Largest Oort Cloud Comet Ever Observed Reveals Its Secrets Under ALMA's Powerful Gaze

Astronomers discover the largest comet from the outskirts of the solar system is exploding with jets of gas

The monsterous 85-mile-wide comet C/2014 UN271 isn't just the largest icy rock in the Oort Cloud, it's the second most distant that is chemically active.

Scientists spotted a giant comet spewing gas 2 billion miles from sun

Comet C/2014 UN271, aka Bernardinelli–Bernstein, is already releasing gas, even though it's still far from the sun's heat in the solar system.

Largest Oort Cloud comet ever observed reveals its secrets under ALMA's powerful gaze

A team of astronomers has made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting molecular activity in comet C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein)—the largest and second most distantly active comet ever observed from the Oort Cloud.

World’s Largest Oort Cloud Comet Exposes Surprising Mysteries

In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers have uncovered the first direct evidence of molecular activity in comet C/2014 UN271, also known as Bernardinelli-Bernstein. This massive comet, located in the far reaches of the Oort Cloud, is now recognized as the largest and second most distant active comet ever observed. The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, was made possible through the use of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submi…

ALMA Survey Sheds New Light on Planet-Forming Disks

A major new study using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) has revealed how gas and dust evolve differently in planet-forming disks around young stars. The AGE-PRO survey—observing 30 disks of varying ages—provides the first systematic measurements of gas masses and chemistry over time, reshaping our understanding of how planets acquire their atmospheres. The study involved an international team and includes 12 papers publis…

Alma Identifies Molecular Activity in the Largest Known Oort Cloud Comet

Astronomers from the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (Alma) have made observations of comet C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein). Artist depiction of Comet C/2014 UN271. Image credits: NSF/AUI/NSF/NRAO/M.WEISS. C/2014 UN271 was identified by astronomers Pedro Berner Dinnelli and Gary Bernstein through images captured in 2014 as part of dark energy research. The comet spans approximately 140 km (85 [...] The post Alma Identifies Mo…