2024

2024 Press releases

A&A first Review Article is written by Leuven astrophysicists

Details: Published on 20 December 2024

Designed by C. Aerts and implemented by C. Gielen. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech – ESA/ATG medialab-ESA/Gaia/DPAC/A. Moitinho – NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI) – R. Hurt/Caltech-JPL – ESO/L. Calçada – P. Degroote – ESO – ESA – D. De Martin & the ESA/ESO/NASA Photoshop FITS Liberator

Based on the article "Asteroseismic modelling of fast rotators and its opportunities for astrophysics (Review article)", by Conny Aerts & Andrew Tkachenko

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 692, R1

Uncovering a Centaur’s Tracks: UCF Scientists Examine Unique Asteroid-Comet Hybrid

Details: Published on 19 December 2024

UCF press release

Based on the article "Unveiling the ice and gas nature of active centaur (2060) Chiron using the James Webb Space Telescope", by N. Pinilla-Alonso et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 692, L11

Event Horizon Telescope: moving towards a close-up of a black hole and its jets

Details: Published on 17 December 2024

Credits: Chalmers University of Technology | 3dVision | Johan Bournonville | Anne-Kathrin Baczko

Chalmers University press release

Based on the article "The putative center in NGC 1052", by A. -K. Baczko et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 692, A205

M87's powerful jet unleashes rare gamma-ray flare

Details: Published on 13 December 2024

Credits: EHT Collaboration, Fermi-LAT Collaboration, H.E.S.S. Collaboration, MAGIC Collaboration, VERITAS Collaboration, EAVN Collaboration

INAF press release

Based on the article "Broadband multi-wavelength properties of M87 during the 2018 EHT campaign including a very high energy flaring episode", by J. C. Algaba et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 692, A140

Switchbacks: Could Solar Jets Hold the Key ?

Details: Published on 05 December 2024

Sorbonne University press release

Based on the article "Propagation of untwisting solar jets from the low-beta corona into the super-Alfvénic wind: Testing a solar origin scenario for switchbacks", by J. Touresse et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 692, A71

A new theory to explain the origin of water on Earth

Details: Published on 03 December 2024

Paris Observatory-PSL press release

Based on the article "An impact-free mechanism to deliver water to terrestrial planets and exoplanets", by Q. Kral et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 692, A70

University of Galway Astronomers Lead the Way in Decoding Space Weather Around the Sun using Pulsars

Details: Published on 29 November 2024

University of Galway press release

Based on the article "Exploring the time variability of the solar wind using LOFAR pulsar data ", by S. C. Susarla et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 692, A18

Astronomers take the first close-up picture of a star outside our galaxy

Details: Published on 21 November 2024

ESO press release

Based on the article "Imaging the innermost circumstellar environment of the red supergiant WOH G64 in the Large Magellanic Cloud", by K. Ohnaka et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 691, L15

Unlocking the secrets of the first quasars: How they defy the laws of physics to grow

Details: Published on 20 November 2024

INAF press release

Based on the article "HYPERION. Shedding light on the first luminous quasars: A correlation between UV disc winds and X-ray continuum", by A. Tortosa et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 691, A235

Unveiling the 'Ghost' Baryonic Matter: A Breakthrough in Cosmic Web Research

Details: Published on 19 November 2024

MPE press release

Based on the article "The SRG/eROSITA all-sky survey. X-ray emission from the warm-hot phase gas in long cosmic filaments", by X. Zhang et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 691, A234

NASA’s Swift Studies Gas-Churning Monster Black Holes

Details: Published on 13 November 2024

NASA press release

Based on the article "AT 2021hdr: A candidate tidal disruption of a gas cloud by a binary super massive black hole system", by L. Hernández-García et al.

To be published in Astronomy & Astrophysics

The first 3D view of the formation and evolution of globular clusters

Details: Published on 05 November 2024

EurekAlert press release

Based on the article "A 3D view of multiple populations’ kinematics in Galactic globular clusters", by E. Dalessandro et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 691, A94

Dance of electrons measured in the glow from exploding neutron-stars

Details: Published on 30 October 2024

NBI - Copenhagen University press release

Based on the article "Emergence hour-by-hour of r-process features in the kilonova AT2017gfo", by A. Sneppen et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 690, A398

eROSITA unveils asymmetries in temperature and shape of our Local Hot Bubble

Details: Published on 29 October 2024

MPE press release

Based on the article "The SRG/eROSITA diffuse soft X-ray background. I. The local hot bubble in the western Galactic hemisphere", by M. C. H. Yeung et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 690, A399

Nijmegen students warn space mission of noisy white dwarfs

Details: Published on 16 October 2024

NOVA press release

Based on the article "Likelihood of white dwarf binaries to dominate the astrophysical gravitational wave background in the mHz band", by S. Staelens et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 683, A139

Supermassive black holes alter the chemical evolution of galaxies

Details: Published on 15 October 2024

CAB press release

Based on the article "AGN feedback can produce metal enrichment on galaxy scales", by M. Villar Martin et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 690, A398

Astronomy & Astrophysics Awards 2025

Details: Published on 15 October 2024

The Board of Directors of Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A) attributes two yearly awards for outstanding research published in A&A by individuals in the initial stages of their careers. With these two awards, the Board aims to recognise and contribute to the enthusiasm of the new generation of researchers who will shape the future of astronomy for decades to come.

SWYA 2025: Registration Now Closed

Details: Published on 11 October 2024

The Scientific Writing for Young Astronomers (SWYA) School is returning in 2025. Scheduled to take place in Sintra, Portugal, from 5-9 May, this programme is designed to enhance the writing and communication skills of young researchers in astronomy. The SWYA programme provides a unique opportunity to learn from experienced mentors, share insights with peers, and strengthen the impact of your scientific work.

Registration is now open, and the deadline to apply is 15 November 2024. Register here.

A sharper view of the Milky Way with Gaia and machine learning

Details: Published on 10 October 2024

AIP press release

Based on the article "Transferring spectroscopic stellar labels to 217 million Gaia DR3 XP stars with SHBoost", by A. Khalatyan et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 691, A98

Scientists discover planet orbiting closest single star to our Sun

Details: Published on 01 October 2024

ESO press release

Based on the article "A sub-Earth-mass planet orbiting Barnard's star", by J.I. Gonzalez Hernandez et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 690, A79

DECam Confirms that Early-Universe Quasar Neighborhoods are Indeed Cluttered

Details: Published on 27 September 2024

NOIRLab press release

Based on the article "A lack of Lyman α emitters within 5 Mpc of a luminous quasar in an overdensity at z = 6.9: Potential evidence of negative quasar feedback at protocluster scales", by T. S. Lambert et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 689, A331

ESO telescope captures the most detailed infrared map ever of our Milky Way

Details: Published on 26 September 2024

ESO press release

Based on the article "The VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea eXtended (VVVX) ESO public survey: Completion of the observations and legacy", by R. K. Saito et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 689, A148

Second-Generation Starlink Satellites Leak 30 Times More Radio Interference, Threatening Astronomical Observations

Details: Published on 18 September 2024

ASTRON press release

Based on the article "Bright unintended electromagnetic radiation from second-generation Starlink satellites", by C. G. Bassa et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 689, L10

Neptune-like exoplanets cluster in a particular region near their stars

Details: Published on 17 September 2024

CAB press release

UNIGE press release

Warwick Univ. press release

Coimbra Univ. press release

Based on the article "Mapping the exo-Neptunian landscape. A ridge between the desert and savanna", by A. Castro-González et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 689, A250

A million radio sources seen by MeerKAT probe the motion of the solar system and provide a fundamental test of cosmology

Details: Published on 13 September 2024

MPIfR press release

SARAO press release

IUCAA press release

Based on the article "The MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey Data Release 2: Wideband continuum catalogues and a measurement of the cosmic radio dipole", by J. D. Wagenveld et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 690, A163

Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço paves the way in the field of Exoclimatology

Details: Published on 05 September 2024

IA press release

Based on the article "ESPRESSO reveals blueshifted neutral iron emission lines on the dayside of WASP-76 b", by A. R. Costa Silva et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 689, A8

How to find newborn stars

Details: Published on 20 August 2024

ESO press release CEA/DAp press release

Based on the article "Understanding the star formation efficiency in dense gas: Initial results from the CAFFEINE survey with ArTéMiS", by M. Mattern et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics 2024, 688, A163

Discovery of ancient stars on the stellar thin disk of the Milky Way

Details: Published on 09 August 2024

Credit: Background image by NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (SSC/Caltech)

AIP press release

Based on the article "Discovery of the local counterpart of disc galaxies at z > 4: The oldest thin disc of the Milky Way using Gaia-RVS", by S. Nepal et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 688, A167

Gaia spots possible moons around hundreds of asteroids

Details: Published on 08 August 2024

ESA press release

Based on the article "Binary asteroid candidates in Gaia DR3 astrometry", by L. Liberato et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 688, A50

Earliest detection of metal challenges what we know about the first galaxies

Details: Published on 06 August 2024

Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Brant Robertson (UC Santa Cruz), Ben Johnson (CfA), Sandro Tacchella (Cambridge), Phill Cargile (CfA)

Cambridge University press release

Based on the article "JADES: Carbon enrichment 350 Myr after the Big Bang", by F. D'Eugenio et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, A&A, 689, A152

Researchers at the Thuringian State Observatory find proof of the most energetic accretion burst of a massive young star

Details: Published on 30 July 2024

TLS press release

Based on the article "The accretion burst of the massive young stellar object G323.46-0.08", by V. Wolf et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 688, A8

Ten new neutron stars for Terzan 5

Details: Published on 16 July 2024

MPIFR press release

Based on the article "Discovery and timing of ten new millisecond pulsars in the globular cluster Terzan 5", by P.V. Padmanabh et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 686, A166

The difference in density of the sub-Neptunes finally deciphered

Details: Published on 27 June 2024

UNIGE press release

Based on the article "Resonant sub-Neptunes are puffier", by A. Leleu et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 687, L1

Scientists spot hidden companions of bright stars

Details: Published on 20 June 2024

ESA press release

Based on the article "Combining Gaia and GRAVITY: Characterising five new directly detected substellar companions", by T. O. Winterhalder et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 688, A44

Call for new Language Editors

Details: Published on 19 June 2024

Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A) is hiring Language Editors

A&A is an academic journal based in Paris, France, that publishes high-quality research in English in all areas of astronomy and astrophysics. In recent years we have worked hard to increase the quality and scope of our language editing service, and we are now looking to fill two freelance language editing positions.

Astronomers see a massive black hole awaken in real time

Details: Published on 18 June 2024

ESO press release

Based on the article "SDSS1335+0728: The awakening of a ~10⁶ M_☉ black hole", by P. Sánchez-Sáez et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 688, A157

High-speed baby stars circle the supermassive black hole Sgr A* like a swarm of bees

Details: Published on 14 June 2024

Univ. Cologne press release

Based on the article "Candidate young stellar objects in the S-cluster: Kinematic analysis of a subpopulation of the low-mass G objects close to Sgr A*", by F. Peißker et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 686, A235

High-precision measurements challenge the understanding of Cepheids

Details: Published on 14 June 2024

EPFL press release

Based on the article "VELOcities of CEpheids (VELOCE). I. High-precision radial velocities of Cepheids", by R. I. Anderson et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 686, A177

First map of outflows from nearby quasar I Zwicky 1

Details: Published on 12 June 2024

SRON press release

Based on the article "The outflowing ionised gas of I Zw 1 observed by HST COS", by A. Juranova et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 686, A99

First science results and exclusive ERO data from the Euclid space telescope

Details: Published on 04 June 2024

Credits: ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre (CEA Paris-Saclay), G. Anselmi

Euclid Consortium press release

Based on the article "Euclid: Early Release Observations -- Unveiling the morphology of two Milky Way globular clusters out to their periphery", by D. Massari et al.

To be published in Astronomy & Astrophysics

Tour de force: International PDRs4All team chart Orion Nebula like never before

Details: Published on 15 May 2024

Credits: NASA/ESA/CSA, E. Dartois, E. Habart, E. Peeters, PDRs4All ERS team

Western University press release

Based on the articles

"PDRs4All. II. JWST's NIR and MIR imaging view of the Orion Nebula", by E. Habart et al.

"PDRs4All. III. JWST's NIR spectroscopic view of the Orion Bar", by E. Peeters et al.

"PDRs4All. IV. An embarrassment of riches: The aromatic infrared bands in the Orion Bar ", by R. Chown et al.

"PDRs4All. V. Modelling the dust evolution across the illuminated edge of the Orion Bar", by M. Elyajouri et al.

"PDRs4All. VI. Probing the photochemical evolution of PAHs in the Orion Bar using machine learning techniques", by S. Pasquini et al.

"PDRs4All. VII. The 3.3 μm aromatic infrared band as a tracer of physical properties of the interstellar medium in galaxies", by I. Schroetter et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 685, A73, A74, A75, A76, A77 and A78

Astronomy & Astrophysics to remain in open access under Subscribe to Open in 2024

Details: Published on 03 May 2024

Paris, France, 03 May 2024: Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A) is delighted to announce the continuation of its open access publication for the third consecutive year under the Subscribe to Open (S2O) model. As other astronomy journals have shifted to open access via the Gold (APC) route, A&A has persistently opted for this subscriber-based approach to maintain immediate open access, ensuring minimal disruption for both authors and subscribers. This decision underscores A&A's commitment to ensuring the broad accessibility of its high-quality research to the global scientific community, while also securing the journal's sustainability and financial stability.

Webb captures iconic Horsehead Nebula in unprecedented detail

Details: Published on 29 April 2024

ESA/Webb press release

Based on the article "JWST observations of the Horsehead photon-dominated region I. First results from multi-band near- and mid-infrared imaging ", by A. Abergel et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 687, A4

Can dust evaporate in harsh interstellar environments?

Details: Published on 24 April 2024

NCBJ press release

Based on the article "Dust survival in harsh environments. Investigating the relevance of photo-evaporation process", by A. Nanni et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 684, A163

A first glimpse at the Galaxy's magnetic field in 3D

Details: Published on 23 April 2024

IA-FORTH press release

Based on the article "The first degree-scale starlight-polarization-based tomography map of the magnetized interstellar medium", by V. Pelgrims et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 684, A162

NASA’s Fermi Mission Sees No Gamma Rays from Nearby Supernova

Details: Published on 16 April 2024

NASA press release

Based on the article "Early-time gamma-ray constraints on cosmic-ray acceleration in the core-collapse SN 2023ixf with the Fermi Large Area Telescope", by G. Martí-Devesa et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 686, A254

Sleeping giant surprises Gaia scientists

Details: Published on 16 April 2024

ESA press release

Based on the article "Discovery of a dormant 33 solar-mass black hole in pre-release Gaia astrometrye", by Gaia Collaboration

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 686, L2

First ‘glory’ on hellish distant world

Details: Published on 05 April 2024

Credits: ESA, work performed by ATG under contract for ESA. CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

ESA press release

Based on the article "Asymmetry in the atmosphere of the ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-76b", by O.D.S. Demangeon et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 684, A27

Student cleans up archival data and uncovers two stellar cocoons

Details: Published on 03 April 2024

NOVA press release

Based on the article "Polarimetric differential imaging with VLT/NACO. A comprehensive PDI pipeline for NACO data (PIPPIN)", by S. de Regt et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 684, A73

Tiniest “starquakes” ever detected

Details: Published on 26 March 2024

Credit: Tania Cunha (Planetário do Porto - Centro Ciência Viva)/Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço)

IA press release

Based on the article "Expanding the frontiers of cool-dwarf asteroseismology with ESPRESSO. Detection of solar-like oscillations in the K5 dwarf ϵ Indi", by T.L. Campante et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 683, L16

The Mars trojan family keeps growing

Details: Published on 21 March 2024

Credits: NASA/HST, GRANTECAN S.A., J. de Leon, C. de la Fuente Marcos, R. de la Fuente Marcos.

IAC press release

UCM press release

Based on the article "Dynamics of 2023 FW14, the second L4 Mars trojan, and a physical characterization using the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias", by R. de la Fuente Marcos et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 683, L14

Webb detects icy ingredients for making potential habitable worlds

Details: Published on 13 March 2024

ESA/WEBB press release

Based on the article "JWST Observations of Young protoStars (JOYS+): Detecting icy complex organic molecules and ions", by W.R.M. Rocha et al.

Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024, 683, A124

2024 A&A Awards reward the work of early-career researchers

Details: Published on 06 March 2024

On February 23rd, 2024, the A&A Board finalised their selection for this year's A&A Awards, recognising exceptional work of early-career researchers in the field.