Planetary Formation
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James Webb Telescope Maps Fiery Atmosphere of Turbulent Exoplanet WASP-121b
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has unveiled the turbulent history of WASP-121b, a scorching exoplanet distorted by its star’s gravity. New atmospheric data reveals unusual molecules like silicon monoxide and methane, shedding light on the planet’s violent migration and extreme climate. These findings challenge current models and enhance un...
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Strange Planet Confirmed in Binary Star System Nu Octantis
Astronomers have confirmed the existence of a massive planet in the Nu Octantis binary star system, first suspected in 2004. Using advanced tools like the HARPS spectrograph, researchers found that the planet orbits in the opposite direction of one of the stars—a retrograde motion that keeps the system stable. The discovery of a white dwarf in th...
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Jupiter Was Once Twice Its Size - And Its Magnetic Field Could Fry Spacecraft
Jupiter's early evolution and gravitational influence played a crucial role in shaping the solar system's structure and planetary orbits, earning it the title of the solar system's "architect."
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Asteroid Vesta May Be a Fragment of a Lost Planet, Say Scientists
Vesta, once believed to be a stalled protoplanet, may be a fragment of a long-lost differentiated planet. Using refined gravity data from NASA’s Dawn mission, scientists found it lacks a dense core, suggesting it was ejected during a primordial impact. This revised view may apply to other asteroids and reshape planetary formation theories.
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Hubble Captures Mars, Cosmic Nebulae, and Distant Galaxies in Spectacular 35th Anniversary Photos
To celebrate 35 years in orbit, the Hubble Space Telescope has released breathtaking new images of Mars, a planetary nebula, and a distant spiral galaxy. Since its 1990 launch, Hubble has captured nearly 1.7 million observations and continues to awe scientists and stargazers alike with vivid cosmic scenes that reveal the ever-changing beauty of our...
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Bizzare 'Failed Star' Planet Orbiting Double Star System in Milky Way Discovered by Researchers
Astronomers have discovered an exoplanet 90 degrees tilted around a special pair of eclipsing brown dwarfs. This uncommon "polar planet" challenges accepted wisdom on planet creation by presenting new insights on the dynamics of binary stars and the range of Milky Way planetary orbits.
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JWST Captures Unseen Details of Exoplanets in HR 8799 and 51 Eridani Systems
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured groundbreaking images of exoplanets in the HR 8799 and 51 Eridani systems. By modifying its coronagraphs, astronomers allowed more starlight to pass through, revealing clearer planetary details. The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, highlights the first successful detection of ...
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3D Mapping Reveals 52-Foot Megaripples from Chicxulub Asteroid in Louisiana
Massive megaripples, formed by the tsunami after the Chicxulub asteroid impact 66 million years ago, have been mapped deep beneath Louisiana using 3D seismic data. The formations, averaging 52 feet in height and spanning 900 square miles, offer new insights into the force of the ancient tsunami and its global impact. Scientists suggest these findin...
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Mysterious Planetary-Mass Objects May Form in Young Star System Clashes
Recent research challenges traditional views on planetary-mass objects, suggesting they may form through violent interactions between young star systems rather than standard planetary or stellar processes. Simulations indicate these clashes create dense gas filaments that evolve into free-floating objects, often in binary pairs. This discovery expl...
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Primordial Helium-3 May Be Locked in Earth’s Core, Study Finds
Helium-3, an isotope formed during the solar system's birth, may be trapped in Earth's core, a study suggests. Researchers at the University of Tokyo found that helium can mix with iron at extreme heat and pressure, allowing it to remain in Earth's solid core. This discovery could help determine how quickly the planet formed, with a rapid formation...
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Ancient Martian Ocean Shoreline Discovered Beneath Surface by Zhurong Rover
China's Zhurong rover has uncovered evidence of an ancient ocean on Mars, with ground-penetrating radar detecting a buried shoreline beneath the Utopia Basin. The rover’s scans revealed sloping sand layers similar to those found on Earth’s beaches, reinforcing theories of long-term water presence. Experts highlight that these formations are not...
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Hubble Captures Stunning Tarantula Nebula Image, Revealing Cosmic Dust and Star Formation
A new image from the Hubble Space Telescope highlights the Tarantula Nebula’s complex structure, featuring dense cosmic dust clouds and vibrant star-forming regions. This nebula, located 160,000 light-years away, plays a vital role in understanding stellar evolution. The captured details offer insights into how cosmic dust contributes to star and...
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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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James Webb Telescope Maps Fiery Atmosphere of Turbulent Exoplanet WASP-121b
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has unveiled the turbulent history of WASP-121b, a scorching exoplanet distorted by its star’s gravity. New atmospheric data reveals unusual molecules like silicon monoxide and methane, shedding light on the planet’s violent migration and extreme climate. These findings challenge current models and enhance un...
-
Strange Planet Confirmed in Binary Star System Nu Octantis
Astronomers have confirmed the existence of a massive planet in the Nu Octantis binary star system, first suspected in 2004. Using advanced tools like the HARPS spectrograph, researchers found that the planet orbits in the opposite direction of one of the stars—a retrograde motion that keeps the system stable. The discovery of a white dwarf in th...
-
Jupiter Was Once Twice Its Size - And Its Magnetic Field Could Fry Spacecraft
Jupiter's early evolution and gravitational influence played a crucial role in shaping the solar system's structure and planetary orbits, earning it the title of the solar system's "architect."
-
Asteroid Vesta May Be a Fragment of a Lost Planet, Say Scientists
Vesta, once believed to be a stalled protoplanet, may be a fragment of a long-lost differentiated planet. Using refined gravity data from NASA’s Dawn mission, scientists found it lacks a dense core, suggesting it was ejected during a primordial impact. This revised view may apply to other asteroids and reshape planetary formation theories.
-
Hubble Captures Mars, Cosmic Nebulae, and Distant Galaxies in Spectacular 35th Anniversary Photos
To celebrate 35 years in orbit, the Hubble Space Telescope has released breathtaking new images of Mars, a planetary nebula, and a distant spiral galaxy. Since its 1990 launch, Hubble has captured nearly 1.7 million observations and continues to awe scientists and stargazers alike with vivid cosmic scenes that reveal the ever-changing beauty of our...
-
Bizzare 'Failed Star' Planet Orbiting Double Star System in Milky Way Discovered by Researchers
Astronomers have discovered an exoplanet 90 degrees tilted around a special pair of eclipsing brown dwarfs. This uncommon "polar planet" challenges accepted wisdom on planet creation by presenting new insights on the dynamics of binary stars and the range of Milky Way planetary orbits.
-
JWST Captures Unseen Details of Exoplanets in HR 8799 and 51 Eridani Systems
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured groundbreaking images of exoplanets in the HR 8799 and 51 Eridani systems. By modifying its coronagraphs, astronomers allowed more starlight to pass through, revealing clearer planetary details. The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, highlights the first successful detection of ...
-
3D Mapping Reveals 52-Foot Megaripples from Chicxulub Asteroid in Louisiana
Massive megaripples, formed by the tsunami after the Chicxulub asteroid impact 66 million years ago, have been mapped deep beneath Louisiana using 3D seismic data. The formations, averaging 52 feet in height and spanning 900 square miles, offer new insights into the force of the ancient tsunami and its global impact. Scientists suggest these findin...
-
Mysterious Planetary-Mass Objects May Form in Young Star System Clashes
Recent research challenges traditional views on planetary-mass objects, suggesting they may form through violent interactions between young star systems rather than standard planetary or stellar processes. Simulations indicate these clashes create dense gas filaments that evolve into free-floating objects, often in binary pairs. This discovery expl...
-
Primordial Helium-3 May Be Locked in Earth’s Core, Study Finds
Helium-3, an isotope formed during the solar system's birth, may be trapped in Earth's core, a study suggests. Researchers at the University of Tokyo found that helium can mix with iron at extreme heat and pressure, allowing it to remain in Earth's solid core. This discovery could help determine how quickly the planet formed, with a rapid formation...
-
Ancient Martian Ocean Shoreline Discovered Beneath Surface by Zhurong Rover
China's Zhurong rover has uncovered evidence of an ancient ocean on Mars, with ground-penetrating radar detecting a buried shoreline beneath the Utopia Basin. The rover’s scans revealed sloping sand layers similar to those found on Earth’s beaches, reinforcing theories of long-term water presence. Experts highlight that these formations are not...
-
Hubble Captures Stunning Tarantula Nebula Image, Revealing Cosmic Dust and Star Formation
A new image from the Hubble Space Telescope highlights the Tarantula Nebula’s complex structure, featuring dense cosmic dust clouds and vibrant star-forming regions. This nebula, located 160,000 light-years away, plays a vital role in understanding stellar evolution. The captured details offer insights into how cosmic dust contributes to star and...
-
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...
