Articles tagged with Dwarf Planets
A new SwRI study provides the first evidence of recent liquid flows to Pluto's surface, suggesting that liquid nitrogen is rising from beneath the Sputnik Planitia glacier. This finding, based on data from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, indicates a new kind of time-variable feature on Pluto.
Researchers found amino acids are consistently more diverse and evenly distributed in biological samples than abiotic ones, while fatty acids show the opposite pattern. This fundamental principle of life may be detectable in data collected by space missions.
An international team maps the climate of rocky exoplanets like TRAPPIST-1b and c for the first time, ruling out dense atmospheres due to extreme temperatures. The study uses James Webb Space Telescope observations to determine surface temperatures on both day and night sides.
Astronomers may need to look beyond the traditional habitable zone for liquid water and potentially life-friendly conditions. A new study suggests that tidally locked worlds, even those orbiting closer to cool M- and K-dwarf stars than previously thought, could sustain liquid water on their night side.
Astronomers detected water ice and nitrogen in fragments torn apart from a Kuiper Belt analog, revealing the presence of volatile-rich material. The discovery sheds light on planet formation and the delivery of water to rocky planets.
Astronomers have discovered a frozen, water-rich planetary fragment being consumed by a white dwarf star outside our Solar System. The object is thought to be an icy planetesimal, possibly similar to Halley's Comet or Pluto, and has a high nitrogen abundance, making it a rare finding in the field.
Astronomers discovered a greedy white dwarf star consuming its closest celestial companion at an unprecedented rate. The study found that the super-dense white dwarf is burning brightly due to the mass transfer between the two stars, potentially leading to a massive explosion visible from Earth.
A Southwest Research Institute-led team has detected methane gas on Makemake using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. The discovery suggests that Makemake may have a dynamic atmosphere where methane ice is evolving, indicating activity or tenuous atmosphere.
Three planetary scientists have been awarded Europlanet Career Medals for their contributions to planetary science. Dr Tim Lichtenberg received the Early-Career Medal for his work on planetary formation and exoplanet evolution, while Dr Benoit Carry won the Mid-Career Medal for his research on asteroid structures and planetary defence.
A team of researchers has discovered a fifth planet in the L 98-59 planetary system, confirming its habitable zone and potential for liquid water. The planets' sizes and masses have been determined with unprecedented precision using data from space telescopes and high-precision instruments.
A team of researchers has found a planet orbiting at a 90-degree angle around a pair of young brown dwarfs, marking the first time such strong evidence for a 'polar planet' orbit is collected. The discovery was made possible by pioneering data analysis that improved precision by a factor of 30.
The study analyzed material from asteroid Bennu, finding evidence of building blocks of life, water, and energy. The team also discovered evaporites, which have been found on Earth in dried-out salt lakes, providing insights into the asteroid's formation.
Researchers discovered organic molecules on Ceres' surface but found no evidence of volcanic or tectonic activity. The deposits are thought to have originated from impacts by outer asteroid belt bodies, which could have introduced building blocks of life.
Researchers at Southwest Research Institute propose a new model for the formation of Pluto and Charon, suggesting they may have originated from a giant collision similar to the Earth-Moon system. The scenario supports Pluto's active geology and possible subsurface ocean, with implications for the Kuiper Belt.
A new study using the James Webb Space Telescope has reevaluated the atmospheric composition of Trappist-1 b, finding conditions that could support a thick CO2-rich atmosphere. Researchers propose that haze from hydrocarbon compounds in the upper atmosphere may explain this scenario.
Researchers at Purdue University and NASA believe Ceres has a dirty ice crust and was once a muddy ocean world. The team used computer simulations to show that ice can be much stronger than previously predicted, contradicting the previous belief that Ceres was relatively dry.
Researchers have discovered that far-ultraviolet radiation from stellar flares on red dwarf stars can be three times more energetic than previously thought. This finding challenges existing models of exoplanet habitability and suggests that many stars may pose a risk to the potential for life on planets around them.
The NASA TESS-Keck Survey catalog features 126 exotic planets with detailed measurements allowing for comparisons with our solar system. Several planets stand out as touchstones for deepening astronomers' understanding of planetary formation and evolution.
A team of scientists has discovered an ocean of liquid water beneath Pluto's surface, with a shell of nitrogen and water ice estimated to be 40-80 km thick. The density of the ocean is around 8% denser than seawater on Earth, allowing for minimal fractures in the ice above.
The discovery of SPECULOOS-3 b is the second of its kind around an ultra-cool dwarf star and offers opportunities for life on orbiting planets to develop due to the star's long lifespan. The planet takes 17 hours to complete an orbit, making days and nights endless.
Scientists have discovered a new planet called WASP-193b that is 50% bigger than Jupiter yet has a density comparable to cotton candy. The planet's low density makes it an outlier among the over 5,400 planets discovered so far.
A team of scientists has discovered that purple bacteria, which thrive in low-energy light, could be a sign of life on Earth-like planets. Using this knowledge, researchers have created models of purple worlds with varying conditions and cloud cover, revealing intense colored biosignatures from both wet and dry purple bacteria.
Numerical simulations attribute Pluto's 'heart' shape to a giant, slow oblique-angle impact. The study suggests no subsurface ocean on Pluto, contradicting previous theorized explanations.
Researchers found evidence of hydrothermal or metamorphic activity within the icy dwarf planets Eris and Makemake, which have methane deposits with geochemical origins. The discovery suggests elevated temperatures in their rocky cores, potentially leading to liquid water and habitability.
New research from the Max Planck Institute challenges previous claims of giant exomoons around Kepler-1625b and Kepler-1708b. The study uses a computer algorithm to analyze observations, finding that 'planet-only' interpretations are more conclusive than initially thought.
A team of researchers has detected ammonia isotopologues in the atmosphere of a cold brown dwarf, providing new clues to understanding gas giant formation. The ratio of two isotopologues reveals that the exoplanet formed through gravitational collapse, challenging traditional theories.
The Hubble Space Telescope has observed extreme variability in the atmosphere of an exoplanet orbiting a young red dwarf star. The planet, AU Mic b, experiences unpredictable blasts of energy that evaporate its hydrogen atmosphere, but with varying success.
A newly discovered exoplanet, LP 890-9c, is providing important insights into conditions at the inner edge of a star's habitable zone. The team's models detail differences in chemical signatures generated by rocky planets near this boundary, based on variables including size, mass, and surface temperature.
Scientists have discovered a rare type of white dwarf pulsar, shedding light on stellar evolution and the origin of strong magnetic fields. The newly detected pulsar, J1912-4410, has a size similar to Earth but a mass at least as large as the Sun.
The discovery of two shadow puppets in the disk of young star TW Hydrae suggests that planets may be forming in a complex system. The shadows are thought to be caused by the gravitational pull of two planets in slightly different orbital planes, with one planet likely to be Jupiter-mass.
A team from Heidelberg University discovered a new class of asteroids rich in water, similar to dwarf planet Ceres. The small bodies are thought to have formed in a cold region at the edge of the Solar System before being impacted by gravitational disruptions.
A new ring system has been found around the Pluto-sized dwarf planet Quaoar, which orbits beyond Neptune. The discovery is remarkable because it lies at a distance of over seven planetary radii from its parent body, posing a challenge to existing theories of ring formation.
Astronomers found that a planet like GJ 1252b, orbiting an M dwarf star, would likely lose its atmosphere due to intense heat and radiation. The discovery narrows the search for habitable planets around these stars, but leaves room for possibilities further away from the star.
Researchers discovered lonsdaleite in ancient dwarf planet meteorites, confirming its existence and potential industrial applications. The unusual structure of lonsdaleite could help inform new manufacturing techniques for ultra-hard materials.
A team of scientists used modeling to reveal that Ceres's interior decays radioactive elements, generating heat and powering geological activity. This process is different from the typical hot-cool pattern seen in larger planets, with similarities to Uranus's moons
Researchers propose that Ceres was formed outside the Frost Line, where ammonia ice is abundant, and then pulled into the Asteroid Belt by gravitational instability. Computer simulations support this hypothesis, showing that giant planet formation led to a turbulent environment that scattered objects into stable orbits.
A team of researchers from Brigham Young University has solved the mystery of Haumea's origin by re-evaluating assumptions about its formation. By considering the dwarf planet in the context of the broader solar system creation, they proposed a new explanation that explains why Haumea is one of the fastest spinning objects and covered ...
A sub-Neptune exoplanet named TOI-2257 b has been found to have an eccentric orbit around its host star, making it a candidate for further study. The planet's distance from the star allows for liquid water and potentially life-supporting conditions.
Researchers have discovered that vast ice forms on Pluto's surface are formed by the sublimation of nitrogen ice, powering convection in the ice layer of Sputnik Planitia. This process is consistent with climate models and has implications for other planetary bodies.
A study suggests the IAU's current definition of a planet is flawed and rooted in folklore and astrology. Researchers propose a new definition focused on a planet's geological activity, clearing its own orbit to be the largest gravitational force.
Astronomers have discovered an ultra-short-period planet GJ 367 b, which orbits its star in just eight hours and has a radius of 72% that of Earth. The planet's mass is 55% of the Earth's, indicating it likely has an iron-rich core, similar to Mercury's interior.
Scientists have discovered radio waves coming from 19 distant red dwarf stars, suggesting the presence of hidden planets. The discovery uses the world's most powerful radio telescope, LOFAR, and indicates a scaled-up version of Jupiter-Io interaction with a planet in the star's magnetic field.
Researchers have successfully sampled Vesta's mantle using meteorites derived from the dwarf planet, resolving the 'missing mantle problem' and providing a record of the earliest era in solar system formation. This breakthrough pushes back our knowledge to just two million years after the beginning of solar system formation.
A new study reveals that planetary shields can buckle under intense stellar winds from dying stars, making it difficult for life to survive. Planets with weak magnetic fields are particularly vulnerable, while those with stronger fields may be able to withstand the effects.
University of Warwick astronomers detect lithium and potassium in the atmospheres of four nearby white dwarf stars, revealing remnants of rocky planet crusts. The chemical composition of these crusts is similar to Earth's continental crust, providing a glimpse of the planets that may have orbited these dying stars billions of years ago.
Researchers discovered that Pluto's mountains are snowcapped with frozen methane, formed at high altitudes where the atmosphere is rich in methane. This finding explains why Pluto's glaciers have craggy ridges unlike Earth's flat ones.
The discovery of WD 1856 b, a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a white dwarf every 34 hours, shows the likely presence of planets around these star remnants. The finding was made possible by NASA's TESS Space Telescope and Spitzer Space Telescope data.
An international team of astronomers has reported the discovery of a planet, WD 1856 b, orbiting a white dwarf star, which is about seven times larger than the star. The planet's unusual orbit has confirmed previous theories of planetary migration from outer to inner solar systems.
Astronomers have found a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a white dwarf star at breakneck speed every 34 hours. The system violates common conventions and may provide a rare habitable arrangement for life to arise.
Astronomers have discovered a Jupiter-sized planet, WD 1856b, orbiting close to a white dwarf star, defying previous assumptions about planetary destruction. The planet's unique characteristics suggest it may have originated far from the star and survived its demise, raising hopes for future discoveries.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience suggests that Pluto and other large Kuiper belt objects began with liquid oceans that have been slowly freezing over time. The 'hot start' scenario is supported by observations, which indicate expansion features on Pluto's surface rather than compression features.
Researchers found ancient stardust and water on asteroid Vesta, suggesting a possible mechanism for delivering water to young Earth. The study provides insights into the formation of our solar system and the origins of water in the inner solar system.
Researchers from Curtin University analyzed volcanic meteorites from Antarctica to understand Asteroid Vesta's geological history. The study found that Vesta was volcanically active for at least 30 million years after its formation, contradicting previous models and suggesting pockets of magma survived on the asteroid.
A Spanish neuropsychologist used an artificial neural network to analyze how humans and machines recognize planetary images, revealing that AI can detect shapes that humans miss and vice versa. The results have implications for the search for extraterrestrial life and highlight the need for caution in AI's implementation.
Astronomers have found evidence of a giant planet surrounding a small, dead white dwarf star, providing insight into the evolution of our own solar system. The discovery suggests that many other planets may be hiding in similar extreme environments.
Researchers using ESO's Very Large Telescope have discovered a giant planet orbiting a hot white dwarf star, stripping away its atmosphere to form a disc. The system's unique properties provide clues to the composition of exoplanet atmospheres and challenge our understanding of planetary systems' final fate.
Astronomers using ESO's SPHERE instrument have observed Hygiea, the fourth largest asteroid in the belt, and found it could be classified as a dwarf planet due to its spherical shape. The team's observations put Hygiea's diameter at over 430 km.
Scientists have identified the best candidate white dwarfs to hunt for exoplanet cores, which can survive for over 100 million to a billion years. The researchers plan to use radio telescopes to detect radio waves emitted by the cores, potentially leading to breakthrough discoveries.
Scientists uncover precise timing of a large-scale collision on Vesta, explaining its lopsided shape and differentiation into crust, mantle, and metallic core. The study provides a confident framework for understanding Vesta's geological timeline, shedding light on protoplanet formation and the early Solar System.
A team of researchers from Japan and the US found that a gassy insulating layer beneath Pluto's icy surface could be protecting an ocean. The simulations showed that without this layer, the ocean would have frozen hundreds of millions of years ago, but with it, it remains liquid for over a billion years.