A striking view of Asteroid Itokawa, as captured by the Hayabusa spacecraft. This S-type asteroid, known for its distinctive peanut shape, boasts a diameter of roughly 1,100 feet and completes a full rotation every 12 hours. Credit: JAXA.A recent breakthrough in asteroid research by the Japanese Hayabusa spacecraft has profound implications for our understanding...
The case for life on Jupiter's moon Europa just got stronger, thanks to the detection of carbon dioxide on its surfaceNASAThe prime locations within our solar system for seeking extraterrestrial life aren't planets such as Mars; rather, they are icy moons like Europa. The evidence supporting the existence of life on this watery celestial...
Credit: Phys.A research team led by Assistant Professor Wu Chengyuan from Yunnan Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has delved into the evolution of post-merger remnants resulting from the coalescence of double oxygen-neon white dwarfs. Their findings shed light on how specific factors influence the final fate of such remnants.Impacts of Convective Boundary...
Credit: PixaobayResearchers have unearthed a straightforward and dependable method for detecting indications of past or present life on planets, a breakthrough often referred to as the ultimate goal of astrobiology.In the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a team of seven researchers has reported a groundbreaking development. Their artificial intelligence-based approach has shown...
Credit: PixaobayWhile we are aware of the existence of lunar ice, its origin remains somewhat uncertain. A recent investigation proposes that streams of electrons, which indirectly originate from both Earth and the Sun, are playing a role in the creation of frozen water on the Moon's surface.These electrons impact the Moon when it traverses...
Credit: PixaobayThe James Webb Space Telescope from NASA has initiated its examination of the famous supernova, SN 1987A, situated 168,000 light-years distant in the Large Magellanic Cloud. This supernova has been under extensive scrutiny for nearly four decades, spanning from gamma rays to radio waves, since its detection in February 1987. Fresh observations using...
The Target Pixel File (TPF) for TOI-332 (marked as a white cross) from TESS S1. Credit: Osborn et al., 2023.By employing NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), a group of astronomers from around the world has detected a fresh, substantial, and compact exoplanet. This recently discovered extraterrestrial planet, named TOI-332 b, ranks among the...
Credit: PixaobayWhile outer space lacks traditional air, it experiences a unique form of wind known as solar wind, composed of charged particles emitted by the Sun. The precise process driving this phenomenon remains unclear, but the Solar Orbiter spacecraft from the European Space Agency (ESA) has recently detected hitherto undiscovered "small-scale" eruptions on the...
Credit: Unsplush.A recent analysis of images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has unveiled an intriguing find within the Sombrero Galaxy. Conducted by Elio Quiroga Rodriguez from the Mid Atlantic University in Spain, this discovery sheds light on a previously unnoticed galaxy that harbors an active galactic nucleus (AGN). The findings were detailed...
A Perseid meteor in the same frame as the galaxy M31. Credit: PixaobayThe Perseid meteor shower is set to peak on the night of 12-13 August this year, promising an exciting spectacle for skywatchers. This meteor shower is most visible from the northern hemisphere, and under perfect conditions with clear skies, observers might be...
