Science March 28, 2024

ALMA Finds New Molecular Signposts in Starburst Galaxy

The ALMA radio telescope has detected more than 100 molecular species, including many indicative of different star formation and evolution processes, in a galaxy where stars are forming much more actively than in the Milky Way. This is far more molecules than were found in previous studies. Now the team will try to apply this knowledge to other galaxies.

Science March 22, 2024

Simulations of Europa Craters Suggest Thick Ice Crust

Sometimes planetary physics is like being in a snowball fight. Most people, if handed an already formed snowball, can use their experience and the feel of the ball to guess what kind of snow it is comprised of: wet and puffy, or dry and packable. Using nearly the same principles, planetary scientists have been able to study the structure of Europa, Jupiter’s icy moon.

Topics March 14, 2024

Professor Satoshi Miyazaki Wins Japan Academy Prize

Professor Satoshi Miyazaki, Director of Subaru Telescope of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), has received the Japan Academy Prize.

Topics March 11, 2024

“Repsold Transit Instrument and the Repsold Transit Instrument Building” Recognized as Japan Astronomical Heritage

The Repsold Transit Instrument, designated as an Important Cultural Property, and its building, which is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property, were recognized in the 6th (FY 2023) Japan Astronomical Heritage list as “The Repsold Transit Instrument and the Repsold Transit Instrument Building."

Topics February 8, 2024

NASA Astrophysics Division Director Dr. Clampin Lectures at Subaru Users’ Meeting

Dr. Mark Clampin, Astrophysics Division Director, NASA Science Mission Directorate, presented a lecture on January 24, 2024, at a special session of the Subaru Users’ Meeting held at NAOJ Mitaka Campus.

Topics February 8, 2024

ESA Strategy, Planning and Coordination Office Directorate of Science Former Head Fabio Favata Visits NAOJ

Fabio Favata, who headed the Strategy, Planning and Coordination Office Directorate of Science of the European Space Agency until last November before moving to the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics, and Prof. Richard de Grijs, Executive Director of the International Space Science Institute-Beijing, visited NAOJ Mitaka Campus on January 9, 2024.

Science February 1, 2024

Ancient Gas Outflow Suppressed Star Formation

Astronomers have found the earliest known example of a galaxy hosting an active supermassive black hole expelling large quantities of molecular gas. This outflow will suppress star formation in the galaxy. These results will help us to understand how black holes and galaxies have evolved together over the history of the Universe.

Science January 18, 2024

M87* One Year Later: Proof of a persistent black hole shadow

The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration has released new images of M87*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy Messier 87, using data from observations taken in April 2018.

Science December 15, 2023

New Red Galaxies Turn Out to be Already Known Blue Galaxies

Not all discoveries turn out to be actual new discoveries. This was the case for the extremely red objects (EROs) found in James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) data. Analysis shows that they are very similar to blue-excess dust obscured galaxies (BluDOGs) already reported in Subaru Telescope data.

Topics December 14, 2023

NAOJ and UNTEC Enter Agreement for Production of ALMA Receivers

NAOJ has recently signed an agreement with University of Chile / UNTEC (Foundation for Technological Transfer) for the production of hardware components for the ALMA Band 2 receivers.