Original source 

ALMA Discovers Birth Cry from a Baby Star in the Small Magellanic Cloud

Astronomers have discovered a birth cry from a baby star in the Small Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy located about 200,000 light-years away from Earth. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) detected the signal, which is believed to be the first of its kind ever observed. This discovery sheds new light on the formation of stars and could help scientists better understand how our own Sun was born.

What is ALMA?

Before we dive into the discovery itself, it's important to understand what ALMA is and how it works. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array is a radio telescope located in Chile's Atacama Desert. It consists of 66 high-precision antennas that work together to observe millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths of light. These wavelengths are longer than those observed by visible light telescopes, allowing astronomers to see through dust and gas clouds that obscure visible light.

The Discovery

According to a press release from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), ALMA detected a signal from a young star in the Small Magellanic Cloud that is believed to be its birth cry. The signal was emitted by carbon monoxide molecules, which are abundant in interstellar gas clouds where stars are born.

The signal was detected using ALMA's Band 6 receivers, which are sensitive to emissions at a wavelength of 1.3 millimeters. The team of astronomers led by Dr. Kazuki Tokuda from Osaka Prefecture University in Japan used ALMA to observe a region of the Small Magellanic Cloud known as N 83B. They found that the carbon monoxide emission was concentrated in a small area around a young star known as SMC X-1.

What Does This Discovery Mean?

This discovery is significant because it provides new insights into the formation of stars. The birth cry signal detected by ALMA is believed to be caused by shock waves generated by the young star as it forms. These shock waves compress the surrounding gas and dust, causing it to heat up and emit radiation at specific wavelengths.

By studying this signal, astronomers can learn more about the conditions present during the formation of stars. This could help them better understand how our own Sun was born and how other stars in the universe form.

Conclusion

The discovery of a birth cry from a baby star in the Small Magellanic Cloud is an exciting development in the field of astronomy. ALMA's detection of this signal provides new insights into the formation of stars and could help scientists better understand how our own Sun was born. As technology continues to advance, we can expect even more groundbreaking discoveries in the field of astronomy.

FAQs

1. What is the Small Magellanic Cloud?

The Small Magellanic Cloud is a dwarf galaxy located about 200,000 light-years away from Earth.

2. How does ALMA work?

ALMA is a radio telescope that observes millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths of light, which are longer than those observed by visible light telescopes.

3. What is a birth cry from a baby star?

A birth cry from a baby star is a signal emitted by carbon monoxide molecules that are abundant in interstellar gas clouds where stars are born.

4. Why is this discovery significant?

This discovery provides new insights into the formation of stars and could help scientists better understand how our own Sun was born.

5. What other discoveries has ALMA made?

ALMA has made many groundbreaking discoveries in the field of astronomy, including observations of protoplanetary disks around young stars and detailed images of distant galaxies.

This abstract is presented as an informational news item only and has not been reviewed by a subject matter professional. This abstract should not be considered medical advice. This abstract might have been generated by an artificial intelligence program. See TOS for details.

Most frequent words in this abstract:
alma (4)