Planetary System
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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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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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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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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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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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Researchers Propose New Methods to Spot Atom-Sized Primordial Black Holes Moving Across Solar System
Recent studies suggest that microscopic primordial black holes may exist within the solar system, potentially impacting planetary orbits and satellite movements. These small, early-universe black holes could also contribute to the mystery of dark matter, which makes up 85% of the universe's mass. Methods are being developed to detect their gravitat...
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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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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 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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Exoplanet Orbiting a White Dwarf Star Gives Researchers Hope That Earth Might Escape Its Eventual Death
A planetary system anchored by a white dwarf star, located approximately 4,000 light-years away, provides astronomers with insights into what could happen to our Sun and Earth in about 8 billion years. This scenario unfolds if the Earth survives the Sun's transformation into a red giant, expected to occur in 5 to 6 billion years.
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New Group of Distant Objects Suggests Our Solar System May Have a Second Kuiper Belt
Astronomers have discovered 11 objects beyond the Kuiper Belt, suggesting the existence of a second belt, dubbed "Kuiper Belt 2." Located between 70 and 90 AU from the sun, this new region could redefine our understanding of the solar system's size and structure. The discovery was made using the Subaru telescope in collaboration with NASA’s New H...
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James Webb Space Telescope Discoveries Challenge Theories About Asteroid Psyche’s Origin
Recent findings from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have introduced new uncertainties about asteroid 16 Psyche. Known for its high iron content, Psyche was previously considered a potential remnant of a protoplanet, providing a valuable opportunity to study the early solar system. However, JWST has detected hydrated minerals on its surface, ...
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The Earth Is Not Revolving Around The Sun But Something Else Nearby. NASA Explains What It Is
New insights into planetary motion reveal that Earth is not technically orbiting the Sun. Instead, both the Sun and Earth revolve around a shared centre of mass called the barycentre.
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Will Earth Get A New Ocean? Massive Faultline In Africa Sparks Speculation
A peer-reviewed study detailing the split was published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters. It said that the plates separate a few millimetres per year.
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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...
-
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...
-
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.
-
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...
-
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...
-
Researchers Propose New Methods to Spot Atom-Sized Primordial Black Holes Moving Across Solar System
Recent studies suggest that microscopic primordial black holes may exist within the solar system, potentially impacting planetary orbits and satellite movements. These small, early-universe black holes could also contribute to the mystery of dark matter, which makes up 85% of the universe's mass. Methods are being developed to detect their gravitat...
-
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.
-
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 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...
-
Exoplanet Orbiting a White Dwarf Star Gives Researchers Hope That Earth Might Escape Its Eventual Death
A planetary system anchored by a white dwarf star, located approximately 4,000 light-years away, provides astronomers with insights into what could happen to our Sun and Earth in about 8 billion years. This scenario unfolds if the Earth survives the Sun's transformation into a red giant, expected to occur in 5 to 6 billion years.
-
New Group of Distant Objects Suggests Our Solar System May Have a Second Kuiper Belt
Astronomers have discovered 11 objects beyond the Kuiper Belt, suggesting the existence of a second belt, dubbed "Kuiper Belt 2." Located between 70 and 90 AU from the sun, this new region could redefine our understanding of the solar system's size and structure. The discovery was made using the Subaru telescope in collaboration with NASA’s New H...
-
James Webb Space Telescope Discoveries Challenge Theories About Asteroid Psyche’s Origin
Recent findings from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have introduced new uncertainties about asteroid 16 Psyche. Known for its high iron content, Psyche was previously considered a potential remnant of a protoplanet, providing a valuable opportunity to study the early solar system. However, JWST has detected hydrated minerals on its surface, ...
-
The Earth Is Not Revolving Around The Sun But Something Else Nearby. NASA Explains What It Is
New insights into planetary motion reveal that Earth is not technically orbiting the Sun. Instead, both the Sun and Earth revolve around a shared centre of mass called the barycentre.
-
Will Earth Get A New Ocean? Massive Faultline In Africa Sparks Speculation
A peer-reviewed study detailing the split was published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters. It said that the plates separate a few millimetres per year.
