We analyze JWST NIRSpec+MIRI/MRS observations of the infrared (IR) gas-phase molecular bands of the most enshrouded source (D1) within the interacting system and luminous IR galaxy II Zw 096.
JWST
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Status Report
GJ 367b Is A Dark, Hot, Airless Sub-Earth
We present the mid-infrared (5-12 μm) phase curve of GJ 367b observed by the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). GJ 367b is a hot (T_eq=1370 […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Luminous Galaxies In JWST CEERS Data
It has been an unanswered question how many dusty galaxies have been undetected from the state-of-the-art observational surveys.
Posted inAstrobiology (general), Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release
Finding Life Beyond Earth: What Comes Next?
The future is full of questions for us earthly life-forms. How far can we take our search for life elsewhere? Which new technologies are best for detecting life? Could we […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
A Carbon-lite Atmosphere Could Be A Sign Of Water And Life On Other Terrestrial Planets
Scientists at MIT, the University of Birmingham, and elsewhere say that astronomers’ best chance of finding liquid water, and even life on other planets, is to look for the absence, […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Can Isotopologues Be Used as Biosignature Gases in Exoplanet Atmospheres?
Isotopologue ratios are anticipated to be one of the most promising signs of life that can be observed remotely. On Earth, carbon isotopes have been used for decades as evidence […]
![JWST NIRCam composite image of the Orion Bar, located in the Orion molecular cloud. Red is the 3.35µm emission (F335M NIRCam filter), blue is the emission of Paα (F187N filter subtracted by F182M filter) and green is the emission of the H2 0-0 S(9) line at 4.70 µm (F470N filter subtracted by F480M filter). The inset shows a zoom-in of the d203-506 planet-forming disk where OH lines are detected. Red is the emission of the H2 1-0 S(1) line at 2.12 µm (F212N filter), blue is the [FeII] line emission at 1.64 µm (F164N filter), and green is the emission in the F140M broad-band near-IR filter that traces scattered light around 1.4 µm (F140M broad band filter). The white contours represent the emission of the OH rotational line at 9.79 µm detected with MIRI-MRS (levels are 1.1, 2.5 ×10−5 erg cm−2 s −1 sr−1 ). The bright spot in the northwestern part of the envelope coincides with the region of interaction between a jet and the photoevaporative wind. The brightest OH emission originates from here. The spectra shown in Fig. 2 and 3 are an average over the region delineated by the green circle in order to have the best S/N. Image credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, PDRs4All ERS Team, pdrs4all.org. -- astro-ph.EP](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/OHAsAProbe.png?resize=1200%2C717&ssl=1)
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Interstellar, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
OH As A Probe Of The Warm Water Cycle In Planet-forming Disks
Water is a key ingredient for the emergence of life as we know it. Yet, its destruction and reformation in space remains unprobed in warm gas.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Neptune, Press Release
Exoplanet Practice: Webb Space Telescope Studies Uranus
Editor’s note: As we look outward at other worlds in other star systems we some major differences – and similarities with regard ot the variety of worlds and how they […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Brown Dwarfs, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
Webb Identifies The Smallest Free-Floating Brown Dwarf Yet Observed
Brown dwarfs are objects that straddle the dividing line between stars and planets. They form like stars, growing dense enough to collapse under their own gravity, but they never become […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Interstellar, Status Report
JWST Observations of Young protoStars (JOYS+): Detection Of Icy Complex Organic Molecules And Ions. I. CH4, SO2, HCOO−, OCN−, H2CO, HCOOH, CH3CH2OH, CH3CHO, CH3OCHO, CH3COOH
Complex organic molecules (COMs) detected in the gas phase are thought to be mostly formed on icy grains, but no unambiguous detection of icy COMs larger than CH3OH has been […]