Astronomers confirm two exoplanets using ESO's Very Large Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope data. The discoveries provide strong evidence for at least 6 billion Jupiter-sized planets in the Milky Way, including five new ultra-short-period planet types.
The International Astronomical Union has named the newly discovered dwarf planet Eris and its moon Dysnomia. The name Eris was proposed by Michael Brown and accepted unanimously by the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature and the Committee for Small Body Nomenclature.
The IAU defined a planet as a celestial body in orbit around the Sun with sufficient mass to assume hydrostatic equilibrium. The new definition includes our solar system's eight recognized planets and a distinct class of dwarf planets, including Pluto.
Researchers at Princeton University claim the Earth's magnetic field suggests a massive tilt occurred about 800 million years ago. This 'true polar wander' event could have shifted entire continents, producing mysterious geochemical changes in ancient oceans.
The IAU draft definition of a planet, which includes eight classical planets, three new 'plutons,' and Ceres, has been reached after two years of work. The definition states that a planet must be in orbit around a star and have sufficient mass to assume a hydrostatic equilibrium shape.
Researchers have found a nearby star system that could potentially host an Earth-like planet with the right conditions. The modelled system is expected to have a habitable zone where terrestrial planets can form, similar to our own solar system.
Astronomers have found four stable groups of asteroids around the Sun: Kuiper Belt, Jupiter Trojans, main asteroid belt, and now Neptune Trojans. The new discoveries suggest a large population of high-inclination Neptune Trojans, which may have formed after giant planets settled into their orbits.
Astronomers propose that super-Earths can form around red dwarf stars via ultraviolet stripping, a process previously thought to only create gas giant planets. The new theory suggests that the mass of the central star determines whether a planet forms as a gas giant or a super-Earth.
Three tiny companions orbiting HD 69830 have been discovered by astronomers using the ESO's HARPS instrument. The newly found planets have minimum masses between 10 and 18 times the mass of Earth, with one located in the habitable zone.
Researchers at the University of Manchester have identified seawater in volcanic gas samples from the Earth's mantle, supporting the theory that seawater is subducted deep into the Earth. The study reveals that up to 10% of the Earth's oceans have been absorbed into the planet since its formation.
A new model for the capture of planetary satellites involving a three-body gravitational encounter between a binary and a planet suggests that Triton was originally part of a binary pair orbiting the Sun. This mechanism introduces a new pathway for satellite capture by planets, which may be relevant to other objects in the solar system.
Researchers suggest that finding organic nitrogen on Mars would be a strong indication of past biological activity. The presence of nitrogen in the Martian atmosphere is unlikely due to the planet's lack of biological activity, making it an important target for search missions.
A joint study largely confirms earlier predictions that global warming will lead to mass species extinctions, particularly in biodiversity hotspots. The research assesses the potential effects of climate change on terrestrial biodiversity on a global scale, revealing catastrophic species loss across the planet.
Researchers have devised a method to catch the early stages of gas-giant core accretion, suggesting that young intermediate-sized cores could be a clear indicator of core accretion. The existence of these cores would likely yield gas-giant planets in as little as 1,000 years around small, gravitationally weak stars.
Scientists highlight Amazon deforestation, West Antarctic Ice Sheet melting, slowdown of North Atlantic Current, ocean acidification, and the impact of land use changes on the planet's functioning. The symposium showcases new research models and a collaborative databank to assess Earth System consequences.
Astronomers have discovered a new planet, 2003 UB313, which is larger than Pluto and located in the Kuiper Belt. The object's size was determined through thermal emission measurements, revealing a diameter of approximately 3000 km.
Astronomers discover an Earth-like planet with a solid core, orbiting a red dwarf star five times less massive than the sun. The discovery, made using microlensing technique, reveals thousands of potentially habitable planets in distant parts of the galaxy.
Astronomers have discovered the first and only icy exoplanet that matches theoretical predictions for Solar System formation. OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb orbits a small red star at an extremely close distance, with a surface temperature of -220°C, and is likely to resemble Pluto more than rocky planets like Earth.
Astronomers have found a small planet with a mass about five times that of Earth, orbiting a small star near the center of the galaxy. The discovery suggests there are many other small planets in habitable zones, where temperatures are moderate enough for liquid water to appear on their surfaces.
Astronomers have detected a rocky, icy planet about five-and-a-half times the mass of Earth, located over 20,000 light years away. The discovery was made possible by gravitational microlensing, which may lead to finding smaller planets in habitable zones around stars.
Astronomers have discovered a planet orbiting a 600-million-year-old star using the Exoplanet Tracker, a faster and cheaper instrument. The new method allows for more efficient search of distant stars, potentially uncovering planets capable of supporting life.
Researchers found that half of planetary collisions result in impactors bouncing off, leaving them significantly altered. These collisions can strip away atmospheres, crusts, and mantles, producing diverse asteroid populations.
Researchers create an optical vortex mask that eliminates starlight, allowing for direct observation of nearby planets. The device successfully images Saturn and its rings, paving the way for future exoplanet detection projects like the Terrestrial Planet Finder.
A team of astronomers has discovered a hot Jupiter planet in a triple star system, challenging conventional theories of planetary formation. The discovery suggests that it is possible for planets to form around the host star and then be captured by a binary system, explaining the unusual configuration of the HD 188753 system.
The European Space Agency's Venus Express spacecraft is on its journey to Venus, where it will study the planet's extremely hot atmosphere, high pressure, and mysterious 'super-rotation'. The spacecraft will deploy instruments to probe the surface and atmosphere, with a planned mission duration of at least two Venusian days.
Jupiter's atmosphere is driven by heat from within the planet, creating organized wind chaos. The computer models explain why there are two classes of jet winds: strong and narrow near the equator, but weak and wide at higher latitudes due to the planet's curvature and rotation.
Researchers analyzed 29 chunks of enstatite chondrite meteorites, which formed billions of years ago and are believed to hold clues about the early Earth's conditions. The study found that these rocks likely formed at lower temperatures than previously thought, shedding light on the planet's distant past.
Astronomers have found two young stars with 'gaps' in their disks that resemble the gaps between Jupiter and Uranus in our solar system. The discovery challenges existing theories of giant-planet formation and provides a unique window into how our own solar system came to be.
A new study by Arizona State University reveals Mars' surface minerals using THEMIS and TES data, yielding surprising results in localized areas. The findings show that Mars has evolved and continues to evolve beneath its surface, similar to Earth, with diverse igneous mineral types rivaling those found on our planet.
Researchers find high levels of 142Nd in terrestrial rocks, contradicting earlier theories on Earth's formation. This discovery suggests that the planet underwent a violent history of collisions and radioactive heat release, leading to its chemical differentiation.
The newly discovered planet, orbiting Gliese 876, is the smallest and first rocky terrestrial planet found around a normal star. Its surface temperature may be too hot for life as we know it due to its close proximity to the star.
Astronomers have detected a planet in a solar system 15,000 light years from Earth, one of the most distant ever discovered. The discovery was made possible by a technique called gravitational microlensing, which involves monitoring the brightness of a star as a massive object in space passes in front of it.
Research on Earth's albedo is facing a lack of funding and resources, hindering scientists' understanding of its effects on climate change. Albedo makes up half the equation for understanding the planet's energy budget, but its impact could be off by as much as 100 percent.
Researchers explain violent origins of extrasolar planetary behavior, citing planet-planet scattering as key factor. The study's findings suggest that strong instabilities led to the formation of highly eccentric orbits in multiple systems.
Researchers have directly measured light from two confirmed extrasolar planets, HD 209458b and TrES-1, using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. The gas giants, similar to Jupiter, orbit close to their stars and radiate strongly in the infrared, with temperatures reaching up to 1,574 degrees Fahrenheit.
A team of astronomers led by Clarke gathered data on Saturn's aurora using Cassini and Hubble spacecraft. Their observations revealed that Saturn's aurora differ in character from day to day, with varying lengths and behaviors compared to Earth's and Jupiter's.
Astronomers have discovered the smallest extra-solar planet to date, orbiting a pulsar in a planetary system resembling our own inner solar system. The new planet is estimated to be one-fifth the mass of Pluto and has an orbit approximately six times larger than its third planet.
Astronomers have discovered a candidate planetary companion to a relatively bright young brown dwarf star located 225 light-years away in the southern constellation Hydra. The object, detected by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, is estimated to be about five times the mass of Jupiter and orbits its host at a 99% confidence level.
Astronomers use Hubble's Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer to observe a faint companion object orbiting a relatively bright young brown dwarf star. The observations provide strong evidence for the existence of an extrasolar planet, which is estimated to be about five times the mass of Jupiter.
Researchers have found a young planet that is smaller than expected and orbits its parent star at the same distance as our own Neptune. The discovery was made using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and challenges current understanding of planetary formation, leading to a re-examination of existing theories.
Recent Keck Telescope images of Uranus reveal an inner ring and high-altitude clouds with vigorous convection, indicating the planet is not static. The findings contradict previous assumptions about Uranus being a dull and unchanging planet.
Astronomers have discovered a Jupiter-sized gas giant orbiting a star located 500 light-years from Earth. The newly found world circles its star every 3.03 days at a distance of only 4 million miles, much closer and faster than Mercury in our solar system.
Scientists have discovered a distant planet using the transit technique and spectroscopy, revealing key findings about TrES-1's atmosphere and orbit. The discovery marks the first extrasolar planet found by a dedicated survey of thousands of relatively bright stars.
The MESSENGER mission will explore Mercury's searing surface, oddball atmosphere, and bizarre magnetic field. The LASP's $8.7 million Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer will address questions about the planet's mineral composition, gas distribution, and core.
During next week's transit, NCAR scientist Brown will examine regions of the solar spectrum absorbed by Venus's atmosphere between 65 and 85 kilometers altitude. He will also construct wind patterns based on gases' Doppler shifts to reveal atmospheric composition and temperature.
University of Arizona researchers used Love's equation to calculate tidal deformation in various spheres, discovering that under specific conditions, the shape of a planet could change dramatically. This may have regulated the size of planets, preventing their formation.
Researchers analyzed features in mid-latitudes on Mars, similar to those in Antarctica's Dry Valleys, to indicate significant ice buried near the planet's surface. The study provides new insights into Martian ice ages driven by variations in the planet's orbit and tilt.
A new study published in Icarus reveals that planet formation simulations indicate a high probability of finding Earthlike planets near other stars. The research suggests that the presence and orbits of giant planets like Jupiter can greatly impact the amount of water on terrestrial planets.
A UBC-led research team has confirmed the existence of the universe's oldest and farthest planet, a gas giant formed 13 billion years ago. The ancient world takes a century to complete each orbit and is unlikely to support life due to its metal-poor composition.
A team of British, Australian and American astronomers have discovered a planet similar to Jupiter in orbit around a nearby star, 3.3 times further from its star than Earth is from the Sun. The system's long-term precision allows for the detection of true analogues to our Solar System, advancing the search for systems like our own.
The MARSIS project aims to probe several miles beneath Mars' surface and study the ionosphere. Researchers hope to detect signs of liquid water, which may have shaped the planet's deep canyons.
A team from Los Alamos National Laboratory has mapped the hydrogen distribution on Mars, indicating significant water reserves near the surface and subsurface. The findings suggest that Mars could support future human exploration with its extensive water resources.
Early Mars research suggests that the planet may have been too cold to melt water, contradicting Dr. James F. Kasting's theory of a greenhouse effect. However, Kasting proposes that methane-producing bacteria could have warmed the planet, allowing for the formation of features like Nanedi Vallis.
Researchers challenge the long-held idea of a warm, wet Mars with evidence from large asteroid and comet impacts. These events created short-lived but intense periods of rain and flooding on the planet's surface, leading to the formation of rivers and valleys.
A new study suggests that Jupiter-like planets form quickly, within hundreds of years, rather than over millions. This contradicts the current standard model of planet formation, which proposes a longer time frame for gas giant planet formation.
A team of astronomers has discovered a planet-shaped 'wake' around the nearby star Fomalhaut, suggesting the presence of an orbiting giant planet. The observation was made using the SCUBA camera, which operates in the submillimetre region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The discovery of a companion planet to Tau1 Gruis star with a relatively long-period orbit and mass similar to Jupiter sheds new light on the formation of giant planets. Researchers found that most giant planets likely form at Jupiter-like distances from their host stars.
Researchers conducted a high-tech simulation to test the Mars Exploration Rover mission, which will arrive on Mars in early 2004. The test aimed to understand the nature and accumulation patterns of Mars' signature red dust, crucial for ensuring astronaut safety.
A team led by Tim Kusky has discovered the world's first large intact pieces of oceanic mantle from the planet's earliest period, dating back 2.5 billion years. The findings suggest that plate tectonics began shifting more than 500 million years earlier than previously believed.
The discovery of a Jupiter-like planet and the smallest known planet outside the solar system offers hope for finding life beyond Earth. The newly found planet orbits 55 Cancri at nearly the same distance as Jupiter orbits our sun, making it a near analog to our own solar system.