Galactic cosmic-ray Archives

Dust temperature (colorscale) and N(H2) column density (contours: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 × 1022 cm−2 ) Herschel maps of NGC1333 region in Perseus (Pezzuto et al. 2021). Included are the locations of four starless and prestellar cores, Pers264, Pers317, Pers321 and Pers326 (black circles 38′′ in size) and the locations of the prominent CO outflows in the region, SVS 13A, IRAS 4A, and IRAS 2A, as described in Plunkett et al. 2013 (note: the length of jet arrows are not to scale). -- astro-ph.GA

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

First Detections Of PN, PO And PO+ Toward A Shocked Low-mass Starless Core

by Keith CowingMay 2, 2025September 18, 2025

Phosphorus is a key element that plays an essential role in biological processes important for living organisms on Earth.

Observed SFDs of C-type asteroid families. The SFDs usually exhibit a steep slope q1 at sizes D ≳ 5 km and a shallow slope q2 at D ≲ 5 km. This break is often created in the course of collisonal evolution. An observational bias affects the SFDs at even smaller sizes (0.5-3 km), depending on the distance and albedo of the respective populations. Additionally, families of P, B and M types were studied (together with 4 of unknown taxonomical classification). -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Impact events, Meteorites & Asteroids, Status Report

Source Regions of Carbonaceous Meteorites and NEOs

by Keith CowingJuly 3, 2024July 1, 2024

The present work aims to determine the source regions of carbonaceous chondrites (CM, CI, CO, CV, CK, CR, CH, CB, or C-ungrouped). We studied 38 individual asteroid families, including young […]

Schematic diagram demonstrating interstellar ices within dark clouds made of molecular hydrogen being processed by photochemistry involving the production of electronically excited water and radiation chemistry involving the production of ionized water and secondary electrons. This work focuses on the interaction depicted in the second of the two CRs (blue lines) in which a CR interacts in the ice mantle to produce secondary electrons. Reproduced from Ref. 4. Copyright 2019, The Royal Society of Chemistry. -- astro-ph.HE

Astrochemistry, Status Report

The Role of Low-energy (< 20 eV) Secondary Electrons in the Extraterrestrial Synthesis of Prebiotic Molecules

by Keith CowingDecember 6, 2023December 6, 2023

We demonstrate for the first time that Galactic cosmic rays with energies as high as 1e10 eV can trigger a cascade of low-energy (< 20 eV) secondary electrons that could […]