complex organic molecules Archives - Page 5 of 5 - Astrobiology

An international team of scientists using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has identified a wealth of complex, carbon-containing (organic) molecules surrounding two protostars. This graphic shows the spectrum of one of the two protostars, IRAS 2A. It includes the fingerprints of acetaldehyde, ethanol, methylformate, and likely acetic acid, in the solid phase. These and other molecules detected there by Webb represent key ingredients for making potentially habitable worlds. -- ESA

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release

Webb Telescope Finds A Wide Variety of Organic Molecules Surrounding Early-stage Protostars

by Keith CowingMarch 24, 2024March 24, 2024

An international team of astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have discovered a variety of molecules, ranging from relatively simple ones like methane to complex compounds like acetic […]

Astronomers identified icy compounds made of complex organic molecules like alcohol and likely acetic acid, using MIRI, which was managed through launch by JPL.

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Webb Space Telescope Finds Ethanol And Other Organic Molecules Surrounding Young Protostars

by Keith CowingMarch 13, 2024March 13, 2024

What do margaritas, vinegar, and ant stings have in common? They contain chemical ingredients that NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has identified surrounding two young protostars known as IRAS 2A […]

A.1: Moment 0 maps of selected O-COMs in the representative source G19.88-0.53. Contours and beams are the same as those in Fig. 1. We chose the strongest and unblended (or less blended) line in the upper tuning to make moment 0 map of each species, of which the quantum numbers and the upper energy level are indicated by white bold text at the bottom of each panel. The images are integrated over the FWHM with respect to the line center. -- astro-ph.GA

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

CoCCoA: Complex Chemistry In Hot Cores With ALMA. Selected Oxygen-bearing Species

by Keith CowingAugust 9, 2023August 9, 2023

Complex organic molecules (COMs) have been observed to be abundant in the gas phase toward protostars. Deep line surveys have been carried out only for a limited number of well-known […]

TEYs in the N K edge region of a pure CH3CN ice at 15 K (top left panel; the inset shows the region near the N 1s → π ∗ resonance for an ice irradiated at 15 K and 90 K for the lower and upper curve, respectively; these curves are shifted vertically for more clarity), of a mixed H2O:CH3CN ice irradiated at 15 K with a dilution ratio of 1:1 and 10:1 (top and bottom right panel, respectively), and of a mixed 13CO:CH3CN ice irradiated at 15 K with a dilution ratio of 1:1 (bottom left panel). The photon fluence received by the ice before each TEY measurement is also displayed. The spectral width of the beam was set to 1.2 eV for all the TEY measurements, except for the one corresponding to the red curve in the bottom right panel, for a H2O:CH3CN ice having received a photon fluence of 1×1017 photons.cm−2 and for which the spectral width was 90 meV. The inset in the bottom right panel zooms into the TEY measured on the H2O:CH3CN (10:1) ice for a photon fluence of 1017 photons.cm−2 , where the vibrational structure of the core hole state of N2 formed near the ice surface can be seen near 401 eV. The ices have a total thickness of ∼ 100 ML.\ -- astro-ph.IM

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

X-ray Photodesorption Of Complex Organic Molecules In Protoplanetary Disks — I. Acetonitrile CH3CN

by Keith CowingJuly 1, 2023

X-rays emitted from pre-main-sequence stars at the center of protoplanetary disks can induce nonthermal desorption from interstellar ices populating the cold regions. This X-ray photodesorption needs to be quantified for […]

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report

Complex Organic Molecules In A Very Young Hot Corino, HOPS 373SW

by Keith CowingJune 29, 2023

We present the spectra of Complex Organic Molecules (COMs) detected in HOPS 373SW with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). HOPS 373SW, which is a component of a protostellar binary […]

Spectra and irradiation maps

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Interstellar, Status Report

Resonant Infrared Irradiation Of CO And CH3OH Interstellar Ices

by Keith CowingFebruary 23, 2023February 23, 2023

Solid-phase photo-processes involving icy dust grains greatly affect the chemical evolution of the interstellar medium by leading to the formation of complex organic molecules and by inducing photodesorption.

the complex

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release

The Complex Organic Molecular Content In The L1517B Starless Core

by Keith CowingNovember 30, 2022November 30, 2022

Recent observations of the pre-stellar core L1544 and the younger starless core L1498 have revealed that complex organic molecules (COMs) are enhanced in the gas phase toward their outer and […]