2021 Science Highlights: Looking Back on a Turbulent Year in Radio Astronomy – Newswise

Newswise The formation of massive stars and planets. The deaths of stars and galaxies. The extreme and violent behaviors of black hole jets and quasars. An up-close and personal radar view of the Moon. These mysteries and more were unraveled in 2021 by radio astronomers leveraging the scientific and technological power of National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) facilities: the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, the Very Long Baseline Array, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Arrayan international collaboration with the European Southern Observatory and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. Narrated by Phil Plait, NRAOs top 2021 science highlights explore the awe-provoking wonders of the Universe.

Massive Planet Formation

Astronomers have used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array to study how planets form around young stars. It turns out that large planets form thanks to a bit of chaos.

Writing and narration provided by Phil Plait @SYFY

Discover more about how planets can form from the original press release:

Study of Young Chaotic Star System Reveals Planet Formation Secrets

Massive Star Formation

How do some stars get so massive? The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) tried to find out by studying an active star-forming region. It turns out the process of large star formation is messier than we thought.

Writing and narration provided by Phil Plait @SYFY

Discover more about how massive stars are born from the original press release:

ALMA Shows Massive Young Stars Forming in “Chaotic Mess”

Star-Forming in the Milky Way

Where do stars form in the Milky Way? More places than you might think. Recently a project called the Global View on Star Formation in the Milky Way (GLOSTAR) found previously undiscovered regions in our galaxy where large stars are being born.

Writing and narration provided by Phil Plait @SYFY

Discover more about where stars form in the Milky Way from the original press release:

New Study Reveals Previously Unseen Star Formation in Milky Way

Galaxies Running Out Of Gas

Some galaxies stop producing stars when they are still young. It turns out they run out of available gas early on. Now astronomers are using a survey called VERTICO The Virgo Environment Traced in Carbon Monoxide Survey to find out why.

Writing and narration provided by Phil Plait @SYFY

Discover more about how galaxies run out of gas from the original press release:

ALMA Scientists Uncover the Mystery of Early Massive Galaxies Running on Empty

Compact Object Creates a Supernova

When a star eats a black hole, it can create a massive explosion. Astronomers using the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) have studied radio light from a supernova, which shows it may have been triggered by the last meal of a massive star.

Writing and narration provided by Phil Plait @SYFY

Discover more about what can cause a supernova from the original press release:

Stellar Collision Triggers Supernova Explosion

Quasar Distance Record

Quasars are brilliant objects powered by supermassive black holes. They are often seen at the edge of the observable universe. Early this year the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) discovered the most distant quasar ever, powered by a black hole 1.6 billion times more massive than the Sun.

Writing and narration provided by Phil Plait @SYFY

Discover more about this distant quasar from the original press release:

Quasar Discovery Sets New Distance Record

Helical Jet of M87

When black holes consume matter, they can create powerful jets of ionized material that stream away from the black hole at nearly the speed of light. Using NRAOs Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), astronomers have captured images of one such jet coming from the supermassive black hole in the galaxy M87, revealing a complex helical structure.

Writing and narration provided by Phil Plait @SYFY

Discover more about the jets of M87 from the original press release:

VLA Reveals Double-Helix Structure in Massive Galaxy’s Jet

Planetary Radar

Astronomers study the Universe by capturing light from stars, planets, and galaxies. But they can also study nearby objects by shining radio light on them. Its a process known as astronomical radar, and its revealing fascinating details about our planetary neighbors.

Writing and narration provided by Phil Plait @SYFY

Discover more about astronomical radar from the original press release:

IMAGE RELEASE: Moon’s Tycho Crater Revealed in Intricate Detail

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2021 Science Highlights: Looking Back on a Turbulent Year in Radio Astronomy - Newswise