Articles tagged with Solar System
The Gemini Observatory has captured the first-ever image of an interstellar comet, C/2019 Q4 (Borisov), in multiple colors. The object exhibits a pronounced tail indicative of outgassing, a characteristic that defines cometary objects.
The discovery of three exocomets in the Beta Pictoris system provides significant evidence for their existence. The exoplanet-hunting space telescope TESS revealed a signal from darkening objects in the star's orbit, which were later confirmed as comets.
Researchers used Kepler spacecraft to monitor stellar oscillations of 40 Sun-like stars, finding signs of differential rotation in some. The equators spin nearly twice as fast as mid-latitudes in the strongest signals, posing a challenge to existing theories.
Astronomers have found a dense disk of material surrounding a young star, which may be the precursor to a planetary system. The discovery could revolutionize models of solar system formation and provide insights into our own cosmic neighborhood.
A team of astronomers discovered a massive stellar flare from Proxima Centauri, which raises questions about the habitability of its exoplanetary neighbor, Proxima b. The flare, detected by ALMA, was 10 times brighter than our Sun's largest flares and could have sterilized the surface of Proxima b.
A new study resolves the ongoing debate about the Sun's cyclic behavior by showing it follows the same pattern as other nearby solar-type stars. The research suggests that the Sun's magnetic cycle depends on its rotation rate and luminosity, advancing scientists' understanding of stellar magnetic fields.
A new study led by CU Boulder finds that comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has an extremely active surface with growing fractures, collapsing cliffs, and massive rolling boulders. The comet's surface underwent rapid changes due to the warming of its ice surface, causing it to sublimate and move massive rocks across its surface.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed an approach to optimizing neighborhood solar energy production, which can increase annual electricity output by 4.6% and reduce volatility in electrical output by 4.3%. The method allows homeowners to share expenses and benefits among cooperating neighbors.
The IBEX mission has created the first global maps of how our heliosphere interacts with interstellar space, revealing significant changes over time. The mission also directly measures interstellar neutral atoms flowing into the solar system.
The IBEX spacecraft has provided the most definitive analyses of the local interstellar space, revealing its composition, properties, and processes at work. The mission's data has resolved inconsistencies in previous studies, confirming that the local interstellar flow is significantly hotter than previously thought.
A Curtin University study of a WA meteorite has shed light on the solar system's bombardment history, revealing that asteroid collisions ceased after 3.4 billion years ago due to asteroids being too small or protected by regolith. The research suggests that impacts stopped occurring after this period and remain unchanged until now.
The study of energetic particles at the edge of our solar system suggests that the galactic magnetic field wraps around our heliosphere, influencing the orientation of energetic particles. The research combines data from IBEX and ultra-high-energy cosmic ray physics to provide a more complete picture of the interactions between the two.
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center researchers are part of a new virtual institute focusing on space science and human exploration. They will apply models to understand plasma interactions with asteroids, small bodies, and the effects of solar wind and radiation.
Researchers using a particle detector made of ice at the South Pole have found evidence of high-energy neutrinos originating from outside the solar system. This discovery has significant implications for neutrino astronomy and could lead to a better understanding of cosmic sources.
The IBEX spacecraft has provided the first complete pictures of the solar system's downwind region, revealing a unique and unexpected structure. The images show two lobes dominating the downwind side of the solar system, which researchers initially thought was the heliotail but is now believed to be separate structures.
Researchers found that the Lutetia asteroid is a dense, intact relic dating back to the solar system's formation. The asteroid's density was calculated using a mathematical method developed by Professor Mikko Kaasalainen, revealing a large and metallic core surrounded by a more porous outer layer.
Particle No. 30, named Orion and Sirius, have been identified as the most likely interstellar candidates discovered to date. The discovery was made by a team of researchers using non-destructive X-ray analysis techniques.
A team of solar physicists has developed a revised model explaining the unexpected 'ribbon' of bright emission observed by NASA's IBEX mission. The new effect, known as the magnetic mirror effect, suggests that charged particles orbiting magnetic field lines can be recycled and detected by IBEX.
Researchers create quantum mechanical analog of Ulam's conjecture to control chemical reactions and move quantum objects. This method uses photons to harness chaotic motion, allowing for efficient steering of quantum systems between two specified states.
Researchers used optical interferometry to produce the most detailed stellar picture ever made, revealing surprising new insights about rapid rotators like Altair. The image shows equatorial darkening, a phenomenon predicted by astronomer Hugo von Zeipel in 1924.
NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has entered the solar system's final frontier, encountering the heliosheath region. The spacecraft's observation of a sudden increase in magnetic field strength and plasma wave noise indicates it has crossed the termination shock, marking a significant milestone in its journey to interstellar space.
The CONTOUR spacecraft is set to launch on July 1, capturing the sharpest pictures yet of a comet's nucleus, mapping rock and ice surfaces, and analyzing surrounding gas and dust. The mission aims to provide detailed data on ancient comets, assessing their diversity and clarifying how comets evolve.
Alexander Wolszczan, discoverer of the first extra-solar planets, has been featured on a Polish postage stamp celebrating the past millennium. His discovery in 1992 using the Arecibo radiotelescope suggested that planets might be plentiful throughout the universe.