Browsing Tag
Planetary science
18 posts
Exploring the Enigmatic Terrain of Mercury: Salt Glaciers, Ancient Atmosphere, and Astrobiology’s Uncharted Horizons
Researchers at the Planetary Science Institute have revealed signs indicating the presence of possible salt glaciers on Mercury. This discovery introduces a fresh dimension to astrobiology, unveiling a volatile environment that could mirror habitable conditions akin to those found in the extreme locales of Earth.
Shrinking Exoplanets: NASA Data Offer a Possible Clue
A recent study may provide insights into the apparent absence of exoplanets between super-Earths and sub-Neptunes. Observations from NASA's retired Kepler Space Telescope suggest a potential explanation: the cores of these planets are internally displacing their atmospheres, leading to shrinkage. The findings are detailed in The Astronomical Journal.
Does Remnants of the Celestial Body that Impacted Earth and Gave Rise to the Moon Still Exist within Our Planet?
Researchers have estimated the origin of the solar system to be approximately 4.57 billion years ago. Roughly 60 million years later, a pivotal event known as a "giant impact" occurred, involving a collision between the early Earth and a Mars-sized celestial body named Theia. This collision ultimately led to the formation of the Moon.
Breakthrough Discovery: Detection of Ammonia Isotopologues in the Atmosphere of a Chilly Brown Dwarf Unveils a Fresh Path to Exoplanets
Isotopes and isotopologues, molecules with differing isotopic compositions, have diverse applications in science. They uncover the origins of wine, determine the age of bones and fossils, and serve as essential diagnostic tools in the field of medicine. Their significance extends to astronomy as well, where, for instance, the ratio of carbon-12 (¹²C) to carbon-13 (¹³C) isotopes within an exoplanet's atmosphere provides valuable insights into the exoplanet's orbital distance from its central star.
Correlation Discovered: Hot Jupiters’ Occurrence Tied to Stellar Age
A group of astronomers and astrophysicists from multiple institutions in China, collaborating with colleagues from Centro Ricerche Enrico Fermi in Italy and the University of Utah in the U.S., has established a connection between the age of stars and the occurrence of hot Jupiters. Their study, detailed in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, involved assessing the ages of numerous star systems hosting exoplanets resembling Jupiter and conducting a comparative analysis.
Moon’s Age Significantly Older Than Previously Estimated, Say Scientists
The Moon, Earth's celestial companion, is believed to have taken shape shortly after the planet's formation, approximately 4.4 billion years ago, during the early stages of the Solar System's existence.
Uncovering the Origin of Mars’ Most Powerful Recorded Quake
An international consortium of scientists, spearheaded by the University of Oxford, has unveiled their findings from a groundbreaking joint effort aimed at pinpointing the origin of Mars' most colossal seismic occurrence on record. This extensive investigation dismisses the possibility of a meteorite impact, pointing to the seismic event as an outcome of immense tectonic pressures within Mars' crust. The comprehensive results of this research are now available in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. (Link is available in the Resources title)
NASA’s Webb Identifies Carbon Source on Surface of Europa, One of Jupiter’s Moons
A specific area on the icy surface of Jupiter's moon Europa has been found to contain carbon dioxide, thanks to data collected by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope and analyzed by astronomers.