#GRAVITAS | The International Astronomical Union officially recognized 128 new moons orbiting the ringed planet Saturn which brings its current moon count to 274  which is nearly twice as many as all the other planets combined. Watch this video to find out more.

Saturn beats Jupiter with the most number of Moons

Recent discoveries on Uranus' moons reveal potential conditions for life, suggesting these distant moons might hold environments where alien life could exist. Watch this video for more details!

Unveiling Cosmic Mysteries: From Oceans on Uranus' Moons to Mysterious Radio Signals

A volcanic moon has just been discovered in space. Till now, the most volcanic system has only been known to exist in our solar system. Jupiter's moon lo is the most volcanic object in the known universe. A lava lake was also discovered a few months back.

Now another volcanic moon has been discovered, located beyond our solar system. Researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California have found a similar object orbiting an exoplanet named WASP-49 b, which is about the size of Saturn. It is located 635 light-years from Earth.&nbsp;

The team noticed a sodium cloud in the vicinity of WASP-49 b. This was enough to suggest that a natural satellite, also known as an exomoon, was orbiting it.&nbsp;

Multiple exomoon candidates had been identified in the past, including one near WASP-49 b. However, one has never been confirmed. Experts say that signs of volcanic activity may be the key to unveiling such objects since they are too small and dim to spot using modern telescopes, according to a statement from NASA.&nbsp;

"For example, Io, the most volcanic body in our solar system, constantly spews sulfur dioxide, sodium, potassium and other gasses that can form vast clouds around Jupiter up to 1,000 times the giant planet's radius," NASA officials said in the statement.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-crack-the-code-reveal-what-transported-seeds-of-life-to-earth-766842">Scientists crack the code, reveal what transported seeds of life to Earth</a>

"It's possible that astronomers looking at another star system could detect a gas cloud like Io's even if the moon itself were too small to see."&nbsp;

<h2>Cloud of gas above exoplanet</h2>

European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile saw that the cloud around WASP-49 b sits high above the planet's atmosphere. This was similar to the cloud of gas that Io produces around Jupiter.

The cloud was also found to be filled with sodium, was showing sudden changes in size and moving a lot faster than the planet. This hinted that it is a separate body orbiting the planet.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, both WASP-49 b and its star mostly contain only hydrogen and helium. But the cloud seems to be coming from a source that is releasing roughly 100,000 kilogrammes of sodium per second, NASA said in the statement.&nbsp;

"We think this is a really critical piece of evidence," Apurva Oza, lead author of the study and a staff scientist at the California Institute of Technology, which manages JPL, said in the statement. "The cloud is moving in the opposite direction that physics tells us it should be going if it were part of the planet's atmosphere."

The cloud also does not align with the planet's 2.8-Earth-day orbital cycle. However, more observations are needed to confirm the existence of the exomoon.

A volcanic moon has just been discovered in space. Till now, the most volcanic system has only been known to exist in our solar system. Jupiter's moon lo is the most volcanic object in the known universe.

A volcanic moon has just been discovered in space. Till now, the most volcanic system has only been known to exist in our solar system. Jupiter's moon lo is the most volcanic object in the known universe. A lava lake was also discovered a few months back. Now another volcanic moon has been discovered, located beyond our solar system. Researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California have found a similar object orbiting an exoplanet named WASP-49 b, which is about the size of Saturn. It is located 635 light-years from Earth. The team noticed a sodium cloud in the vicinity of WASP-49 b. This was enough to suggest that a natural satellite, also known as an exomoon, was orbiting it. Multiple exomoon candidates had been identified in the past, including one near WASP-49 b. However, one has never been confirmed. Experts say that signs of volcanic activity may be the key to unveiling such objects since they are too small and dim to spot using modern telescopes, according to a statement from NASA. "For example, Io, the most volcanic body in our solar system, constantly spews sulfur dioxide, sodium, potassium and other gasses that can form vast clouds around Jupiter up to 1,000 times the giant planet's radius," NASA officials said in the statement. Also Read: Scientists crack the code, reveal what transported seeds of life to Earth "It's possible that astronomers looking at another star system could detect a gas cloud like Io's even if the moon itself were too small to see." Cloud of gas above exoplanet European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile saw that the cloud around WASP-49 b sits high above the planet's atmosphere. This was similar to the cloud of gas that Io produces around Jupiter. The cloud was also found to be filled with sodium, was showing sudden changes in size and moving a lot faster than the planet. This hinted that it is a separate body orbiting the planet. Meanwhile, both WASP-49 b and its star mostly contain only hydrogen and helium. But the cloud seems to be coming from a source that is releasing roughly 100,000 kilogrammes of sodium per second, NASA said in the statement. "We think this is a really critical piece of evidence," Apurva Oza, lead author of the study and a staff scientist at the California Institute of Technology, which manages JPL, said in the statement. "The cloud is moving in the opposite direction that physics tells us it should be going if it were part of the planet's atmosphere." The cloud also does not align with the planet's 2.8-Earth-day orbital cycle. However, more observations are needed to confirm the existence of the exomoon.

Another lo in space? A cloud of gas hints at first exomoon bursting with volcanoes

Mars has some unique characteristics, and one of the most peculiar features is its odd shape. Unlike other planets in the solar system, it has a triaxial shape, which means it is of a different size along three axes. Now an astronomer has tried to explain why this is so. He has hypothesised that Mars is missing a moon it once likely had.

Michael Efroimsky talks about the theory in a paper published on the arXiv preprint server.

Mars also hosts some impressive geographical features, such as the tallest mountains in the solar system and the biggest canyon. The Tharsis bulge, situated near the planet's equator, is another thing that has stumped scientists. It is a unique highland that bulges oddly out of the surface. The Tharsis bulge is approximately 5,000 kilometres across, but its origin is not known.

Efroimsky, in his paper, suggests that all of these strange features Mars has are most likely because of a long lost moon. He has named this moon Nerio.

Nerio he says must have exerted an enormous pull on the red planet's surface. This is considering even if it was a third the size of our moon. Since during the early days the surface was still soft, Nerio probably pulled up material due to a synchronous orbit. Years later as it cooled down, the material that was pulled up also settled in the same place, creating a permanent bulge.

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The bulge created equatorial ellipticity, and so the planet has a triaxial shape. Efroimsky also blames the same occurrence for the birth of volcanoes on Mars, making it extremely prone to volcanic activity, and thus the development of highlands on the opposite side of the Tharsis bulge.

<h2>So, what happened to Nerio?</h2>

If the entire theory is true, then where is Nerio? Talking about what happened to Nerio, Efroimsky suggests that Mars's current two moons - Phobos and Deimos - &nbsp;might have been the remnants of the long-lost moon. He says it might have been hit and destroyed by another large body, leaving behind the two moons.&nbsp;

Another likely scenario might have been that it simply wandered away and left the solar system, mostly because of the pull of some other body.&nbsp;

Mars has some unique characteristics, and one of the most peculiar features is its odd shape. Unlike other planets in the solar system, it has a triaxial shape, which means it is of a different size along three axes.

Mars has some unique characteristics, and one of the most peculiar features is its odd shape. Unlike other planets in the solar system, it has a triaxial shape, which means it is of a different size along three axes. Now an astronomer has tried to explain why this is so. He has hypothesised that Mars is missing a moon it once likely had. Michael Efroimsky talks about the theory in a paper published on the arXiv preprint server. Mars also hosts some impressive geographical features, such as the tallest mountains in the solar system and the biggest canyon. The Tharsis bulge, situated near the planet's equator, is another thing that has stumped scientists. It is a unique highland that bulges oddly out of the surface. The Tharsis bulge is approximately 5,000 kilometres across, but its origin is not known. Efroimsky, in his paper, suggests that all of these strange features Mars has are most likely because of a long lost moon. He has named this moon Nerio. Nerio he says must have exerted an enormous pull on the red planet's surface. This is considering even if it was a third the size of our moon. Since during the early days the surface was still soft, Nerio probably pulled up material due to a synchronous orbit. Years later as it cooled down, the material that was pulled up also settled in the same place, creating a permanent bulge. Also Read: Cosmic giant 300 light-years away in Great Bear is 11 times more massive than Jupiter The bulge created equatorial ellipticity, and so the planet has a triaxial shape. Efroimsky also blames the same occurrence for the birth of volcanoes on Mars, making it extremely prone to volcanic activity, and thus the development of highlands on the opposite side of the Tharsis bulge. So, what happened to Nerio? If the entire theory is true, then where is Nerio? Talking about what happened to Nerio, Efroimsky suggests that Mars's current two moons - Phobos and Deimos - might have been the remnants of the long-lost moon. He says it might have been hit and destroyed by another large body, leaving behind the two moons. Another likely scenario might have been that it simply wandered away and left the solar system, mostly because of the pull of some other body.

Is Mars missing a moon? Astronomer says Nerio might have created a strange bulge

In a new study, scientists have suggested that advanced alien civilisations may have been migrating near miniature black holes to fulfil the energy needs of their home planets.

Aliens exploiting miniature black hole 'moons' for energy: Study

Black hole 'moons' may signal advanced alien life

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