Explanipedia

A Mid-infrared Spectroscopic Study of Young Stellar Objects in the SMC Region NGC 346: JWST Detects Dust, Accretion, Ices, and Outflows Open

Nolan Habel, Patrick Kavanagh, Olivia Jones, M. Meixner, Laura Lenkić , et al. · 2025

We present mid-infrared spectroscopic observations of intermediate-to-high-mass young stellar objects (YSOs) in the low-metallicity star-forming region NGC 346 located within the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). We conduct these integral fiel…

Discovery of a 9.67 s Pulsar in an Ultraluminous X-Ray Source in NGC 4631 with XMM-Newton Open

L. Ducci, S. Mereghetti, M. Sasaki, Patrick Kavanagh · 2025

Thanks to a recent observation with XMM-Newton, we discovered periodic pulsations at P = 9.6652 ± 0.0002 s in a new ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) in the galaxy NGC 4631. This source, dubbed as X−8, shows one of the largest spin-up rates…

Discovery of a 9.67-s pulsar in an ultraluminous X-ray source in NGC 4631 with XMM-Newton Open

L. Ducci, S. Mereghetti, Fabio Pintore, Sinan Allak, A. Santangelo , et al. · 2025

Thanks to a recent observation with XMM-Newton, we discovered periodic pulsations at P= 9.6652 +/- 0.0002 s in a new ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) in the galaxy NGC 4631. This source, dubbed as X-8, shows one of the largest spin-up rate…

The Compact Object and Innermost Ejecta of SN 1987A Open

Josefin Larsson, Claes Fransson, Patrick Kavanagh, B. A. Sargent, M. J. Barlow , et al. · 2025

The first JWST observations of SN 1987A provided clear evidence that a compact object is ionizing the innermost ejecta. Here, we analyze a second epoch of JWST NIRSpec and MIRI/Medium-Resolution Spectrometer observations to better characte…

Investigating the metallicity dependence of the mass-loss rate relation of red supergiants Open

Konstantinos Antoniadis, Emmanouil Zapartas, A. Z. Bonanos, G. Maravelias, S. Vlassis , et al. · 2025

Context. Red supergiants (RSGs) are cool and evolved massive stars exhibiting enhanced mass loss compared to their main sequence phase, affecting their evolution and fate. However, despite recent advances, the theory of the wind-driving me…

The JWST/MIRI view of the planetary nebula NGC 6302 – I. A UV-irradiated torus and a hot bubble triggering PAH formation Open

M. Matsuura, Kevin Volk, Patrick Kavanagh, Bruce Balick, R. Wesson , et al. · 2025

NGC 6302 is a spectacular bipolar planetary nebula (PN) whose spectrum exhibits fast outflows and highly ionized emission lines, indicating the presence of a very hot central star (${\sim}$220 000 K). Its infrared spectrum reveals a mixed …

Studying the multiphase interstellar medium in the Large Magellanic Cloud with SRG/eROSITA Open

Martin G. F. Mayer, M. Sasaki, F. Haberl, Kisetsu Tsuge, Y. Fukui , et al. · 2025

Context . The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), being a nearby and actively star-forming satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, is an ideal site to observe the multiphase interstellar medium (ISM) of a galaxy across the electromagnetic spectrum. A…

JWST Observations of Young protoStars (JOYS) Open

E. F. van Dishoeck, Łukasz Tychoniec, W. R. M. Rocha, K. Slavicinska, Logan Francis , et al. · 2025

Context. The embedded phase of star formation is a crucial period in the development of a young star when the system still accretes matter, emerges from its natal cloud with assistance from powerful jets and outflows, and forms a disk, thu…

HDO Ice Detected toward an Isolated Low-mass Protostar with JWST Open

K. Slavicinska, Łukasz Tychoniec, María Gabriela Navarro, E. F. van Dishoeck, John Tobin , et al. · 2025

Water is detected in environments representing every stage of star and solar system formation, but its chemical evolution throughout these stages remains poorly constrained. Deuterium ratios offer a means of probing chemical links between …

JWST observations of the Ring Nebula (NGC 6720) – II. PAH emission Open

Nicholas Clark, E. Peeters, N. L. J. Cox, J. Cami, M. J. Barlow , et al. · 2025

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and carbonaceous dust have been observed in clumpy circumstellar environments, yet their formation and evolutionary pathways in such environments remain elusive. We aim to characterize the PAH emissi…

JWST Observations of the Ring Nebula (NGC 6720). III. A Dusty Disk around Its Central Star Open

R. Sahai, G. C. Van de Steene, P. A. M. van Hoof, A. A. Zijlstra, Kevin Volk , et al. · 2025

The planetary nebula NGC 6720, also known as the “Ring Nebula,” is one of the most iconic examples of nearby planetary nebulae whose morphologies present a challenge to our theoretical understanding of the processes that govern the deaths …

Extended source fringe flats for the JWST MIRI Medium Resolution Spectrometer Open

Nicolas Crouzet, Michael Mueller, B. A. Sargent, F. Lahuis, D. J. M. Kester , et al. · 2025

Context . The detectors of the JWST Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) Medium Resolution Spectrometer (MRS) form low-finesse resonating cavities that cause periodic count rate modulations (fringes) with peak amplitudes of up to 15% for sources…

The MIRI/MRS Library Open

Danny Gasman, Ioannis Argyriou, David R. Law, Alistair Glasse, Karl D. Gordon , et al. · 2025

Context . The Medium Resolution Spectrometer (MRS) of the Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is affected by interferometric spectral fringing, due to scattering within the detector and dichroic layers. …

JOYS: The [D/H] abundance derived from protostellar outflows across the Galactic disk measured with JWST Open

Logan Francis, E. F. van Dishoeck, A. Caratti o Garatti, M. L. van Gelder, C. Gieser , et al. · 2025

Context . The total deuterium abundance [D/H] in the universe is set by just two processes: the creation of deuterium in Big Bang nucleosynthesis at an abundance of [D/H] = 2.58 ± 0.13 × 10 −5 , and its destruction within stellar interiors…

JOYS: The [D/H] abundance derived from protostellar outflows across the Galactic disk measured with JWST Open

Logan Francis, E. F. van Dishoeck, A. Caratti o Garatti, M. L. van Gelder, C. Gieser , et al. · 2025

The total deuterium abundance [D/H] in the universe is set by just two processes: the creation of deuterium in Big Bang Nucleosynthesis at an abundance of [D/H]$=2.58\pm0.13\times10^{-5}$, and its destruction within stellar interiors. Meas…

A new radio continuum study of the large magellanic cloud supernova remnant MC SNR J0519–6902 Open

R. Z. E. Alsaberi, M. D. Filipović, Hidetoshi Sano, Shi Dai, F. Haberl , et al. · 2025

We present a new radio continuum study of the Large Magellanic Cloud supernova remnant (SNR) MC SNR J0519–6902. With a diameter of $\sim$ 8 pc, this SNR shows a radio ring-like morphology with three bright regions towards the north, east, …

Supernova remnants on the outskirts of the Large Magellanic Cloud Open

M. Sasaki, Federico Zangrandi, M. D. Filipović, R. Z. E. Alsaberi, Jordan Collier , et al. · 2024

When a star dies, it can explode in a supernova, causing a strong shock wave and forming an interstellar object called a supernova remnant (SNR). Observational studies of SNRs allow us to learn about the different types of progenitors, the…

JWST Observations of Young protoStars (JOYS) Open

M. L. van Gelder, Logan Francis, E. F. van Dishoeck, L. Tychoniec, T. P. Ray , et al. · 2024

Context . The Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) on board the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) allows one to probe the molecular gas composition at mid-infrared (mid-IR) wavelengths with unprecedented resolution and sensitivity. It is importa…

Ammonium hydrosulfide (NH4SH) as a potentially significant sulfur sink in interstellar ices Open

K. Slavicinska, A. C. A. Boogert, L. Tychoniec, E. F. van Dishoeck, M. L. van Gelder , et al. · 2024

Context . Sulfur is depleted with respect to its cosmic standard abundance in dense star-forming regions. It has been suggested that this depletion is caused by the freeze-out of sulfur on interstellar dust grains, but the observed abundan…

Embedded Young Stellar Objects near H72.97-69.39: A Forming Super Star Cluster in N79 Open

Omnarayani Nayak, Conor Nally, Alec S. Hirschauer, Olivia Jones, J. Jaspers , et al. · 2024

We present 102 embedded young stellar object (YSO) candidates associated with the H72.97-69.39 super star cluster (SSC) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). With the use of the James Webb Space Telescope Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) imag…

First study of the supernova remnant population in the Large Magellanic Cloud with eROSITA Open

Federico Zangrandi, K. Jurk, M. Sasaki, Jonathan Knıes, M. D. Filipović , et al. · 2024

Aims . The all-sky survey carried out by the extended Roentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array (eROSITA) on board Spektrum-Roentgen-Gamma (Spektr-RG, SRG) has provided spatially and spectrally resolved X-ray data of the entire Large…

Ammonium hydrosulfide (NH4SH) as a potentially significant sulfur sink in interstellar ices Open

K. Slavicinska, A. C. A. Boogert, Łukasz Tychoniec, Ewine F. van Dishoeck, M. L. van Gelder , et al. · 2024

Sulfur is depleted with respect to its cosmic standard abundance in dense star-forming regions. It has been suggested that this depletion is caused by the freeze-out of sulfur on interstellar dust grains, but the observed abundances and up…

JWST Observations of Young protoStars (JOYS). Overview of gaseous molecular emission and absorption in low-mass protostars Open

M. L. van Gelder, Logan Francis, E. F. van Dishoeck, Łukasz Tychoniec, T. P. Ray , et al. · 2024

The MIRI-MRS instrument onboard JWST allows for probing the molecular gas composition at mid-IR wavelengths at unprecedented resolution and sensitivity. It is important to study these features in low-mass embedded protostellar systems sinc…

JWST Observations of Young protoStars (JOYS) Open

A. Caratti o Garatti, T. P. Ray, Patrick Kavanagh, M. J. McCaughrean, C. Gieser , et al. · 2024

Context . Due to the high visual extinction and lack of sensitive mid-infrared (MIR) telescopes, the origin and properties of outflows and jets from embedded Class 0 protostars are still poorly constrained. Aims . We aim to characterise th…

JOYS+: The link between the ice and gas of complex organic molecules Open

Y. Chen, W. R. M. Rocha, E. F. van Dishoeck, M. L. van Gelder, P. Nazari , et al. · 2024

Context. A rich inventory of complex organic molecules (COMs) has been observed in high abundances in the gas phase toward Class 0 protostars. It has been suggested that these molecules are formed in ices and sublimate in the warm inner en…

The Line Emission Mapper (LEM) probe mission concept Open

Ralph Kraft, Ákos Bogdán, John ZuHone, J. S. Adams, Julián D. Alvarado‐Gómez , et al. · 2024

International audience

Young Stellar Objects in NGC 346: A JWST NIRCam/MIRI Imaging Survey Open

Nolan Habel, Conor Nally, Laura Lenkić, M. Meixner, Guido De Marchi , et al. · 2024

We present a JWST imaging survey with NIRCam and MIRI of NGC 346, the brightest star-forming region in the Small Magellanic Cloud. By combining aperture and point-spread function photometry of 11 wavelength bands across these two instrumen…

JOYS+: link between ice and gas of complex organic molecules. Comparing JWST and ALMA data of two low-mass protostars Open

Y. Chen, W. R. M. Rocha, E. F. van Dishoeck, M. L. van Gelder, P. Nazari , et al. · 2024

A rich inventory of complex organic molecules (COMs) has been observed in high abundances in the gas phase toward Class 0 protostars. These molecules are suggested to be formed in ices and sublimate in the warm inner envelope close to the …

The MIRI/MRS Library Open

Danny Gasman, Ioannis Argyriou, Jane Morrison, David R. Law, Alistair Glasse , et al. · 2024

Context. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been collecting scientific data for over two years now. The Medium Resolution Spectrometer (MRS) of the Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) has been one of the telescope’s most popular modes, a…

JWST Observations of Young protoStars (JOYS) Linked accretion and ejection in a Class I protobinary system Open

Łukasz Tychoniec, M. L. van Gelder, E. F. van Dishoeck, Logan Francis, W. R. M. Rocha , et al. · 2024

Context. Accretion and ejection dictate the outcomes of star and planet formation processes. The mid-infrared (MIR) wavelength range offers key tracers of processes that have been difficult to detect and spatially resolve in protostars unt…

Patrick Kavanagh YOU? Author Swipe