Explanipedia

SN 2024cld: unveiling the complex mass-loss histories of evolved supergiant progenitors to core collapse supernovae Open

T. Killestein, M. Pursiainen, R. Kotak, P. Charalampopoulos, J. Lyman , et al. · 2025

Pre-explosion mass loss in supernova (SN) progenitors is a crucial unknown factor in stellar evolution, yet has been illuminated recently by the diverse zoo of interacting transients. We present SN2024cld, a transitional core-collapse SN a…

Discovery of 30 Galactic radio transient pulsars with MeerTRAP Open

J Tian, S. Somorendro Singh, B. W. Stappers, John D. Turner, Kaustubh Rajwade , et al. · 2025

We present the discovery of 30 new Galactic sources from the MeerTRAP project, a commensal fast radio transient search programme using the MeerKAT telescope. These sources were all identified via a single-pulse search. Most of them are lik…

Discovery of 30 Galactic radio transient pulsars with MeerTRAP Open

Jun Tian, S. Somorendro Singh, B. W. Stappers, J. D. Turner, Kaustubh Rajwade , et al. · 2025

We present the discovery of 30 new Galactic sources from the MeerTRAP project, a commensal fast radio transient search programme using the MeerKAT telescope. These sources were all identified via a single pulse search. Most of them are lik…

Discovery and analysis of afterglows from poorly localized GRBs with the Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO) All-sky Survey Open

Amit Kumar, B. P. Gompertz, Benjamin Schneider, S. Belkin, Makenzie E. Wortley , et al. · 2025

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), particularly those detected by wide-field instruments such as the Fermi/GBM, pose challenges for optical follow-up because of their large initial localization regions, leaving many GRBs without identified afterglow…

SN 2024bfu, SN 2025qe, and the early light curves of type Iax supernovae Open

M. Magee, T. Killestein, M. Pursiainen, B. Godson, Deborah Jarvis , et al. · 2025

Type Iax supernovae (SNe Iax) are one of the most common subclasses of thermonuclear supernova and yet their sample size, particularly those observed shortly after explosion, remains relatively small. In this paper, we present photometric …

GRB 241105A: a test case for GRB classification and rapid r -process nucleosynthesis channels Open

Dimple Dimple, B. P. Gompertz, A. J. Levan, D. Malesani, T Laskar , et al. · 2025

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) offer a powerful window to probe the progenitor systems responsible for the formation of heavy elements through the rapid neutron capture (r-) process, thanks to their exceptional luminosity, which allows them to be…

Multiwavelength observations of a new black-widow millisecond pulsar PSR J1544−2555 Open

Sonia Díaz, T Thongmeearkom, A Phosrisom, R. P. Breton, M. Burgay , et al. · 2025

We report the discovery of a new black-widow millisecond pulsar, PSR J1544–2555, associated with the Fermi-Large Area Telescope (LAT) source 4FGL J1544.2–2554. Optical, radio, and gamma-ray observations confirmed its nature as a compact sp…

Multiwavelength observations of a new black-widow millisecond pulsar PSR J1544-2555 Open

Sonia Díaz, T Thongmeearkom, A Phosrisom, R. P. Breton, M. Burgay , et al. · 2025

We report the discovery of a new black-widow millisecond pulsar, PSR J1544-2555, associated with the Fermi-LAT source 4FGL J1544.2-2554. Optical, radio, and gamma-ray observations confirmed its nature as a compact spider binary system. Opt…

GOTO065054+593624: An 8.5 mag amplitude dwarf nova identified in real time via Kilonova Seekers Open

T. Killestein, Gavin Ramsay, M. Kennedy, L Kelsey, D. Steeghs , et al. · 2025

Dwarf novae are astrophysical laboratories for probing the nature of accretion, binary mass transfer, and binary evolution, but their diverse observational characteristics continue to challenge our theoretical understanding. We here presen…

Analysis of optical spectroscopy and photometry of the type I X-ray bursting system UW CrB Open

M. R. Kennedy, P. Callanan, P. Garnavich, R. P. Breton, Alex Brown , et al. · 2025

UW Coronae Borealis (UW CrB) is a low mass X-ray binary that shows both Type 1 X-ray and optical bursts, which typically last for 20 s. The system has a binary period of close to 2 hours and is thought to have a relatively high inclination…

Analysis of optical spectroscopy and photometry of the type I X-ray bursting system UW CrB Open

Mark Kennedy, P. Callanan, P. Garnavich, R. P. Breton, Alex Brown , et al. · 2025

UW Coronae Borealis (UW CrB) is a low mass X-ray binary that shows both Type 1 X-ray and optical bursts, which typically last for 20 s. The system has a binary period of close to 2 hours and is thought to have a relatively high inclination…

MeerKAT discovery of a hyperactive repeating fast radio burst source Open

J Tian, Inés Pastor-Marazuela, Kaustubh Rajwade, B. W. Stappers, Kavya Shaji , et al. · 2025

We present the discovery and localization of a repeating fast radio burst (FRB) source from the MeerTRAP project, a commensal fast radio transient search programme using the MeerKAT telescope. FRB 20240619D was first discovered on 2024 Jun…

Discovery of the variable optical counterpart of the redback pulsar PSR J2055+1545 Open

Bidisha Sen, Jordan A Simpson, M. Linares, R. P. Breton, J. Casares , et al. · 2025

We present the discovery of the variable optical counterpart to PSR J2055$+$1545, a redback millisecond pulsar, and the first radial velocity curve of its companion star. The multiband optical light curves of this system show a 0.4–$0.6 \ …

GOTO065054+593624: a 8.5 mag amplitude dwarf nova identified in real time via Kilonova Seekers Open

T. Killestein, Gavin Ramsay, M. Kennedy, L Kelsey, D. Steeghs , et al. · 2025

Dwarf novae are astrophysical laboratories for probing the nature of accretion, binary mass transfer, and binary evolution -- yet their diverse observational characteristics continue to challenge our theoretical understanding. We here pres…

SN 2023tsz: a helium-interaction-driven supernova in a very low-mass galaxy Open

B. Warwick, J. Lyman, M Pursiainen, D. L. Coppejans, L. Galbany , et al. · 2024

SN 2023tsz is a Type Ibn supernova (SN Ibn), an uncommon subtype of stripped-envelope core-collapse supernovae (SNe), discovered in an extremely low-mass host. SNe Ibn are characterized by narrow helium emission lines in their spectra and …

Leveraging Movement Representation from Contrastive Learning for Asteroid Detection Open

Noppachanin Kongsathitporn, Akara Supratak, K. Noysena, Supachai Awiphan, D. Steeghs , et al. · 2024

To support asteroid-related studies, current motion detectors are utilized to select moving object candidates based on their visualizations and movements in sequences of sky exposures. However, the existing detectors encounter the manual p…

The BlackGEM Telescope Array. I. Overview Open

P. Groot, S. Bloemen, P. Vreeswijk, Jan van Roestel, P. G. Jonker , et al. · 2024

The main science aim of the BlackGEM array is to detect optical counterparts to gravitational wave mergers. Additionally, the array will perform a set of synoptic surveys to detect Local Universe transients and short timescale variability …

MeerKAT observations of pair-plasma induced birefringence in the double pulsar eclipses Open

M. E. Lower, M. Krämer, S. Johnston, R. P. Breton, Norbert Wex , et al. · 2024

PSR J0737−3039A/B is unique among double neutron star systems. Its near-perfect edge-on orbit causes the fast spinning pulsar A to be eclipsed by the magnetic field of the slow spinning pulsar B. Using high-sensitivity MeerKAT radio observ…

MeerKAT observations of pair-plasma induced birefringence in the double pulsar eclipses Open

M. E. Lower, M. Kramer, S. Johnston, R. P. Breton, N. Wex , et al. · 2024

PSR J0737$-$3039A/B is unique among double neutron star systems. Its near-perfect edge-on orbit causes the fast spinning pulsar A to be eclipsed by the magnetic field of the slow spinning pulsar B. Using high-sensitivity MeerKAT radio obse…

TRAPUM pulsar and transient search in the Sextans A and B galaxies and discovery of background FRB 20210924D Open

E Carli, L. Levin, B. W. Stappers, E D Barr, R. P. Breton , et al. · 2024

The Small and Large Magellanic Clouds are the only galaxies outside our own in which radio pulsars have been discovered to date. The sensitivity of the MeerKAT radio interferometer offers an opportunity to search for a population of more d…

Radio and gamma-ray timing of TRAPUM L-band Fermi pulsar survey discoveries Open

M. Burgay, L. Nieder, C. J. Clark, P. C. C. Freire, S. Buchner , et al. · 2024

This paper presents the results of a joint radio and gamma-ray timing campaign on the nine millisecond pulsars (MSPs) discovered as part of the L -band targeted survey of Fermi -LAT sources performed in the context of the Transients and Pu…

The Orbit and Companion of PSR J1622-0315: Variable Asymmetry and a Massive Neutron Star Open

Bidisha Sen, M. Linares, Mark Kennedy, R. P. Breton, Devina Misra , et al. · 2024

The companion to PSR J1622-0315, one of the most compact known redback millisecond pulsars, shows extremely low irradiation despite its short orbital period. We model this system to determine the binary parameters, combining optical observ…

X-ray and optical observations of the millisecond pulsar binary PSR J1431–4715 Open

D. de Martino, A Phosrisom, V. S. Dhillon, D. F. Torres, F. Coti Zelati , et al. · 2024

We present the first X-ray observation of the energetic millisecond pulsar binary PSR J1431−4715, performed with XMM-Newton and complemented with fast optical multi-band photometry acquired with the ULTRACAM instrument at ESO-NTT. It is fo…

Kilonova Seekers: the GOTO project for real-time citizen science in time-domain astrophysics Open

T. Killestein, L Kelsey, E. G. Wickens, L. K. Nuttall, J. Lyman , et al. · 2024

Time-domain astrophysics continues to grow rapidly, with the inception of new surveys drastically increasing data volumes. Democratized, distributed approaches to training sets for machine learning classifiers are crucial to make the most …

The TRAPUM Large Magellanic Cloud pulsar survey with MeerKAT – I. Survey set-up and first seven pulsar discoveries Open

Vinand Prayag, L. Levin, M. Geyer, B. W. Stappers, E Carli , et al. · 2024

The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) presents a unique environment for pulsar population studies due to its distinct star formation characteristics and proximity to the Milky Way. As part of the TRAPUM (TRAnsients and PUlsars with MeerKAT) Lar…

The TRAPUM Small Magellanic Cloud pulsar survey with MeerKAT – II. Nine new radio timing solutions and glitches from young pulsars Open

E Carli, Danai Antonopoulou, M. Burgay, M. J. Keith, L. Levin , et al. · 2024

We report new radio timing solutions from a 3-yr observing campaign conducted with the MeerKAT and Murriyang telescopes for nine Small Magellanic Cloud pulsars, increasing the number of characterized rotation-powered extragalactic pulsars …

Searching for pulsars, magnetars, and fast radio bursts in the sculptor galaxy using MeerKAT Open

H Hurter, C. Venter, L. Levin, B. W. Stappers, E D Barr , et al. · 2024

The Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253), located in the Southern Hemisphere, far off the Galactic Plane, has a relatively high star-formation rate of about 7 M$_{\odot }$ yr−1 and hosts a young and bright stellar population, including several super …

GERry: A Code to Optimise the Hunt for the Electromagnetic Counter-parts to Gravitational Wave Events Open

D.H. O’Neill, J. Lyman, K. Ackley, D. Steeghs, D. K. Galloway , et al. · 2024

The search for the electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave (GW) events has been rapidly gathering pace in recent years thanks to the increasing number and capabilities of both gravitational wave detectors and wide field survey t…

The Orbit and Companion of PSR J1622-0315: Variable Asymmetry and a Massive Neutron Star Open

Bidisha Sen, Manuel Linares, Mark Kennedy, R. P. Breton, Devina Misra , et al. · 2024

The companion to PSR J1622-0315, one of the most compact known redback millisecond pulsars, shows extremely low irradiation despite its short orbital period. We model this system to determine the binary parameters, combining optical observ…

$\textit{Kilonova Seekers}$: the GOTO project for real-time citizen science in time-domain astrophysics Open

T. Killestein, L Kelsey, E. G. Wickens, L. K. Nuttall, J. Lyman , et al. · 2024

Time-domain astrophysics continues to grow rapidly, with the inception of new surveys drastically increasing data volumes. Democratised, distributed approaches to training sets for machine learning classifiers are crucial to make the most …

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