Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics explained

Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics (MOA) is a collaborative project between researchers in New Zealand[1] and Japan,[2] led by Professor Yasushi Muraki of Nagoya University.[3] They use microlensing to observe dark matter, extra-solar planets, and stellar atmospheres from the Southern Hemisphere. The group concentrates especially on the detection and observation of gravitational microlensing events of high magnification, of order 100 or more, as these provide the greatest sensitivity to extrasolar planets. They work with other groups in Australia, the United States and elsewhere. Observations are conducted at New Zealand's Mt. John University Observatory using a 1.81NaN1 reflector telescope built for the project.[4]

In September 2020, astronomers using microlensing techniques reported the detection, for the first time, of an earth-mass rogue planet unbounded by any star, and free floating in the Milky Way galaxy.[5] [6] In January 2022 in collaboration with Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) they reported in a preprint the first rogue BH[7] [8] [9] [10] while there have been others candidates[11] this is the most solid detection so far as their technique allowed to measure not only the amplification of light but also its deflection by the BH from the microlensing data.

Planets discovered

The following planets have been announced by this survey, some in conjunction with other surveys.

PlanetDate announced
October 2022
April 2022
June 2021
May 2015
November 2013
September 2013
May 2012
February 2011
September 18, 2008
May 30, 2008
April 15, 2004

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Staff . MOA (Microlensing observation in Astrophysics) . 1995 . . 3 October 2020 .
  2. Yock . Philip . Review article - A quarter century of astrophysics with Japan . 2012 . . 69 . 3 . 1510.05688 .
  3. Book: Latham . David W. . Gaudi . B. Scott . Encyclopedia of Astrobiology . Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics . https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2F978-3-642-27833-4_1850-2.pdf . 2014 . Encyclopedia of Astronomy . 1 . 10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1850-2 . 978-3-642-27833-4 . 3 October 2020 .
  4. Sumi, T. . et al. . Microlensing Optical Depth toward the Galactic Bulge from Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics Group Observations during 2000 with Difference Image Analysis . 1 July 2003 . . 591 . 1 . 204–227 . 10.1086/375212 . astro-ph/0207604 . 2003ApJ...591..204S . 118776894 . 3 October 2020 .
  5. News: Gough . Evan . A Rogue Earth-Mass Planet Has Been Discovered Freely Floating in the Milky Way Without a Star . 1 October 2020 . . 2 October 2020 .
  6. Mroz, Przemek. et al.. A terrestrial-mass rogue planet candidate detected in the shortest-timescale microlensing event . The Astrophysical Journal. 29 September 2020 . 903. 1. L11. 10.3847/2041-8213/abbfad. 2009.12377 . 2020ApJ...903L..11M. 221971000 . free .
  7. Sahu . Kailash C. . Anderson . Jay . Casertano . Stefano . Bond . Howard E. . Udalski . Andrzej . Dominik . Martin . Calamida . Annalisa . Bellini . Andrea . Brown . Thomas M. . Rejkuba . Marina . Bajaj . Varun . 2022-05-25 . An Isolated Stellar-mass Black Hole Detected through Astrometric Microlensing . The Astrophysical Journal . 933 . 1 . 83 . 10.3847/1538-4357/ac739e . 2201.13296. 2022ApJ...933...83S . 246430448 . free .
  8. Lam . Casey Y. . Lu . Jessica R. . Udalski . Andrzej . Bond . Ian . Bennett . David P. . Skowron . Jan . Mroz . Przemek . Poleski . Radek . Sumi . Takahiro . Szymanski . Michal K. . Kozlowski . Szymon . 2022-05-31 . An Isolated Mass-gap Black Hole or Neutron Star Detected with Astrometric Microlensing . The Astrophysical Journal Letters . 933 . 1 . L23 . 10.3847/2041-8213/ac7442 . 2202.01903. 2022ApJ...933L..23L . 246608178 . free .
  9. Web site: Gianopoulos . Andrea . 2022-06-07 . Hubble Determines Mass of Isolated Black Hole Roaming Milky Way . 2022-06-12 . NASA.
  10. Web site: O'Callaghan . Jonathan . Astronomers Find First Ever Rogue Black Hole Adrift in the Milky Way . 2022-02-08 . Scientific American . en.
  11. Bennett. D. P.. Becker. A. C.. Quinn. J. L.. Tomaney. A. B.. Alcock. C.. Allsman. R. A.. Alves. D. R.. Axelrod. T. S.. Calitz. J. J.. Cook. K. H.. Drake. A. J.. 2002-11-10. Gravitational Microlensing Events Due to Stellar-Mass Black Holes. The Astrophysical Journal. en. 579. 2. 639–659. 10.1086/342225. astro-ph/0109467. 2002ApJ...579..639B. 44193135. 0004-637X.

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