Planetary Science

James Webb’s Discovery: Milky Way’s Heart Revealed

The NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) tool aboard NASA's James Webb Space Telescope presents a fresh perspective on a segment of the Milky Way's dense core. Approximately 500,000 stars illuminate the Sagittarius C (Sgr C) region in this image, featuring some yet-to-be-identified elements. In cyan, a substantial area of ionized hydrogen reveals fascinating needle-like formations that...

France and Italy Collaborate to Construct a Lunar Habitat

Artist's concept of the Franco-Italian Moon habitatThales AleniaFrance and Italy are joining forces to create a facility for upcoming moon bases. The Franco-Italian technology company Thales Alenia Space and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) have entered into a contract to design the Multi-Purpose Habitat (MPH) for NASA's Artemis project.In recent aerospace endeavors, considerable focus...

Despite its Intense Heat, Mercury May Harbor Polar Glaciers

Mercury may have buried glaciers near its north poleNASADiscovering subterranean salt glaciers at the north pole of the scorching planet Mercury might seem as improbable as locating a ski resort in the Amazon, yet a team of scientists from the Planetary Science Institute asserts they have uncovered supporting evidence for this phenomenon.Mercury is renowned...

NASA Tests Laser Communications Across 10 Million Miles in Space

The DSOC attached to the Psyche deep-space probeNASANASA's Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) unit on the Psyche spacecraft has activated, creating a high-speed laser data link at a distance of 10 million miles (16 million km), equivalent to 40 times the distance from Earth to the Moon.NASA has expressed a strong interest in developing...

James Webb Telescope Discovers Water Vapor, Sulfur Dioxide, and Sand Clouds on Nearby Exoplanet

Credit: BGRA team of European astronomers, including researchers from KU Leuven's Institute of Astronomy, utilized the James Webb Space Telescope for recent observations on the atmosphere of the nearby exoplanet WASP-107b. Peering deep into its cloudy atmosphere, they identified water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and even silicate sand clouds. These elements exist within a dynamic...

China’s Ambitious Mars Sample Return Mission and its Potential Impact on the Space Race

NASA has been the primary force in Martian research, utilizing instruments such as Hubble to capture images. However, the emergence of a formidable competitor has the potential to alter the landscape. Credit: NASA.A year ago, the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) quietly unveiled plans for a significant space exploration initiative, Tianwen-3, to bring back...

Kepler Discovers a New System of 7 Planets

Seven Sweltering Worlds - A Glimpse of the Kepler-385 System. Credit: NASA/Daniel RutterNASA's Kepler missions have concluded, but astronomers persist in refining their data, leading to remarkable discoveries in exoplanets. Among these findings is identifying the hottest seven-planet system, facilitated by meticulous data analysis.A Fiery Star at the Center: Kepler-385At the heart of this...

James Webb’s Carbon Discovery on Europa Bolsters the Case for Potential Life

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...

Investigating the Evolution of Post-Merger Remnant

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...

Did life Exist on Mars or other Planets? AI could Reveal Soon

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...