300 Earths’ worth of heavy metals forged in powerful cosmic explosion

Astronomers have detected one of the most energetic explosions in the history of the universe – a gamma ray burst thrown off by two neutron stars colliding. And for the first time ever, heavy metals were detected being produced in the explosion, totali… Continue reading 300 Earths’ worth of heavy metals forged in powerful cosmic explosion

New Earth-sized planet discovered, and it may be able to support life

A new, Earth-sized planet has been discovered only 90 light-years away from us. In astronomical terms, that’s right next door. What’s more, it might be capable of supporting life.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: Exoplanet, TESS, Spitzer, v… Continue reading New Earth-sized planet discovered, and it may be able to support life

James Webb confirms its first exoplanet – a nearby Earth-sized world

The James Webb Space Telescope has been used to confirm the existence of an exoplanet for the first time. Known as LHS 475 b, this Earth-sized world is a cosmic stone’s-throw away and is likely the first of many planet discoveries by Webb.Continue Read… Continue reading James Webb confirms its first exoplanet – a nearby Earth-sized world

Earth-like planets may be lurking in the glare of binary star systems

Double star systems may be concealing a population of potentially habitable Earth-sized planets in their combined glare, according to the results of a newly published study. Roughly half of all stars are thought to exist in binary systems, in which two… Continue reading Earth-like planets may be lurking in the glare of binary star systems

Astronomers isolate stars from which aliens could be observing Earth

Astronomers have identified 1,004 nearby stars from which aliens could detect signs of biological life in Earth’s atmosphere by watching as our planet passes across the disk of the Sun. The study could help provide targets for organizations such as SET… Continue reading Astronomers isolate stars from which aliens could be observing Earth

“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

Mysterious match-up as giant planet spotted orbiting tiny star

NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has discovered a strange star system, where a giant gassy planet is tightly orbiting a tiny white dwarf. Not only is this the first time such an arrangement has been seen, but it raises some very odd … Continue reading Mysterious match-up as giant planet spotted orbiting tiny star

NASA hails primary mission of planet-hunting TESS a “roaring success”

Launched in 2018 as the successor to the Kepler Space Telescope, NASA had high hopes for its Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) when it comes to finding other worlds that resemble our own. The space telescope has now wrapped up the primary ph… Continue reading NASA hails primary mission of planet-hunting TESS a “roaring success”

Exposed core of ancient gas giant discovered orbiting Sun-like star

Astronomers have discovered the intact, exposed core of a gas giant locked in a close orbit around a Sun-like star. The discovery will give astronomers a rare opportunity to probe the heart of an ancient alien world, and their findings could tell us mo… Continue reading Exposed core of ancient gas giant discovered orbiting Sun-like star