Move over TRAPPIST-1: New planetary system of 7 Super-Earths discovered

Move over TRAPPIST-1 – there’s an exciting new planetary system in town. Meet Kepler-385, home to seven Super-Earths that were just discovered in existing data.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: Exoplanet, Planet, TRAPPIST-1, Kepler Mission,… Continue reading Move over TRAPPIST-1: New planetary system of 7 Super-Earths discovered

Gallery: Incredible images from James Webb’s first year in space

In 2022, decades of work finally came to fruition as the James Webb Space Telescope fired up and began training its unprecedented eyes on the universe. From distant galaxies to our nearby neighbors, let’s look back at some of the most impressive images… Continue reading Gallery: Incredible images from James Webb’s first year in space

X-ray laser converts plastic into diamonds, recreating Uranus rain

Scientists have turned plastic into diamonds. Using high-powered lasers, the team zapped samples of PET, the common material used in plastic bottles, to produce intense heat and pressure to form tiny diamonds that may naturally rain down on planets lik… Continue reading X-ray laser converts plastic into diamonds, recreating Uranus rain

Stunning snaps from Hubble’s latest grand tour of the outer solar system

Every year, the Hubble Space Telescope conducts a grand tour of the outer solar system planets, checking their turbulent atmospheres for changes in weather, storms, clouds and colors. This year’s shots are now in, revealing a few surprises.Continue Rea… Continue reading Stunning snaps from Hubble’s latest grand tour of the outer solar system

Say hi to Hycean worlds, a new class of exoplanet that could host life

More than 4,400 exoplanets have been discovered to date, and in the hunt for whether there may be life out there most of our attention has been focused on Earth-like worlds. But now, astronomers have defined a new class of exoplanet called “Hycean” wor… Continue reading Say hi to Hycean worlds, a new class of exoplanet that could host life

“Ultrahot Neptune” exoplanet discovered orbiting star in under a day

Astronomers have discovered a new exoplanet that belongs in a brand new class – an “ultrahot Neptune.” Known as LTT 9779b, the planet orbits extremely close to its star, and raises questions about how such a system came to be.Continue ReadingCategory: … Continue reading “Ultrahot Neptune” exoplanet discovered orbiting star in under a day

Almost 140 new minor planets spotted in the outer solar system

Well over 100 new minor planets have been discovered in our solar system, in the darkness out beyond the orbit of Neptune. The discoveries were made by sifting through several years’ worth of data gathered by the Dark Energy Survey (DES), and applying … Continue reading Almost 140 new minor planets spotted in the outer solar system

Exoplanet-hunting telescope discovers three new alien worlds with big scientific potential

NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has discovered a set of three worlds orbiting a peaceful star located a mere 73 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Pictor. The exoplanets, which are among the smallest and closes… Continue reading Exoplanet-hunting telescope discovers three new alien worlds with big scientific potential

Astronomers analyze atmosphere of exoplanet unlike any in our solar system

So far we’ve spotted more than 4,000 planets orbiting stars other than our Sun, but we know very little about their atmospheres. Now, NASA astronomers have managed to probe the atmosphere of GJ 3470 b, a planet unlike any in our solar system…. Continue reading Astronomers analyze atmosphere of exoplanet unlike any in our solar system

Astronomers Peer at a Young Star System That Is Strikingly Similar to Our Own

DM Tau has its own asteroid belt, and may be developing its own versions of Earth and Neptune, too. Continue reading Astronomers Peer at a Young Star System That Is Strikingly Similar to Our Own