Tag: stars

2017-18

Star Neighbor’s Unusual Day

Neomi Lewis ‘21 Analysis of observations taken by the Atacama Large Millemeter/sub millimeter Array, a radio telescope, shows that last March, Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the Sun, experienced significant stellar flares. This alarming behavior casts further doubt into the habitability of the Solar System’s nearest exoplanetary neighbor, Proxima b, which orbits Proxima Centauri. Stellar flares occur when electrons accelerate at very high speeds, … Continue reading Star Neighbor’s Unusual Day

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2017-18

The Largest Map of the Milky Way Yet

Neomi Lewis ‘21 The glaring image of the Milky Way is the rotating galaxy that usually comes to mind when individuals think about outer space. However, this typical image is no longer useful in studying bodies within the galaxy. Images of the Milky Way captured in visible light are obscured by dust and clouds. To remedy the situation, astronomers have used a 45 m radio … Continue reading The Largest Map of the Milky Way Yet

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2017-18

Using Stars to Find Dark Matter

Neomi Lewis ‘21 Astronomers and cosmologists continue the elusive search to understand the nature and existence of dark matter, a substance that is believed to be pervasive throughout the universe, including near our own planet. An international group of astrophysicists have published work in the journal Physical Review Letters this January that suggests that we may be able to better decipher the speed of dark … Continue reading Using Stars to Find Dark Matter

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