News at MPA

Computer simulations suggest that the amplification of magnetic fields in stellar collisions may play an important role in the formation of a particular subset of stars in clusters. Blue straggler stars in clusters appear not only bluer, but also younger than other cluster members. One proposed explanation for their apparently different ages is that they are the result of stellar collisions. However, this would require the resulting star to spin down efficiently without losing too much mass. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics have now shown, using sophisticated 3D simulations, that the energy of the magnetic field is greatly amplified in the collisions of low-mass stars, providing a potentially efficient spin-down mechanism. more

The Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope is now ready to be assembled at its destination in the Atacama Desert. Planned to take up operations in April 2026, it will be able to look all the way back to the Big Bang, revealing new details about star and galaxy formation.
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Data from the Esa Euclid telescope enable precise analysis of an Einstein ring around the galaxy core of NGC 6505 and thus the surrounding dark matter more

The Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (MPA) is excited to announce the launch of its new Mentorship Program, designed to connect aspiring astronomers from underrepresented groups with researchers at the institute. This initiative aims to increase diversity and inclusion in theoretical and computational astrophysics, offering participants valuable guidance and insights into the field. more

In some of the first data from ESA’s Euclid space telescope, scientists have found a rare image of a distorted background galaxy, appearing as a so-called ‘Einstein Ring’ right in our cosmic backyard. Using a state-of-the art computer model at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, the astrophysicists were able to model the gravitational lensing system allowing them to learn more about this rare object. more

Matter in intergalactic space is distributed in a vast network of interconnected filamentary structures, collectively referred to as the cosmic web. With hundreds of hours of observations, an international team of researchers has now obtained an unprecedented high-definition image of a cosmic filament inside this web, connecting two active forming galaxies – dating back to when the Universe was about 2 billion years old. more

Researchers have finished equipping the Subaru Telescope with a new special “compound eye” culminating several years of effort. This new instrument features approximately 2,400 fibers scattered across the extremely wide field of view available at the Subaru Telescope’s primary focus, allowing for simultaneous spectroscopic observation of thousands of celestial objects. This unrivaled capability will help researchers precisely understand the formation and evolution of galaxies and the Universe once it begins scientific operations in February 2025. more