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Mars’ Moons Phobos and Deimos Could Be Asteroid Debris, New Study Reveals
New research proposes that Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos, could have originated from an asteroid torn apart by the planet’s gravity. Simulations show that this shredded asteroid could have formed a ring around Mars, eventually coalescing into the moons. The theory is being tested through the upcoming Mars Moons Exploration mission, which could...
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Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors: What Makes Each Celestial Object Unique
NASA planetary scientists explain that asteroids, comets, and meteors all orbit the Sun but differ greatly in their composition, appearance, and behaviour. These objects play unique roles in understanding the solar system’s formation and evolution.
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Scientists Discover New Electric Field in Earth’s Atmosphere Crucial for Life
Scientists have finally detected the long-predicted ambipolar electric field in Earth's atmosphere. Though weak, it plays a crucial role in shaping the planet’s upper atmosphere, impacting the polar wind and potentially contributing to Earth’s habitability. This discovery could help explain why Earth’s atmosphere has remained conducive to lif...
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An Asteroid Burned Up Over California Just Hours After Being Spotted
On October 22, 2024, asteroid 2024 UQ was detected just hours before entering Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean, near California. The ATLAS survey detected it shortly before impact, but delayed tracking data prevented immediate monitoring. The European Space Agency’s Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre later confirmed the asteroid's e...
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Apophis Asteroid Flyby in 2029: Earth's Gravitational May Impact Asteroid's Surface
Asteroid 99942 Apophis, named after the ancient Egyptian god of darkness, is set to pass incredibly close to Earth in 2029, at just 32,000 km. While there is no risk of a collision, scientists are keen to study the asteroid’s interaction with Earth's gravity. Research led by planetary scientist Ronald Ballouz suggests that this flyby may cause si...
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Voyager 2's Historic Flyby of Uranus Exposes Rare Magnetic Distortion
A new analysis of Voyager 2’s flyby of Uranus in 1986 reveals a unique magnetic anomaly caused by a rare solar wind event. Scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech found that the solar wind’s impact on Uranus’s magnetosphere was a unique occurrence, influencing measurements of the planet’s magnetic field. The study also ...
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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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NASA's Roman Space Telescope Gets New Coronagraph to Spot Exoplanets
NASA's Roman Space Telescope has successfully integrated the Roman Coronagraph, a vital step in detecting planets far beyond our solar system. This tool will help block starlight, enabling the telescope to capture faint planetary light. The coronagraph marks a significant advancement in exoplanet detection, allowing the telescope to observe planets...
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Chinese Rover Uncovers Evidence Supporting Theory of a Vast Ancient Ocean on Mars
China’s Zhurong rover has discovered formations on Mars that could signal the remnants of a once vast ocean. Landing in the Utopia Planitia region, the rover identified formations commonly linked to past water presence, supporting the theory that Mars was once home to a massive body of water. While the findings do not offer definitive proof, they...
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Meteoroid Trails Could Help Detect Potentially Hazardous Comets Years in Advance
Meteoroid trails from long-period comets could provide early warnings of potentially dangerous comets near Earth, giving planetary scientists time to prepare. By studying these trails, scientists can track the paths of rarely visible comets that could pose a risk of impact, helping prevent catastrophic events. With the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observ...
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New Research Reveals How Dynamo Reversals Impact Mars Magnetic Fields
Recent research in Nature Communications suggests that weak magnetic fields above Martian basins may stem from prolonged dynamo reversals, which reduce field strength over time. Through cooling models, scientists revealed that these reversing processes could account for Mars’s unique magnetic history, rather than indicating an early shutdown of t...
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NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Makes Final Venus Flyby Before Historic Sun Encounter
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018, will make its final Venus flyby on Nov. 6. This manoeuvre will bring the spacecraft into a new orbit, allowing it to approach within 3.8 million miles of the sun, closer than any human-made object has been. While the probe’s primary mission is to study the sun, its instruments have captured rare data...
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NASA's Voyager 2 Finds Clues of Ancient Ocean on Uranus' Moon Miranda
Recent analysis of images captured by NASA's Voyager 2 has suggested that Miranda, a moon orbiting Uranus, may have once contained a significant ocean beneath its icy exterior. Research led by Tom Nordheim at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory reveals that this ocean could have existed hundreds of millions of years ago, driven by tidal forces...
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Indian Scientists Discover A Massive Exoplanet That is Five Times Larger Than Earth
Indian scientists have identified a new exoplanet named TOI-6651b, which is five times larger than Earth and has a mass around 60 times greater. Located in the Neptunian desert, it orbits a Sun-like star every 5.06 days. The planet's composition suggests unique evolutionary processes, providing valuable insights into how such dense exoplanets form ...
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Neptunian Ridge Discovery: Scientists Map New Planet Zone in Space
A groundbreaking study by University of Warwick scientists has revealed a new region in space called the Neptunian Ridge. This discovery shows how planets move between harsh desert zones where atmospheres are stripped away and safer savannah regions where they can survive. The research provides crucial insights into planetary migration and evolutio...
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Mars’ Moons Phobos and Deimos Could Be Asteroid Debris, New Study Reveals
New research proposes that Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos, could have originated from an asteroid torn apart by the planet’s gravity. Simulations show that this shredded asteroid could have formed a ring around Mars, eventually coalescing into the moons. The theory is being tested through the upcoming Mars Moons Exploration mission, which could...
-
Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors: What Makes Each Celestial Object Unique
NASA planetary scientists explain that asteroids, comets, and meteors all orbit the Sun but differ greatly in their composition, appearance, and behaviour. These objects play unique roles in understanding the solar system’s formation and evolution.
-
Scientists Discover New Electric Field in Earth’s Atmosphere Crucial for Life
Scientists have finally detected the long-predicted ambipolar electric field in Earth's atmosphere. Though weak, it plays a crucial role in shaping the planet’s upper atmosphere, impacting the polar wind and potentially contributing to Earth’s habitability. This discovery could help explain why Earth’s atmosphere has remained conducive to lif...
-
An Asteroid Burned Up Over California Just Hours After Being Spotted
On October 22, 2024, asteroid 2024 UQ was detected just hours before entering Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean, near California. The ATLAS survey detected it shortly before impact, but delayed tracking data prevented immediate monitoring. The European Space Agency’s Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre later confirmed the asteroid's e...
-
Apophis Asteroid Flyby in 2029: Earth's Gravitational May Impact Asteroid's Surface
Asteroid 99942 Apophis, named after the ancient Egyptian god of darkness, is set to pass incredibly close to Earth in 2029, at just 32,000 km. While there is no risk of a collision, scientists are keen to study the asteroid’s interaction with Earth's gravity. Research led by planetary scientist Ronald Ballouz suggests that this flyby may cause si...
-
Voyager 2's Historic Flyby of Uranus Exposes Rare Magnetic Distortion
A new analysis of Voyager 2’s flyby of Uranus in 1986 reveals a unique magnetic anomaly caused by a rare solar wind event. Scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech found that the solar wind’s impact on Uranus’s magnetosphere was a unique occurrence, influencing measurements of the planet’s magnetic field. The study also ...
-
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...
-
NASA's Roman Space Telescope Gets New Coronagraph to Spot Exoplanets
NASA's Roman Space Telescope has successfully integrated the Roman Coronagraph, a vital step in detecting planets far beyond our solar system. This tool will help block starlight, enabling the telescope to capture faint planetary light. The coronagraph marks a significant advancement in exoplanet detection, allowing the telescope to observe planets...
-
Chinese Rover Uncovers Evidence Supporting Theory of a Vast Ancient Ocean on Mars
China’s Zhurong rover has discovered formations on Mars that could signal the remnants of a once vast ocean. Landing in the Utopia Planitia region, the rover identified formations commonly linked to past water presence, supporting the theory that Mars was once home to a massive body of water. While the findings do not offer definitive proof, they...
-
Meteoroid Trails Could Help Detect Potentially Hazardous Comets Years in Advance
Meteoroid trails from long-period comets could provide early warnings of potentially dangerous comets near Earth, giving planetary scientists time to prepare. By studying these trails, scientists can track the paths of rarely visible comets that could pose a risk of impact, helping prevent catastrophic events. With the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observ...
-
New Research Reveals How Dynamo Reversals Impact Mars Magnetic Fields
Recent research in Nature Communications suggests that weak magnetic fields above Martian basins may stem from prolonged dynamo reversals, which reduce field strength over time. Through cooling models, scientists revealed that these reversing processes could account for Mars’s unique magnetic history, rather than indicating an early shutdown of t...
-
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Makes Final Venus Flyby Before Historic Sun Encounter
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018, will make its final Venus flyby on Nov. 6. This manoeuvre will bring the spacecraft into a new orbit, allowing it to approach within 3.8 million miles of the sun, closer than any human-made object has been. While the probe’s primary mission is to study the sun, its instruments have captured rare data...
-
NASA's Voyager 2 Finds Clues of Ancient Ocean on Uranus' Moon Miranda
Recent analysis of images captured by NASA's Voyager 2 has suggested that Miranda, a moon orbiting Uranus, may have once contained a significant ocean beneath its icy exterior. Research led by Tom Nordheim at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory reveals that this ocean could have existed hundreds of millions of years ago, driven by tidal forces...
-
Indian Scientists Discover A Massive Exoplanet That is Five Times Larger Than Earth
Indian scientists have identified a new exoplanet named TOI-6651b, which is five times larger than Earth and has a mass around 60 times greater. Located in the Neptunian desert, it orbits a Sun-like star every 5.06 days. The planet's composition suggests unique evolutionary processes, providing valuable insights into how such dense exoplanets form ...
-
Neptunian Ridge Discovery: Scientists Map New Planet Zone in Space
A groundbreaking study by University of Warwick scientists has revealed a new region in space called the Neptunian Ridge. This discovery shows how planets move between harsh desert zones where atmospheres are stripped away and safer savannah regions where they can survive. The research provides crucial insights into planetary migration and evolutio...
