cyanocoronene Archives

An artist’s impression of the newly identified, largest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon detected to date, cyanocoronene. This molecule, composed of seven interconnected benzene rings and a cyano group (C24H11CN), was found in the cold, dark molecular cloud TMC-1, a region known for its rich chemistry and as a cradle for new stars. Image credit NSF/AUI/NSF NRAO/P.Vosteen.

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release

The Largest Aromatic Molecule Yet To Be Found in Deep Space

by Keith CowingJune 12, 2025June 12, 2025

A team of chemists and astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of astrochemistry: the identification of cyanocoronene, the largest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) ever detected in space. […]

Optimized geometry of cyanocoronene, C24H11CN, in its principal axis system spanned by the vectors a and b. The highly symmetric coronene has 12 identical carbon sites for CN-substitution that all result in the same cyanocoronene. Its permanent electric dipole moment was calculated to be µa = 5.67 D and µb = 0.59 D. -- astro-ph.GA

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

Discovery of the 7-ring PAH Cyanocoronene (C24H11CN) in GOTHAM Observations of TMC-1

by Keith CowingApril 10, 2025September 18, 2025

We present the synthesis and laboratory rotational spectroscopy of the 7-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) cyanocoronene (C24H11CN) using a laser-ablation assisted cavity-enhanced Fourier transform microwave spectrometer.

cyanocoronene

The Largest Aromatic Molecule Yet To Be Found in Deep Space

Discovery of the 7-ring PAH Cyanocoronene (C24H11CN) in GOTHAM Observations of TMC-1

NASA Establishes Mars Forward Operational Risk and Contamination Evaluation (M-FORCE) Tiger Team to Shape Mars Planetary Protection Protocols

Opportunity to Contribute to NASA DARES Community White Paper on Phototrophic Biosignatures

The Search For Life Elsewhere: Avoiding Hype and Fostering Public Understanding

Panchromatic Spectra of Nearby Low-mass and Sun-like Stars with Directly Imageable Habitable Zones

Alfred: A Flexible, User-Friendly Python Package for Exoplanet Confirmation