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Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics

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This article is about the MOA observatory project. For the astrophysical process, see Gravitational microlensing.

The Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics (MOA) telescope dome at the top of Mount John

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 1.8 m (70.9 in) 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.

MOA telescope mirror images

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  • Underside of main mirror
    Underside of main mirror
  • Camera assembly
    Camera assembly
  • Main mirror, side view
    Main mirror, side view

Planets discovered

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

Planet Date announced
MOA-2020-BLG-208Lb October 2022
MOA-2020-BLG-135Lb April 2022
MOA-2014-BLG-472Lb June 2021
MOA-2007-BLG-197Lb May 2015
MOA-2008-BLG-379Lb November 2013
MOA-2011-BLG-322Lb September 2013
MOA-bin-1b May 2012
MOA-2009-BLG-387Lb February 2011
MOA-2007-BLG-400Lb September 18, 2008
MOA-2007-BLG-192Lb May 30, 2008
OGLE-2003-BLG-235b/MOA-2003-BLG-53b April 15, 2004

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Staff (1995). "MOA (Microlensing observation in Astrophysics)" (PDF). Caltech. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  2. ^ Yock, Philip (2012). "Review article - A quarter century of astrophysics with Japan". New Zealand Science Review. 69 (3). arXiv:1510.05688.
  3. ^ Latham, David W.; Gaudi, B. Scott (2014). "Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics" (PDF). Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. p. 1. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1850-2. ISBN 978-3-642-27833-4. Retrieved 3 October 2020. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Sumi, T.; et al. (1 July 2003). "Microlensing Optical Depth toward the Galactic Bulge from Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics Group Observations during 2000 with Difference Image Analysis". The Astrophysical Journal. 591 (1): 204–227. arXiv:astro-ph/0207604. Bibcode:2003ApJ...591..204S. doi:10.1086/375212. S2CID 118776894. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  5. ^ Gough, Evan (1 October 2020). "A Rogue Earth-Mass Planet Has Been Discovered Freely Floating in the Milky Way Without a Star". Universe Today. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  6. ^ Mroz, Przemek; et al. (29 September 2020). "A terrestrial-mass rogue planet candidate detected in the shortest-timescale microlensing event". The Astrophysical Journal. 903 (1): L11. arXiv:2009.12377. Bibcode:2020ApJ...903L..11M. doi:10.3847/2041-8213/abbfad. S2CID 221971000.
  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 (25 May 2022). "An Isolated Stellar-mass Black Hole Detected through Astrometric Microlensing". The Astrophysical Journal. 933 (1): 83. arXiv:2201.13296. Bibcode:2022ApJ...933...83S. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ac739e. S2CID 246430448.
  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 (31 May 2022). "An Isolated Mass-gap Black Hole or Neutron Star Detected with Astrometric Microlensing". The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 933 (1): L23. arXiv:2202.01903. Bibcode:2022ApJ...933L..23L. doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ac7442. S2CID 246608178.
  9. ^ Gianopoulos, Andrea (7 June 2022). "Hubble Determines Mass of Isolated Black Hole Roaming Milky Way". NASA. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  10. ^ O'Callaghan, Jonathan. "Astronomers Find First Ever Rogue Black Hole Adrift in the Milky Way". Scientific American. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  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. (10 November 2002). "Gravitational Microlensing Events Due to Stellar-Mass Black Holes". The Astrophysical Journal. 579 (2): 639–659. arXiv:astro-ph/0109467. Bibcode:2002ApJ...579..639B. doi:10.1086/342225. ISSN 0004-637X. S2CID 44193135.
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