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:.....»»
Juice spacecraft heading to spaceport ahead of mission to study Jupiter’s moons
Out solar system will soon be getting a new explorer, as a mission to study the moons of Jupiter readies for launch......»»
A hybrid fission/fusion reactor could be the best way to get through the ice on Europa
In the coming years, NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) will send two robotic missions to explore Jupiter's icy moon Europa. These are none other than NASA's Europa Clipper and the ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE), which will launch in.....»»
Small laser device can help detect signs of life on other planets
As space missions delve deeper into the outer solar system, the need for more compact, resource-conserving and accurate analytical tools has become increasingly critical—especially as the hunt for extraterrestrial life and habitable planets or moon.....»»
James Webb captures stunning image of star formation in nearby galaxy
A stunning new image from James Webb is also leading astronomers to rethink their theories about how stars and planets could have formed in the early universe......»»
Scientists unveil a unified theory for rocky planet formation
A new theory for how rocky planets form could explain the origin of so-called "super-Earths"—a class of exoplanets a few times more massive than Earth that are the most abundant type of planet in the galaxy......»»
Researchers develop AI method for mapping planets
Creating geological maps of planetary surfaces such as those on Mars is a complex process. From data collection and analysis to publication in different formats, the production of maps is based on a time-consuming, multi-step process......»»
Astronomers use "little hurricanes" to weigh and date planets around young stars
Little 'hurricanes' that form in the disks of gas and dust around young stars can be used to study certain aspects of planet formation, even for smaller planets which orbit their star at large distances and are out of reach for most telescopes......»»
Observe a comet, and other skywatching tips for January
NASA's skywatching tips for January feature some real crackers, including a parade of planets, a winter dazzle of stars, and a recently discovered comet......»»
Astronomers scanned 12 planets for alien signals while they were in front of their stars
The Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT), part of the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia, is the world's premiere single-dish radio telescope. Between its 100-meter dish (328-foot), unblocked aperture, and excellent surface accuracy, the GB.....»»
Assembly begins on NASA"s next tool to study exoplanets
Scientists have discovered more than 5,000 exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system. As technologies for studying these worlds continue to advance, researchers may someday be able to search for signs of life on exoplanets that are similar in s.....»»
We could spread life to the Milky Way with comets. But should we?
Here's a thorny problem: What if life doesn't always appear on planets that can support it? What if we find more and more exoplanets and determine that some of them are habitable? What if we also determine that life hasn't appeared on them yet?.....»»
Are planets tidally locked to red dwarfs habitable? It"s complicated
Astronomers are keenly interested in red dwarfs and the planets that orbit them. Up to 85% of the stars in the Milky Way could be red dwarfs, and 40% of them might host Earth-like exoplanets in their habitable zones, according to some research......»»
Hubble and Spitzer spot two far-off watery worlds
Hubble and Spitzer have identified two planets which seem to be water worlds, with oceans which are 500 times deeper than those on Earth......»»
Astronomers discover two potentially habitable exo-Earths around a star near the sun
An international scientific team led by researchers at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) has discovered the presence of two planets with Earth-like masses in orbit around the star GJ 1002, a red dwarf not far from the solar system. Both.....»»
Scientists may have found the first water worlds
Density suggests these "super-Earths" are more like giant, hot Europas. Enlarge (credit: NASA, ESA, Leah Hustak) Two planets that were originally discovered by the Kepler mission may not be what we thought they were. Bas.....»»
Astronomers find that two exoplanets may be mostly water
A team led by UdeM astronomers has found evidence that two exoplanets orbiting a red dwarf star are "water worlds," planets where water makes up a large fraction of the volume. These worlds, located in a planetary system 218 light-years away in the c.....»»
NASA"s Juno exploring Jovian moons during extended mission
After revealing a trove of details about the moons Ganymede and Europa, the mission to Jupiter is setting its sights on sister moon Io......»»
How karst caves can be used as a terrestrial simulation platform to test and design human bases in lunar lava tubes
If human beings want to survive on the other planets for a long time, they must first find or set up a safe, stable, and long-term shelter. Lunar lava tubes are geological structures on the moon discovered in recent years. They take the form of hollo.....»»
Scientists found 2 minerals in a meteorite that have never occurred naturally on Earth
Space exploration isn’t just about finding life on other planets or discovering the next Earth. We’re also looking to better understand how the universe formed. And we’re trying to mine space for previously unseen minerals that migh.....»»
NASA"s Juno mission spots two Jovian moons
On Nov. 29, 2021, NASA's Juno mission completed its 38th close flyby of Jupiter. As the spacecraft sped low over the giant planet's cloud tops, its JunoCam instrument captured this look at two of Jupiter's largest moons......»»