Latest astronomy news

Blue supergiants represent a critical phase in the life of massive stars, yet their exact history remains difficult to pin down. By analyzing brightness fluctuations in HD 74371 and five other stars, researchers have utilized asteroseismology to determine their evolutionary status. The findings suggest that HD 74371 is currently moving through a specific post-red supergiant phase of its development....

Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope have successfully detected stellar oscillations and granulation on the star WASP 121 using infrared light. This is the first time these convective processes have been measured outside of optical wavelengths. The findings confirm that the strength of these signals decreases with longer wavelengths, though the pattern does not follow simple blackbody expectations....

Researchers have analyzed the complex atmospheric structure of the hot Jupiter WASP-43 b to better understand how clouds influence planetary climates. By combining atmospheric dynamics with cloud microphysics, the study maps out clear and cloudy regions across the planet's dayside and nightside. These findings provide a new baseline for comparing observed thermal profiles and emission spectra with complex models....

Researchers have identified an evaporating atmosphere of helium escaping from the super-Neptune exoplanet TOI-3884 b. The planet, which orbits a Red dwarf star in a polar path, exhibits an unusual asymmetric outflow of gas that precedes the planet during its transit. This finding provides new insights into how stellar radiation drives the loss of planetary atmospheres and how magnetic fields interact with orbiting worlds....

Researchers monitored the young, planet-hosting star V1298 Tauri using radio, X-ray, and ultraviolet observations. The study reveals how the star's intense magnetic activity drives fluctuations in its brightness across different energy bands. These results confirm that the star follows established relationships between its radio and high-energy emissions, providing insight into the environment of infant planetary systems....

Researchers have identified a potential third planet orbiting the star WISPIT 2. By analyzing the location of a debris ring observed by the ALMA telescope at a distance of 144.4 astronomical units, models suggest a planet with a mass between 0.2 and 1 Jupiter masses could exist between 100 and 120 astronomical units from the star....

A new search of faint stars using the TESS mission has identified 262 planet candidates, including 181 that are entirely new. By focusing on stars previously overlooked due to their faintness, this work provides a vital catalog for the upcoming ULTRASAT mission, which will study the atmospheres of these distant worlds by observing their transits in both ultraviolet and visible light....

Researchers have modeled the atmospheric and surface conditions of five rocky exoplanets that orbit their stars very closely. These ultra-short-period planets, including TOI-431 b, likely host permanent magma oceans due to extreme temperatures. By simulating their internal and atmospheric evolution, the study provides predictions for future observations of how these worlds maintain or lose their atmospheres....

Data from the TESS space telescope reveals a sub-Earth-sized planet candidate orbiting within the Gliese 774 binary star system. Located 12.86 parsecs away, the signal likely originates from the primary star, Gliese 774 A. If confirmed, this world would be one of the smallest planets identified in a nearby system, offering a valuable opportunity for future studies of terrestrial planet atmospheres....