Dwarf Planets
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Alien Life May Survive on Planets Orbiting White Dwarfs, Study Finds
New research explores the possibility of alien life on planets orbiting white dwarfs. While these stellar remnants cool over time, their shrinking habitable zones may still allow biological processes like photosynthesis and UV-driven abiogenesis to occur. A model assessing a planet's energy reception over seven billion years indicates that life-sus...
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X-ray Signal from Helix Nebula Suggests Planet Was Destroyed by White Dwarf
Astronomers have traced decades-old X-ray emissions from the Helix Nebula to a white dwarf possibly consuming planetary debris. Reports suggest a Jupiter-like planet may have been torn apart by the star’s intense gravitational forces. Data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA’s XMM-Newton indicate that remnants of the destroyed plane...
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James Webb Space Telescope Observes Mysterious Rogue Planet-Like Object
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured new insights into SIMP 0136, a planetary-mass object floating freely around 20 light-years away. This celestial body, possibly a rogue planet or a brown dwarf, has puzzled astronomers for years. JWST’s infrared observations have revealed intricate cloud layers, temperature shifts, and potential chemical...
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TRAPPIST-1b Could Have Carbon Dioxide-Rich Atmosphere, Study Reveals
A new study published in Nature Astronomy proposes that TRAPPIST-1b, the innermost planet in the TRAPPIST-1 system, might have a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere. This discovery comes from new data showing a reflective haze in the planet's upper atmosphere. Scientists are also investigating the possibility of volcanic activity based on the planet’s...
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James Webb Space Telescope Reveals Unique Features of Westerlund 1 Star Cluster
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured groundbreaking images of Westerlund 1, a supermassive star cluster located 12,000 light-years away. The new findings offer a closer look at star formation processes, particularly the discovery of brown dwarfs, and highlight the role of energetic radiation in shaping planetary environments.
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Newly Found Earth-Like Planet May Hold Key To Humanity's Survival
A team of astronomers has uncovered an Earth-like planet orbiting a star located 4,000 light years away from the solar system, potentially offering insights into Earth's distant future.
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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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3 Decades Later, First Brown Dwarf Ever Found Offers A Surprise
In 1995, astronomers confirmed the discovery for the first time of a brown dwarf, a body too small to be a star and too big to be a planet - sort of a celestial tweener. But it turns out that was not the full story.
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Dwarf Planet Ceres Once Hosted a Muddy Ocean Below Its Icy Surface
Recent research indicates that Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt, likely harboured a muddy ocean beneath its icy crust. Advanced computer simulations suggest that its surface features and gravity measurements point to a past rich in ice. With its proximity to Earth, Ceres presents a promising target for further exploration, making it t...
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NASA Citizen Scientists Discover Mysterious Object Moving out of Milky Way at an Extremely High Speed
On August 15, 2024, NASA’s Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project, featuring the contributions of dedicated citizen scientists, made a groundbreaking discovery: an object moving at an astonishing speed of 1 million miles per hour, which will soon escape the gravitational pull of the Milky Way. This hypervelocity object, catalogued as CWISE J124909.08+...
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Scientists Detect Signs Of Strange Planets Forming Inside Dying Stars
These newly-formed planets or their moons could be among the most promising places beyond our solar system to search for life.
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Astronomers Discover New Earth-Sized Planet Orbiting Jupiter-Sized Red Dwarf Star
This new extrasolar planet, or exoplanet, is named Speculoos-3b and is located relatively close to the Earth, just 55 light-years away.
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"Planetary Besties": NASA Shares Pic Of Pluto's Largest Moon Charon
In its recent post, US space agency NASA shared a picture of planetary besties Charon and Pluto, the two dwarf planet systems.
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NASA Discovers "Super-Earth", A Potentially Habitable Planet, Located 137 Light-Years Away
The planet circles a red dwarf, which is smaller and cooler than the Sun.
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Record-Shattering 'Failed Star' Uncovered By James Webb Space Telescope
James Webb Space Telescope has identified the new record-holder: a tiny, free-floating brown dwarf with only three to four times the mass of Jupiter.
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Alien Life May Survive on Planets Orbiting White Dwarfs, Study Finds
New research explores the possibility of alien life on planets orbiting white dwarfs. While these stellar remnants cool over time, their shrinking habitable zones may still allow biological processes like photosynthesis and UV-driven abiogenesis to occur. A model assessing a planet's energy reception over seven billion years indicates that life-sus...
-
X-ray Signal from Helix Nebula Suggests Planet Was Destroyed by White Dwarf
Astronomers have traced decades-old X-ray emissions from the Helix Nebula to a white dwarf possibly consuming planetary debris. Reports suggest a Jupiter-like planet may have been torn apart by the star’s intense gravitational forces. Data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA’s XMM-Newton indicate that remnants of the destroyed plane...
-
James Webb Space Telescope Observes Mysterious Rogue Planet-Like Object
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured new insights into SIMP 0136, a planetary-mass object floating freely around 20 light-years away. This celestial body, possibly a rogue planet or a brown dwarf, has puzzled astronomers for years. JWST’s infrared observations have revealed intricate cloud layers, temperature shifts, and potential chemical...
-
TRAPPIST-1b Could Have Carbon Dioxide-Rich Atmosphere, Study Reveals
A new study published in Nature Astronomy proposes that TRAPPIST-1b, the innermost planet in the TRAPPIST-1 system, might have a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere. This discovery comes from new data showing a reflective haze in the planet's upper atmosphere. Scientists are also investigating the possibility of volcanic activity based on the planet’s...
-
James Webb Space Telescope Reveals Unique Features of Westerlund 1 Star Cluster
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured groundbreaking images of Westerlund 1, a supermassive star cluster located 12,000 light-years away. The new findings offer a closer look at star formation processes, particularly the discovery of brown dwarfs, and highlight the role of energetic radiation in shaping planetary environments.
-
Newly Found Earth-Like Planet May Hold Key To Humanity's Survival
A team of astronomers has uncovered an Earth-like planet orbiting a star located 4,000 light years away from the solar system, potentially offering insights into Earth's distant future.
-
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...
-
3 Decades Later, First Brown Dwarf Ever Found Offers A Surprise
In 1995, astronomers confirmed the discovery for the first time of a brown dwarf, a body too small to be a star and too big to be a planet - sort of a celestial tweener. But it turns out that was not the full story.
-
Dwarf Planet Ceres Once Hosted a Muddy Ocean Below Its Icy Surface
Recent research indicates that Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt, likely harboured a muddy ocean beneath its icy crust. Advanced computer simulations suggest that its surface features and gravity measurements point to a past rich in ice. With its proximity to Earth, Ceres presents a promising target for further exploration, making it t...
-
NASA Citizen Scientists Discover Mysterious Object Moving out of Milky Way at an Extremely High Speed
On August 15, 2024, NASA’s Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project, featuring the contributions of dedicated citizen scientists, made a groundbreaking discovery: an object moving at an astonishing speed of 1 million miles per hour, which will soon escape the gravitational pull of the Milky Way. This hypervelocity object, catalogued as CWISE J124909.08+...
-
Scientists Detect Signs Of Strange Planets Forming Inside Dying Stars
These newly-formed planets or their moons could be among the most promising places beyond our solar system to search for life.
-
Astronomers Discover New Earth-Sized Planet Orbiting Jupiter-Sized Red Dwarf Star
This new extrasolar planet, or exoplanet, is named Speculoos-3b and is located relatively close to the Earth, just 55 light-years away.
-
"Planetary Besties": NASA Shares Pic Of Pluto's Largest Moon Charon
In its recent post, US space agency NASA shared a picture of planetary besties Charon and Pluto, the two dwarf planet systems.
-
NASA Discovers "Super-Earth", A Potentially Habitable Planet, Located 137 Light-Years Away
The planet circles a red dwarf, which is smaller and cooler than the Sun.
-
Record-Shattering 'Failed Star' Uncovered By James Webb Space Telescope
James Webb Space Telescope has identified the new record-holder: a tiny, free-floating brown dwarf with only three to four times the mass of Jupiter.
