Cloud Formation
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Satellite Captures Svalbard Bear Island's Rare Cloud Formations and Algal Bloom
A 2023 satellite image captured algal bloom and atmospheric vortices near Bear Island in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago. The algal bloom, stretching 400 kilometres, formed vibrant spirals due to ocean currents. Atmospheric vortices, caused by airflow disruption over Miseryfjellet mountain, mirrored these patterns in the sky. Bear Island’s radioa...
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Astronomers Discover Water and Carbon Dioxide in WASP-166 b's Atmosphere
Astronomers have detected water and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of WASP-166 b, a hot super-Neptune exoplanet. Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the findings also noted ammonia in smaller quantities. WASP-166 b, located 368 light-years away, is a massive planet that orbits its star every 5.44 days, with a temperature of 1,2...
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Organic Molecules in Space: A Key to Understanding Life's Cosmic Origins
Organic molecules, the building blocks of life, have been discovered across space—from interstellar clouds to asteroids and comets. Findings from missions like Rosetta, Hayabusa2, and Osiris-Rex reveal that these compounds existed long before the Sun formed. Scientists believe organic molecules survived planetary formation in protoplanetary disks...
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Astronomers Spot New Cosmic Explosions 100 Times Brighter Than the Sun
Astronomers have discovered a new class of cosmic explosions, known as 'millinovas,' which are 100 times brighter than the Sun. These events, first identified in 2023, were observed in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, two satellite galaxies of the Milky Way. The millinovas are thought to occur when white dwarfs feed off a companion star, prod...
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James Webb and Chandra Capture Images of Star Clusters in Distant Galaxies
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory have unveiled stunning new images of two star clusters in the Small Magellanic Cloud. NGC 602, located approximately 200,000 light-years from Earth, showcases active star formation, with dust clouds and ionised gas revealing unique stellar birth conditions. Meanwhile, NGC 2264 featur...
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Webb Telescope Confirms Planet-Forming Disks Last Longer in Early Universe
The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed that planet-forming disks around stars in the early universe lasted far longer than previously believed. By studying NGC 346, a star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud, Webb observed disks surviving for 20–30 million years, challenging current models. This discovery suggests that low-metal environmen...
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Hubble Captures NGC 5643’s Spiral Arms, Star Formation, and Hidden Black Hole
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured detailed images of the spiral galaxy NGC 5643, located 40 million light-years away. This grand design galaxy features striking spiral arms outlined by young blue stars and dust clouds, with star-forming regions visible as pinkish hues. Ultraviolet and X-ray studies have revealed an active galactic nu...
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Hubble Telescope Reveals Milky Way Blowing Gas off LMC Galaxy in Close Encounter
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has captured an extraordinary phenomenon as the Milky Way galaxy exerts ram pressure on the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), stripping away most of its gas halo. The interaction, which occurs as LMC passes near the Milky Way, has led to the loss of significant mass from the dwarf galaxy. Despite this, LMC retains enough...
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Study Finds Industrial Aerosols May Cause Local Snowfall by Freezing Clouds
A new study led by the University of Tartu has shown that industrial emissions, particularly aerosol particles, can influence local snowfall by triggering ice formation in supercooled clouds. Using satellite and ground-based radar observations, researchers found that factories, including cement plants and power stations, may cause localised snow pl...
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NASA’s Juno Probe Captures Stunning Views of Jupiter’s Storms and Moon Amalthea
NASA’s Juno probe captured vibrant, high-contrast images of Jupiter’s stormy atmosphere and an up-close view of its moon, Amalthea, during the spacecraft’s 66th flyby on October 23. The images were processed by citizen scientists, enhancing the colours to showcase Jupiter’s unique cloud formations and highlighting details of Amalthea agains...
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Microplastics Could Be Changing Earth’s Climate, Reveals New Study
A Penn State University study published in Environmental Science & Technology: Air reveals that airborne microplastics may influence the climate by affecting cloud structures and weather patterns. The study found that microplastics act as ice nucleating agents in clouds, potentially altering precipitation. Professor Miriam Freedman highlights the n...
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Microplastics In Clouds Might Be Affecting Our Environment. Scientists Are Worried
Microplastics, the tiny pieces of plastic smaller than 5 millimetres have been spotted in nearly every nook and cranny of our planet.
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James Webb Telescope Uncovers First Possible Brown Dwarfs Beyond Milky Way
The James Webb Space Telescope has possibly identified brown dwarfs beyond the Milky Way for the first time, offering new insights into how stars formed in the early universe. Located in the star cluster NGC 602 within the Small Magellanic Cloud, these “failed stars” may help explain star formation under early cosmic conditions. This discovery,...
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Astronomers Successfully Detect Brown Dwarfs in a Distant Star Cluster
For the first time, astronomers have detected brown dwarfs outside the Milky Way in the star cluster NGC 602, situated approximately 200,000 light-years away in the Small Magellanic Cloud. Utilising the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the team sought young brown dwarf candidates in an environment that resembles the early universe, with limited h...
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New Atlas of Martian Clouds Reveals A Diverse Atmosphere
Despite its thin atmosphere composed primarily of carbon dioxide, Mars can produce striking cloud formations when conditions are right,
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Satellite Captures Svalbard Bear Island's Rare Cloud Formations and Algal Bloom
A 2023 satellite image captured algal bloom and atmospheric vortices near Bear Island in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago. The algal bloom, stretching 400 kilometres, formed vibrant spirals due to ocean currents. Atmospheric vortices, caused by airflow disruption over Miseryfjellet mountain, mirrored these patterns in the sky. Bear Island’s radioa...
-
Astronomers Discover Water and Carbon Dioxide in WASP-166 b's Atmosphere
Astronomers have detected water and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of WASP-166 b, a hot super-Neptune exoplanet. Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the findings also noted ammonia in smaller quantities. WASP-166 b, located 368 light-years away, is a massive planet that orbits its star every 5.44 days, with a temperature of 1,2...
-
Organic Molecules in Space: A Key to Understanding Life's Cosmic Origins
Organic molecules, the building blocks of life, have been discovered across space—from interstellar clouds to asteroids and comets. Findings from missions like Rosetta, Hayabusa2, and Osiris-Rex reveal that these compounds existed long before the Sun formed. Scientists believe organic molecules survived planetary formation in protoplanetary disks...
-
Astronomers Spot New Cosmic Explosions 100 Times Brighter Than the Sun
Astronomers have discovered a new class of cosmic explosions, known as 'millinovas,' which are 100 times brighter than the Sun. These events, first identified in 2023, were observed in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, two satellite galaxies of the Milky Way. The millinovas are thought to occur when white dwarfs feed off a companion star, prod...
-
James Webb and Chandra Capture Images of Star Clusters in Distant Galaxies
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory have unveiled stunning new images of two star clusters in the Small Magellanic Cloud. NGC 602, located approximately 200,000 light-years from Earth, showcases active star formation, with dust clouds and ionised gas revealing unique stellar birth conditions. Meanwhile, NGC 2264 featur...
-
Webb Telescope Confirms Planet-Forming Disks Last Longer in Early Universe
The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed that planet-forming disks around stars in the early universe lasted far longer than previously believed. By studying NGC 346, a star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud, Webb observed disks surviving for 20–30 million years, challenging current models. This discovery suggests that low-metal environmen...
-
Hubble Captures NGC 5643’s Spiral Arms, Star Formation, and Hidden Black Hole
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured detailed images of the spiral galaxy NGC 5643, located 40 million light-years away. This grand design galaxy features striking spiral arms outlined by young blue stars and dust clouds, with star-forming regions visible as pinkish hues. Ultraviolet and X-ray studies have revealed an active galactic nu...
-
Hubble Telescope Reveals Milky Way Blowing Gas off LMC Galaxy in Close Encounter
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has captured an extraordinary phenomenon as the Milky Way galaxy exerts ram pressure on the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), stripping away most of its gas halo. The interaction, which occurs as LMC passes near the Milky Way, has led to the loss of significant mass from the dwarf galaxy. Despite this, LMC retains enough...
-
Study Finds Industrial Aerosols May Cause Local Snowfall by Freezing Clouds
A new study led by the University of Tartu has shown that industrial emissions, particularly aerosol particles, can influence local snowfall by triggering ice formation in supercooled clouds. Using satellite and ground-based radar observations, researchers found that factories, including cement plants and power stations, may cause localised snow pl...
-
NASA’s Juno Probe Captures Stunning Views of Jupiter’s Storms and Moon Amalthea
NASA’s Juno probe captured vibrant, high-contrast images of Jupiter’s stormy atmosphere and an up-close view of its moon, Amalthea, during the spacecraft’s 66th flyby on October 23. The images were processed by citizen scientists, enhancing the colours to showcase Jupiter’s unique cloud formations and highlighting details of Amalthea agains...
-
Microplastics Could Be Changing Earth’s Climate, Reveals New Study
A Penn State University study published in Environmental Science & Technology: Air reveals that airborne microplastics may influence the climate by affecting cloud structures and weather patterns. The study found that microplastics act as ice nucleating agents in clouds, potentially altering precipitation. Professor Miriam Freedman highlights the n...
-
Microplastics In Clouds Might Be Affecting Our Environment. Scientists Are Worried
Microplastics, the tiny pieces of plastic smaller than 5 millimetres have been spotted in nearly every nook and cranny of our planet.
-
James Webb Telescope Uncovers First Possible Brown Dwarfs Beyond Milky Way
The James Webb Space Telescope has possibly identified brown dwarfs beyond the Milky Way for the first time, offering new insights into how stars formed in the early universe. Located in the star cluster NGC 602 within the Small Magellanic Cloud, these “failed stars” may help explain star formation under early cosmic conditions. This discovery,...
-
Astronomers Successfully Detect Brown Dwarfs in a Distant Star Cluster
For the first time, astronomers have detected brown dwarfs outside the Milky Way in the star cluster NGC 602, situated approximately 200,000 light-years away in the Small Magellanic Cloud. Utilising the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the team sought young brown dwarf candidates in an environment that resembles the early universe, with limited h...
-
New Atlas of Martian Clouds Reveals A Diverse Atmosphere
Despite its thin atmosphere composed primarily of carbon dioxide, Mars can produce striking cloud formations when conditions are right,
