2024 was a banner year for astronomical breakthroughs. From new worlds to cosmic structures and surprising atmospheric phenomena, scientists pushed the boundaries of what we know about the universe. Here are some of the most striking discoveries:
1. The “Big Ring” — a gargantuan cosmic structure
In January 2024, astronomers announced the discovery of a vast ring-shaped structure near the constellation Boötes, dubbed the Big Ring. It spans an estimated 1.3 billion light-years in diameter and lies about 9.2 billion light years away. Wikipedia
This structure is remarkable because it challenges assumptions about how uniformly matter should be distributed across enormous cosmic scales. Wikipedia
2. Intermediate-mass black hole in Omega Centauri
One of the “missing links” in black hole studies is the class of intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs). In mid-2024, using Hubble observations spanning two decades, astronomers traced seven fast-moving stars in the core of the globular cluster Omega Centauri and argued they point to the presence of an IMBH. ESAHubble+1
This helps fill a gap between stellar-mass and supermassive black holes, offering clues to how the largest black holes might grow. Space+1