Science June 3, 2025

Cosmic Himalayas Quasar Cluster Defies Explanation

A newly discovered cluster of eleven quasars has shattered the previous record of five. Rather than being associated with a dense group of galaxies, these quasars sit on the boundary between two groups of galaxies. This structure, dubbed the “Cosmic Himalayas,” cannot be explained by conventional theories, forcing astronomers to rethink the formation scenarios for quasars.

Science May 22, 2025

ALMA Measures Evolution of Monster Barred Spiral Galaxy

Astronomers have observed a massive and extremely active barred spiral galaxy in the early Universe and found that it has important similarities and differences with modern galaxies. This improves our understanding of how barred spiral galaxies, like our own Milky Way Galaxy, grow and evolve.

Topics April 15, 2025

NAOJ Researchers Receive the 2025 Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

From NAOJ, Assistant Professor Akimasa Kataoka and Associate Professor Yuka Fujii of the Division of Science and Assistant Professor Shota Kikuchi of the RISE Project received the Young Scientists’ Award; while Associate Professor Hidehiko Agata and Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) Masaaki Hiramatsu of the Public Relations Center received the Award for Science and Technology (Public Understanding Promotion Category) as the main members of the Diagram of Our Universe production.

Topics March 17, 2025

200 MHz Solar Radio Telescope and Main Building of Temporary International Latitude Observatory Recognized as Japan Astronomical Heritage

Two NAOJ facilities have been recognized in the 7th (FY 2024) “Japan Astronomical Heritage” list. They are the “Mitaka 200 MHz Solar Radio Telescope” at the Nobeyama Radio Observatory and the “Temporary International Latitude Observatory Main Building (Kimura Hisashi Memorial Museum)” at Mizusawa VLBI Observatory.

Topics March 17, 2025

Awards of the Astronomical Society of Japan related to NAOJ

At the 2025 Spring Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society of Japan, the awards for FY 2024 under the society's award system have been announced. Among them, the following awards are related to NAOJ.

Topics February 25, 2025

Subaru Telescope Observes Near Earth Asteroid 2024 YR₄

On February 20, 2025 (Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time, HAST, the Subaru Telescope captured images of asteroid 2024 YR₄, which will pass close to the Earth in 2032. The positional data obtained from these observations was used to refine the asteroid’s orbit, and assure us that the asteroid will not actually hit the Earth.

Science February 6, 2025

Dusting for Stars’ Magnetic Fingerprints

For the first time astronomers have succeeded in observing the magnetic field around a young star where planets are thought to be forming. The team was able to use dust to measure the three-dimensional structure “fingerprint” of the magnetic field. This will help improve our understanding of planet formation.

This article is including a link to a article for kids.

Topics January 16, 2025

First Solar Images from Sunrise-Ⅲ

The first images have been published from the Sunrise-Ⅲ balloon-borne solar telescope’s successful 6.5-day stratospheric flight in July 2024.

Science January 15, 2025

Super-Earth vs. Sub-Neptune? The Winner is Super-Venus!

New observational data from the James Webb Space Telescope and simulation models have confirmed a new type of planet unlike anything found in the Solar System. This provides another piece of the puzzle to understand how planets and planetary systems form.

This article is including a link to a article for kids.

Topics January 10, 2025

Prime Focus Spectrograph on the Subaru Telescope to Begin Science Operations in February

Researchers have finished equipping the Subaru Telescope with a new special “compound eye,” culminating several years of effort. This instrument, the Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS), will be ready to begin scientific operations in February 2025.