Planetary Formation
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JWST Unveils HH 30’s Protoplanetary Disk, Showing Dust Grains and Jets
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured an extraordinary image of HH 30, a protoplanetary disk in the Taurus constellation. The dense dust disk conceals the central star, while bright jets extend outward, interacting with surrounding gas. Microscopic dust grains within the disk have been identified, playing a crucial role in planetary formation...
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High-Resolution Observations Provide New Insights into Brown Dwarf HD 206893 B
Astronomers have gained significant insights into brown dwarf HD 206893 B using high-resolution spectroscopy. The study, led by UCSD's Ben Sappey, reveals the object's mass, temperature, and formation details, contributing to brown dwarf research. Located 133 light-years away, HD 206893 B's position within a debris disk invites future investigation...
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SPHEREx Space Telescope to Map Cosmos in Infrared Light, Launching in February 2025
Set to launch in February 2025, NASA’s SPHEREx mission will provide a comprehensive map of the universe in infrared light. The telescope will examine 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars, shedding light on the universe’s formation, early conditions after the Big Bang, and the presence of water in planetary systems. SPHEREx will survey the...
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New Research Sheds Light on Iron’s Role in Earth’s Core Dynamics
Cutting-edge research using ultrafast X-ray absorption spectroscopy has revealed the structural and thermal behaviour of iron under extreme conditions mimicking Earth’s core. Findings show a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) structure at 240 GPa and 5,345 K, challenging prior theories favouring a body-centred cubic (bcc) form. The study provides criti...
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Mars Satellite Images Reveal Giant 'Kidney Beans,' Sparking Hints of Water and Life
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured images of frozen sand dunes in Mars' northern hemisphere, revealing unique formations halted by carbon dioxide frost during winter. Unlike Earth's desert dunes, which shift with wind, these Martian dunes remain stationary until spring thaw releases their icy grip. Scientists study these features to unders...
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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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'Kiss And Capture': Study Explains How Pluto's Largest Moon Was Formed
A new study suggests Pluto's largest moon, Charon, may have formed through a unique "kiss and capture" event billions of years ago.
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New "Kiss-and-Capture" Theory Explains Pluto's Formation of Largest Moon, Charon
A new theory proposes that Pluto’s largest moon, Charon, was formed billions of years ago through a rare "kiss-and-capture" collision in the Kuiper Belt. This process involves two icy bodies briefly merging and then separating, leaving Charon in a stable orbit around Pluto. Unlike traditional collision models, this event challenges previous theor...
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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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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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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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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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Hubble Telescope Finds Unexpectedly Hot Accretion Disk in FU Orionis
Hubble Space Telescope’s recent observations of FU Orionis have revealed surprising new details about the star’s accretion disk. The study found that the disk’s inner edge reaches temperatures as high as 16,000K, nearly three times hotter than the Sun’s surface. This discovery challenges existing models of stellar accretion, which had predi...
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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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JWST Unveils HH 30’s Protoplanetary Disk, Showing Dust Grains and Jets
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured an extraordinary image of HH 30, a protoplanetary disk in the Taurus constellation. The dense dust disk conceals the central star, while bright jets extend outward, interacting with surrounding gas. Microscopic dust grains within the disk have been identified, playing a crucial role in planetary formation...
-
High-Resolution Observations Provide New Insights into Brown Dwarf HD 206893 B
Astronomers have gained significant insights into brown dwarf HD 206893 B using high-resolution spectroscopy. The study, led by UCSD's Ben Sappey, reveals the object's mass, temperature, and formation details, contributing to brown dwarf research. Located 133 light-years away, HD 206893 B's position within a debris disk invites future investigation...
-
SPHEREx Space Telescope to Map Cosmos in Infrared Light, Launching in February 2025
Set to launch in February 2025, NASA’s SPHEREx mission will provide a comprehensive map of the universe in infrared light. The telescope will examine 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars, shedding light on the universe’s formation, early conditions after the Big Bang, and the presence of water in planetary systems. SPHEREx will survey the...
-
New Research Sheds Light on Iron’s Role in Earth’s Core Dynamics
Cutting-edge research using ultrafast X-ray absorption spectroscopy has revealed the structural and thermal behaviour of iron under extreme conditions mimicking Earth’s core. Findings show a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) structure at 240 GPa and 5,345 K, challenging prior theories favouring a body-centred cubic (bcc) form. The study provides criti...
-
Mars Satellite Images Reveal Giant 'Kidney Beans,' Sparking Hints of Water and Life
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured images of frozen sand dunes in Mars' northern hemisphere, revealing unique formations halted by carbon dioxide frost during winter. Unlike Earth's desert dunes, which shift with wind, these Martian dunes remain stationary until spring thaw releases their icy grip. Scientists study these features to unders...
-
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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'Kiss And Capture': Study Explains How Pluto's Largest Moon Was Formed
A new study suggests Pluto's largest moon, Charon, may have formed through a unique "kiss and capture" event billions of years ago.
-
New "Kiss-and-Capture" Theory Explains Pluto's Formation of Largest Moon, Charon
A new theory proposes that Pluto’s largest moon, Charon, was formed billions of years ago through a rare "kiss-and-capture" collision in the Kuiper Belt. This process involves two icy bodies briefly merging and then separating, leaving Charon in a stable orbit around Pluto. Unlike traditional collision models, this event challenges previous theor...
-
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...
-
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...
-
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.
-
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...
-
Hubble Telescope Finds Unexpectedly Hot Accretion Disk in FU Orionis
Hubble Space Telescope’s recent observations of FU Orionis have revealed surprising new details about the star’s accretion disk. The study found that the disk’s inner edge reaches temperatures as high as 16,000K, nearly three times hotter than the Sun’s surface. This discovery challenges existing models of stellar accretion, which had predi...
-
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.
