Moons are planets too
What makes a planet a planet? The answer turns out to be rather contentious. The official definition of a planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) is that a planet must satisfy three conditions:.....»»
"Terminator zones" on distant planets could harbor life, astronomers say
In a new study, University of California, Irvine astronomers describe how extraterrestrial life has the potential to exist on distant exoplanets inside a special area called the "terminator zone," which is a ring on planets that have one side that al.....»»
Scientists identify substance that may have sparked life on Earth
A team of Rutgers scientists dedicated to pinpointing the primordial origins of metabolism—a set of core chemical reactions that first powered life on Earth—has identified part of a protein that could provide scientists clues to detecting planets.....»»
Distant star TOI-700 has two potentially habitable planets orbiting it
NASA recently announced the discovery of a new, Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone of a nearby star called TOI-700. We are two of the astronomers who led the discovery of this planet, called TOI-700 e. TOI-700 e is just over 100 light years fro.....»»
Stars can eat their planets, and spit them back out again
As tragic as it is, engulfment of a planetary object by its stellar parent is a common scenario throughout the universe. But it doesn't have to end in doom. A team of astrophysicists have used computer simulations to discover that planets can not onl.....»»
Planets similar to Neptune and Jupiter observed circling a sun-like star
A small international team of space scientists has discovered a pair of planets that bear a striking resemblance to Neptune and Jupiter circling a star similar in nature to our sun. The group has published their findings on the arXiv pre-print server.....»»
Researchers: New planets might support life
Astronomers announced they have uncovered a star system with 3 potentially habitable planets......»»
What Will Ethical Space Exploration Look Like?
Astrophysicist and 'Off-Earth' author Erika Nesvold maps out the questions we need to ask before living on other planets......»»
Study finds the "squishy" outer shell of Venus may be resurfacing the planet
Earth and Venus are rocky planets of about the same size and rock chemistry, so they should be losing their internal heat to space at about the same rate. How Earth loses its heat is well known, but Venus's heat flow mechanism has been a mystery. A s.....»»
Study explains how Enceladus ejects particles from oceans beneath its surface
Although it is relatively small, Enceladus—the sixth largest of Saturn's 83 moons—has been considered by astronomers to be one of the more compelling bodies in our solar system......»»
Newly discovered form of salty ice could exist on surface of extraterrestrial moons
The red streaks crisscrossing the surface of Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, are striking. Scientists suspect it is a frozen mixture of water and salts, but its chemical signature is mysterious because it matches no known substance on Earth......»»
Aurorae light up the skies over Jupiter’s four largest moons
One of the great natural wonders of the world are the Northern Lights, but aurorae aren't just limited to Earth -- they are on other planets and moons as well......»»
New type of bolometer detector for far-infrared telescopes
To study how stars and planets are born we have to look at star cradles hidden in cool clouds of dust. Far-infrared telescopes are able to pierce through those clouds. Conventionally, niobium nitride bolometers are used as the detectors, despite thei.....»»
Small planets orbiting low-mass stars detected with the SPIRou instrument and the TESS satellite
Since the discovery in 1995 of a planet in orbit around a star other than the sun, research in exoplanetology has revolutionized our knowledge of planetary systems. The SPIRou instrument, installed at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, contributes t.....»»
Juice"s odyssey of exploration: Jupiter"s icy moons
A grand odyssey of exploration is about to begin. Humankind's next bold mission to the outer solar system, ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, Juice, is poised to explore giant planet Jupiter and its largest moons. These intriguing worlds have piqued o.....»»
Jupiter"s moon count jumps to 92, most in solar system
Astronomers have discovered 12 new moons around Jupiter, putting the total count at a record-breaking 92......»»
Astronomers come closer to understanding how Mercury formed
Simulations of the formation of the solar system have been largely successful. They are able to replicate the positions of all the major planets along with their orbital parameters. But current simulations have an extreme amount of difficulty getting.....»»
Astronomers detect a second planet orbiting two stars
Planets orbiting binary stars are in a tough situation: They have to contend with the gravitational pull of two separate stars. Planetary formation around a single star like our sun is relatively straightforward compared to what circumbinary planets.....»»
A new way to identify stresses in complex fluids
Fluid dynamics researchers use many techniques to study turbulent flows like ocean currents, or the swirling atmosphere of other planets. Arezoo Adrekani's team has discovered that a mathematical construct used in these fields provides valuable infor.....»»
Webb spies Chariklo ring system with high-precision technique
In 2013, Felipe Braga-Ribas and collaborators, using ground-based telescopes, discovered that Chariklo hosts a system of two thin rings. Such rings had been expected only around large planets such as Jupiter and Neptune......»»
Europe"s JUICE spacecraft ready to explore Jupiter"s icy moons
Europe's JUICE spacecraft is all ready to embark on an eight-year odyssey through the Solar System to find out whether the oceans hidden under the surface of Jupiter's icy moons have the potential to host extraterrestrial life......»»