emitted from the innermost regions around black holes.
Licentiate seminar on a young pulsar
2011-11-21
On August 14, Natalia Lundqvist, PhD student at the Department of Astronomy at Stockholm University, defends her licentiate thesis titled "The young pulsar PSR B054-69.3 and its surroundings".