![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)
Astrochemical observations have revealed a surprisingly high level of chemical complexity, including long carbon chains, in the earliest stages of Sun-like star formation.
prestellar core L1544
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release
First Mapping Of Prebiotic Molecule CH2NH In A Pre-stellar Core
We present the first spatially resolved map of methanimine CH2NH in the prestellar core L1544 using the IRAM 30m telescope.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
Formation of Complex Organic Molecules in Prestellar Cores: The Role of Non-Diffusive Grain Chemistry
We present the results of astrochemical modeling of complex organic molecules (COMs) in the ice and gas of the prestellar core L1544 with the recently updated MONACO rate equations-based model.
![Central panel: ammonia 14N/ 15N map in L1544. The contours show the total gas density at levels N(H2) = [1, 1.5, 2, 2.5] × 1022 cm−2 , obtained from Herschel SED fitting (Spezzano et al. 2017). The black circles show the three offsets (labelled with capital letters) where we compute average spectra to improve S/N. The averaged 15NH3 (1,1) lines are shown in the surrounding panels (black: observations, red: best-fit models, obtained as described in App. B). These panels are labelled in their top-left corner, whilst in the top-right corners we indicate the measured 14N/ 15N. -- astro-ph.GA](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Nitrogen.png?resize=1200%2C720&ssl=1)
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
Nitrogen Fractionation In Ammonia And Its Insights On Nitrogen Chemistry
Context. Observations of 14N/15N in the interstellar medium are becoming more frequent thanks to the increased telescope capabilities. However, interpreting these data is still puzzling. In particular, measurements of 14N/15N […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
Cyanopolyyne Chemistry In The L1544 Prestellar Core: New Insights From GBT Observations
We report a comprehensive study of the cyanopolyyne chemistry in the prototypical prestellar core L1544.