A team of astronomers has discovered a Jupiter-like exoplanet called 51 Eridani b, which shows the strongest methane signature ever detected on an alien planet. The new planet is the faintest exoplanet on record and provides clues about how planets formed around the sun.
The newly discovered exoplanet, 51 Eridani b, is a young Jupiter-like planet with the strongest methane signature ever detected on an alien planet. Its mass and atmospheric composition suggest that it formed in a similar way to Jupiter in its infancy.
Astronomers at SDSU announce the discovery of Kepler-453 b, the 10th known 'circumbinary' planet. The new planet orbits two stars and has a surprisingly tilted orbit, making transits visible only 9% of the time.
Astronomers confirm exoplanet orbiting far from its central star using gravitational microlensing, opening new discovery space for long-period orbits. The Uranus-sized planet is about 370 million miles from its parent star, with a host star about 70% as massive as our Sun.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience suggests that Earth's first crust was torn from the planet and lost to space due to asteroid bombardment, leading to the evolution of its plate tectonics, magnetic field and climate. This phenomenon, known as impact erosion, helps explain why Earth is habitable while Venus is not.
A new theory proposes that a planet's bulk composition, specifically the abundance of uranium, thorium, and potassium, dictates whether plate tectonics can occur. This affects the planet's internal heating, volcanism, and climate. The Earth's unique composition allows for current plate tectonics to operate.
A Brazilian-led team has discovered a planet with a mass similar to Jupiter's, orbiting a Sun-like star at almost the same distance. The planet's host, HIP 11915, is also similar in mass and age to our Sun, with a composition that hints at possible rocky planets.
A new NASA supercomputer simulation of the planet and debris disk around Beta Pictoris reveals that the planet's motion drives spiral waves throughout the disk, causing collisions among orbiting debris. The patterns in these collisions account for many observed features that previous research has struggled to explain.
Astronomers have discovered a colossal cloud of hydrogen dispersing from the warm, Neptune-sized planet Gliese 436b. The enormous gaseous tail is about 50 times the size of its parent star and may offer clues on how hot super-Earths form around other stars.
Astronomers have discovered a massive cloud of hydrogen, dubbed 'The Behemoth,' evaporating from a warm Neptune-sized planet orbiting a nearby star. The phenomenon may help explain the existence of Hot Super-Earths and provide insights into how planets lose their outer layers.
A team of scientists has discovered a massive cloud of hydrogen escaping from the atmosphere of GJ436b, a Neptune-sized exoplanet located 33 light years away. This phenomenon may help explain the formation of hot and rocky 'super-earths' and potentially detect extrasolar oceans.
Researchers discovered daily weather cycles on six exoplanets, with cloudy mornings and hot afternoons, using sensitive Kepler observations. The study found that winds transport clouds to the day side, heating them up and dissipating them, resulting in clear skies during the afternoon.
Scientists have discovered that Mercury's magnetic field is almost 4 billion years old, providing a new understanding of the planet's history. The discovery was made possible by data from NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, which orbited Mercury between 2011 and 2015.
Scientists have discovered a magnetization signal emanating from an ancient region of Mercury's crust, indicating the presence of a dynamo-driven magnetic field 3.8 billion years ago. This finding suggests that Mercury's core dynamo has persisted for billions of years.
The MESSENGER spacecraft is using its altimeter instrument to help with navigation during close approaches to Mercury's surface. The team is using the altimeter's precise measurements of distance from the spacecraft to the surface to assess the accuracy of their orbit predictions.
A NASA study found that small solar eruptions, like a slow-moving CME, can cause significant atmospheric loss in planets without magnetic shields. This research has implications for understanding habitability and the potential effects of solar storms on other planets.
Researchers reveal 'juvenile' continental crust has been produced throughout Earth's history, contradicting the long-held theory that all continental crust was generated during the Archaean Eon. The study provides new understanding of the formation of the Earth's continental crust and its impact on the planet's life and climate.
New observations show that Jupiter's auroral glow sometimes flares up due to a process unrelated to the Sun. The giant planet's polar auroras are powered by a separate interaction between Jupiter and its moon Io, causing intense electric fields at Jupiter's poles.
Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and University of Hertfordshire re-evaluate data and find signal of GJ 581d to be real. The method used in the initial study was inadequate for detecting small planets, leading to a possible misidentification.
Astronomers have used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to capture the most detailed edge-on picture yet of a large disk of gas and dust encircling Beta Pictoris. The disk is distorted by the gravitational pull of an embedded giant planet, allowing scientists to study the effects of planetary formation on young star systems.
Researchers have detected a mysterious high plume on Mars, extending horizontally about 500 km and reaching an exceptional altitude of 200-250 km above the planet's surface. The team used images from amateur astronomers and spacecraft to analyze the phenomenon, exploring possible scenarios such as cloud or auroral emission.
Researchers have discovered a distinct inner-inner core with different iron crystal alignment and behavior compared to the outer layer. This finding could reveal information about the planet's formation and evolution
Researchers use laser-driven compression to study extreme conditions inside planets, revealing properties of silica that determine planet formation and evolution. The findings suggest large rocky planets may have long-lived oceans at depth and could explain the existence of planets like Neptune and Uranus.
The Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) has produced high-quality exoplanet images and spectra from its first year of science operations. The instrument's advanced imaging capabilities have revealed significant differences in the colors of two planets in the HR 8799 system, suggesting unique atmospheric compositions.
Research suggests that super-Earths can maintain oceans for at least 10 billion years due to a planet-wide recycling process. This finding implies that older super-Earths are more suitable for searching for complex life.
A University of Texas at Arlington astrophysicist has created a new online tool called BinHab that can calculate the regions of binary systems favorable for life. The tool uses a comprehensive mathematical approach to consider both stellar radiation and gravitational influence, directly relevant to NASA's Kepler mission.
Researchers at Lomonosov Moscow State University developed a new method to estimate the magnetic field of an exoplanet. They successfully estimated the magnetic moment of the hot Jupiter HD 209458b, which is relatively small compared to Earth's magnetic field.
A team of astronomers detected eight large storms on Uranus's northern hemisphere, including the brightest storm ever seen at 2.2 microns. The storms are thought to be caused by gases such as methane rising in the atmosphere and condensing into highly reflective clouds of methane ice.
A new study from the University of Washington and MIT reveals that global warming is not solely caused by carbon dioxide's 'blanket' effect, but also involves shortwave radiation. The research shows how CO2 initially traps heat, but as the planet warms, it absorbs more solar radiation, leading to continued warming.
Scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution discover evidence of water on Earth dating back to the planet's formation. The findings suggest that Earth formed as a wet planet with water on its surface.
The MAVEN spacecraft successfully navigated a close pass by comet C/2013 A1 Siding Spring, providing valuable insights into the Red Planet's upper atmosphere and interaction with the solar wind. The mission will continue to study Mars' atmosphere and its effects on the planet's geology.
Astronomers have discovered a Uranus-like planet 25,000 light-years away, which orbits one star in a binary system. The planet's composition remains unknown due to its immense distance from the star.
Astronomers develop a new laser-based technology called the green astro-comb to detect tiny Doppler shifts, helping identify habitable zone planets. The device will enable precise measurements of exoplanet gravity, allowing for better detection of rocky worlds like Earth.
A team of scientists used the Hubble Space Telescope to create a detailed weather map of WASP-43b, tracing the planet's temperature and water vapor content. The study found that the exoplanet has winds that can reach up to 1500 degrees Celsius, with temperatures on the day side hot enough to melt iron.
A team of scientists used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to create a detailed map of the atmosphere of WASP-43b, an extremely hot and gaseous planet. The findings reveal that the planet has extreme temperature fluctuations between day and night, with winds howling at supersonic speeds.
Astronomers have mapped the temperature and water vapor on WASP-43b, a hot exoplanet with turbulent conditions. The findings provide insights into atmospheric dynamics and how giant planets like Jupiter are formed.
Astronomers have detected water vapour and other molecules on HAT-P-11b, the smallest exoplanet known to harbor these compounds. The discovery is significant for its potential implications on understanding the atmospheres of smaller planets.
Researchers have detected water vapor and hydrogen on the exoplanet HAT P-11b, a planet about four times bigger than Earth. This discovery supports astronomers' ideas about planetary formation and suggests that small planets may be rich in heavy elements like oxygen.
New observations from NASA's Venus Express mission show giant holes in Venus' ionosphere, suggesting a more complex magnetic environment. The findings provide additional clues to understanding Venus' atmosphere and its interactions with the solar wind.
Researchers developed parameters to distinguish Venus-like planets from Earth-like ones based on distance from stars. The study identified 43 potential Venus-like planets with characteristics like size and orbit, but atmospheric conditions remain unknown.
Astronomers have pinpointed the 'Venus Zone' as a critical area around stars where planets are likely to exhibit unlivable conditions. This definition will help Kepler researchers distinguish between habitable and uninhabitable planets, enabling better understanding of Earth's atmospheric evolution.
Researchers at Florida State University analyzed an ancient Martian meteorite to determine the Red Planet's climate history. The team found evidence of a dramatic climate shift dating back 4.4 billion years, suggesting Mars has been cold and dry for at least 1.7 billion years.
Researchers found that an outer companion planet's gravitational pull can generate tidal heating, extending the habitable zone and potentially allowing older Earth-sized planets to host life. The study suggests that discovering such planets may lead to finding inner companion worlds, increasing their chance at hosting life.
Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope found three 'hot Jupiters' with significantly lower than expected water vapor levels, challenging current theories on planet formation and migration. The discovery may require instruments to be designed with higher sensitivity for future space telescopes searching for water in potentially...
Researchers found water vapour abundance to be between ten and a thousand times less than predicted models, raising questions about the chemical processes involved in planet formation. The discovery has implications for searching for life on exoplanets capable of supporting it.
Researchers at University of East Anglia have developed a new model that takes into account the impact of oceans on climate, finding they play a vital role in moderating temperatures and habitability. This breakthrough helps answer whether other planets could sustain alien life.
Researchers have redefined the asteroid Vesta's internal structure based on Dawn data and simulations, questioning previous models of rocky planet formation. The study found that Vesta's crust is 3 times thicker than expected and lacks olivine, a mineral common in planetary mantles.
Computer modeling by NASA scientists shows that friction could be key to survival for distant Earth-sized planets in dangerous orbits. Some planets may move into safer orbits faster than expected due to tidal stress-induced friction.
A study suggests that Planet Mercury's unusual metal-rich composition is a result of early hit-and-run collisions with larger planets. This process could have stripped away Mercury's mantle without intense shock, leaving behind a mostly-iron body.
Astronomers have discovered an Earth-like planet in a binary star system, expanding the search for habitable planets. The planet orbits one of the stars at almost exactly the same distance from which Earth orbits the sun, but is much colder due to its host star's dimmer light.
A new study reveals that red dwarf planets may be stripped of their atmospheres due to harsh space weather, making life potentially even rarer. The extreme environment also triggers spectacular aurorae, but would lead to constant darkness and hurricane-force winds.
Researchers found that planets between 1.7 and 3.9 times the size of Earth are dubbed 'gas dwarfs' with thick atmospheres of hydrogen and helium. The study also revealed that metallicity plays a crucial role in determining planetary composition, with stars hosting gas giants containing about 50% more metals than our Sun.
A team of astronomers has discovered a new type of planet, Kepler-10c, a mega-Earth with a diameter of approximately 18,000 miles. The planet's mass is 17 times that of Earth, indicating it is composed primarily of rocks and other solids.
A team using the Gemini Planet Imager's next-generation adaptive optics system tracked the orbit of Beta Pictoris b, a planet with an estimated mass at least four times that of Jupiter. The team refined the estimate by analyzing images and debris discs around the star.
The Solar Wind Ion Analyzer will measure solar wind ions and density to understand Mars' atmospheric loss. Scientists believe interactions between solar wind ions and Martian particles are key to escape, leading to a barren planet.
Researchers have discovered a gas giant exoplanet, GU Psc b, located 2,000 times closer to its star than Earth is to the Sun. The planet's massive size and distance from its star make it an ideal object for studying giant exoplanets.
Astronomers from Leiden University and SRON have measured the spin of Beta Pictoris b, an exoplanet orbiting a naked-eye star 63 light-years from Earth. The planet's day length is just 8 hours, despite being over 16 times larger and 3000 times more massive than Earth.
A new study suggests that detecting life on exoplanets is more difficult than previously thought, as a lifeless planet can mimic the same results as one with a biosignature. The resolution needed to distinguish between genuine and false positives is impossible with current telescopes.
Astronomers confirm first self-lensing binary star system, where the closer star's mass is measured by its magnifying effect on light from its companion. This discovery improves research on white dwarfs and galaxy age, using gravitational lensing to reveal new insights into these celestial objects.
The study confirms the existence of an Earth-sized planet orbiting Kepler-186, a temperate region where water could exist in liquid form. The team employed speckle imaging and adaptive optics to rule out background stars and stellar companions, allowing for the detection of Kepler-186f.