Tag: LRIS
A Wave of Ancient Quasars from the Dawn of the Universe
Keck Observatory and ESA’s Euclid mission double the known population, including the two most distant quasars ever found Maunakea, Hawaiʻi – Astronomers using the W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea, Hawaiʻi Island, have confirmed two-thirds (21 of 31) of the most ancient quasars from the Euclid mission, including two of the most distant ever observed.…
“Superkilonova” A Star So Nice, It Explodes Twice
Potential first-of-a-kind may have produced gravitational waves and light Media Contact: Meagan O’Shea Maunakea, Hawaiʻi – A team of astronomers using a variety of telescopes, including the W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea, Hawaiʻi Island, have discovered a possible “Superkilonova” that exploded not once but twice, evidence that this oddball event may be a first-of-a-kind…
First-of-its-kind ‘Bare-Bones’ Supernova Upends Star Evolution Models
Rare stellar blast reveals a heavy-element core, challenging theories of how massive stars live and die Media Contact: Meagan O’Shea Maunakea, Hawaiʻi – For the first time, scientists have confirmed a new subclass of exploding star, made possible by spectral data captured by the W. M. Keck Observatory atop Maunakea, Hawaiʻi Island. The discovery challenges…
To ‘Infinity’ and Beyond – A Look at a Newborn Black Hole
Discovery of Infinity galaxy provides evidence of a new pathway for black hole formation Media Contact: Meagan O’Shea Maunakea, Hawaiʻi – Astronomers using the W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea, Hawaiʻi Island have discovered a cosmic oddity they’ve nicknamed the “Infinity” galaxy — the result of two galaxies colliding to form a shape resembling the…
Supernova’s ‘Trapped’ Jet Reveals Source of Fast X-ray Transient
Mysterious cosmic explosion is traced to a massive stellar explosion Media Contact: Meagan O’Shea – moshea@keck.hawaii.edu Maunakea, Hawaiʻi – An international team of astrophysicists using W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea, Hawaiʻi Island have uncovered a possible origin of fast X-ray transients (FXTs) — mysterious, fleeting bursts of X-rays that have long puzzled astronomers. Using a…
Famed WR 104 “Pinwheel” Star Reveals Another Surprise (and Some Relief)
A new spin on decades of W. M. Keck Observatory research Maunakea, Hawaiʻi – A recent study reveals the famous Wolf-Rayet 104 “pinwheel star” holds more mystery but is even less likely to be the potential ‘Death Star’ it was once thought to be. Research by W. M. Keck Observatory Instrument Scientist and astronomer Grant…
First Fast Radio Burst Traced to Old, Dead, Elliptical Galaxy
Maunakea, Hawaiʻi — For the first time, astronomers have traced a fast radio burst (FRB) to the outskirts of an ancient, dead, elliptical galaxy — an unprecedented home for a phenomenon previously associated with much younger galaxies. Detailed in two complementary studies led by Northwestern University and McGill University, the discovery shatters assumptions that FRBs solely…