A brief roundup of the latest astronomy news
Large molecule found in planet growing disc
Dimethyl ether (inset, above), a complex organic molecule made up of nine atoms, has been detected in the planet-forming disc around a star (IRS 48, above, left) for the first time. Not only is this the largest molecule ever discovered in such a disc, but such chemicals play a key part in starting life.
No black hole ‘nearby’
The ‘closest’ black hole system to Earth, located just 1,000 lightyears away, may not contain a black hole after all. The system was first reported in 2020, but now two independent teams have determined it could instead be a double star system, where one member has had its outer layers stripped by its companion.
5,000 exoplanets confirmed
NASA’s list of confirmed exoplanets passed the 5,000 mark on 21 March, 30 years after the discovery of the first. Doubling that number could happen much quicker, as there are already 5,000 candidate exoplanets found by the TESS exoplanet telescope awaiting confirmation.
Alligator song helps heliophysicists
The answer to the mystery of how the Sun forms jets of plasma 10,000km-high could lie in an unexpected place – alligator mating calls. The reptile’s bass bellows make the water around them jump and dance in much the same way as seen on the surface of the Sun.
Lunar oxygen extraction
UK company Thales Alenia Space has won an ESA contract to build an experiment to extract oxygen from the lunar surface. Although this experiment would only extract 50–100g of oxygen, the technology could one day be used to help support astronauts living and working on the Moon.
Pluto’s recent eruptions
Pluto’s surface may have been shaped by cyrovolcanism – where water acts like rock and lava – much more recently than previously thought. New analysis of images from NASA’s New Horizons probe show that the ice volcanoes Wright Mons and Piccard Mons have a distinct lack of impact craters.