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+--- Thread: Discoveries using the telescopes on Mauna Kea (/showthread.php?tid=17412)
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RE: Discoveries by the telescopes on Mauna Kea - TomK - 03-09-2020
Star formation in NGC 6822 that might tell us about the young universe
NGC 6822 is a relatively nearby(*) galaxy that is metal-poor, in other words, heavier atoms that are formed in stars over time (e.g., carbon, nitrogen and oxygen) are relatively rare. This would make it analogous to galaxies that formed in the early universe when there hadn't been time to form these elements and so will help us understand how galaxies and star formation occurred and evolved in the universe but from much closer. The study observations taken at UKIRT on Mauna Kea.
"Moreover, NGC 6822's metal-poor nature and active star-formation characteristics make it an important analog to the active galaxies in the universe at the epoch of peak star formation. The galaxy is perceived as a useful laboratory that could improve the knowledge of the dust life cycle in the early universe."
https://phys.org/news/2020-03-astronomers-candidate-stars-nearby-star-forming.html
(*) Note the article has a typo. It claims NGC 6822 is 1,600 light-years away. This would put it in our own Galaxy and clearly that's incorrect. The actual distance is nearer 1.6 million light-years. That's still far away but does put it in our local galactic neighborhood.
RE: Discoveries by the telescopes on Mauna Kea - TomK - 04-10-2020
I haven't posted in this thread recently for obvious reasons, but there have been a few discoveries during the last few weeks which I'll report on soon. In the meantime, today is Powehi Day, the first anniversary of the release of the first picture of a black hole. Two of the MK observatories were critical to this discovery, the JCMT and the SMA.
If you want to learn a little more about black holes and how the image was taken, the EAO/JCMT arranged a Q&A online session today. This is how it went:
https://youtu.be/hZ2TTrDhC2g
RE: Discoveries by the telescopes on Mauna Kea - TomK - 04-13-2020
"1 year ago, the world saw a black hole for the first time. Here's how it got a Hawaiian name."
"One year ago, scientists captured the unphotographable when the Event Horizon Telescope unveiled a fiery orange ring on a black background that became instantly recognizable. Behold, the first photo of a black hole.
The black hole in that image lurks at the heart of a galaxy known as M87, which is the sort of moniker modern astronomers use to name what they study. The black hole doesn't even get its own name, independent of the galaxy that surrounds it. It's a, let's say, abstruse way to refer to an object containing billions of times the mass of our sun packed together unimaginably densely. A program affiliated with one of the sites involved in the discovery quickly offered an alternative name, Powehi, and a new way of thinking about how astronomers could reflect the communities they work within."
https://www.space.com/black-hole-image-naming-process.html
RE: Discoveries by the telescopes on Mauna Kea - TomK - 04-17-2020
The MK observatories are currently not operating during the COVID-19 lockdown, but are using the opportunity to increase public outreach and education which can be done from home. However, before the lockdown, both the JCMT and UKIRT were involved in giving local boy scouts the opportunity to learn a little science and experience how we operate, take and analyze data at night.
https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2020/04/14/community/scouts-have-a-stellar-night-at-the-museum/
"Seeing our bodies in infrared, learning to identify gases through diffraction, watching mesmerized as the slinky wave modeled increasingly shorter wavelengths, dancing under the stars, falling asleep to the sounds of kids still learning while playing with the interactive exhibits … were just a few of the memorable activities,” said Pack 19 Cub Scout Master Joe Genz. “I believe interacting with the university students and professional astronomers may have put what previously seemed impossible suddenly within their sights. After the badges were awarded, I overheard one Scout tell his mother, ‘I want to be an astronomer’ — a sentiment now shared by a lot of us!"
RE: Discoveries by the telescopes on Mauna Kea - TomK - 06-28-2020
Lots of things I want to post, but I also want to say there's a major discovery involving an MK observatory coming up soon. One with significant and surprising results. As soon as the discovery is made public I will let everyone here know.
RE: Discoveries by the telescopes on Mauna Kea - Punaperson - 06-28-2020
Glad to see you're back. This was always one of my favorite threads.
RE: Discoveries by the telescopes on Mauna Kea - randomq - 06-28-2020
Is it that quasar that shouldn't exist? Or aliens? I hope it's aliens!
RE: Discoveries by the telescopes on Mauna Kea - TomK - 06-29-2020
Punaperson - thank you! I will update the thread soon with all the MK discoveries that have happened over the last few weeks.
randomq - the quasar that shouldn't exist is certainly a big and significant MK discovery, but it's not what I was referring to. That's all I can say for now!
RE: Discoveries by the telescopes on Mauna Kea - terracore - 06-30-2020
TomK you're a tease!
RE: Discoveries by the telescopes on Mauna Kea - TomK - 07-01-2020
terracore - it was a tease but I expected the discovery to be announced by now! I've asked for the date the announcement will be made, no reply yet. When I learn about the announcement of the announcement, I will announce it.
Incidentally, it's not an asteroid or comet heading this way to destroy the planet. That is certainly not something I would tease about.