Three elder sisters of the Sun with planets
An international team led by Prof. Dr. habil. Andrzej Niedzielski, an astronomer from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun (Poland), has discovered yet another three extrasolar planets. These planets revolve around the stars that can be called.....»»
Exoplanet-hunting telescope to begin search for another Earth in 2026
Europe's next big space mission—a telescope that will hunt for Earth-like rocky planets outside of our solar system—is on course to launch at the end of 2026......»»
Discovery alert: With six new exoplanets, 5,500 discovery milestone passed
On Aug. 24, 2023, more than three decades after the first confirmation of planets beyond our own solar system, scientists announced the discovery of six new exoplanets, stretching that number to 5,502. From zero exoplanet confirmations to more than 5.....»»
Astronomers spot a "highly eccentric" planet on its way to becoming a hot Jupiter
Hot Jupiters are some of the most extreme planets in the galaxy. These scorching worlds are as massive as Jupiter, and they swing wildly close to their star, whirling around in a few days compared to our own gas giant's leisurely 4,000-day orbit arou.....»»
Exoplanet caught in "hairpin turn" signals how high-mass gas giants form
Astronomers have discovered a planet that has the most oblong orbit ever found among transiting planets. The exoplanet's extreme circuit—which looks closer to a cucumber than a circle—follows one of the most drastically stretched-out orbits of al.....»»
Grain boundaries weaken in planetary interiors, research suggests
Mantle convection and associated plate tectonics of planets like the Earth are governed by the deformation of mantle rocks. This deformation occurs through the motion of defects in the crystal lattices of minerals. Thus, the physical properties of th.....»»
Here"s how AI Is changing NASA"s Mars rover science
Some scientists dream of exploring planets with "smart" spacecraft that know exactly what data to look for, where to find it, and how to analyze it. Although making that dream a reality will take time, advances made with NASA's Perseverance Mars rove.....»»
Not just space rocks: Six things we"ve learned about Earth from meteorites and comets
Apart from the sun, its planets and their moons, our solar system has vast amounts of space rocks—fragments left over from the formation of the inner planets......»»
Meteorites from Mars help scientists understand the red planet"s interior
Of the more than 74,000 known meteorites—rocks that fall to Earth from asteroids or planets colliding together—only 385 or so stones came from the planet Mars......»»
Age data show planetesimals provided building materials for water-rich planets in the early solar system
Age data for certain classes of meteorite have made it possible to gain new findings on the origin of small water-rich astronomical bodies in the early solar system. These so-called planetesimals continually supplied building materials for planets—.....»»
NASA’s skywatching tips for July include a parade of planets
July is a wonderful month for spotting plenty of planets, according to NASA's monthly rundown on what to look our for......»»
Starless and forever alone: More "rogue" planets discovered
The Euclid space telescope has discovered seven more rogue planets, shining a light on the dark and lonely worlds floating freely through the universe untethered to any star......»»
Scientists report unified framework for diverse aurorae across planets
The awe-inspiring aurorae seen on Earth, known as the Northern and Southern Lights, have been a source of fascination for centuries. Between May 10 and 12, 2024, the most powerful aurora event in 21 years reminded us of the stunning beauty of these c.....»»
Exoplanet catalog details over 100 worlds beyond our solar system
A new catalog of exoplanets from two telescopes shows the incredible variety of planets that exist beyond our solar system......»»
Astronomers discover rare ‘exo-Venus’ just 40 light-years away
Astronomers have discovered a rare type of planets called an exo-Venus with a similar temperature to Earth, located in our cosmic back yard......»»
Three sisters garden study finds balanced pollinator-plant network faces an uncertain future
The loss of even one wild bee species can disrupt the reproductive success of certain plants resulting in fewer vegetables, fruits and flowers, say York University researchers who studied how pollinators and plants rely on each other, specifically in.....»»
International planet hunters unveil massive catalog of strange worlds
While thousands of planets have been discovered around other stars, relatively little is known about them. A NASA catalog featuring 126 exotic, newly discovered worlds includes detailed measurements that allow for comparisons with our own solar syste.....»»
NASA"s compact infrared cameras enable new science
A new, higher-resolution infrared camera outfitted with a variety of lightweight filters could probe sunlight reflected off Earth's upper atmosphere and surface, improve forest fire warnings, and reveal the molecular composition of other planets......»»
NASA tool prepares to image faraway planets
The Roman Coronagraph Instrument on NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will help pave the way in the search for habitable worlds outside our solar system by testing new tools that block starlight, revealing planets hidden by the glare of their.....»»
What deadly Venus can tell us about life on other worlds
Even though Venus and Earth are so-called sister planets, they're as different as heaven and hell. Earth is a natural paradise where life has persevered under its azure skies despite multiple mass extinctions. On the other hand, Venus is a blistering.....»»
An Old Abstract Field of Math Is Unlocking the Deep Complexity of Spacecraft Orbits
Mathematicians think abstract tools from a field called symplectic geometry might help with planning missions to far-off moons and planets......»»