Mysterious Interstellar Icy Objects－A New Site for Organic Molecule Formation?－

February 27, 2025

Abstract

Like snow forming in clouds on a freezing winter day, interstellar ices form in specific regions of the galaxy. Astronomers from Niigata University and The University of Tokyo (Japan) conducted molecular gas observations of two enigmatic interstellar objects using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile. These objects were previously discovered by the Japanese infrared satellite AKARI and are known to be rich in interstellar ices containing water and organic molecules, though their properties remained unclear. The ALMA observations have revealed the distance, motion, size, and chemical composition of the molecular gas associated with these objects. However, their characteristics do not match those of any previously known interstellar objects where ices have been detected. This study suggests that these two objects may represent a new class of interstellar icy objects that provide an environment conducive to the formation of ices and organic molecules. The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal on February 25, 2025.

Details of the Research

Mysterious Interstellar Icy Objects－A New Site for Organic Molecule Formation?－（PDF：0.5KB）

Publication Details

Journal: The Astrophysical Journal
Title: ALMA Observations of Peculiar Embedded Icy Objects
Authors: Takashi Shimonishi, Takashi Onaka, Itsuki Sakon
Doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/ada4ad

News release

The article was released in EurekAlert, the online publication of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

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