Weekly Update from the Open Journal of Astrophysics – 02/05/2026

Here we are, on schedule, with another update of activity at the Open Journal of Astrophysics. Since the last update we have published a further seven papers, bringing the number in Volume 9 (2026) to 94 and the total so far published by OJAp up to 542. I checked the corresponding update for last year (on 3rd May 2025), and we’ve had an increase from 54 to 94 in papers published (about 74%) between the first four months of 2025 and the first four months of 2026.

I will continue to include the posts made on our Mastodon account (on Fediscience) to encourage you to visit it. Mastodon is a really excellent service, and a more than adequate replacement for X/Twitter (which nobody should be using); these announcements also show the DOI for each paper.

The first paper to report this week is “DESI-DR1 3 × 2-pt analysis: consistent cosmology across weak lensing surveys” by Anna Porredon (CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain) and 72 others (DESI Colllaboration). This paper was published on Tuesday 28th April in the folder Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics. This paper presents a joint cosmological analysis of galaxy clustering and gravitational lensing observations, providing consistent constraints on cosmological parameters. The analysis also introduces a new blinding procedure to prevent confirmation bias. See this post for news of an important DESI milestone.

The overlay for this paper is here

You can find the officially accepted version on arXiv here and the announcement on Fediverse here:

https://fediscience.org/@OJ_Astro/116480407578621011

The second paper for this week, also published on Tuesday 28th April but in the folder High-Energy Astrophysical Phenomena is “Masers and Broad-Line Mapping Favor Magnetically-Dominated AGN Accretion Disks” by Philip F. Hopkins (Caltech, USA), Dalya Baron (Stanford U., USA) and Joanna M. Piotrowska (Caltech). This one presents a new constraint on supermassive black hole accretion disks physics, suggesting that outer regions are likely in a ‘hyper-magnetized’ state, as thermal or radiation pressure models appear inconsistent.

The overlay for this one is here:

The official version of the paper can be found on arXiv here and the Fediverse announcement here:

https://fediscience.org/@OJ_Astro/116480505354195181

Next one up, the third paper of the week, is “Galaxy mergers and disk angular momentum evolution: stellar halos as a critical test” by Eric F. Bell (U. Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA), Richard D’Souza (Vatican Observatory), Monica Valluri & Katya Gozman (U. Michigan). This was published on Wednesday 29th April in the folder Astrophysics of Galaxies. The paper argues that satellite accretion impacts the angular momentum evolution of galaxies, often causing significant reorientation. This process is detectable in Milky Way-mass galaxies so the idea is testable observationally.

The overlay for this one is here:

The final, accepted version can be found on arXiv here and the Mastodon announcement is here:

https://fediscience.org/@OJ_Astro/116486649450860283

The fourth paper this week, published on Thursday April 30th, is “Time-Dilation Methods for Extreme Multiscale Timestepping Problems” by Philip F. Hopkins and Elias R. Most (Caltech, USA). This paper is in the folder Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics: it presents a new method for astrophysical simulations that modulates time evolution with a variable dilation/stretch factor, improving efficiency and accuracy in modeling processes across different scales.

The overlay is here:

The finally accepted version of this paper can be found here and the Mastodon announcement follows:

https://fediscience.org/@OJ_Astro/116492226856595031

The fifth article of this week was also published on Thursday 30th April, but in the folder Astrophysics of Galaxies. The title is “Cosmic Rays on Galaxy Scales: Progress and Pitfalls for CR-MHD Dynamical Models” and the author is Philip F. Hopkins (Caltech, USA) who has three papers featured this week. The paper presents an overview of cosmic ray (CR) modeling, highlighting its influence on galactic physics and star formation. It addresses previous modeling errors and presents new methods for full-spectrum dynamics.

The overlay is here:

You can find the authorized version of this paper on arXiv here and the Fediverse announcement is here:

https://fediscience.org/@OJ_Astro/116492282488422075

The sixth paper of the week is “Baryonification III: An accurate analytical model for the dispersion measure probability density function of fast radio bursts” by MohammadReza Torkamani (Universität Bonn, Germany) and 8 others based in Germany, Switzerland, UK and Sweden. This article was also published on Thursday April 30th in the folder Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics. It presents a framework for predicting dispersion measures of fast radio bursts using the baryonification model, providing a cost-effective alternative to hydrodynamical simulations. The model’s accuracy is validated through full numerical simulations. The overlay is here:

You can find the officially-accepted version on arXiv here and the Mastodon announcement here:

https://fediscience.org/@OJ_Astro/116492403170125062

Seventh and finally for this week we have “The stellar and dark matter distributions in early-type galaxies measured by stacked weak gravitational lensing” by Momoka Fujikawa and Masamune Oguri (Chiba University, Japan). This study uses weak gravitational lensing to investigate stellar mass and dark matter density in red galaxies, suggesting a stronger feedback effect than current simulations predict. This was published on Friday 1st May 2026 in the folder Astrophysics of Galaxies. The overlay is here:

You can find the officially-accepted version on arXiv here and the Fediverse announcement is here:

https://fediscience.org/@OJ_Astro/116497987401632687

And that concludes this week’s update. I’ll do another one at the end of next week. Will Vol. 9 have reached a hundred by then?

P.S. Just a reminder that, thanks to the efforts of a member of our Editorial Board, the Open Journal of Astrophysics now has a Wikipedia page.

#32PtAnalysis #ActiveGalacticNuclei #AGN #arXiv250907104v2 #arXiv251009756v2 #arXiv251209342v2 #arXiv251215960v3 #arXiv260106253v2 #arXiv260118784v2 #arXiv260424965v1 #AstrophysicsOfGalaxies #baryonification #ComputationalAstrophysics #cosmicRays #CosmologyAndNonGalacticAstrophysics #DarkEnergySpectroscopicInstrument #DESI #DiamondOpenAccess #DiamondOpenAccessPublishing #DispersionMeasures #fastRadioBursts #galacticCosmicRays #galaxyEvolution #galaxyFormation #galaxyMergers #HighEnergyAstrophysicalPhenomena #InstrumentationAndMethodsForAstrophysics #magnetohydrodynamics #masers #MilkyWay #OpenAccess #OpenAccessPublishing #SolarAndStellarAstrophysics #SolarCorona #supermassiveBlackHoles #VeraCRubinObservatory #weakGravitationalLensing #wikipedia
Une galaxie a perdu 95% de sa lumière en 20 ans… son trou noir semble “s’éteindre”. Un phénomène rare qui bouscule nos modèles www.techno-science.net/actualite/ga... #Space #Science #Innovation #Astrophysics #BlackHole #Galaxies #AGN #NewSpace

🔆 Une galaxie perd 95% de sa l...
🔆 Une galaxie perd 95% de sa luminosité en 20 ans: pourquoi ?

En comparant des images archivées sur vingt ans, des astronomes ont observé un phénomène inhabituel. Grâce à des...

Techno-Science.net
Une galaxie a perdu 95% de sa lumière en 20 ans… son trou noir semble “s’éteindre”. Un phénomène rare qui bouscule nos modèles
https://www.techno-science.net/actualite/galaxie-perd-95-sa-luminosite-20-ans-pourquoi-N28611.html #Space #Science #Innovation #Astrophysics #BlackHole #Galaxies #AGN #NewSpace
🔆 Une galaxie perd 95% de sa luminosité en 20 ans: pourquoi ?

En comparant des images archivées sur vingt ans, des astronomes ont observé un phénomène inhabituel. Grâce à des...

Techno-Science.net

@MPIfR_Bonn Spannende Sache. Dass Markarian 501 eventuell ein binäres supermassereiches Schwarzes Loch im Zentrum hat, wurde schon 2003 von Rieger und Mannheim vorgeschlagen.
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2003A%26A...397..121R/abstract

#SMBH #Astrophysics #Mrk501 #AGN

On the central black hole mass in Mkn 501

We analyse the apparent disagreement between the mass estimates of the central black hole(s) in Mkn 501 based on (i) the observations of the host galaxy, (ii) the high energy (HE) emission mechanism, and (iii) the modulation of the beamed radiation by a black hole (BH) binary system. While method (i) seems to imply a central mass ga 5x 10<SUP>8</SUP> M<SUB>sun</SUB>, method (ii) suggests a BH mass less than =~ 6 x 10<SUP>7</SUP> M<SUB>sun</SUB>. We critically discuss the estimates inferred from (i) showing that current uncertainties may permit a central mass as low as =~ (2-3)x 10<SUP>8</SUP> M<SUB>sun</SUB>. We demonstrate that in this case the estimates (i) and (ii) might be brought into agreement by assuming a binary BH system where the jet dominating the HE emission originates from the less massive (secondary) BH as suggested by method (iii). On the other hand, if Mkn 501 has in fact a high central BH mass of order 10<SUP>9</SUP> M<SUB>sun</SUB>, a change of fundamental assumptions seems to be required in the context of several HE emission models. We show, that in this case a binary scenario following (iii) may be still possible if the jet which dominates the emission emerges from the more massive (primary) BH and if the binary evolution passes through phases of super-Eddington accretion and/or decreased conversion efficiency.

ADS
ReveaLLAGN 1 - JWST Emission-Line Spectra Reveal Low-Luminosity #AGN with UV-Deficient SEDs and Warm Molecular Gas: https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.16977 -> James Webb Space Telescope uncovers secret supermassive black holes that escape traditional detection: https://www.space.com/astronomy/james-webb-space-telescope/james-webb-space-telescope-uncovers-secret-supermassive-black-holes-that-escape-traditional-detection
ReveaLLAGN 1: JWST Emission-Line Spectra Reveal Low-Luminosity AGN with UV-Deficient SEDs and Warm Molecular Gas

We present near- and mid-infrared spectra of eight Low-Luminosity Active Galactic Nuclei (LLAGN), spanning nearly four orders of magnitude in black hole mass and Eddington ratio, obtained with JWST/NIRSpec and MIRI as part of the ReveaLLAGN program along with identical archival data of Cen A. The high spatial resolution of JWST cleanly separates AGN emission from host-galaxy contamination, enabling detections of high-ionization potential lines more than an order of magnitude fainter than previously measured. Emission-line diagnostics reveal a transition at log($L_{bol}/L_{Edd}$) ~ -3.5, where the spectral energy distribution becomes increasingly deficient in ultraviolet photons. We find that rotational H$_2$ excitation temperatures are elevated (~500 K higher) compared to both higher-luminosity AGN and star-forming galaxies, while the H$_2$(0-0)S(3)/PAH$_{11.3 μm}$ ratios are consistent with those observed in the AGN population. We discuss the possible roles of outflows, jets, and X-ray dominated regions in shaping the interstellar medium surrounding LLAGN. Silicate emission at ~10 $μ$m, localized to the nuclear region, is detected in most ReveaLLAGN targets. This dataset offers the first comprehensive JWST-based characterization of infrared emission lines in the nuclear regions of LLAGN.

arXiv.org

#TachyonBeam #astronomy #galaxies #SMBH #AGN

A rare example of three active galactic nuclei in three merging galaxies has been discovered using two radio telescopes: the VLA and the VLBA. The triple system is cataloged as J1218/1219+1035. This targeted study, conducted by a team of researchers at various radio frequencies, has identified only the third case of a triple active galactic nucleus, the first confirmed through radio observations.

https://english.tachyonbeam.com/2025/12/31/a-rare-case-of-three-active-galactic-nuclei-in-three-merging-galaxies-has-been-discovered/

A rare case of three active galactic nuclei in three merging galaxies has been discovered

A rare example of three active galactic nuclei in three merging galaxies has been discovered using two radio telescopes: the VLA and the VLBA. The triple...

The First Triple Radio Active Galactic Nucleus in an Ongoing Galaxy Merger: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ae2002 -> A unique discovery - astronomers identify the first triple radio #AGN / Radio Black Hole Trio Lights Up in Rare Galaxy Merger: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/555300/unique-discovery-astronomers-identify-first-triple-radio-agn / https://public.nrao.edu/news/radio-black-hole-trio-lights-up-in-rare-galaxy-merger/ - first confirmed system of three radio-bright active galactic nuclei reveals how supermassive black holes grow as galaxies collide.
The First Triple Radio Active Galactic Nucleus in an Ongoing Galaxy Merger

The First Triple Radio Active Galactic Nucleus in an Ongoing Galaxy Merger, Schwartzman, Emma, Pfeifle, Ryan W., Clarke, Tracy E., Weaver, Kimberly A., Secrest, Nathan J., Rothberg, Barry, McCarthy, Miranda, Stern, Daniel, Boorman, Peter G., Piotrowska, Joanna

La Revista del Archivo General de la Nación, publicación especializada en historia, archivística, patrimonio documental y disciplinas afines, se complace en invitar a la convocatoria para el próximo volumen de nuestra revista, enviando sus artículos originales para evaluación y eventual publicación.

👉 https://revista.agn.gob.pe/ojs/index.php/ragn/about

Instructivo:
👉 https://revista.agn.gob.pe/.../ragn/information/authors

Consultas:
[email protected]

#Revista #AGN #Cultura

#ESA:
"
Flaring black hole whips up ultra-fast winds
"
"Leading X-ray space telescopes XMM-Newton and XRISM have spotted an extraordinary blast from a supermassive black hole. In a matter of hours, the gravitational monster whipped up powerful winds, flinging material out into space at eye-watering speeds of 60 000 km per second."

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/XMM-Newton/Flaring_black_hole_whips_up_ultra-fast_winds

9.12.2025

#AGN #BlackHole #JAXA #NGC3783 #Röntenstrahlung #SchwarzesLoch #SMBH #SRON #Weltraumteleskop #XMM #XRISM #Xray

Flaring black hole whips up ultra-fast winds

Leading X-ray space telescopes XMM-Newton and XRISM have spotted an extraordinary blast from a supermassive black hole. In a matter of hours, the gravitational monster whipped up powerful winds, flinging material out into space at eye-watering speeds of 60 000 km per second.

Die aus #Würzburg geleitete Forschungsgruppe „Relativistische Jets in Aktiven Galaxien“ untersucht seit 2021 die gewaltigen Plasmaströme, die von supermassereichen Schwarzen Löchern ausgehen. Jetzt hat die @dfg_public die Förderung verlängert.

https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/single/news/for-5195/

#Astronomie #astrophysik #astrodon #AGN #Forschungsgruppen

Forschungsgruppe zu kosmischen Jets geht in die Verlängerung

Die aus Würzburg geleitete Forschungsgruppe „Relativistische Jets in Aktiven Galaxien“ untersucht seit 2021 die gewaltigen Plasmaströme, die von supermassereichen Schwarzen Löchern ausgehen. Jetzt hat die DFG die Förderung verlängert.