California, United States
Researchers from the United States, France and Germany have discovered that Earth’s natural satellite may have been formed as early as 4.53 billion years ago. This estimate derived from the new analysis is hundreds of millions of years earlier than previous ones.
This discovery may help in answering other questions about the Moon like why it has less metal compared to Earth and why it has fewer big impact basins than expected. The research can also provide better insights into the evolution and history of our own planet, according to the team led by geologist Francis Nimmo of the University of California Santa Cruz.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/skygazers-get-a-rare-cosmic-treat-as-cold-moon-shines-in-sky-after-19-years-784317">Skygazers get a rare cosmic treat as 'Cold Moon' shines after 19 years</a>
Earlier, it was believed that the Moon was formed after a large object, roughly the size of Mars, struck the Earth, while it was still in its formation stages about 4.35 billion years ago. However, the new research suggests it was formed much earlier and then experienced a dramatic “re-melting” at the time which was assumed for its creation.
According to the research, this re-melting event occurred due to the Earth’s and Moon’s gravitational pull tugging at each other, called a tidal force, which caused it to stretch and squish and warm the Moon drastically due to friction.
The study also explains the existence of zircon crystals, a mineral found on lunar rocks during the Apollo mission. The age of this mineral can be determined by observing the ratio of uranium to lead.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/saturns-rings-may-have-existed-since-the-solar-system-was-created-study-784694">Saturn's rings may have existed since the Solar System was created: Study</a>
The zircon crystals have been dated significantly older than the age of the Moon. While one crystal has been measured to be 4.46 billion years old, another was calculated to have formed 4.51 billion years ago.
The melting process altered the lunar surface, causing the metals to sink below and hiding the Moon’s real age, according to the study that was published in the journal Nature. This would imply that our planet has been with its natural satellite for almost its entire lifespan as it is estimated to have formed 4.54 billion years ago.
(With inputs from agencies)

This discovery may help in answering other questions about the Moon like why it has less metal compared to Earth and why it has fewer big impact basins than expected



California, United States Researchers from the United States, France and Germany have discovered that Earth’s natural satellite may have been formed as early as 4.53 billion years ago. This estimate derived from the new analysis is hundreds of millions of years earlier than previous ones. This discovery may help in answering other questions about the Moon like why it has less metal compared to Earth and why it has fewer big impact basins than expected. The research can also provide better insights into the evolution and history of our own planet, according to the team led by geologist Francis Nimmo of the University of California Santa Cruz. Also read | Skygazers get a rare cosmic treat as 'Cold Moon' shines after 19 years Earlier, it was believed that the Moon was formed after a large object, roughly the size of Mars, struck the Earth, while it was still in its formation stages about 4.35 billion years ago. However, the new research suggests it was formed much earlier and then experienced a dramatic “re-melting” at the time which was assumed for its creation. According to the research, this re-melting event occurred due to the Earth’s and Moon’s gravitational pull tugging at each other, called a tidal force, which caused it to stretch and squish and warm the Moon drastically due to friction. The study also explains the existence of zircon crystals, a mineral found on lunar rocks during the Apollo mission. The age of this mineral can be determined by observing the ratio of uranium to lead. Also read | Saturn's rings may have existed since the Solar System was created: Study The zircon crystals have been dated significantly older than the age of the Moon. While one crystal has been measured to be 4.46 billion years old, another was calculated to have formed 4.51 billion years ago. The melting process altered the lunar surface, causing the metals to sink below and hiding the Moon’s real age, according to the study that was published in the journal Nature. This would imply that our planet has been with its natural satellite for almost its entire lifespan as it is estimated to have formed 4.54 billion years ago. (With inputs from agencies)

The Moon may be much older than we thought, new study suggests

Researchers from the United States, France and Germany have discovered that Earth’s natural satellite may have been formed as early as 4.53 billion years ago. This estimate derived from the new analysis is hundreds of millions of years earlier than previous ones.

This discovery may help in answering other questions about the Moon like why it has less metal compared to Earth and why it has fewer big impact basins than expected. The research can also provide better insights into the evolution and history of our own planet, according to the team led by geologist Francis Nimmo of the University of California Santa Cruz.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/skygazers-get-a-rare-cosmic-treat-as-cold-moon-shines-in-sky-after-19-years-784317">Skygazers get a rare cosmic treat as 'Cold Moon' shines after 19 years</a>

Earlier, it was believed that the Moon was formed after a large object, roughly the size of Mars, struck the Earth, while it was still in its formation stages about 4.35 billion years ago. However, the new research suggests it was formed much earlier and then experienced a dramatic “re-melting” at the time which was assumed for its creation.

According to the research, this re-melting event occurred due to the Earth’s and Moon’s gravitational pull tugging at each other, called a tidal force, which caused it to stretch and squish and warm the Moon drastically due to friction.

The study also explains the existence of zircon crystals, a mineral found on lunar rocks during the Apollo mission. The age of this mineral can be determined by observing the ratio&nbsp;of uranium to lead.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/saturns-rings-may-have-existed-since-the-solar-system-was-created-study-784694">Saturn's rings may have existed since the Solar System was created: Study</a>

The zircon crystals have been dated significantly older than the age of the Moon. While one crystal has been measured to be 4.46 billion years old, another was calculated to have formed 4.51 billion years ago.

The melting process altered the lunar surface, causing the metals to sink below and hiding the Moon’s real age, according to the study that was published in the journal Nature. This would imply that our planet has been with its natural satellite for almost its entire lifespan as it is estimated to have formed 4.54 billion years ago.

(With inputs from agencies)

Researchers from the United States, France and Germany have discovered that Earth’s natural satellite may have been formed as early as 4.53 billion years ago. This estimate derived from the new analysis is hundreds of millions of years earlier than previous ones.

Researchers from the United States, France and Germany have discovered that Earth’s natural satellite may have been formed as early as 4.53 billion years ago. This estimate derived from the new analysis is hundreds of millions of years earlier than previous ones. This discovery may help in answering other questions about the Moon like why it has less metal compared to Earth and why it has fewer big impact basins than expected. The research can also provide better insights into the evolution and history of our own planet, according to the team led by geologist Francis Nimmo of the University of California Santa Cruz. Also read | Skygazers get a rare cosmic treat as 'Cold Moon' shines after 19 years Earlier, it was believed that the Moon was formed after a large object, roughly the size of Mars, struck the Earth, while it was still in its formation stages about 4.35 billion years ago. However, the new research suggests it was formed much earlier and then experienced a dramatic “re-melting” at the time which was assumed for its creation. According to the research, this re-melting event occurred due to the Earth’s and Moon’s gravitational pull tugging at each other, called a tidal force, which caused it to stretch and squish and warm the Moon drastically due to friction. The study also explains the existence of zircon crystals, a mineral found on lunar rocks during the Apollo mission. The age of this mineral can be determined by observing the ratio of uranium to lead. Also read | Saturn's rings may have existed since the Solar System was created: Study The zircon crystals have been dated significantly older than the age of the Moon. While one crystal has been measured to be 4.46 billion years old, another was calculated to have formed 4.51 billion years ago. The melting process altered the lunar surface, causing the metals to sink below and hiding the Moon’s real age, according to the study that was published in the journal Nature. This would imply that our planet has been with its natural satellite for almost its entire lifespan as it is estimated to have formed 4.54 billion years ago. (With inputs from agencies)

New Delhi, India
Scientists believed that Saturn did not always have rings and they had been created more than 100 to 400 million years ago. 
Now in a new study, researchers from the French National Centre for Scientific Research and the Institute of Science Tokyo have found that the rings of Saturn may not have been ancient but as old as the Solar System.
"Data from the Cassini spacecraft suggested the rings might be young because they appear so clean, and many people simply accepted that conclusion. However, our theoretical work now shows that a clean appearance does not necessarily mean the rings are young," said planetary scientist Ryuki Hyodo of the Institute of Science Tokyo, while speaking to ScienceAlert.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-warns-asteroids-2024-xy5-and-2024-xb6-race-toward-earth-but-are-they-really-a-threat-784185">NASA warns, asteroids 2024 XY5 and 2024 XB6 race toward Earth — but are they really a threat?</a>
"So, I think this is an important insight for guiding future planetary exploration missions; you better not be fooled by its first glance," he added. 
<h2>Saturn and its rings</h2>
In the Solar System, other giant planets also have rings, but they are not as majestic as that of Saturn.
The ethereal rings are present around Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune, however, they are not visible till seen from the right wavelengths.
However, in the case of Saturn, its extensive rings define the planet. There is a high possibility that the rings could be a common phenomenon outside the Solar System because there are a large number of gas giant exoplanets present in the universe. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/jeff-bezos-will-spend-100000000000-on-a-new-space-station-that-will-also-host-tourists-781639">Jeff Bezos will spend $100,000,000,000 on a new space station that will also host tourists</a>
If the rings of Saturn are relatively short-lived, they will last only a few hundred million years before they collapse. 
However, if the rings of Saturn exist for a longer duration, they will not have any implications on the Solar System. 
Scientists had assumed that the age of Saturn's rings is less on the basis of the absence of dust because of high-speed meteoroids' constant bombardment which slammed the ice and converted them to rings. 
(With inputs from agencies)

The age of Saturn's rings was assumed on the basis of the absence of dust which happened because of constant bombardment of high-speed meteoroids which slammed the ice and converted them to rings



New Delhi, India Scientists believed that Saturn did not always have rings and they had been created more than 100 to 400 million years ago. Now in a new study, researchers from the French National Centre for Scientific Research and the Institute of Science Tokyo have found that the rings of Saturn may not have been ancient but as old as the Solar System. "Data from the Cassini spacecraft suggested the rings might be young because they appear so clean, and many people simply accepted that conclusion. However, our theoretical work now shows that a clean appearance does not necessarily mean the rings are young," said planetary scientist Ryuki Hyodo of the Institute of Science Tokyo, while speaking to ScienceAlert. Also Read: NASA warns, asteroids 2024 XY5 and 2024 XB6 race toward Earth — but are they really a threat? "So, I think this is an important insight for guiding future planetary exploration missions; you better not be fooled by its first glance," he added. Saturn and its rings In the Solar System, other giant planets also have rings, but they are not as majestic as that of Saturn. The ethereal rings are present around Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune, however, they are not visible till seen from the right wavelengths. However, in the case of Saturn, its extensive rings define the planet. There is a high possibility that the rings could be a common phenomenon outside the Solar System because there are a large number of gas giant exoplanets present in the universe. Also Read: Jeff Bezos will spend $100,000,000,000 on a new space station that will also host tourists If the rings of Saturn are relatively short-lived, they will last only a few hundred million years before they collapse. However, if the rings of Saturn exist for a longer duration, they will not have any implications on the Solar System. Scientists had assumed that the age of Saturn's rings is less on the basis of the absence of dust because of high-speed meteoroids' constant bombardment which slammed the ice and converted them to rings. (With inputs from agencies)

Saturn's rings may have existed since the Solar System was created: Study

Scientists believed that Saturn did not always have rings and they had been created more than&nbsp;100 to 400 million years ago.&nbsp;

Now in a new study, researchers from the French National Centre for Scientific Research&nbsp;and the Institute of Science Tokyo have found that the rings of Saturn may not have been ancient but as old as the Solar System.

"Data from the Cassini spacecraft suggested the rings might be young because they appear so clean, and many people simply accepted that conclusion. However, our theoretical work now shows that a clean appearance does not necessarily mean the rings are young," said planetary scientist&nbsp;Ryuki&nbsp;Hyodo of the Institute of Science Tokyo, while speaking to ScienceAlert.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-warns-asteroids-2024-xy5-and-2024-xb6-race-toward-earth-but-are-they-really-a-threat-784185">NASA warns, asteroids 2024 XY5 and 2024 XB6 race toward Earth — but are they really a threat?</a>

"So, I think this is an important insight for guiding future planetary exploration missions; you better not be fooled by its first glance," he added.&nbsp;

<h2>Saturn and its rings</h2>

In the Solar System, other giant planets also have rings, but they are not as majestic as that of Saturn.

The ethereal rings are present around Jupiter,&nbsp;Uranus, and Neptune, however, they are not visible till seen from the right wavelengths.

However, in the case of Saturn, its extensive rings define the planet. There is a high possibility that the rings could be a common phenomenon outside the Solar System because there are a large number of gas giant exoplanets present in the universe.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/jeff-bezos-will-spend-100000000000-on-a-new-space-station-that-will-also-host-tourists-781639">Jeff Bezos will spend $100,000,000,000 on a new space station that will also host tourists</a>

If the rings of Saturn are relatively short-lived, they will last only a few hundred million years&nbsp;before they collapse.&nbsp;

However, if the rings of Saturn exist for a longer duration, they will not have any implications on the Solar System.&nbsp;

Scientists had assumed that the age of Saturn's rings is less on the basis of the absence of dust because of high-speed meteoroids' constant bombardment which slammed the ice and converted them to rings.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists believed that Saturn did not always have rings and they had been created more than 100 to 400 million years ago. Now in a new study, researchers from the French National Centre for Scientific Research and the Institute of Science Tokyo have found that the rings of Saturn may not have been ancient but as old as the Solar System.

Scientists believed that Saturn did not always have rings and they had been created more than 100 to 400 million years ago. Now in a new study, researchers from the French National Centre for Scientific Research and the Institute of Science Tokyo have found that the rings of Saturn may not have been ancient but as old as the Solar System. "Data from the Cassini spacecraft suggested the rings might be young because they appear so clean, and many people simply accepted that conclusion. However, our theoretical work now shows that a clean appearance does not necessarily mean the rings are young," said planetary scientist Ryuki Hyodo of the Institute of Science Tokyo, while speaking to ScienceAlert. Also Read: NASA warns, asteroids 2024 XY5 and 2024 XB6 race toward Earth — but are they really a threat? "So, I think this is an important insight for guiding future planetary exploration missions; you better not be fooled by its first glance," he added. Saturn and its rings In the Solar System, other giant planets also have rings, but they are not as majestic as that of Saturn. The ethereal rings are present around Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune, however, they are not visible till seen from the right wavelengths. However, in the case of Saturn, its extensive rings define the planet. There is a high possibility that the rings could be a common phenomenon outside the Solar System because there are a large number of gas giant exoplanets present in the universe. Also Read: Jeff Bezos will spend $100,000,000,000 on a new space station that will also host tourists If the rings of Saturn are relatively short-lived, they will last only a few hundred million years before they collapse. However, if the rings of Saturn exist for a longer duration, they will not have any implications on the Solar System. Scientists had assumed that the age of Saturn's rings is less on the basis of the absence of dust because of high-speed meteoroids' constant bombardment which slammed the ice and converted them to rings. (With inputs from agencies)

Recent discoveries on Uranus' moons reveal potential conditions for life, suggesting these distant moons might hold environments where alien life could exist.

Could Uranus’ Moons Harbor Alien Life? New Findings Spark Hope

Space is a mysterious and dangerous place. While we know that black holes can swallow up whole planets, some things are far scarier than them.

Apart from black holes, various objects in the universe can pose a threat to not only our planet but the whole solar system.

<h2>Here are some of the most dangerous objects and phenomena in space:</h2>

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs)

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are from powerful explosions observed in distant galaxies. It is believed they can vaporise anything within 200 light-years with its beams. While GRBs hitting Earth is only a hypothesis, it could be dangerous to the atmosphere and damage the ozone layer, making life vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asteroid-saga-continues-mission-to-probe-crime-scene-on-dimorphos-ready-for-blast-off-764738">Asteroid saga continues: Mission to probe 'crime scene' on Dimorphos ready for blast off</a>

Megacomet

A “Megacomet” is a massive comet that can be as large as 100 miles across. The biggest-ever comet C/2014 UN271 was last seen in our solar system in 2021. It is so big that it was named a minor planet initially. Luckily, it will be a billion miles away from Earth when it comes closest to Earth in 2031. However, there is a possibility of more megacomets in the universe that could come our way.

Supernovae

Supernova explosions occur when a star reaches the end of its life cycle. They are so powerful and bright that they can outshine an entire galaxy due to the energy they release. Any object within their “kill zone” could be wiped out by its intense radiation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/centaur-an-icy-body-in-space-is-shooting-multiple-jets-of-hot-gas-whats-going-on-764764">Centaur, an icy body in space, is shooting multiple jets of hot gas. What's going on?</a>

Asteroids

There are many large objects in our solar system. There is a possibility of an asteroid striking the Earth, similar to the one that wiped out dinosaurs from Earth about 66 million years ago. According to new data from astronomers, there are over 150,000 objects that are unidentified in the solar system, and most of them are asteroids.

Cosmic collision

A collision with another galaxy can lead to deadly impact, creating new black holes and altering the galaxies due to the clashing gravitational forces. It is predicted that Andromeda galaxy, which is 2.5 million light-years away will collide with our galaxy, Milky Way, in 3 to 5 billion years.

(With inputs from agencies)

Space is a mysterious and dangerous place. While we know that black holes can swallow up whole planets, some things are far scarier than them. Apart from black holes, various objects in the universe can pose a threat to not only our planet but the whole solar system.

Space is a mysterious and dangerous place. While we know that black holes can swallow up whole planets, some things are far scarier than them. Apart from black holes, various objects in the universe can pose a threat to not only our planet but the whole solar system. Here are some of the most dangerous objects and phenomena in space: Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are from powerful explosions observed in distant galaxies. It is believed they can vaporise anything within 200 light-years with its beams. While GRBs hitting Earth is only a hypothesis, it could be dangerous to the atmosphere and damage the ozone layer, making life vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Also read | Asteroid saga continues: Mission to probe 'crime scene' on Dimorphos ready for blast off Megacomet A “Megacomet” is a massive comet that can be as large as 100 miles across. The biggest-ever comet C/2014 UN271 was last seen in our solar system in 2021. It is so big that it was named a minor planet initially. Luckily, it will be a billion miles away from Earth when it comes closest to Earth in 2031. However, there is a possibility of more megacomets in the universe that could come our way. Supernovae Supernova explosions occur when a star reaches the end of its life cycle. They are so powerful and bright that they can outshine an entire galaxy due to the energy they release. Any object within their “kill zone” could be wiped out by its intense radiation. Also read | Centaur, an icy body in space, is shooting multiple jets of hot gas. What's going on? Asteroids There are many large objects in our solar system. There is a possibility of an asteroid striking the Earth, similar to the one that wiped out dinosaurs from Earth about 66 million years ago. According to new data from astronomers, there are over 150,000 objects that are unidentified in the solar system, and most of them are asteroids. Cosmic collision A collision with another galaxy can lead to deadly impact, creating new black holes and altering the galaxies due to the clashing gravitational forces. It is predicted that Andromeda galaxy, which is 2.5 million light-years away will collide with our galaxy, Milky Way, in 3 to 5 billion years. (With inputs from agencies)

If you think black holes are the most dangerous objects in space, you’re wrong

An icy body in the outer solar system is spewing hot gas and has baffled scientists for years. Centaur 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 was discovered in 1927 and undergoes highly active and quasi-periodical outbursts every six to eight weeks.

Now the James Webb Telescope has revealed fascinating details about the icy body. Using its near-infrared spectrograph instrument, a team of scientists mapped the gases it throws out. They found what it was spewing were two jets of carbon dioxide and a new jet of carbon monoxide pointed towards the Sun.

The findings were presented in a recent study published in Nature.

The discovery of the gases gives scientists an insight into how the centaur originated. Not only this but it is also expected to help them understand more about the formation of the solar system.&nbsp;

Experts think that the centaur might not be one whole piece but a combination of multiple pieces.

“The fact that Centaur 29P has such dramatic differences in the abundance of [carbon monoxide] and [carbon dioxide] across its surface suggests that 29P may be made of several pieces,” Geronimo Villanueva, co-author of the study at NASA Goddard, said in a statement.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asteroid-saga-continues-mission-to-probe-crime-scene-on-dimorphos-ready-for-blast-off-764738">Mission to probe 'crime scene' on Dimorphos ready for blast off</a>

“Maybe two pieces coalesced together and made this centaur, which is a mixture between very different bodies that underwent separate formation pathways. It challenges our ideas about how primordial objects are created and stored in the Kuiper Belt.”

Centaurs fall somewhere between comets and asteroids. They possess the characteristics of both space bodies. They are icy and at one time used to orbit the Sun from beyond Neptune. However, giant planets have been casting gravitational influence on them, leading centaurs to slowly change their orbits.&nbsp;

They are now found between Jupiter and Neptune, although they are still similar to Trans-Neptunian objects, those cosmic bodies that lie beyond Neptune, and short-period comets.

"Centaurs can be considered as some of the leftovers of our planetary system’s formation," Sara Faggi, a researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and lead author of the study, said in a statement.&nbsp;

Using Webb's data, the team created a model of the jets and found that&nbsp;the gases were being released from different regions on the centaur’s nucleus.&nbsp;

An icy body in the outer solar system is spewing hot gas and has baffled scientists for years. Centaur 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 was discovered in 1927 and undergoes highly active and quasi-periodical outbursts every six to eight weeks.

An icy body in the outer solar system is spewing hot gas and has baffled scientists for years. Centaur 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 was discovered in 1927 and undergoes highly active and quasi-periodical outbursts every six to eight weeks. Now the James Webb Telescope has revealed fascinating details about the icy body. Using its near-infrared spectrograph instrument, a team of scientists mapped the gases it throws out. They found what it was spewing were two jets of carbon dioxide and a new jet of carbon monoxide pointed towards the Sun. The findings were presented in a recent study published in Nature. The discovery of the gases gives scientists an insight into how the centaur originated. Not only this but it is also expected to help them understand more about the formation of the solar system. Experts think that the centaur might not be one whole piece but a combination of multiple pieces. “The fact that Centaur 29P has such dramatic differences in the abundance of [carbon monoxide] and [carbon dioxide] across its surface suggests that 29P may be made of several pieces,” Geronimo Villanueva, co-author of the study at NASA Goddard, said in a statement. Also Read: Mission to probe 'crime scene' on Dimorphos ready for blast off “Maybe two pieces coalesced together and made this centaur, which is a mixture between very different bodies that underwent separate formation pathways. It challenges our ideas about how primordial objects are created and stored in the Kuiper Belt.” Centaurs fall somewhere between comets and asteroids. They possess the characteristics of both space bodies. They are icy and at one time used to orbit the Sun from beyond Neptune. However, giant planets have been casting gravitational influence on them, leading centaurs to slowly change their orbits. They are now found between Jupiter and Neptune, although they are still similar to Trans-Neptunian objects, those cosmic bodies that lie beyond Neptune, and short-period comets. "Centaurs can be considered as some of the leftovers of our planetary system’s formation," Sara Faggi, a researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and lead author of the study, said in a statement. Using Webb's data, the team created a model of the jets and found that the gases were being released from different regions on the centaur’s nucleus.

Centaur, an icy body in space, is shooting multiple jets of hot gas. What's going on?

Astronomers have discovered a planet roaming in the Milky Way, orbiting a white dwarf. Around 1.9 times the mass of Earth, this planet likely supported life during its lifetime and orbited a host star. However, all life must have ended when its star died a violent death. The event led the planet to drift away in the absence of a gravitational force.

The discovery, made by a team led by astronomer Keming Zhang of the University of California, gives us a peek into how life might one day end on our own planet and the fate of Earth once the Sun dies and evolves into a white dwarf. Current research suggests that the Sun will meet its fate in about a billion years.

This planet is situated near the central bulge of our galaxy and is around 4,000 light-years away from us. The researchers studied the planet with the&nbsp;Keck 10-metre telescope in Hawaii.

They noticed that the planet was revolving around the dense, hot core of a star that had died. This core, known as the white dwarf, takes trillions of years to cool down completely.&nbsp;

<h2>Red Giant phase of a star</h2>

A star turns into a white dwarf once it runs out of hydrogen fuel to fuse in its core. It becomes less stable and puffs up to an enormous size, which is called the red giant phase.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/two-rocks-fused-into-one-to-form-peanut-like-asteroid-that-flew-past-earth-762194">Two rocks fused into one to form peanut-like asteroid that flew past Earth</a>

During this phase, the star's outer atmosphere puffs up and it can expand to hundreds of times its initial size. When our Sun reaches this state, it is predicted to grow so large that it will gobble up Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars in the process.

However, the newly discovered planet proves that this might not be the case after all. If that planet has managed to survive the red giant phase, then so can Earth and the other planets in the solar system.

In case, Earth is not eaten up by the sun, it might widen its orbit, thus improving its chances of survival.

"We do not currently have a consensus whether Earth could avoid being engulfed by the red giant sun," Zhang said in a statement.

"In any case, planet Earth will only be habitable for around another billion years, at which point Earth's oceans would be vaporized by runaway greenhouse effect—long before the risk of getting swallowed by the red giant," he added.

Zhang and his team found the planet using a phenomenon known as microlensing. It is used to locate other Earth-like worlds that might otherwise not be visible on telescope, in the galaxy. He says that this finding also shows the potential the technology has to discover more such planets.&nbsp;

Astronomers have discovered a planet roaming in the Milky Way, orbiting a white dwarf. Around 1.9 times the mass of Earth, this planet likely supported life during its lifetime and orbited a host star.

Astronomers have discovered a planet roaming in the Milky Way, orbiting a white dwarf. Around 1.9 times the mass of Earth, this planet likely supported life during its lifetime and orbited a host star. However, all life must have ended when its star died a violent death. The event led the planet to drift away in the absence of a gravitational force. The discovery, made by a team led by astronomer Keming Zhang of the University of California, gives us a peek into how life might one day end on our own planet and the fate of Earth once the Sun dies and evolves into a white dwarf. Current research suggests that the Sun will meet its fate in about a billion years. This planet is situated near the central bulge of our galaxy and is around 4,000 light-years away from us. The researchers studied the planet with the Keck 10-metre telescope in Hawaii. They noticed that the planet was revolving around the dense, hot core of a star that had died. This core, known as the white dwarf, takes trillions of years to cool down completely. Red Giant phase of a star A star turns into a white dwarf once it runs out of hydrogen fuel to fuse in its core. It becomes less stable and puffs up to an enormous size, which is called the red giant phase. Also Read: Two rocks fused into one to form peanut-like asteroid that flew past Earth During this phase, the star's outer atmosphere puffs up and it can expand to hundreds of times its initial size. When our Sun reaches this state, it is predicted to grow so large that it will gobble up Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars in the process. However, the newly discovered planet proves that this might not be the case after all. If that planet has managed to survive the red giant phase, then so can Earth and the other planets in the solar system. In case, Earth is not eaten up by the sun, it might widen its orbit, thus improving its chances of survival. "We do not currently have a consensus whether Earth could avoid being engulfed by the red giant sun," Zhang said in a statement. "In any case, planet Earth will only be habitable for around another billion years, at which point Earth's oceans would be vaporized by runaway greenhouse effect—long before the risk of getting swallowed by the red giant," he added. Zhang and his team found the planet using a phenomenon known as microlensing. It is used to locate other Earth-like worlds that might otherwise not be visible on telescope, in the galaxy. He says that this finding also shows the potential the technology has to discover more such planets.

Planet orbiting a dead star hints at Earth's destiny after our Sun dies

Scientists have suggested that a tiny black hole is likely to pass through our solar system after every decade and this can be spotted by observing the wobbling of Mars.

Scientists have suggested that a tiny black hole is likely to pass through our solar system after every decade and this can be spotted by observing the wobbling of Mars. This observation was on the basis of the idea that the majority of dark matter in the universe is filled with minuscule black holes. The researchers, in order to determine the truth of this theory, have been closely observing the orbit of Mars. According to a new paper published in the journal Physical Review D, the tiny black holes when travelling through the solar system can make the red planet wobble in a way that it can be spotted from Earth. "Given decades of precision telemetry, scientists know the distance between Earth and Mars to an accuracy of about 10 centimetres [4 inches]," said study co-author David Kaiser, professor of physics at MIT, in a statement. "We're taking advantage of this highly instrumented region of space to try and look for a small effect. If we see it, that would count as a real reason to keep pursuing this delightful idea that all of dark matter consists of black holes that were spawned in less than a second after the Big Bang and have been streaming around the universe for 14 billion years," he added. Also Read: Mega collision with another galaxy 9 billion years ago created Milky Way black hole The researchers in the paper estimated one of these tiny black holes is likely to fly through our solar system one time in every decade. "Primordial black holes do not live in the solar system. Rather, they're streaming through the universe, doing their own thing," said paper co-author Sarah Geller, who is now a postdoc at the University of California at Santa Cruz, in the statement. "And the probability is, they're going through the inner solar system at some angle once every 10 years or so," he added. How do scientists plan to detect the passing of black holes? To detect these black holes, researchers have modelled every large body's orbits in the solar system and discovered that the tiny wobbles in the orbit of Mars can give a hint of the passing of asteroid-mass black holes. "State-of-the-art simulations of the solar system include more than a million objects, each of which has a tiny residual effect," said study co-author, Benjamin Lehmann, who is a researcher at MIT, in the statement. Watch: Astronomers find a rare black hole that defies current theories "But even modelling two dozen objects in a careful simulation, we could see there was a real effect that we could dig into," he added. Such wobbles will be detected by equipment on Earth. "We need as much clarity as we can of the expected backgrounds, such as the typical speeds and distributions of boring space rocks, versus these primordial black holes," said Kaiser. "Luckily for us, astronomers have been tracking ordinary space rocks for decades as they have flown through our solar system, so we could calculate typical properties of their trajectories and begin to compare them with the very different types of paths and speeds that primordial black holes should follow," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

A 'primordial' black hole will pass through our solar system every 10 years. Will it harm?

Our universe is full of mysteries and wonder. While scientists and researchers keep discovering new phenomena and celestial objects, a much larger part of it remains unknown, which baffles scientists.&nbsp;

<h2>Here are 7 space mysteries that still remain unknown:</h2>

Dark matter and dark energy

Two of the most mysterious phenomena of the universe are considered to be dark matter and dark energy. They are thought to make up about 95 per cent of the total mass-energy content of the universe. However, scientists still don't know about the nature of these two elusive forces.

Solar system

Our solar system is full of mysteries and questions. For a long time, scientists have been trying to look for an explanation of how our solar system came into being to understand the unique planets within it.

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Re-ionisation

It is believed that our universe was formed as a result of the Big Bang about 13.7 billion years ago. Around 13 billion years ago, it went through an age of re-ionisation, in which hydrogen gas fog cleared and became translucent to ultraviolet light. The cause of this re-ionisation remains unknown.

Missing baryonic matter

While dark energy and dark matter make up about 95 per cent of the universe, the remaining 5 per cent is made up of regular matter. However, more than half of that regular matter, baryonic matter, is missing. Scientists have speculated that it is found between galaxies in warm-hot intergalactic medium, but it remains a topic of debate.

Sun's corona

The outer atmosphere of the sun's corona can reach up to an unbelievable 6 million degrees Celsius. Research has suggested a connection between energy underneath the surface and the magnetic field of the sun, however, we still don't know what makes it so hot.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/this-hellish-planet-receives-iron-rain-and-even-has-a-rainbow-heres-why-757326">THIS hellish planet receives iron rain and even has a rainbow. Here's why</a>

Supernovas

Supernovas are the massive explosion of stars when they run out of their fuel and reach their end. These blasts can easily outshine galaxies by how bright they are. How this gigantic explosion occurs remains a mystery.

Cosmic rays

Another mystery of the universe is the origin of cosmic rays. Cosmic rays are charged subatomic particles that travel into our solar system from outer space. Scientists are still baffled about how these strong and highly energetic rays are produced.

(With inputs from agencies)

Our universe is full of mysteries and wonder. While scientists and researchers keep discovering new phenomena and celestial objects, a much larger part of it remains unknown, which baffles scientists.

Our universe is full of mysteries and wonder. While scientists and researchers keep discovering new phenomena and celestial objects, a much larger part of it remains unknown, which baffles scientists. Here are 7 space mysteries that still remain unknown: Dark matter and dark energy Two of the most mysterious phenomena of the universe are considered to be dark matter and dark energy. They are thought to make up about 95 per cent of the total mass-energy content of the universe. However, scientists still don't know about the nature of these two elusive forces. Solar system Our solar system is full of mysteries and questions. For a long time, scientists have been trying to look for an explanation of how our solar system came into being to understand the unique planets within it. Also read | NASA on alert as massive 720-foot asteroid hurtles towards Earth at scary speed Re-ionisation It is believed that our universe was formed as a result of the Big Bang about 13.7 billion years ago. Around 13 billion years ago, it went through an age of re-ionisation, in which hydrogen gas fog cleared and became translucent to ultraviolet light. The cause of this re-ionisation remains unknown. Missing baryonic matter While dark energy and dark matter make up about 95 per cent of the universe, the remaining 5 per cent is made up of regular matter. However, more than half of that regular matter, baryonic matter, is missing. Scientists have speculated that it is found between galaxies in warm-hot intergalactic medium, but it remains a topic of debate. Sun's corona The outer atmosphere of the sun's corona can reach up to an unbelievable 6 million degrees Celsius. Research has suggested a connection between energy underneath the surface and the magnetic field of the sun, however, we still don't know what makes it so hot. Also read | THIS hellish planet receives iron rain and even has a rainbow. Here's why Supernovas Supernovas are the massive explosion of stars when they run out of their fuel and reach their end. These blasts can easily outshine galaxies by how bright they are. How this gigantic explosion occurs remains a mystery. Cosmic rays Another mystery of the universe is the origin of cosmic rays. Cosmic rays are charged subatomic particles that travel into our solar system from outer space. Scientists are still baffled about how these strong and highly energetic rays are produced. (With inputs from agencies)

7 Unsolved Space Mysteries That Still Leave Scientists Scratching Their Heads

A report on Earth.com suggests that the boundaries of our solar system were stretched by a strange force, something that flew by. Astrophysicist Susanne Pfalzner of Forschungszentrum Jülich, has discovered that a stellar flyby caused the occurrence and the edges of the solar system are beyond where they once were.

Pfalzner notes that several objects beyond the orbit of Neptune move on eccentric orbits.

“Several thousand celestial bodies are known to move beyond the orbit of Neptune,” said Pfalzner. “Surprisingly, many of these so-called trans-Neptunian objects move on eccentric orbits that are inclined relative to the common orbital plane of the planets in the solar system.“

Pfalzner and her student, Amith Govind and Simon Portegies Zwart from Leiden University, say that some force might have lifted trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) from the disk where they originally formed and altered their orbits.

To learn more about what could have moved these objects from their orbits, the team conducted 3,000 simulations. They tried to understand whether another star caused this to happen.&nbsp;

They found that this was a possibility and a close flyby of another star is likely to blame for the way the TNOs move. The researchers added that this star might also be responsible for the movement of some known TNOs, such as the dwarf planet Sedna which was discovered in 2003.

Other objects with bizarre orbits are 2008 KV42 and 2011 KT19 which move almost perpendicular to Neptune's orbit.&nbsp;

“The best match for today’s outer solar system is a star slightly lighter than our Sun – about 0.8 solar masses,” Govind said.

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“This star passed our Sun at a distance of around 16.5 billion kilometres – about 110 times the distance between the Earth and the Sun, or just under four times the distance to Neptune.”

<h2>Implications for future studies</h2>

The finding has opened up a new avenue for astronomers to understand how stellar flybys affect other bodies, and whether these might have shaped the orbits of celestial bodies residing in our solar system and beyond.

Flybys of other similar stars might have led some trans-Neptunian objects to be flung towards the inner solar system to become the moons of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.&nbsp;

“Some of these objects could have been captured by the giant planets as moons,” said Portegies Zwart. “This would explain why the outer planets of our solar system have two different types of moons.”

A report on Earth.com suggests that the boundaries of our solar system were stretched by a strange force, something that flew by. Astrophysicist Susanne Pfalzner of Forschungszentrum Jülich, has discovered that a stellar flyby caused the occurrence and the edges of the solar system are beyond where they once were.

A report on Earth.com suggests that the boundaries of our solar system were stretched by a strange force, something that flew by. Astrophysicist Susanne Pfalzner of Forschungszentrum Jülich, has discovered that a stellar flyby caused the occurrence and the edges of the solar system are beyond where they once were. Pfalzner notes that several objects beyond the orbit of Neptune move on eccentric orbits. “Several thousand celestial bodies are known to move beyond the orbit of Neptune,” said Pfalzner. “Surprisingly, many of these so-called trans-Neptunian objects move on eccentric orbits that are inclined relative to the common orbital plane of the planets in the solar system.“ Pfalzner and her student, Amith Govind and Simon Portegies Zwart from Leiden University, say that some force might have lifted trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) from the disk where they originally formed and altered their orbits. To learn more about what could have moved these objects from their orbits, the team conducted 3,000 simulations. They tried to understand whether another star caused this to happen. They found that this was a possibility and a close flyby of another star is likely to blame for the way the TNOs move. The researchers added that this star might also be responsible for the movement of some known TNOs, such as the dwarf planet Sedna which was discovered in 2003. Other objects with bizarre orbits are 2008 KV42 and 2011 KT19 which move almost perpendicular to Neptune's orbit. “The best match for today’s outer solar system is a star slightly lighter than our Sun – about 0.8 solar masses,” Govind said. Also Read: North American lake fills up with toxins-releasing algae visible from space “This star passed our Sun at a distance of around 16.5 billion kilometres – about 110 times the distance between the Earth and the Sun, or just under four times the distance to Neptune.” Implications for future studies The finding has opened up a new avenue for astronomers to understand how stellar flybys affect other bodies, and whether these might have shaped the orbits of celestial bodies residing in our solar system and beyond. Flybys of other similar stars might have led some trans-Neptunian objects to be flung towards the inner solar system to become the moons of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. “Some of these objects could have been captured by the giant planets as moons,” said Portegies Zwart. “This would explain why the outer planets of our solar system have two different types of moons.”

Invisible force zoomed through solar system and threw off objects from their orbit

Astronomers have found new objects lurking towards the edge of our solar system. The Kuiper Belt that lies beyond Neptune is a cold, ring-shaped field filled with multiple icy bodies. Pluto lives here, and so does Arrokoth and several more bodies.

Known as Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs), astronomers have noticed a rise in the number of these bodies. They are between 70 and 90 astronomical units from the Sun but are much farther away from the inner population of KBOs. The gap is so wide that experts say it appears practically like a whole new Kuiper Belt in itself.

"If this is confirmed, it would be a major discovery," says planetary scientist Fumi Yoshida of the University of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences and Chiba Institute of Technology in Japan.

To understand the distance between the objects in the Kuiper Belt and the newly discovered bodies, note that the belt itself extends from the orbit of Neptune at around 30 astronomical units from the Sun to about 50 astronomical units from the Sun. An astronomical unit is the average distance between Earth and the Sun.

The Kuiper Belt is being constantly studied to know more about the outer regions of our solar system. To date, using the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan's Subaru Telescope in Hawai'i, astronomers have found 263 new Kuiper Belt Objects.

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Surprisingly, at least 11 of these new KBOs reside in an area far beyond the region where the belt was thought to end.

<h2>The mysterious gap beyond Kuiper</h2>

An international team of astronomers led by Wesley Fraser of the National Research Council of Canada found that these objects are out in the region past 70 astronomical units. To put the distance into perspective, know that the New Horizons spacecraft heading into deeper space after conducting a flyby of Pluto in 2015 is currently at nearly 60 astronomical units from the Sun.

Going by the number of these objects spotted, the researchers were able to figure out the density of the outer Kuiper Belt ring which is expected to be lower than the inner population, but high enough to constitute a new structure.

The region between 55 and 70 astronomical units has almost nothing. This gap is a strange discovery for our solar system, but astronomers say this is a regular feature in other forming planetary systems.

"Our Solar System's Kuiper Belt long appeared to be very small in comparison with many other planetary systems, but our results suggest that idea might just have arisen due to an observational bias," Fraser explains.

"So maybe, if this result is confirmed, our Kuiper Belt isn't all that small and unusual after all compared to those around other stars."

Astronomers have found new objects lurking towards the edge of our solar system. The Kuiper Belt that lies beyond Neptune is a cold, ring-shaped field filled with multiple icy bodies.

Astronomers have found new objects lurking towards the edge of our solar system. The Kuiper Belt that lies beyond Neptune is a cold, ring-shaped field filled with multiple icy bodies. Pluto lives here, and so does Arrokoth and several more bodies. Known as Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs), astronomers have noticed a rise in the number of these bodies. They are between 70 and 90 astronomical units from the Sun but are much farther away from the inner population of KBOs. The gap is so wide that experts say it appears practically like a whole new Kuiper Belt in itself. "If this is confirmed, it would be a major discovery," says planetary scientist Fumi Yoshida of the University of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences and Chiba Institute of Technology in Japan. To understand the distance between the objects in the Kuiper Belt and the newly discovered bodies, note that the belt itself extends from the orbit of Neptune at around 30 astronomical units from the Sun to about 50 astronomical units from the Sun. An astronomical unit is the average distance between Earth and the Sun. The Kuiper Belt is being constantly studied to know more about the outer regions of our solar system. To date, using the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan's Subaru Telescope in Hawai'i, astronomers have found 263 new Kuiper Belt Objects. Also Read: Tiny volcanoes continued to erupt on Moon after the bigger ones died down Surprisingly, at least 11 of these new KBOs reside in an area far beyond the region where the belt was thought to end. The mysterious gap beyond Kuiper An international team of astronomers led by Wesley Fraser of the National Research Council of Canada found that these objects are out in the region past 70 astronomical units. To put the distance into perspective, know that the New Horizons spacecraft heading into deeper space after conducting a flyby of Pluto in 2015 is currently at nearly 60 astronomical units from the Sun. Going by the number of these objects spotted, the researchers were able to figure out the density of the outer Kuiper Belt ring which is expected to be lower than the inner population, but high enough to constitute a new structure. The region between 55 and 70 astronomical units has almost nothing. This gap is a strange discovery for our solar system, but astronomers say this is a regular feature in other forming planetary systems. "Our Solar System's Kuiper Belt long appeared to be very small in comparison with many other planetary systems, but our results suggest that idea might just have arisen due to an observational bias," Fraser explains. "So maybe, if this result is confirmed, our Kuiper Belt isn't all that small and unusual after all compared to those around other stars."

Another Kuiper Belt? Mystery zone spotted at the edge of our solar system

The samples collected from the 4.5-billion-year-old Asteroid Bennu and brought to Earth are being studied by researchers from&nbsp;Curtin University, who are part of an international team, to understand the origins of our solar system.&nbsp;

The scientists carrying out the research have said that the asteroid most likely existed before the birth of the Solar System and may have brought water and life to Earth.&nbsp;

NASA’s billion-dollar&nbsp;OSIRIS-REx&nbsp;mission completed its seven-year journey in September last year and brought back samples from the asteroid Bennu. Its specimens were sent to different research laboratories across the world, which included Curtin.

In a new study, which has been published in&nbsp;Meteoritics and Planetary Science, some amazing findings from the samples have been revealed.

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The scientists found dark particles, which ranged from dust-sized to approximately 3.5 cm long, along with some lighter particles and stones, with&nbsp;brighter material that formed veins and crusts in the samples of the asteroid.

“Analyses show Bennu is among the most chemically primitive materials known, similar in composition to the visible surface of the sun,” said OSIRIS-REx Sample Analysis Team member Associate Professor Nick Timms.

“This indicates Bennu has undergone different processes to the planets, and these processes changed the abundance of particular elements relative to the sun," he added.

In the analysis of the samples, the presence of various components were also confirmed, like hydrated phyllosilicates, which is a type of mineral that forms when water is present, and carbon-rich material.

“This means asteroids such as this may have played a key role in delivering water and the building blocks of life to Earth,” said Associate Professor Timms.

<h2>Asteroid Bennu's samples have presolar grains which existed before Solar System</h2>

The scientists also found some unexpected components in the samples. “We were surprised to find magnesium-sodium phosphates, which further suggests Bennu experienced chemical environments which possibly involved water," said Associate Professor Timms.

Watch:&nbsp;China plans nukes against asteroids

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“We also found other trace minerals, which offer clues as to the processes which have happened on Bennu over billions of years, such as temperature and pressure conditions. These trace minerals help paint a picture of Bennu’s evolution and also offer insights into the early solar system and how the different planetary bodies in the solar system were created," he added.

“The sample has presolar grains created before our solar system existed, which can provide a detailed biography of the lives of ancient stars,” the professor further said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The samples collected from the 4.5-billion-year-old Asteroid Bennu and brought to Earth are being studied by researchers from Curtin University, who are part of an international team, to understand the origins of our solar system.

The samples collected from the 4.5-billion-year-old Asteroid Bennu and brought to Earth are being studied by researchers from Curtin University, who are part of an international team, to understand the origins of our solar system. The scientists carrying out the research have said that the asteroid most likely existed before the birth of the Solar System and may have brought water and life to Earth. NASA’s billion-dollar OSIRIS-REx mission completed its seven-year journey in September last year and brought back samples from the asteroid Bennu. Its specimens were sent to different research laboratories across the world, which included Curtin. In a new study, which has been published in Meteoritics and Planetary Science, some amazing findings from the samples have been revealed. Also Read: Asteroid 20 times bigger than dinosaur killer altered Ganymede's position The scientists found dark particles, which ranged from dust-sized to approximately 3.5 cm long, along with some lighter particles and stones, with brighter material that formed veins and crusts in the samples of the asteroid. “Analyses show Bennu is among the most chemically primitive materials known, similar in composition to the visible surface of the sun,” said OSIRIS-REx Sample Analysis Team member Associate Professor Nick Timms. “This indicates Bennu has undergone different processes to the planets, and these processes changed the abundance of particular elements relative to the sun," he added. In the analysis of the samples, the presence of various components were also confirmed, like hydrated phyllosilicates, which is a type of mineral that forms when water is present, and carbon-rich material. “This means asteroids such as this may have played a key role in delivering water and the building blocks of life to Earth,” said Associate Professor Timms. Asteroid Bennu's samples have presolar grains which existed before Solar System The scientists also found some unexpected components in the samples. “We were surprised to find magnesium-sodium phosphates, which further suggests Bennu experienced chemical environments which possibly involved water," said Associate Professor Timms. Watch: China plans nukes against asteroids “We also found other trace minerals, which offer clues as to the processes which have happened on Bennu over billions of years, such as temperature and pressure conditions. These trace minerals help paint a picture of Bennu’s evolution and also offer insights into the early solar system and how the different planetary bodies in the solar system were created," he added. “The sample has presolar grains created before our solar system existed, which can provide a detailed biography of the lives of ancient stars,” the professor further said. (With inputs from agencies)

Asteroid Bennu brought life and water to Earth, it existed before Solar System's origin: Study

The Sun has had the largest number of sunspots in over 20 years this month, according to the US agencies observing the star.

The estimated Sunspot Number or SNN for 8 August may have reached 299, said the US Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Boulder, Colorado.

This is the largest number since at least July 2002, it said on its website.&nbsp;These sunspots occurred in a 24-hour period.

The current solar cycle, which is numbered as Solar Cycle 25, "likely reached its highest SSN thus far on August 8, a value of perhaps 299," it said. A solar cycle, estimated to last 11 years, is how the Sun alternates between its so-called solar minimum and solar maximum.

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The official SSN data is released by global agencies in September, though 299 appears to be a possible number. The final number will come from the World Data Center - Sunspot Index and Long-Term Solar Observations (WDC-SILSO).

In fact, the SWPC had recorded the SSN higher at 337, a value not observed since March 2001.&nbsp;

<h2>What are sun spots?</h2>

Each sunspot is the size of the whole earth. These are relatively darker areas on the Sun.&nbsp;

The rotations of the Sun in each solar cycle lead to areas of magnetic energy on the star. When these areas are very strong, they become visible as sunspots.&nbsp;

<h2>What is the result of sunspots?</h2>

Sunspots have strong magnetic fields that cause coronal mass ejections or CMEs.&nbsp;CMEs release large amounts of plasma and magnetic fields&nbsp;from&nbsp;the Sun's corona region.&nbsp;

These cause solar flares that send out electromagnetic radiation and are experienced as geomagnetic 'solar storms' on Earth.

As sunspots increase, a corresponding rise in solar flares&nbsp;is observed.

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Warnings were issued for geomagnetic storms&nbsp;in the August 11-12 period, around the time when sunspots were estimated at the highest since 2002. 
 
"Solar Cycle 25 is proving to be much more active than originally forecast by the scientist experts who predicted the cycle back in 2019 or so," Space.com quoted Shawn Dahl of SWPC as saying.

The Solar Cycle 25 has already caused intense geomagnetic storms, and auroras on Earth.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Sun has had the largest number of sunspots in over 20 years this month, according to the US agencies observing the star. The estimated Sunspot Number or SNN for 8 August may have reached 299, said the US Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Boulder, Colorado.

The Sun has had the largest number of sunspots in over 20 years this month, according to the US agencies observing the star. The estimated Sunspot Number or SNN for 8 August may have reached 299, said the US Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Boulder, Colorado. This is the largest number since at least July 2002, it said on its website. These sunspots occurred in a 24-hour period. The current solar cycle, which is numbered as Solar Cycle 25, "likely reached its highest SSN thus far on August 8, a value of perhaps 299," it said. A solar cycle, estimated to last 11 years, is how the Sun alternates between its so-called solar minimum and solar maximum. Also read | Volcanic eruption in 536 spewed so much ash that Sun didn't shine for 18 months The official SSN data is released by global agencies in September, though 299 appears to be a possible number. The final number will come from the World Data Center - Sunspot Index and Long-Term Solar Observations (WDC-SILSO). In fact, the SWPC had recorded the SSN higher at 337, a value not observed since March 2001. What are sun spots? Each sunspot is the size of the whole earth. These are relatively darker areas on the Sun. The rotations of the Sun in each solar cycle lead to areas of magnetic energy on the star. When these areas are very strong, they become visible as sunspots. What is the result of sunspots? Sunspots have strong magnetic fields that cause coronal mass ejections or CMEs. CMEs release large amounts of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun's corona region. These cause solar flares that send out electromagnetic radiation and are experienced as geomagnetic 'solar storms' on Earth. As sunspots increase, a corresponding rise in solar flares is observed. Also read | Aurora on Sun? It happened in 2023 when Earth spewed back particles Warnings were issued for geomagnetic storms in the August 11-12 period, around the time when sunspots were estimated at the highest since 2002. "Solar Cycle 25 is proving to be much more active than originally forecast by the scientist experts who predicted the cycle back in 2019 or so," Space.com quoted Shawn Dahl of SWPC as saying. The Solar Cycle 25 has already caused intense geomagnetic storms, and auroras on Earth. (With inputs from agencies)

The Sun probably just had the largest number of sunspots in over 20 years: What does it mean?

Mount Everest has always been the ultimate challenge for mountaineers since it was first successfully climbed by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.&nbsp;

However, a new interactive map has brought to the fore the solar system's tallest mountains which have widened the scope of the mountaineers to conquer the unfathomable mountain which has the tallest peak in the universe.&nbsp;

The challenge is daunting because this highest peak of the solar system is not on Earth but on asteroid Vesta which is a large space rock that has nine per cent of the mass of all discovered asteroids.

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Rheasilvia&nbsp;mountain of Vesta, which is at 22,500m (74,000ft), is three times in size compared to Mount Everest and was formed by an impact crater which covers 90 per cent of the entire area of the asteroid.

<h2>Red Planet's Olympus Mons emerges as second tallest mountain in solar system</h2>

The second place has been given to Olympus Mons on&nbsp;Mars which is the solar system's tallest volcano at 21,945m (72,000ft).&nbsp;

Olympus Mons is a 'shield volcano' that is very wide and spread in an area similar to France.&nbsp;

For the last 25 million years, the volcano has remained dormant. Olympus Mons was first discovered by the NASA Mariner 9 spacecraft in 1971 and has been named after the mythological home of the Greek gods.

The mountain belongs to the chain of peaks known as the Tharsis Rise, which is present near the equator of the planet.

Watch:&nbsp;China witnesses rare Tyndall effect illumination Qilian Mountains

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Olympus Mons was not formed because of the movement of tectonic plates like the volcanoes on Earth and is sitting above a magma hotspot.

This location resulted in the build-up of the volcano because of millions of years of activity which allowed it to enhance at colossal proportions. Recently, scientists made a stunning discovery when they found ice forms on top of the mountain.

A layer of frost, which is as thick as human hair, was noticed to be settling on the peak every day and depositing water which was for filling 60 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

(With inputs from agencies)

Mount Everest has always been the ultimate challenge for mountaineers since it was first successfully climbed by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. However, a new interactive map has brought to the fore the solar system's tallest mountains which have widened the scope of the mountaineers to conquer the unfathomable mountain which has the tallest peak in the universe.

Mount Everest has always been the ultimate challenge for mountaineers since it was first successfully climbed by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. However, a new interactive map has brought to the fore the solar system's tallest mountains which have widened the scope of the mountaineers to conquer the unfathomable mountain which has the tallest peak in the universe. The challenge is daunting because this highest peak of the solar system is not on Earth but on asteroid Vesta which is a large space rock that has nine per cent of the mass of all discovered asteroids. Also Read: Mount Etna erupts, puts on spectacular ‘lava fountain’ display over Sicily. Watch! Rheasilvia mountain of Vesta, which is at 22,500m (74,000ft), is three times in size compared to Mount Everest and was formed by an impact crater which covers 90 per cent of the entire area of the asteroid. Red Planet's Olympus Mons emerges as second tallest mountain in solar system The second place has been given to Olympus Mons on Mars which is the solar system's tallest volcano at 21,945m (72,000ft). Olympus Mons is a 'shield volcano' that is very wide and spread in an area similar to France. For the last 25 million years, the volcano has remained dormant. Olympus Mons was first discovered by the NASA Mariner 9 spacecraft in 1971 and has been named after the mythological home of the Greek gods. The mountain belongs to the chain of peaks known as the Tharsis Rise, which is present near the equator of the planet. Watch: China witnesses rare Tyndall effect illumination Qilian Mountains Olympus Mons was not formed because of the movement of tectonic plates like the volcanoes on Earth and is sitting above a magma hotspot. This location resulted in the build-up of the volcano because of millions of years of activity which allowed it to enhance at colossal proportions. Recently, scientists made a stunning discovery when they found ice forms on top of the mountain. A layer of frost, which is as thick as human hair, was noticed to be settling on the peak every day and depositing water which was for filling 60 Olympic-sized swimming pools. (With inputs from agencies)

Not Mount Everest but THIS is the tallest mountain in solar system. Can humans scale this?

Scientists have spotted a very strange activity in our Solar System. They observed that a comet was pushed out of the solar system by Saturn after a close encounter with the planet.&nbsp;

The comet, which was designated Comet A117uUD (A117uUD), was found by the&nbsp;Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) on June 14, 2024.

However, researchers took the help of 142 observations of the comet and helped to "wind back" its orbit around the Sun.

It was found that Comet A117uUD had a close encounter with Saturn in 2022 which changed the orbit of the comet.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/strictly-speaking-earth-is-not-revolving-around-the-sun-currently-heres-what-it-means-740359">Strictly speaking, Earth is not revolving around the Sun currently. Here's what it means</a>

This encounter between the planet and the comet placed the latter on a highly flattened or elliptical orbit which was supposed to throw it out into interstellar space beyond the Sun's influence.

The team used models to predict the path of A117uUD and discovered that the comet would exit the solar system while flying at a speed of around 6,710 miles per hour (10,800 km/h).&nbsp;

In comparison, this speed is nearly four and a half times a Lockheed Martin F-16 jet fighter's top velocity.&nbsp;

<h2>History of comets exiting the Solar System</h2>

This is the second time a comet has been spotted on the verge of exiting the solar system.&nbsp;

The first one spotted was Comet C/1980 E1 (Bowell) which was placed on the escape path of the Solar System after its encounter with Jupiter on December 9, 1980.

"Our results show that the case of comet A117uUD is similar to that of C/1980 E1 (Bowell), disfavoring an extrasolar origin for A117uUD," said the team, which wrote the research in a paper published in the journal&nbsp;Research Notes of the AAS.&nbsp;

"The fact that two ejections after planetary encounter were observed in less than 45 years suggests that such events are relatively frequent," he added.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Earth's days may be getting little longer: Unveiling the planet's mysteries

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/earths-days-may-be-getting-little-longer-unveiling-the-planets-mysteries-731789/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

However, the scientists were not clear if A117uUD was a solar system body which was destined to exit the home planetary system.&nbsp;

When the icy space rock was first analysed by the team behind this discovery, they believed its hyperbolic orbit could indicate that probably it was one of the intruders into our solar system.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists have spotted a very strange activity in our Solar System. They observed that a comet was pushed out of the solar system by Saturn after a close encounter with the planet.

Scientists have spotted a very strange activity in our Solar System. They observed that a comet was pushed out of the solar system by Saturn after a close encounter with the planet. The comet, which was designated Comet A117uUD (A117uUD), was found by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) on June 14, 2024. However, researchers took the help of 142 observations of the comet and helped to "wind back" its orbit around the Sun. It was found that Comet A117uUD had a close encounter with Saturn in 2022 which changed the orbit of the comet. Also Read: Strictly speaking, Earth is not revolving around the Sun currently. Here's what it means This encounter between the planet and the comet placed the latter on a highly flattened or elliptical orbit which was supposed to throw it out into interstellar space beyond the Sun's influence. The team used models to predict the path of A117uUD and discovered that the comet would exit the solar system while flying at a speed of around 6,710 miles per hour (10,800 km/h). In comparison, this speed is nearly four and a half times a Lockheed Martin F-16 jet fighter's top velocity. History of comets exiting the Solar System This is the second time a comet has been spotted on the verge of exiting the solar system. The first one spotted was Comet C/1980 E1 (Bowell) which was placed on the escape path of the Solar System after its encounter with Jupiter on December 9, 1980. "Our results show that the case of comet A117uUD is similar to that of C/1980 E1 (Bowell), disfavoring an extrasolar origin for A117uUD," said the team, which wrote the research in a paper published in the journal Research Notes of the AAS. "The fact that two ejections after planetary encounter were observed in less than 45 years suggests that such events are relatively frequent," he added. Watch: Earth's days may be getting little longer: Unveiling the planet's mysteries However, the scientists were not clear if A117uUD was a solar system body which was destined to exit the home planetary system. When the icy space rock was first analysed by the team behind this discovery, they believed its hyperbolic orbit could indicate that probably it was one of the intruders into our solar system. (With inputs from agencies)

Saturn kicks out a comet outside our solar system at a scary speed of 6,700 mph. Here's how

Scientists have created new simulations which have suggested that a 9-mile-thick layer of diamonds is lurking deep below Mercury's surface.&nbsp;

However, there is no chance of mining these diamonds, however, it may explain some of the biggest mysteries of the planet.&nbsp;

The study was published in the journal&nbsp;Nature Communications and speaks about the composition and peculiar&nbsp;magnetic field of the planet.

The magnetic field of Mercury is much weaker in comparison to that of Earth, however, magnetism&nbsp;is unexpected since the planet is very small and geologically inactive.

The planet also has rare dark surface patches which were identified as graphite by NASA's Messenger mission.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-plan-to-redefine-meaning-of-the-planet-but-pluto-still-remains-out-of-list-740584">Scientists plan to revisit definition of planet but Pluto still remains out of list</a>

The study's co-author and staff scientist at the Center for High-Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research in Beijing Yanhao Lin said that this feature sparked curiosity among scientists.&nbsp;

In a statement, he said that the extremely high carbon content of Mercury "made me realise that something special probably happened within its interior."

<h2>How were diamonds formed below the surface of Mercury?</h2>

According to the scientists, even after Mercury's oddities, it was created similar to how other terrestrial planets were formed by the cooling of a hot magma ocean.&nbsp;

In the case of Mercury, this ocean was filled with silicate and carbon. The metals first coagulated within it and formed a central core as the remaining magma crystallised into the middle mantle and outer crust of the planet.

The researchers for a long time believed that the temperature and pressure of the mantle were just good enough for carbon to form graphite, which floated above the surface because it was lighter than the mantle.

Watch:&nbsp;How climate change is altering the earth’s rotation?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/how-climate-change-is-altering-the-earths-rotation-742159/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to a 2019 study, the mantle of Mercury was 80 miles (50 kilometres) deeper than earlier believed.&nbsp;

This is expected to increase the temperature and pressure at the boundary between the mantle and the core and create conditions in which carbon can be crystallised into diamonds.&nbsp;

To look into this possibility, chemical soups which included iron, silica and carbon were whipped up by a team of Belgian and Chinese researchers, including Lin.

It is believed that such mixtures, which are similar to some types of meteorites, are believed to be similar to infant Mercury's magma ocean.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Scientists have created new simulations which have suggested that a 9-mile-thick layer of diamonds is lurking deep below Mercury's surface. However, there is no chance of mining these diamonds, however, it may explain some of the biggest mysteries of the planet.

Scientists have created new simulations which have suggested that a 9-mile-thick layer of diamonds is lurking deep below Mercury's surface. However, there is no chance of mining these diamonds, however, it may explain some of the biggest mysteries of the planet. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications and speaks about the composition and peculiar magnetic field of the planet. The magnetic field of Mercury is much weaker in comparison to that of Earth, however, magnetism is unexpected since the planet is very small and geologically inactive. The planet also has rare dark surface patches which were identified as graphite by NASA's Messenger mission. Also Read: Scientists plan to revisit definition of planet but Pluto still remains out of list The study's co-author and staff scientist at the Center for High-Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research in Beijing Yanhao Lin said that this feature sparked curiosity among scientists. In a statement, he said that the extremely high carbon content of Mercury "made me realise that something special probably happened within its interior." How were diamonds formed below the surface of Mercury? According to the scientists, even after Mercury's oddities, it was created similar to how other terrestrial planets were formed by the cooling of a hot magma ocean. In the case of Mercury, this ocean was filled with silicate and carbon. The metals first coagulated within it and formed a central core as the remaining magma crystallised into the middle mantle and outer crust of the planet. The researchers for a long time believed that the temperature and pressure of the mantle were just good enough for carbon to form graphite, which floated above the surface because it was lighter than the mantle. Watch: How climate change is altering the earth’s rotation? According to a 2019 study, the mantle of Mercury was 80 miles (50 kilometres) deeper than earlier believed. This is expected to increase the temperature and pressure at the boundary between the mantle and the core and create conditions in which carbon can be crystallised into diamonds. To look into this possibility, chemical soups which included iron, silica and carbon were whipped up by a team of Belgian and Chinese researchers, including Lin. It is believed that such mixtures, which are similar to some types of meteorites, are believed to be similar to infant Mercury's magma ocean. (With inputs from agencies)

THIS diamond planet is lurking near Earth. Can it make Earthlings richer anytime soon?

NASA has scripted history by discovering&nbsp;six unknown worlds outside our Solar System, which has pushed the number of exoplanets hunted so far to 5,502.

The new find is likely to further expand the understanding of life beyond Earth and the Solar System.

In 1992, the scientists&nbsp;had found the first exoplanets&nbsp;- which were twin planets, Poltergeist and Phobetor - which orbited the pulsar PSR B1257+12.&nbsp;

<h2>What are these six exoplanets?</h2>

The six new exoplanets discovered are &nbsp;HD 36384 b, TOI-198 b, TOI-2095 b, TOI-2095 c, TOI-4860 b, and MWC 758 c.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/strictly-speaking-earth-is-not-revolving-around-the-sun-currently-heres-what-it-means-740359">Strictly speaking, Earth is not revolving around the Sun currently. Here's what it means</a>

HD 36384 b is a type of super-Jupiter which orbits a huge M giant star.' The scientists discovered this planet with the help of the radial velocity method.

TOI-198 b has been identified as a rocky planet which orbits on the habitable zone's innermost edge around the M dwarf star. The scientists used the transit method to detect this planet.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, TOI-2095 b and&nbsp;TOI-2095 c emerged as large and hot super-Earths which have been orbiting the same M dwarf star.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Scientists say the Earth's core is behaving oddly. Here's why

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Even though they are being called super-Earth, they share more similarity with Venus.&nbsp;

TOI-4860 b is a “hot Jupiter" or Jupiter-sized gas giant which orbits an M dwarf star. The planet completes an orbit every 1.52 days which means it is close to its star.

MWC 758 c is a type of giant protoplanet which has been orbiting a very young star. There is a protoplanetary disk on this star which is a rotating disc of dust and gas and can surround a young star.

When the scientists discovered the planet using direct imaging, it was discovered carving spiral arms into the protoplanetary disk of the star.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

NASA has scripted history by discovering six unknown worlds outside our Solar System, which has pushed the number of exoplanets hunted so far to 5,502. The new find is likely to further expand the understanding of life beyond Earth and the Solar System.

NASA has scripted history by discovering six unknown worlds outside our Solar System, which has pushed the number of exoplanets hunted so far to 5,502. The new find is likely to further expand the understanding of life beyond Earth and the Solar System. In 1992, the scientists had found the first exoplanets - which were twin planets, Poltergeist and Phobetor - which orbited the pulsar PSR B1257+12. What are these six exoplanets? The six new exoplanets discovered are HD 36384 b, TOI-198 b, TOI-2095 b, TOI-2095 c, TOI-4860 b, and MWC 758 c. Also Read: Strictly speaking, Earth is not revolving around the Sun currently. Here's what it means HD 36384 b is a type of super-Jupiter which orbits a huge M giant star.' The scientists discovered this planet with the help of the radial velocity method. TOI-198 b has been identified as a rocky planet which orbits on the habitable zone's innermost edge around the M dwarf star. The scientists used the transit method to detect this planet. Meanwhile, TOI-2095 b and TOI-2095 c emerged as large and hot super-Earths which have been orbiting the same M dwarf star. Watch: Scientists say the Earth's core is behaving oddly. Here's why Even though they are being called super-Earth, they share more similarity with Venus. TOI-4860 b is a “hot Jupiter" or Jupiter-sized gas giant which orbits an M dwarf star. The planet completes an orbit every 1.52 days which means it is close to its star. MWC 758 c is a type of giant protoplanet which has been orbiting a very young star. There is a protoplanetary disk on this star which is a rotating disc of dust and gas and can surround a young star. When the scientists discovered the planet using direct imaging, it was discovered carving spiral arms into the protoplanetary disk of the star. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA spots six alien worlds rotating beyond Solar System, two are 'hot super-Earths'

A new definition of what a planet is, has been proposed by planetary scientists to replace the one which already exists, and is seen as outdated and sun-centric by many experts.&nbsp;

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) had established the current definition in 2006 which says to qualify for a planet a celestial body needs to orbit the sun in our solar system.

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the organisation which officially names objects present in space.

In an article, which is to be published in the Planetary Science Journal, the scientists have argued that there is a new definition needed for a planet, which includes celestial bodies unrestrained by the bounds of our solar system.&nbsp;

The proposal further speaks about adding quantitative criteria to give clarity to the definition of a planet. Currently, the paper is available&nbsp;on the&nbsp;arXiv&nbsp;preprint server.

UCLA professor of Earth, planetary and space sciences and of physics and astronomy and the article's lead author Jean-Luc Margot will be presenting the proposed new definition of the planet at the IAU General Assembly in August 2024.

According to the current definition, a planet refers to a celestial body which orbits the sun and is big enough for gravity to force it into a spherical shape and clear away other objects which are close to its orbit around the sun.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/unknown-planet-lurking-in-our-solar-system-scientists-say-earth-may-have-a-new-neighbour-740531">Unknown planet lurking in our Solar System? Scientists say Earth may have a new neighbour</a>

"The current definition specifically mentions orbiting our sun. We now know about the existence of thousands of&nbsp;planets, but the IAU definition applies only to the ones in our solar system," said Margot.&nbsp;

"We propose a new definition that can be applied to celestial bodies that orbit any star, stellar remnant or brown dwarf," he added.

<h2>Why do authors want to redefine the planet?</h2>

The authors have argued although the requirement to orbit the Sun is very specific, the other criteria in the definition sanctioned by the IAU are vague.

The definition says that the planet has "cleared its orbit" without clearly saying what it means.

In the new definition, there is a quantifiable criterion which can be applied for defining planets which are mentioned inside and outside our solar system.

Watch:&nbsp;Indian astronauts to train at NASA from August

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gaganyaan-mission-indian-astronaut-to-fly-to-space-station-by-2026-740296/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Margot and co-authors Brett Gladman of the University of British Columbia and Tony Yang worked on a mathematical algorithm to understand how objects cluster together in our solar system.

In the analysis, it was found that the planets share distinct qualities in our solar system which can be used as a starting point to build a taxonomy for the planets.

"All the planets in our solar system are dynamically dominant, but other objects—including dwarf planets like Pluto and asteroids—are not. So this property can be included in the definition of planet," Margot said.

(With inputs from agencies)

A new definition of what a planet is, has been proposed by planetary scientists to replace the one which already exists, and is seen as outdated and sun-centric by many experts.

A new definition of what a planet is, has been proposed by planetary scientists to replace the one which already exists, and is seen as outdated and sun-centric by many experts. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) had established the current definition in 2006 which says to qualify for a planet a celestial body needs to orbit the sun in our solar system. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the organisation which officially names objects present in space. In an article, which is to be published in the Planetary Science Journal, the scientists have argued that there is a new definition needed for a planet, which includes celestial bodies unrestrained by the bounds of our solar system. The proposal further speaks about adding quantitative criteria to give clarity to the definition of a planet. Currently, the paper is available on the arXiv preprint server. UCLA professor of Earth, planetary and space sciences and of physics and astronomy and the article's lead author Jean-Luc Margot will be presenting the proposed new definition of the planet at the IAU General Assembly in August 2024. According to the current definition, a planet refers to a celestial body which orbits the sun and is big enough for gravity to force it into a spherical shape and clear away other objects which are close to its orbit around the sun. Also Read: Unknown planet lurking in our Solar System? Scientists say Earth may have a new neighbour "The current definition specifically mentions orbiting our sun. We now know about the existence of thousands of planets, but the IAU definition applies only to the ones in our solar system," said Margot. "We propose a new definition that can be applied to celestial bodies that orbit any star, stellar remnant or brown dwarf," he added. Why do authors want to redefine the planet? The authors have argued although the requirement to orbit the Sun is very specific, the other criteria in the definition sanctioned by the IAU are vague. The definition says that the planet has "cleared its orbit" without clearly saying what it means. In the new definition, there is a quantifiable criterion which can be applied for defining planets which are mentioned inside and outside our solar system. Watch: Indian astronauts to train at NASA from August Margot and co-authors Brett Gladman of the University of British Columbia and Tony Yang worked on a mathematical algorithm to understand how objects cluster together in our solar system. In the analysis, it was found that the planets share distinct qualities in our solar system which can be used as a starting point to build a taxonomy for the planets. "All the planets in our solar system are dynamically dominant, but other objects—including dwarf planets like Pluto and asteroids—are not. So this property can be included in the definition of planet," Margot said. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists plan to revisit definition of planet but Pluto still remains out of list

It is very well known that there are eight planets in our Solar System and then a dwarf planet - Pluto. But now the astronomers are suspecting there is a 7 per cent chance that another planet is hiding in the Oort cloud near Earth.

It is very well known that there are eight planets in our Solar System and then a dwarf planet - Pluto. But now the astronomers are suspecting there is a 7 per cent chance that another planet is hiding in the Oort cloud near Earth. Oort cloud is a spherical region in space which is filled with ice chunks and rocks and is tens of thousands of times far from the Sun. Co-author of the study and astronomer at the Planetary Science Institute Nathan Kaib said, “It’s completely plausible for our solar system to have captured such an Oort cloud planet." He added that hidden worlds like this are “a class of planets that should definitely exist but have received relatively little attention” until now. Also Read: Strictly speaking, Earth is not revolving around the Sun currently. Here's what it means In case, there is a planet in the Oort cloud, it is likely to be an ice giant. Generally, large planets like Saturn and Jupiter come into existence as twins. However, such planets have huge gravitational pulls and can even destabilise another planet. This can lead to the nudging of a planet from the Solar System and moving it entirely to the outer reaches where the Oort Cloud is present. University of Bordeaux’s Astrophysics Laboratory researcher and lead author Sean Raymond said, “The survivor planets have eccentric orbits, which are like the scars from their violent pasts." How is an Oort cloud planet different from other planets? So a planet inside the Oort Cloud is likely to have a significantly elongated orbit, which is very different from the near-perfect circular shape of the Earth. The scientists find it difficult to spot such planets because they are far away. “It would be extremely hard to detect,” said Raymond. Watch: NASA releases Webb telescope images of a galactic merger Meanwhile, an astronomer at MIT Malena Rice said, “If a Neptune-sized planet existed in our own Oort cloud, there’s a good chance that we wouldn’t have found it yet." “Amazingly, it can sometimes be easier to spot planets hundreds of light-years away than those right in our own backyard," the astronomer said, reported indy100. (With inputs from agencies)

Unknown planet lurking in our Solar System? Scientists say Earth may have a new neighbour

It has been taught to us from school days that Earth orbits around the Sun, which results in the cycle of day and night.&nbsp;

However, if we try to understand the movement of Earth currently in the Solar System from the point of view of scientists,&nbsp;our planet is not currently orbiting the Sun.

<h2>So, what's happening between Earth and the Sun?</h2>

In the Solar System, the Sun is the largest object and has 1,048 times the mass of Jupiter. However, the gravitational pull which Earth exerts on the celestial body is exerted in the same or smaller amount on the planet.

"Kepler's third law describes the relationship between the masses of two objects mutually revolving around each other and the determination of orbital parameters,"&nbsp;explained NASA.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/house-for-astronauts-indian-startup-discusses-launch-of-space-habitat-by-2027-with-spacex-739929">House for astronauts? Indian startup discusses launch of 'space habitat' by 2027 with SpaceX</a>

"Consider a small star in orbit about a more massive one. Both stars actually revolve about a common centre of mass, which is called the&nbsp;barycentre. This is true no matter what the size or mass of each of the objects involved. Measuring a star's motion about its barycenter with a massive planet is one method that has been used to discover planetary systems associated with distant stars," it added.

So, Earth orbits a barycentre and not exactly the Sun. Generally, the barycentre of the bodies in the Solar System is near the Sun, however, because of the mass, and influence of gas giants Jupiter and Saturn and orbits, it is rarely inside the Sun.&nbsp;

<h2>Where is the barycentre currently?</h2>

Currently, the barycentre is outside the Sun and not inside it and hence, Earth is not currently orbiting it. So, the planet is revolving around a point in space and not the Sun.&nbsp;

Explaining this positioning of the planet, planetary astronomer and science communicator&nbsp;James O'Donoghue said, "Planets orbit the Sun in general terms", "but *technically* they don't orbit the Sun alone because the gravitational influence of (mainly) Jupiter means planets must orbit a new point in space."

"The planets do orbit the Sun of course, we are just being pedantic about the situation," he&nbsp;added. "The natural thinking is that we orbit the Sun's centre, but that very rarely happens, i.e. it's very rare for the solar system's centre of mass to align with the Sun's centre," he added.

Watch:&nbsp;Indian astronauts to train at NASA from August

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gaganyaan-mission-indian-astronaut-to-fly-to-space-station-by-2026-740296/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

This also applies to the smaller objects, like the&nbsp;planets and their moons.&nbsp;

The Earth and Moon orbit a point which is 5,000 kilometres&nbsp;(3,100 miles) from the Earth's centre, however, this keeps changing as the Moon slowly moves away from the Earth.

(With inputs from agencies)

It has been taught to us from school days that Earth orbits around the Sun, which results in the cycle of day and night. However, if we try to understand the movement of Earth currently in the Solar System from the point of view of scientists, our planet is not currently orbiting the Sun.

It has been taught to us from school days that Earth orbits around the Sun, which results in the cycle of day and night. However, if we try to understand the movement of Earth currently in the Solar System from the point of view of scientists, our planet is not currently orbiting the Sun. So, what's happening between Earth and the Sun? In the Solar System, the Sun is the largest object and has 1,048 times the mass of Jupiter. However, the gravitational pull which Earth exerts on the celestial body is exerted in the same or smaller amount on the planet. "Kepler's third law describes the relationship between the masses of two objects mutually revolving around each other and the determination of orbital parameters," explained NASA. Also Read: House for astronauts? Indian startup discusses launch of 'space habitat' by 2027 with SpaceX "Consider a small star in orbit about a more massive one. Both stars actually revolve about a common centre of mass, which is called the barycentre. This is true no matter what the size or mass of each of the objects involved. Measuring a star's motion about its barycenter with a massive planet is one method that has been used to discover planetary systems associated with distant stars," it added. So, Earth orbits a barycentre and not exactly the Sun. Generally, the barycentre of the bodies in the Solar System is near the Sun, however, because of the mass, and influence of gas giants Jupiter and Saturn and orbits, it is rarely inside the Sun. Where is the barycentre currently? Currently, the barycentre is outside the Sun and not inside it and hence, Earth is not currently orbiting it. So, the planet is revolving around a point in space and not the Sun. Explaining this positioning of the planet, planetary astronomer and science communicator James O'Donoghue said, "Planets orbit the Sun in general terms", "but *technically* they don't orbit the Sun alone because the gravitational influence of (mainly) Jupiter means planets must orbit a new point in space." "The planets do orbit the Sun of course, we are just being pedantic about the situation," he added. "The natural thinking is that we orbit the Sun's centre, but that very rarely happens, i.e. it's very rare for the solar system's centre of mass to align with the Sun's centre," he added. Watch: Indian astronauts to train at NASA from August This also applies to the smaller objects, like the planets and their moons. The Earth and Moon orbit a point which is 5,000 kilometres (3,100 miles) from the Earth's centre, however, this keeps changing as the Moon slowly moves away from the Earth. (With inputs from agencies)

Strictly speaking, Earth is not revolving around the Sun currently. Here's what it means

The particles which are flying around planet Uranus are facing "traffic jams". Now, scientists have found the reason behind this weird scenario in the cosmic world.

The particles which are flying around planet Uranus are facing "traffic jams". Now, scientists have found the reason behind this weird scenario in the cosmic world. The weak radiation belts of the ice giant may have led to its lopsided and curiously tilted magnetic field which in turn has been causing the jams. The mystery of these "traffic jams" dates back to the visit of Voyager 2 to Uranus in January 1986; long before the probe left our solar system in 2018. The spacecraft had discovered that the magnetic field of the Uranus is asymmetric and is tilted roughly at 60°, away from the planet's spin axis. Voyager 2 also discovered the radiation belts of Uranus, which were filled with particles trapped by this magnetic field, are nearly 100 times weaker than expected. Also Read: Exoplanet which receives rains of glass and is close to Earth is stinking like rotten eggs. Here's why The latest study, which is based on the simulations made using Voyager 2 data, says that ice giants these two strange aspects are related. "It has a magnetic field like no other in the solar system. Most planets have strong intrinsic magnetic fields, like Earth, Jupiter and Saturn. They have a very 'traditional' magnetic field shape, which is known as a dipole," said lead author Matthew Acevski, while speaking to Space.com. "This is the same magnetic field shape as you would expect from your everyday bar magnet. At Uranus, this is not the case; Uranus' field is highly asymmetric — and it becomes increasingly so closer to the planet’s surface," he added. Magnetic asymmetry of Uranus causing commotion? Acevski said that in the research it has been highlighted how the magnetic asymmetry of Uranus wraps the structure of the planet's proton radiation belts, especially close to the the region passed by Voyager 2. "My hypothesis was that the magnetic asymmetry was warping the proton radiation belts, forming regions around the planet where the radiation belts were more compressed," Acevski said, "and, thus, with stronger intensity; other regions where they were more spread out, leading to weaker intensity. Watch: Earth's days may be getting little longer: Unveiling the planet's mysteries He added, "If Voyager 2 flew through a region where the radiation belts were more spread out, that could explain its observations of weaker-than-expected proton radiation belts." Uranus is the coldest planet in the solar system and is odd among the other worlds present in our planetary system. It appears to rotate like a cosmic ball which is tilted in one direction at a 97-degree angle from its orbit's plane. (With inputs from agencies)

Uranus is facing 'traffic jams' in the cosmic world. Here's why

The idea of life existing elsewhere in the solar system has always captured the imagination of mankind. Many years, Mars has been considered the ideal candidate by scientists to set up a future space colony.

Manned mission to Mars around corner? | Red planet reveals traces of life during its early years

Recent research has pointed out that the early shape of our Solar System was more like a doughnut than the flat disk we recognise at present. The discovery comes from an in-depth study of iron meteorites originating from the outer reaches of the Solar System.

<h2>What does it mean?</h2>

The implications of this finding are significant for understanding the formation of other emerging planetary systems and the sequence in which they develop.

<h2>Development of planetary system</h2>

Planetary system formation begins in a molecular cloud of gas and dust drifting through space. When a portion of this cloud becomes sufficiently dense, it collapses under its own gravity and starts spinning, forming the seed of a nascent star. The surrounding material pulls into a rotating disk which feeds into the growing protostar.

Within this disk, smaller clumps form, evolving into protoplanetary seeds. These seeds either grow into full-fledged planets or remain as smaller objects, such as asteroids, if their development is arrested.

Observations of other stars reveal these disks are often with gaps carved by planets consuming dust as they orbit.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;Discovery of six-planet solar system amazes astronomers | WION

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A team led by planetary scientist Bidong Zhang of the University of California, Los Angeles, found that the composition of asteroids in the outer Solar System suggests a toroidal cloud of material rather than a series of concentric rings in a flat disk during the early stages of the Solar System's formation.

The iron meteorites in question, which have travelled to Earth from the outer Solar System, are richer in refractory metals like platinum and iridium. These metals can only form in very hot environments, close to a forming star. Notably, these meteorites originated not from the inner Solar System but the outer regions. They must have formed close to the Sun and moved outward as the protoplanetary disk expanded.

The scientific models indicate that these iron objects could not have crossed gaps in a protoplanetary disk. Instead, the latest calculations suggest that migration would have been more feasible if the protoplanetary structure was toroidal. This shape would have directed metal-rich objects toward the outer edges of the forming Solar System.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/planet-nine-how-challenging-is-the-journey-to-edge-of-solar-system-735045">Planet Nine: How challenging is the journey to edge of Solar System?</a>

As the disk cooled and planets began to form, gaps in the disk would have prevented rocks from migrating back towards the Sun, acting as an effective barrier.

"Once Jupiter formed, it very likely opened a physical gap that trapped the iridium and platinum metals in the outer disk and prevented them from falling into the Sun," Zhang said in a statement and added,&nbsp;"These metals were later incorporated into asteroids that formed in the outer disk, explaining why meteorites from this region have higher iridium and platinum contents than their inner-disk counterparts."

The research has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

(With inputs from agencies)

Recent research has pointed out that the early shape of our Solar System was more like a doughnut than the flat disk we recognise at present. The discovery comes from an in-depth study of iron meteorites originating from the outer reaches of the Solar System.

Recent research has pointed out that the early shape of our Solar System was more like a doughnut than the flat disk we recognise at present. The discovery comes from an in-depth study of iron meteorites originating from the outer reaches of the Solar System. What does it mean? The implications of this finding are significant for understanding the formation of other emerging planetary systems and the sequence in which they develop. Development of planetary system Planetary system formation begins in a molecular cloud of gas and dust drifting through space. When a portion of this cloud becomes sufficiently dense, it collapses under its own gravity and starts spinning, forming the seed of a nascent star. The surrounding material pulls into a rotating disk which feeds into the growing protostar. Within this disk, smaller clumps form, evolving into protoplanetary seeds. These seeds either grow into full-fledged planets or remain as smaller objects, such as asteroids, if their development is arrested. Observations of other stars reveal these disks are often with gaps carved by planets consuming dust as they orbit. Also watch | Discovery of six-planet solar system amazes astronomers | WION × A team led by planetary scientist Bidong Zhang of the University of California, Los Angeles, found that the composition of asteroids in the outer Solar System suggests a toroidal cloud of material rather than a series of concentric rings in a flat disk during the early stages of the Solar System's formation. The iron meteorites in question, which have travelled to Earth from the outer Solar System, are richer in refractory metals like platinum and iridium. These metals can only form in very hot environments, close to a forming star. Notably, these meteorites originated not from the inner Solar System but the outer regions. They must have formed close to the Sun and moved outward as the protoplanetary disk expanded. The scientific models indicate that these iron objects could not have crossed gaps in a protoplanetary disk. Instead, the latest calculations suggest that migration would have been more feasible if the protoplanetary structure was toroidal. This shape would have directed metal-rich objects toward the outer edges of the forming Solar System. Also read | Planet Nine: How challenging is the journey to edge of Solar System? As the disk cooled and planets began to form, gaps in the disk would have prevented rocks from migrating back towards the Sun, acting as an effective barrier. "Once Jupiter formed, it very likely opened a physical gap that trapped the iridium and platinum metals in the outer disk and prevented them from falling into the Sun," Zhang said in a statement and added, "These metals were later incorporated into asteroids that formed in the outer disk, explaining why meteorites from this region have higher iridium and platinum contents than their inner-disk counterparts." The research has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists suggest our Solar System was shaped like donut in the beginning

If astronomers succeed in discovering the elusive Planet Nine, a hypothetical world believed to be lurking in the outer reaches of our solar system, sending a spacecraft to visit this distant world would be an immense challenge.

The journey to Planet Nine, if it exists, would take decades using current technology.

Some experts reportedly estimated that a probe could potentially reach Planet Nine in as little as 20 years using a carefully planned trajectory that involves gravity assists from the outer planets to gain speed.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/alma-telescope-sheds-light-on-planet-formation-around-binary-stars-735025">ALMA telescope sheds light on planet formation around binary stars</a>

"I am confident that in the far future, humans will be able to visit Planet Nine," said Andreas Hein, a space systems engineer at the University of Luxembourg.

But it would not be possible with today's propulsion systems, which are simply not powerful enough to make the journey in a reasonable timeframe.

<h2>Obstacles in reaching Planet Nine&nbsp;</h2>

The main obstacle is the vast distance to Planet Nine.

If it exists, the planet is estimated to orbit the Sun at a distance of 400 to 800 times farther than Earth, or 13 to 26 times beyond the orbit of Neptune. At such extreme distances, even small changes in velocity make a big difference in travel time.

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Sending a spacecraft to Planet Nine would require advances in propulsion technology, such as nuclear thermal rockets or even more exotic concepts like laser sails that use powerful lasers to propel lightweight craft.

A study published in 2022 suggested that a light sail could potentially reach Planet Nine in as little as seven years, but the researchers estimated it would take at least 20 years for this technology to become practical.

Watch | Study finds AI can detect Parkinson's seven years before onset

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In the meantime, astronomers are racing to confirm the existence of Planet Nine using powerful new telescopes like the Vera C Rubin Observatory in Chile, which is scheduled to begin operations in late 2025.

If Planet Nine is detected, it would likely take at least a decade or more for space agencies to plan and approve a mission to visit it.

(With inputs from agencies)

If astronomers succeed in discovering the elusive Planet Nine, a hypothetical world believed to be lurking in the outer reaches of our solar system, sending a spacecraft to visit this distant world would be an immense challenge.

If astronomers succeed in discovering the elusive Planet Nine, a hypothetical world believed to be lurking in the outer reaches of our solar system, sending a spacecraft to visit this distant world would be an immense challenge. The journey to Planet Nine, if it exists, would take decades using current technology. Some experts reportedly estimated that a probe could potentially reach Planet Nine in as little as 20 years using a carefully planned trajectory that involves gravity assists from the outer planets to gain speed. Also Read | ALMA telescope sheds light on planet formation around binary stars "I am confident that in the far future, humans will be able to visit Planet Nine," said Andreas Hein, a space systems engineer at the University of Luxembourg. But it would not be possible with today's propulsion systems, which are simply not powerful enough to make the journey in a reasonable timeframe. Obstacles in reaching Planet Nine The main obstacle is the vast distance to Planet Nine. If it exists, the planet is estimated to orbit the Sun at a distance of 400 to 800 times farther than Earth, or 13 to 26 times beyond the orbit of Neptune. At such extreme distances, even small changes in velocity make a big difference in travel time. Also Read | China's Chang’e-6 mission returns to Earth with rare sample from Moon's far side Sending a spacecraft to Planet Nine would require advances in propulsion technology, such as nuclear thermal rockets or even more exotic concepts like laser sails that use powerful lasers to propel lightweight craft. A study published in 2022 suggested that a light sail could potentially reach Planet Nine in as little as seven years, but the researchers estimated it would take at least 20 years for this technology to become practical. Watch | Study finds AI can detect Parkinson's seven years before onset × In the meantime, astronomers are racing to confirm the existence of Planet Nine using powerful new telescopes like the Vera C Rubin Observatory in Chile, which is scheduled to begin operations in late 2025. If Planet Nine is detected, it would likely take at least a decade or more for space agencies to plan and approve a mission to visit it. (With inputs from agencies)

Planet Nine: How challenging is the journey to edge of Solar System?

On June 13, 1983, NASA'S Pioneer 10 became the first man-made object to cross the solar system. Here's a Gravitas recall.

Gravitas | The story of Pioneer 10: First man-made object to cross the solar system

Mars is believed to be more prone to devastation from asteroids than what was believed earlier. Studies suggest that this may pose a risk to future Mars missions that have been planned to investigate whether Mars can be an alternative for human inhabitation.

<h2>What is the risk posed by asteroids?</h2>

Asteroids are small rocky objects that orbit the sun and pose a threat to the planets in the solar system. Back in 2013, the Chelyabinsk meteor caused devastation on Earth by injuring over 1,000 people and causing more than $33 million&nbsp;worth of infrastructure damage.

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Since Mars is located directly adjacent to the main belt, which is a region of rocky debris between Mars and Jupiter's orbits without any planets, it is more at risk of devastation from asteroids.

<h2>What do studies suggest?</h2>

A doctoral student in astronomy at Nanjing University China, Yufan Fane Zhou has taken the daunting task of analysing the asteroids that have the potential to cause damage to Mars. He has given them the name CAPHAs, which is short for close approach potentially hazardous asteroids.

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Study co-author &nbsp;Zhou said, as per LiveScience, "As human visits to Mars become more frequent, the threat posed by Mars-CAPHAs may increasingly be taken seriously." On the contrary, he believes that these asteroids can further help understand the&nbsp;environment on Mars in greater detail and aid astronomers in understanding the history of the planet.

<h2>Is Mars at a greater risk of devastation from asteroids than Earth?</h2>

Studying the impact of CAPHAs on Mars was a mammoth exercise for Zhou and his team. They created a simulation along with all eight planets of the solar system and asteroids for the same.

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The main belt is where all of these asteroids were first formed. The scientists then classified around 10,000 asteroids as "near-gap" by examining each asteroid's distance from six known gaps, which were asteroid-poor areas within the main belt where runaway rocks could potentially slip out.

It was deduced that roughly 52 asteroids wander close to Mars every Earth year, which is approximately 2.6 times more than the asteroids that approach Earth every year.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Mars is believed to be more prone to devastation from asteroids than what was believed earlier. Studies suggest that this may pose a risk to future Mars missions that have been planned to investigate whether Mars can be an alternative for human inhabitation.

Mars is believed to be more prone to devastation from asteroids than what was believed earlier. Studies suggest that this may pose a risk to future Mars missions that have been planned to investigate whether Mars can be an alternative for human inhabitation. What is the risk posed by asteroids? Asteroids are small rocky objects that orbit the sun and pose a threat to the planets in the solar system. Back in 2013, the Chelyabinsk meteor caused devastation on Earth by injuring over 1,000 people and causing more than $33 million worth of infrastructure damage. Also read | Blue-eyed individuals share common ancestor, claims genetic research Since Mars is located directly adjacent to the main belt, which is a region of rocky debris between Mars and Jupiter's orbits without any planets, it is more at risk of devastation from asteroids. What do studies suggest? A doctoral student in astronomy at Nanjing University China, Yufan Fane Zhou has taken the daunting task of analysing the asteroids that have the potential to cause damage to Mars. He has given them the name CAPHAs, which is short for close approach potentially hazardous asteroids. Watch | China: US trying to build an Asia-Pacific version of NATO Study co-author Zhou said, as per LiveScience, "As human visits to Mars become more frequent, the threat posed by Mars-CAPHAs may increasingly be taken seriously." On the contrary, he believes that these asteroids can further help understand the environment on Mars in greater detail and aid astronomers in understanding the history of the planet. Is Mars at a greater risk of devastation from asteroids than Earth? Studying the impact of CAPHAs on Mars was a mammoth exercise for Zhou and his team. They created a simulation along with all eight planets of the solar system and asteroids for the same. Also read | Blood test predicts breast cancer recurrence years in advance The main belt is where all of these asteroids were first formed. The scientists then classified around 10,000 asteroids as "near-gap" by examining each asteroid's distance from six known gaps, which were asteroid-poor areas within the main belt where runaway rocks could potentially slip out. It was deduced that roughly 52 asteroids wander close to Mars every Earth year, which is approximately 2.6 times more than the asteroids that approach Earth every year. (With inputs from agencies)

Asteroids can cause catastrophe on Mars and scientists are worried. Here's why

Scientists have observed carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide ices in the far reaches of our solar system on trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) for the first time.&nbsp;

The observations were made using the infrared spectral capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which is the largest and most powerful telescope ever launched into space.&nbsp;

In a study published in the journal Nature Astronomy earlier this week, scientists analysed the chemical composition of 59 trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) and Centaurs.&nbsp;

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The groundbreaking study suggests that carbon dioxide ice was abundant in the cold outer parts of the protoplanetary disc,&nbsp;the enormous revolving disc of gas and dust from which the solar system began.&nbsp;

However, a research team, led by planetary scientists Mário Nascimento De Prá and Noemí Pinilla-Alonso from the University of Central Florida's Florida Space Institute (FSI) also said that more investigation is required to understand the carbon monoxide ice's origins because it is also prevalent on the TNOs in the study.&nbsp;

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As quoted by phys.org, De Prá, who co-authored the study, said, "It is the first time we observed this region of the spectrum for a large collection of TNOs, so in a sense, everything we saw was exciting and unique."&nbsp;

"We did not expect to find that carbon dioxide was so ubiquitous in the TNO region, and even less that carbon monoxide was present in so many TNOs," he added.&nbsp;

Experts believe that the study would help in understanding the formation of our solar system. It could also shed some light on how celestial objects may have migrated.&nbsp;

"Trans-Neptunian Objects are relics from the process of planetary formation," de Prá said, further adding, "These findings can impose important constraints about where these objects were formed, how they reached the region they inhabit nowadays, and how their surfaces evolved since their formation. Because they formed at greater distances to the sun and are smaller than the planets, they contain the pristine information about the original composition of the protoplanetary disk."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Scientists have observed carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide ices in the far reaches of our solar system on trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) for the first time. The observations were made using the infrared spectral capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which is the largest and most powerful telescope ever launched into space.

Scientists have observed carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide ices in the far reaches of our solar system on trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) for the first time. The observations were made using the infrared spectral capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which is the largest and most powerful telescope ever launched into space. In a study published in the journal Nature Astronomy earlier this week, scientists analysed the chemical composition of 59 trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) and Centaurs. Also read: NASA launches satellite PREFIRE to monitor, predict and help mitigate climate change The groundbreaking study suggests that carbon dioxide ice was abundant in the cold outer parts of the protoplanetary disc, the enormous revolving disc of gas and dust from which the solar system began. However, a research team, led by planetary scientists Mário Nascimento De Prá and Noemí Pinilla-Alonso from the University of Central Florida's Florida Space Institute (FSI) also said that more investigation is required to understand the carbon monoxide ice's origins because it is also prevalent on the TNOs in the study. Also read: NASA's James Webb may have found answers to planets' extreme puffiness around stars As quoted by phys.org, De Prá, who co-authored the study, said, "It is the first time we observed this region of the spectrum for a large collection of TNOs, so in a sense, everything we saw was exciting and unique." "We did not expect to find that carbon dioxide was so ubiquitous in the TNO region, and even less that carbon monoxide was present in so many TNOs," he added. Experts believe that the study would help in understanding the formation of our solar system. It could also shed some light on how celestial objects may have migrated. "Trans-Neptunian Objects are relics from the process of planetary formation," de Prá said, further adding, "These findings can impose important constraints about where these objects were formed, how they reached the region they inhabit nowadays, and how their surfaces evolved since their formation. Because they formed at greater distances to the sun and are smaller than the planets, they contain the pristine information about the original composition of the protoplanetary disk." (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists find CO2 and CO ice far away in our solar system for the first time

NASA's Juno mission&nbsp;clicked captivating views of Jupiter during its 59th close flyby of the planet on March 7, 2024, according to an official readout along with images captured by the mission. The images show a good look of Jupiter's remarkably colourful belts and swirling storms.

The images also provide a good view of the Great Red Spot, the most recognisable feature of Jupiter due to its red-orange colour whose origin is still unknown. The Great Red Spot is a persistent high-pressure region in the atmosphere of Jupiter that produces an anticyclonic storm, the largest of its kind in the Solar System.

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A close examination of the Juno mission reveals something more: two glimpses of the tiny moon Amalthea.

<h2>What is Amalthea?</h2>

Amalthea is a potato-like natural satellite of Jupiter. With a radius of just 52 miles (84 kilometres), it lacks the mass to pull itself into a spherical shape. In 2000, NASA’s Galileo spacecraft revealed some surface features of this Jovial Moon, including impact craters, hills, and valleys.&nbsp;

Amalthea circles Jupiter inside Io’s orbit, the innermost of the planet’s four largest moons. It takes about 12 Earth hours for Amalthea to complete one orbit.

<h2>What makes Amalthea unique?&nbsp;</h2>

Amalthea is the reddest object in the solar system, according to an official NASA readout.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Life beyond Earth? NASA probe bound for Jupiter's moon

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Observations indicate that it gives out more heat than it receives from the Sun. This is because, as it orbits within Jupiter’s powerful magnetic field, electric currents are induced in its core. Alternatively, the heat could be from tidal stresses caused by Jupiter’s gravity, the NASA readout adds.&nbsp;

<h2>How Juno spacecraft clicked Amalthea?&nbsp;</h2>

The Juno spacecraft was about 165,000 miles (265,000 kilometres) above Jupiter’s cloud, at a latitude of about 5 degrees north of the equator, when these images were taken.&nbsp;

Citizen scientist Gerald Eichstädt made these images using raw data from the JunoCam instrument, applying processing techniques to enhance the clarity of the images, NASA readout added.

(With inputs from agencies)

NASA's Juno mission clicked captivating views of Jupiter during its 59th close flyby of the planet on March 7, 2024, according to an official readout along with images captured by the mission.

NASA's Juno mission clicked captivating views of Jupiter during its 59th close flyby of the planet on March 7, 2024, according to an official readout along with images captured by the mission. The images show a good look of Jupiter's remarkably colourful belts and swirling storms. The images also provide a good view of the Great Red Spot, the most recognisable feature of Jupiter due to its red-orange colour whose origin is still unknown. The Great Red Spot is a persistent high-pressure region in the atmosphere of Jupiter that produces an anticyclonic storm, the largest of its kind in the Solar System. Also read | NASA's Juno spacecraft spots glass-smooth lava lake and a mountain on a moon A close examination of the Juno mission reveals something more: two glimpses of the tiny moon Amalthea. What is Amalthea? Amalthea is a potato-like natural satellite of Jupiter. With a radius of just 52 miles (84 kilometres), it lacks the mass to pull itself into a spherical shape. In 2000, NASA’s Galileo spacecraft revealed some surface features of this Jovial Moon, including impact craters, hills, and valleys. Amalthea circles Jupiter inside Io’s orbit, the innermost of the planet’s four largest moons. It takes about 12 Earth hours for Amalthea to complete one orbit. What makes Amalthea unique? Amalthea is the reddest object in the solar system, according to an official NASA readout. Also watch | Gravitas: Life beyond Earth? NASA probe bound for Jupiter's moon × Observations indicate that it gives out more heat than it receives from the Sun. This is because, as it orbits within Jupiter’s powerful magnetic field, electric currents are induced in its core. Alternatively, the heat could be from tidal stresses caused by Jupiter’s gravity, the NASA readout adds. How Juno spacecraft clicked Amalthea? The Juno spacecraft was about 165,000 miles (265,000 kilometres) above Jupiter’s cloud, at a latitude of about 5 degrees north of the equator, when these images were taken. Citizen scientist Gerald Eichstädt made these images using raw data from the JunoCam instrument, applying processing techniques to enhance the clarity of the images, NASA readout added. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA’s Juno mission captures reddest object in solar system

Researchers have come across a new exoplanet TOI-6713.01 located approximately 66 light-years away from Earth, reports said citing a recent study published in The Astronomical Journal.&nbsp;This newly discovered exoplanet orbiting its parent star is a celestial marvel and what sets this exoplanet apart is its striking resemblance to Jupiter's moon, Io, known for its volcanic activity.

This rocky world, about 30 percent larger than our own planet, is distinguished by its scorching surface temperature. The temperatures surpass even some stars at around 4220 degrees Fahrenheit.

Study author Stephen Kane from the University of California, Riverside, expressed his astonishment at the discovery. He said, "It was one of those discovery moments that you think, 'wow, it's amazing this can actually exist."&nbsp;

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Comparing TOI-6713.01 to Jupiter's volcanic moon, Io, Kane described it as "Io on steroids" because of its constant volcanic eruptions. The planet's surface appears glowing and red-hot due to the volcanic activities.&nbsp;

"It's been forced into a situation where it's constantly exploding with volcanoes. At optical wavelengths you would be able to see a glowing, red-hot planet with a molten lava surface," Kane added.&nbsp;

<h2>Data gathered by&nbsp;TESS</h2>

The discovery of TOI-6713.01 was made possible through data gathered by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). It studied the planet's host star HD 104067. While this star was previously known to host one giant planet and a rocky world, the study revealed the existence of another rocky planet in its orbit.

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Researchers proposed that TOI-6713.01's volcanic activity may be driven by gravitational interactions with its parent body, similar to Io's relationship with Jupiter and its moons.

Notably, Jupiter's moon Io is volcanically active primarily due to tidal heating generated by its interactions with Jupiter and its neighbouring moons Europa and Ganymede.

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The gravitational pull from Jupiter and its moons causes Io to experience tidal forces, which flex and distort its interior. This constant flexing generates immense heat within Io's interior that leads to the melting of its rock and the formation of magma chambers.

This tidal heating effect, induced by gravitational forces, could explain the extreme volcanic behaviour observed on this new planet's surface.

(With inputs from agencies)

Researchers have come across a new exoplanet TOI-6713.01 located approximately 66 light-years away from Earth, reports said citing a recent study published in The Astronomical Journal.

Researchers have come across a new exoplanet TOI-6713.01 located approximately 66 light-years away from Earth, reports said citing a recent study published in The Astronomical Journal. This newly discovered exoplanet orbiting its parent star is a celestial marvel and what sets this exoplanet apart is its striking resemblance to Jupiter's moon, Io, known for its volcanic activity. This rocky world, about 30 percent larger than our own planet, is distinguished by its scorching surface temperature. The temperatures surpass even some stars at around 4220 degrees Fahrenheit. Study author Stephen Kane from the University of California, Riverside, expressed his astonishment at the discovery. He said, "It was one of those discovery moments that you think, 'wow, it's amazing this can actually exist." Also Read | NASA will do THIS when 'God of Destruction' asteroid Apophis comes near Earth in 2029 Comparing TOI-6713.01 to Jupiter's volcanic moon, Io, Kane described it as "Io on steroids" because of its constant volcanic eruptions. The planet's surface appears glowing and red-hot due to the volcanic activities. "It's been forced into a situation where it's constantly exploding with volcanoes. At optical wavelengths you would be able to see a glowing, red-hot planet with a molten lava surface," Kane added. Data gathered by TESS The discovery of TOI-6713.01 was made possible through data gathered by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). It studied the planet's host star HD 104067. While this star was previously known to host one giant planet and a rocky world, the study revealed the existence of another rocky planet in its orbit. Also Read | Internet use linked to global wellbeing boost, reveals research Researchers proposed that TOI-6713.01's volcanic activity may be driven by gravitational interactions with its parent body, similar to Io's relationship with Jupiter and its moons. Notably, Jupiter's moon Io is volcanically active primarily due to tidal heating generated by its interactions with Jupiter and its neighbouring moons Europa and Ganymede. Watch | New infectious diseases on the rise × The gravitational pull from Jupiter and its moons causes Io to experience tidal forces, which flex and distort its interior. This constant flexing generates immense heat within Io's interior that leads to the melting of its rock and the formation of magma chambers. This tidal heating effect, induced by gravitational forces, could explain the extreme volcanic behaviour observed on this new planet's surface. (With inputs from agencies)

Furious volcanic eruptions on exoplanet termed 'lo on steroids' make it hotter than some stars

The James Webb space telescope, which is the most powerful space telescope ever built, has discovered what is being hailed as the “strongest, most promising sign” of life on another planet. Nasa now plans to embark on a new mission to study this exciting sign of alien life found on the exoplanet k2-18b planet which is '124 light-years away'. Watch this report to know how Phytoplanktons found in our oceans is guiding the search for extraterrestrial life.

Gravitas: Most promising indication of life on another planet found

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