In recent years, a number of metal-containing, carbon-chain species have been detected in the external circumstellar envelope of the carbon-rich AGB star IRC+10216.
Cyanopolyynes
![Overview of the L1544 (LEFT panel) and IRAS 16293–2422 (RIGHT panel) regions as traced by the Herschel3 continuum maps at 350 𝜇m. The white contours correspond to [5,7,9,12,14]𝜎, where 𝜎 is 12 MJy sr−1 in L1544, and 1.1 MJy sr−1 in IRAS 16293–2422, respectively. The FoVs of the GBT observations are shown as blue circles – solid line for Ku-band and dashed line for X-band observations (see Sect. 3). Green diamonds identify the continuum (∼1.3 mm) peak position in L1544 (Ward-Thompson et al. 1999) and the position of the A/B, and E objects in IRAS 16293–2422 (Kahle et al. 2023). The size of the Herschel beam (25′′) is shown in the bottom left corner, while the scale bar is shown in the bottom right. -- astro-ph.GA](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Carbon-chain-diversity.png?resize=1200%2C716&ssl=1)
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
Carbon Chain Diversity In L1544 And IRAS 16293-2422: An Astrochemical Pathfinder Study For The SKAO
Astrochemical observations have revealed a surprisingly high level of chemical complexity, including long carbon chains, in the earliest stages of Sun-like star formation.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release
Toward Unraveling Cyanopolyyne Surface Chemistry: A Preview on Isolated Systems From HC3N to Ethyl Cyanide and Propylamine
Cyanopolyynes, a family of nitrogen containing carbon chains, are common in the interstellar medium and possibly form the backbone of species relevant to prebiotic chemistry.