New Calculations Uncover a Vast Ocean Beneath Pluto’s Ice
Graduate student Alex Nguyen calculated the depth and density of the solar system’s most mysterious and remote body of water. New calculations by Alex Nguyen,…
Planets News
Planets are celestial bodies that orbit a star or stellar remnants, are massive enough for their gravity to make them nearly round, and have cleared their orbits of other debris. In our Solar System, there are eight recognized planets, categorized as either terrestrial (rocky) planets—Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars—or gas giants—Jupiter and Saturn—and ice giants—Uranus and Neptune. Each planet has its own unique characteristics and conditions, from the scorching surface of Mercury to the stormy atmospheres of Jupiter. Beyond our Solar System, thousands of exoplanets have been discovered in various sizes, compositions, and orbits, dramatically expanding our understanding of planetary systems. The study of planets involves various scientific fields including astronomy, geology, and atmospheric science, aiming to understand their formation, evolution, and potential for supporting life.
Webb’s Super-Jupiter Breakthrough: Oldest and Coldest Exoplanet Ever Imaged
Researchers using the JWST have captured a new image of Eps Ind Ab, a super-Jupiter with an orbital distance significantly greater than previously estimated. This…
“Strange and Unexpected” – NASA’s Curiosity Rover Stumbles Upon Yellow Crystals on Mars
Among several recent findings, the rover has found rocks made of pure sulfur — a first on the Red Planet. NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover recently…
Breathtaking Majesty: NASA’s Juno Captures Jupiter’s Colorful Chaos in Stunning Detail
Juno’s recent flyby captured transformative images of Jupiter’s storms and cloud patterns. During its 61st close flyby of Jupiter on May 12, 2024, NASA’s Juno…
Redefining Planets Across the Universe
A new proposal seeks to change the scientific definition of a planet, which currently requires orbiting our sun. The International Astronomical Union defines a planet…
Icy Planetesimals: The Chilling Secret Behind Earth’s Water
A study has shown that water-rich planetesimals formed in the cold outer reaches of the early solar system were instrumental in supplying Earth with water,…
Charting the Red Planet: How Open Science Fuels Mars Exploration
Combining images from orbit with images from the surface, a JPL-developed tool allows researchers to zoom in to see individual boulders and zoom out to…
Subarctic Secrets: Mars’ Cold and Icy Past Revealed in New Research
A new study finds critical clues lurking in the Red Planet’s soil. Recent research comparing soils from Earth and Mars suggests Mars’ historical climate was…
Webb Uncovers Unexpected Phenomena Above Jupiter’s Great Red Spot
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists observed the region above Jupiter’s iconic Great Red Spot to discover a range of previously unseen features. The…
A Snaking Scar Across Mars: The Mystery of Aganippe Fossa
A fascinating feature takes center stage in this new image from ESA’s Mars Express: a dark, uneven scar slicing through marbled ground at the foot…
Mars Quakes Reveal Daily Meteor Bombardments on the Red Planet
An international research team has estimated that Mars is hit by 280 to 360 large meteorites annually, based on seismic data from NASA’s InSight Mission….
Meteorite Mayhem: How NASA InSight’s Seismic Data Is Rewriting Martian History
Seismic signals indicate Mars gets hit by around 300 basketball-sized meteorites every year, providing a new tool for dating planetary surfaces. Scientists involved in NASA’s…
Marsquakes: A New Way to Discover Hidden Water Deep Underground on Mars
Penn State scientists are investigating the use of seismoelectric signals from marsquakes to identify deep underground water on Mars. This technique, based on detecting electromagnetic…
Eccentric Oddities: Surprise Discovery of Mysterious Mini-Neptune Exoplanets
Researchers discovered four mini-Neptunes with volatile-rich compositions around red dwarfs, using both space and ground-based telescopes. Researchers discovered mini-Neptunes[1] around four red dwarfs[2], which are…
Unexpected Find: Webb Discovers Mystery Sulfur on Distant Planet
GJ 3470 b is a gas dwarf with unexpected sulfur dioxide in its atmosphere. This discovery provides insights into planet formation and chemical reactions. A…
Webb Telescope Captures Massive Asteroid Collision in Neighboring Star System
New observations spotlight the volatile processes that shape star systems like our own, offering a unique glimpse into the primordial stages of planetary formation. Astronomers…
Jupiter’s Colossal Cyclones Driven by Earth-Like Atmospheric Processes
An analysis of NASA satellite images of cyclones on Jupiter reveals that the storms are fueled by processes similar to those acting on Earth. New…
Venus’ Evil Twin or Earth’s Long-Lost Sibling? The Intriguing Case of Gliese 12 b
Recent findings of a Venus-like planet, Gliese 12 b, enhance our search for life-supporting planets, providing a closer look at potential “evil twins” of Earth….