New simulations show that truly Earth-like exoplanets with oceans and continents, and beaches along the boundaries, may be much more common around red dwarfs than previously expected.
NAOJ
Posted inPress Release, TRAPPIST-1
TRAPPIST-1 Planetary Orbits Not Misaligned
Astronomers using the Subaru Telescope have determined that the Earth-like planets of the TRAPPIST-1 system are not significantly misaligned with the rotation of the star. This is an important result […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Press Release
Carbon Cocoons Surround Growing Galaxies
Researchers have discovered gigantic clouds of gaseous carbon spanning more than a radius of 30,000 light-years around young galaxies using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). This is the first […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Press Release
Complex Organic Compounds Found On Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner
Using the Cooled Mid-Infrared Camera and Spectrometer (COMICS) on the Subaru Telescope, astronomers have detected an unidentified infrared emission band from comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner (hereafter, comet 21P/G-Z) in addition to the […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Press Release
Retreating Snow Line Reveals Organic Molecules Around Young Star
Young stars are often surrounded by a protoplanetary disk where planets are forming. Astronomers study the composition of protoplanetary disks to better understand how planets, like Earth, formed and evolved […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release
New IR Instrument Searches for Habitable Planets
A new instrument to search for potentially habitable/inhabited planets has started operation at the Subaru Telescope. This instrument, IRD (InfraRed Doppler), will look for habitable planets around red dwarf stars. […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release
Photosynthesis Under Light Conditions Different from Earth's
M-dwarfs or red dwarfs are small (0.5-0.1 solar-mass) and cool ( ~3,000 kelvin) stars and are abundant in the universe. Sun-like stars have been attracting most attention as a plausible […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Press Release
Discovery of an Extragalactic Hot Molecular Core
Astronomers have discovered a ‘hot molecular core,’ a cocoon of molecules surrounding a newborn massive star, for the first time outside our galaxy. The discovery, which marks the first important […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones
Oxygen Is Not Definitive Evidence of Life on Extrasolar Planets
The Earth’s atmosphere contains oxygen because plants continuously produce it through photosynthesis. This abundant supply of oxygen allows life forms like animals to flourish. Therefore, oxygen had been thought to […]
Posted inAstrochemistry
Environment Around Black Hole Protects Organic Chemicals
A research team led by Shuro Takano at NAOJ and Taku Nakajima at Nagoya University observed the spiral galaxy M77 with ALMA and discovered that organic molecules are concentrated in […]