Scientists from Tokyo Institute of Technology used computer simulations and observations of trans-Neptunian objects to understand how they may have formed. The study found that the size and orbit of satellite systems around large TNOs are best explained by impacts of molten progenitors.
Scientists have discovered new compounds and minerals on Saturn's moon Titan, including a co-crystal made of solid acetylene and butane. This finding suggests that the bathtub rings suspected to exist around Titan's hydrocarbon lakes may be formed by these alien crystals.
Astronomers have measured the temperature of Uranus' rings for the first time, finding a cool 77 Kelvin. The new images also reveal differences in ring composition compared to Saturn's rings, including lower albedo and narrower widths.
Researchers used Cassini's closest observations to study Saturn's rings, revealing three distinct textures and tiny moons within the rings. The study also found streaky textures and large boulders, which may be fragments of broken objects or formed through accretion processes.
Researchers found that Mimas' migration into the Cassini Division pushed apart ice particles, creating the 4500 km wide band. The moon's orbit may have been driven by orbital resonance with Saturn, causing it to lose energy and migrate inwards.
New research analyzes light from CI Tau b, a close-orbiting giant exoplanet, to determine its mass and brightness. The study provides strong evidence for the 'hot start' theory of planet formation, challenging traditional models.
Researchers found that gravitational forces of an unseen moon outside the rings could cause gaps in the ring structure, but the effect is unlikely to be caused by a currently unseen moon.
Dr. Kelsi Singer has been awarded the 2019 Harold C. Urey Prize for her outstanding contributions to planetary research, particularly in impact cratering and the geology of icy worlds. Her work has revealed insights into the collisional history of the Kuiper Belt and planetesimal formation.
Researchers investigate Haumea's ring, suggesting a degree of eccentricity is required for resonance to act on particles. They identify stable, circular orbits compatible with the ring, contradicting previous assumptions.
A new study using the PlanetNet algorithm provides unprecedented precision in analyzing Saturn's storm clouds, revealing features previously undetected. The analysis of Cassini data reveals atmospheric processes driving the storms, including dark cloud material swept up from lower atmosphere.
A team of researchers led by Caitlin Griffith discovered a mysterious linear ice corridor on Titan's surface, which suggests the presence of past volcanic activity. The find sheds new light on Titan's unique atmospheric chemistry and potential for life
Researchers from UCL and University of Arizona developed a 'deep learning' approach called PlanetNet to detect storms on Saturn. The algorithm accurately maps the components and features in turbulent regions, revealing previously undetected atmospheric features such as ammonia ice clouds.
Scientists will study Uranus and Neptune's poorly understood regions with greater accuracy using a new, improved net flux radiometer. The instrument, developed for NASA's Planetary Concepts for the Advancement of Solar System Observations program, features thermopile sensors and seven infrared channels to measure heat.
The discovery of Kepler-47d, the third planet in the Kepler-47 circumbinary system, sheds light on the formation and composition of low-density planets. The new planet's size and location were unexpected, with it being the largest of the three planets in the system.
The Cassini spacecraft gathered data on five small moons close to Saturn's rings, revealing no volatiles other than water ice. The moons' geology was shaped by complex processes, including tidal stresses, with optical properties influenced by contamination from the main rings and ring material.
The latest data from Juno and Cassini spacecraft has challenged existing theories on planetary formation and behavior, revealing new insights into Jupiter and Saturn's magnetic fields and atmospheres. Surprisingly, the atmosphere is evenly mixed, contradicting conventional predictions.
Large moons in stable orbits around their parent planets are thought to be capable of hosting satellite submoons, with four bodies in our Solar System potentially fitting this description. However, the lack of observed submoons may offer insights into planetary formation and evolution.
A new study suggests that the 'cooking' of ancient organic material created Titan's thick nitrogen atmosphere. The research, led by Dr. Kelly Miller, proposes that approximately half of the nitrogen atmosphere could result from this process.
Saturn's ring system acts as a sensitive seismograph to measure the giant planet's vibrations, enabling scientists to determine its rotation rate. Researchers used wave patterns in the rings to probe Saturn's interior, obtaining the first precise determination of its rotation rate.
New gravity field data reveal Saturn's rings are significantly younger than the planet, with ages estimated at 10-100 million years. The findings contradict previous assumptions and shed light on the formation of Saturn's ring system.
A recent study using Cassini data estimates Saturn's ring mass to be around 40 percent of the moon Mimas' mass, indicating a relatively young age for the rings. The discovery also provides insight into Saturn's internal structure and atmospheric circulation patterns.
A new study from the American Geophysical Union confirms evidence of rainfall on Titan's north pole, providing insight into the moon's changing seasons. The findings suggest that sunlight reflecting off a wet surface likely resulted in the observed reflective feature.
A team of astronomers has found an intermediate-mass exoplanet, OGLE-2012-BLG-0950Lb, with a mass of 39 times that of Earth, which contradicts the current understanding of planet formation. The discovery was made using microlensing, a method sensitive to sub-Saturn planets in Jupiter-like orbits.
Researchers found that Saturn's iconic rings are losing ice particles at a maximum rate, draining an Olympic-sized pool in half an hour. The entire ring system is expected to vanish in 300-100 million years.
Saturn's iconic rings are being pulled into the planet by gravity, draining an Olympic-sized swimming pool in half an hour. The research suggests the ring system will be gone in 300 million years, with some particles also falling onto Saturn's geysers from moon Enceladus.
Researchers have discovered that large planets form quickly and in the outer reaches of their solar systems, which could explain the formation of rocky Earth-size worlds. High-resolution images of 20 nearby protoplanetary disks show common substructures, including concentric gaps and narrow rings.
A team of scientists has found a new way to explain the formation of Saturn's radiation belts, which challenges current theories on electron acceleration. They suggest that Z-mode waves are responsible for energizing electrons in the belt, rather than radial diffusion.
Researchers at UIC aim to recreate Titan's oceanic conditions in a laboratory growth chamber to detect potential biosignatures of life on the moon. They plan to grow microorganisms under high pressure and extreme cold to identify characteristic chemical and biological signatures.
Research finds that gravity and unique shapes of small objects in our solar system create and maintain their own rings. Astronomers discovered that rings around Chariklo and Haumea are confined by the object's irregularities, contradicting previous assumptions about moon-dominated ring systems.
Researchers from MAGPIE laboratories simulate stellar winds interacting with planetary magnetic fields, reproducing magnetopause formation and low-pressure regions. Laboratory experiments utilize intense electric pulses to create high-speed plasma plumes that interact with targets having magnetic fields.
The NASA Astrobiology Program has awarded a $7 million grant to the Oceans Across Space and Time (OAST) alliance to search for life in present and past oceans on Mars, Jupiter's moon Europa, and Saturn's moon Enceladus. The team aims to develop technologies that can detect signs of life in various environments.
Scientists from Samara University have discovered new chemical mechanisms for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) synthesis at very low temperatures, including -183 C. These findings challenge the prevailing view that PAHs can only form at high temperatures and suggest a possible link to the origin of life in the universe.
A young star with a protoplanetary disc has been discovered to have four Jupiter and Saturn-sized planets in orbit around it. The system's extreme range of orbits raises questions about how such a system might have formed.
Chris Fox, a space buff since childhood, and his team discovered exoplanet Kepler 159d by analyzing the orbits of nearby planets. The exoplanet has a mass similar to Saturn's and likely consists of gases with no solid surface.
Researchers have discovered a low-temperature chemical mechanism that may have driven the formation of complex chemistry on Titan. The study, published in Nature Astronomy, challenges high-temperature theories and reveals a new path for understanding Titan's unique atmosphere.
Astronomers successfully collected microscopic material streaming from Saturn's rings using Cassini's Cosmic Dust Analyzer and Radio and Plasma Wave Science instruments. The research reveals that the main component of Saturn's rings is water ice, with tiny silicates also present.
This special issue of Science presents research on Cassini's final transmissions to Earth, revealing new observations and insights into Saturn's atmosphere and rings. The studies found that water, methane, and organic-rich material fall into the planet's atmosphere, modifying its composition and structure.
A new study reveals Saturn's innermost D ring is hurling dust grains coated in its chemical cocktail into the planet's upper atmosphere at an extraordinary rate. This infalling material may change the carbon and oxygen content of the atmosphere, prompting questions about the rings' formation and lifespan.
Researchers found a tilt of less than 0.01 degrees in Saturn's magnetic field, contradicting the theory that it requires a significant tilt to form. The team also spotted interesting structures near the planet, including a secondary source of magnetism and electric currents flowing between the rings and the planet.
SwRI scientists used Cassini's final measurements to detect large influx of materials raining into Saturn's atmosphere, with water and organic compounds falling at rates of up to 10,000 kilograms per second. The discovery has implications for ring evolution and atmospheric chemistry.
Scientists discovered that methane absorption is 10 times stronger over desert regions like the Sahara Desert and Arabian Peninsula than elsewhere on Earth. Cloud cover also enhances methane radiative forcing, with increased forcing found over oceanic stratus cloud decks and the Intertropical Convergence Zone near the equator.
Researchers at Southwest Research Institute studied the Patroclus-Menoetius binary asteroid pair and found that its existence indicates an earlier dynamical instability. This instability pushed Uranus and Neptune outwards, scattering small bodies into the Kuiper Belt, where they formed the Trojan asteroids.
A new study published in Icarus challenges the International Astronomical Union's 2006 definition of a planet, which requires a celestial body to clear its orbit. Researchers argue that this standard is not supported by scientific literature and propose a new classification method based on size and gravitational dominance.
Researchers studied hydrogen's transition from a gas to a liquid metal under high pressure, shedding light on the interiors of giant planets. They found that deuterium became opaque and metallic at nearly 2 million times normal atmospheric pressure.
Researchers have developed a reference catalog of light spectra and albedos for 19 solar system bodies. By comparing this catalog to exoplanet observations, scientists can characterize new worlds in reference to our own diverse planetary system. The catalog offers insights into the challenges of categorizing rocky and icy exoplanets.
A team of scientists from OIST discovered that crater rays form when small objects create shockwaves in the ground, focusing sand grains along radial streaks. They developed a theoretical model to predict ray patterns and even use it to estimate the diameter of lost meteorites.
Scientists at Southwest Research Institute found large, carbon-rich organic molecules emanating from Enceladus' subsurface ocean. The discovery indicates the moon's rocky core and warm water interact to form complex molecules, satisfying key requirements for life as we know it.
Scientists synthesize a nanoscale Saturn system consisting of a spherical C60 fullerene as the planet and a flat macrocycle made of six anthracene units as the ring. The structure is confirmed by spectroscopic and X-ray analyses, enabling a new structural motif for researchers.
A study co-authored by UCLA scientists reveals evidence of water vapor plumes on Europa's surface, providing further support for the possibility of a vast ocean beneath its icy outer shell. The research suggests that there are energy sources in the moon's interior that would be required if life were to develop on Europa.
Scientists have detected an exoplanet atmosphere free of clouds, marking a pivotal breakthrough in understanding planets beyond our solar system. The 'hot Saturn' WASP-96b's clear sodium signature is the result of its cloud-free atmosphere.
A team at Plymouth University used artificial neural networks to classify five planets as potentially habitable, estimating a probability of life in each case. The technique may aid in selecting targets for future space missions with improved spectral detail.
Researchers propose that Venus' cloudy atmosphere could be a niche for extraterrestrial microbial life due to its highly acidic conditions and presence of sulfuric acid. The atmosphere's unique properties, such as the dark patches composed of concentrated sulfuric acid, have sparked interest in exploring this possibility.
Scientists from FAU, University of Leicester and University of Vigo have proven that the kinetic energy of particles in granular gases can increase temporarily due to surface adhesion. This effect contradicts Haff's law, which states that granular temperature decreases in closed systems.
Researchers used lab experiments at Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source to simulate chemical reactions near stars, confirming the production of pyrene and other complex hydrocarbons. The study provides insights into the origins of life's building blocks in space.
NASA is developing a planetary wind lidar called MARLI, which will provide detailed information on winds on Mars and Titan. The instrument will use laser pulses and detect returning backscatter signals to measure wind velocities and aerosol distribution.
Researchers re-created a Titan ocean in a laboratory and studied the freezing temperatures of methane and ethane lakes. They discovered that nitrogen in the liquid causes lakes to freeze at lower temperatures than expected, which could be beneficial for the submarine's operation.
Researchers from McGill University develop a miniature life detection platform to identify and analyze microorganisms in extreme environments, providing proof-of-concept for direct life detection on Mars and other planets. The technique has potential applications on Earth, including detecting pathogens during epidemics in remote areas.
Portland State University biologist Ken Stedman and colleagues advocate for virus research beyond Earth, proposing NASA investigate viruses on Saturn's moons, Mars, and ancient deposits. They suggest Earth viruses could survive in space and potentially be spread extraterrestrially.
Researchers develop a modular 'life detection platform' to directly detect and characterize microorganisms in extreme environments. The platform uses existing low-cost technology in new ways, enabling real-time analysis of microbial ecology and DNA sequencing.
A new global topographic map of Saturn's moon Titan has opened up new insights into its liquid flows and terrain. The map revealed several new features, including cookie-cutter holes, mountains, and lakes that are at sea level due to hidden sub-surface flow.