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Christmas Eve Asteroid Alert: 120-Foot Space Rock Racing Toward Earth
With a size of 120 feet and a close approach on December 24, this asteroid will pass safely at a distance of 4.48 million miles.
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New Study Suggests the Moon Is 100 Million Years Older Than Previously Thought
Recent findings indicate the Moon might be over 100 million years older than prior estimates. A new study proposes that tidal forces caused intense heating and surface remelting around 4.35 billion years ago, resetting the apparent age of lunar rocks. These insights support the idea that massive collisions formed the Moon much earlier than previous...
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James Webb Telescope Spots 138 New Asteroids in the Main Belt, Some Heading Towards Earth
Astronomers have discovered 138 new asteroids in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). These decametre-sized asteroids, some of which are on paths that could bring them close to Earth, were identified through a new computational technique. The discovery enhances our understanding of small space...
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Scientists Puzzled by a Strange Dark Spot Fading on Saturn’s Moon Enceladus
A mysterious dark spot on Saturn's moon Enceladus has baffled scientists after it faded over several years. Discovered through NASA’s Cassini mission, the spot's sudden disappearance raises questions about the moon's geology. Experts have ruled out shadows and image artefacts, suggesting that the feature could be the result of an impact or a depo...
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Hubble Telescope Documents 10 Years of Dramatic Changes on Outer Planets
NASA’s Hubble Telescope has tracked atmospheric and seasonal changes on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune over ten years. Key findings include shifts in Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, Saturn’s seasonal phenomena, Uranus’ polar brightness, and Neptune’s storm activity. These insights, part of NASA’s Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) p...
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JWST Discovers Jupiter-Mass Binary Objects in Orion Nebula, Offering New Clues
The James Webb Space Telescope has identified dozens of Jupiter-mass binary objects (JuMBOs) in the Orion Nebula. These enigmatic rogue gas giant pairs orbit each other at distances of 25 to 400 AU. Researchers propose they could be failed stars formed under extreme radiation conditions, ejected planetary systems, or a mix of both. Simulations repl...
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1.5 Million Deaths Between 2009-2019 Linked To Air Pollution In India: Report
About a million and a half deaths every year from 2009 to 2019 are potentially linked to long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution, according to a study published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal.
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Scientists From India, A Telescope In Chile, And An Astronomical Discovery
Astronomers from India have made an intriguing discovery in a unique tri-star solar system located 489 light years from Earth. The discovery will help astrophysicists get a better understanding of planetary formations.
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Researchers Points out Rapid Surge in Global Temperature Could be Due to Reduced Planetary Albedo
In a study by the Alfred Wegener Institute, scientists identified a sharp drop in planetary albedo as a primary factor in the 2023 temperature rise. This decline, particularly in low-altitude clouds, has been linked to a 0.23°C increase in global mean temperature. The study highlights that global warming itself may be reducing cloud cover, suggest...
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NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Discovers Fourth Planet in Kepler-51 System
A study published in The Astronomical Journal reveals the discovery of Kepler-51e, the fourth planet in the Kepler-51 system, led by Dr Jessica Libby-Roberts of Penn State and Dr Kento Masuda of Osaka University. Observations indicated that only a four-planet model could explain the transit timing variations. Kepler-51e’s orbit, just inside the s...
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Did Venus Ever Have Oceans? Scientists Have An Answer
Earth is an ocean world, with water covering about 71% of its surface. Venus, our closest planetary neighbor, is sometimes called Earth's twin based on their similar size and rocky composition.
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Can We Defend Earth from Asteroids? Here's What You Need to Know
Efforts to protect Earth from asteroid impacts have made significant strides, notably with NASA’s DART mission, which successfully altered the orbit of the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos in 2022. This achievement marked a key advancement in planetary defence, demonstrating that asteroid deflection is a viable strategy. However, the success of DART al...
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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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Youngest Exoplanet Ever Discovered Orbiting Around a Growing Protostar 520 Light-Years Away
TIDYE-1b, a "baby" gas giant exoplanet just 3 million years old, has been discovered orbiting a protostar in the Taurus molecular cloud. The planet’s youth makes it around 1,500 times younger than Earth, offering a rare glimpse into planetary formation. However, TIDYE-1b is orbiting a star surrounded by a misaligned protoplanetary disk, which cha...
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Himalayas Mountain Range Formation Could Have Destroyed 30 Percent of Continental Crust, Says Study
A study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters has found that up to 30% of Earth's continental crust may have been lost to the mantle during the formation of the Himalayas. Researchers from Monash University used a model to calculate crustal loss, revealing similar patterns in the European Alps and Zagros Mountains. The research highlight...
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Christmas Eve Asteroid Alert: 120-Foot Space Rock Racing Toward Earth
With a size of 120 feet and a close approach on December 24, this asteroid will pass safely at a distance of 4.48 million miles.
-
New Study Suggests the Moon Is 100 Million Years Older Than Previously Thought
Recent findings indicate the Moon might be over 100 million years older than prior estimates. A new study proposes that tidal forces caused intense heating and surface remelting around 4.35 billion years ago, resetting the apparent age of lunar rocks. These insights support the idea that massive collisions formed the Moon much earlier than previous...
-
James Webb Telescope Spots 138 New Asteroids in the Main Belt, Some Heading Towards Earth
Astronomers have discovered 138 new asteroids in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). These decametre-sized asteroids, some of which are on paths that could bring them close to Earth, were identified through a new computational technique. The discovery enhances our understanding of small space...
-
Scientists Puzzled by a Strange Dark Spot Fading on Saturn’s Moon Enceladus
A mysterious dark spot on Saturn's moon Enceladus has baffled scientists after it faded over several years. Discovered through NASA’s Cassini mission, the spot's sudden disappearance raises questions about the moon's geology. Experts have ruled out shadows and image artefacts, suggesting that the feature could be the result of an impact or a depo...
-
Hubble Telescope Documents 10 Years of Dramatic Changes on Outer Planets
NASA’s Hubble Telescope has tracked atmospheric and seasonal changes on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune over ten years. Key findings include shifts in Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, Saturn’s seasonal phenomena, Uranus’ polar brightness, and Neptune’s storm activity. These insights, part of NASA’s Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) p...
-
JWST Discovers Jupiter-Mass Binary Objects in Orion Nebula, Offering New Clues
The James Webb Space Telescope has identified dozens of Jupiter-mass binary objects (JuMBOs) in the Orion Nebula. These enigmatic rogue gas giant pairs orbit each other at distances of 25 to 400 AU. Researchers propose they could be failed stars formed under extreme radiation conditions, ejected planetary systems, or a mix of both. Simulations repl...
-
1.5 Million Deaths Between 2009-2019 Linked To Air Pollution In India: Report
About a million and a half deaths every year from 2009 to 2019 are potentially linked to long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution, according to a study published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal.
-
Scientists From India, A Telescope In Chile, And An Astronomical Discovery
Astronomers from India have made an intriguing discovery in a unique tri-star solar system located 489 light years from Earth. The discovery will help astrophysicists get a better understanding of planetary formations.
-
Researchers Points out Rapid Surge in Global Temperature Could be Due to Reduced Planetary Albedo
In a study by the Alfred Wegener Institute, scientists identified a sharp drop in planetary albedo as a primary factor in the 2023 temperature rise. This decline, particularly in low-altitude clouds, has been linked to a 0.23°C increase in global mean temperature. The study highlights that global warming itself may be reducing cloud cover, suggest...
-
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Discovers Fourth Planet in Kepler-51 System
A study published in The Astronomical Journal reveals the discovery of Kepler-51e, the fourth planet in the Kepler-51 system, led by Dr Jessica Libby-Roberts of Penn State and Dr Kento Masuda of Osaka University. Observations indicated that only a four-planet model could explain the transit timing variations. Kepler-51e’s orbit, just inside the s...
-
Did Venus Ever Have Oceans? Scientists Have An Answer
Earth is an ocean world, with water covering about 71% of its surface. Venus, our closest planetary neighbor, is sometimes called Earth's twin based on their similar size and rocky composition.
-
Can We Defend Earth from Asteroids? Here's What You Need to Know
Efforts to protect Earth from asteroid impacts have made significant strides, notably with NASA’s DART mission, which successfully altered the orbit of the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos in 2022. This achievement marked a key advancement in planetary defence, demonstrating that asteroid deflection is a viable strategy. However, the success of DART al...
-
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.
-
Youngest Exoplanet Ever Discovered Orbiting Around a Growing Protostar 520 Light-Years Away
TIDYE-1b, a "baby" gas giant exoplanet just 3 million years old, has been discovered orbiting a protostar in the Taurus molecular cloud. The planet’s youth makes it around 1,500 times younger than Earth, offering a rare glimpse into planetary formation. However, TIDYE-1b is orbiting a star surrounded by a misaligned protoplanetary disk, which cha...
-
Himalayas Mountain Range Formation Could Have Destroyed 30 Percent of Continental Crust, Says Study
A study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters has found that up to 30% of Earth's continental crust may have been lost to the mantle during the formation of the Himalayas. Researchers from Monash University used a model to calculate crustal loss, revealing similar patterns in the European Alps and Zagros Mountains. The research highlight...
