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#SolarSystem

Global News

The Hunt for Planet Nine: Solving the Solar System’s Biggest Mystery

Is there a hidden ninth planet lurking in the farthest reaches of our solar system? Astronomers believe it might be true, and they’re calling this mysterious world “Planet Nine.” First proposed in 2016, this theoretical planet is thought to be a massive, icy or gas-covered world, seven times the size of Earth. If discovered, Planet Nine could become the key to unlocking secrets about the structure and history of our solar system.The Clues in the Kuiper BeltThe idea of Planet Nine originated when astronomers noticed something unusual in the Kuiper Belt, a distant region filled with icy objects beyond Neptune. Several of these objects displayed peculiar orbital patterns, as though influenced by the gravity of an enormous, unseen body. This led scientists to theorize the existence of a massive planet exerting a gravitational pull on the Kuiper Belt’s objects.Mike Brown, a renowned scientist at Caltech, has been a driving force behind the Planet Nine hypothesis. Known for discovering other celestial bodies like Eris and Haumea, Brown is convinced that the odd movements in the Kuiper Belt are no coincidence. "Something big is out there," he asserts, indicating Planet Nine.A Planet Like No OtherIf Planet Nine exists, it’s nothing like the planets we’re familiar with. Located billions of miles from Earth, it would sit far beyond Neptune and Pluto. Its orbit, scientists believe, is extraordinarily elongated, taking thousands of years to complete a single revolution around the Sun.This vast distance makes Planet Nine incredibly difficult to spot. Unlike brighter, closer planets, it would appear faint and dim, blending into the blackness of space. Its icy or gaseous surface could reflect little light, adding to the challenge of detection.Cutting-Edge Technology in the SearchThe quest for Planet Nine is about to get a major boost with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, set to begin operations in 2025. Equipped with the most powerful digital camera ever built, this state-of-the-art telescope will allow astronomers to scan the sky with unprecedented precision.Older telescopes struggled to detect distant, faint objects, but the Vera Rubin Observatory promises to change the game. By capturing immense detail and covering larger swaths of the sky, it could finally reveal Planet Nine, if it exists.Why Finding Planet Nine MattersDiscovering Planet Nine would be one of the greatest astronomical breakthroughs of our time. It could fundamentally reshape our understanding of planetary science.Planet Nine could answer critical questions:How do massive planets form in the outer reaches of a solar system?What influences the orbits of distant celestial objects?Are there more hidden planets waiting to be discovered?This discovery would also demonstrate how far technology has come in exploring the cosmos. From Galileo’s telescope to the Vera Rubin Observatory, humanity’s ability to study the universe has increased manifold.The search for Planet Nine is part of a broader effort to explore and understand space. With each passing year, advancements in technology are enabling astronomers to uncover more about our universe. From identifying exoplanets to studying black holes, the quest for knowledge continues to expand our horizons.Planet Nine, if found, would mark a new chapter in our understanding of the solar system while inspiring future generations of scientists to keep searching for the unknown.A World Waiting to Be FoundThe mystery of Planet Nine captures the imagination of astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. While its existence remains theoretical for now, the evidence pointing to this hidden giant is compelling. With groundbreaking tools like the Vera Rubin Observatory at their disposal, scientists are closer than ever to solving one of the biggest puzzles in space.As the search intensifies, one thing is certain: the discovery of Planet Nine would not only rewrite textbooks but also reaffirm humanity’s boundless curiosity about the universe. Until then, the hunt continues, and the cosmos waits to reveal its secrets.

26 Nov 2024
Global News

First Detection of Carbon Ices on Solar System Objects: A Breakthrough Discovery

For the first time, researchers have discovered carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide ices on trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) in the furthest regions of our solar system. The largest and most potent telescope ever launched into orbit, the James Webb Orbit Telescope (JWST), was utilized to make the observations due of its infrared spectrum capabilities. In a study that was released earlier this week in the journal Nature Astronomy, researchers examined the chemical makeup of 59 centaurs and trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs). According to the ground-breaking research, there was a lot of carbon dioxide ice in the chilly outer regions of the protoplanetary disc—the massive rotating disc of gas and dust from which the solar system originated. But because carbon monoxide ice is also common on the TNOs in the study, a research team led by planetary scientists Mário Nascimento De Prá and Noemí Pinilla-Alonso from the Florida Space Institute (FSI) at the University of Central Florida stated that more research is needed to understand the origins of the ice. 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." (Source: Google Images)  The researchers 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."  “This is like the first chapter in an entirely new book we’ll be writing about exoplanets in the coming months.”  — Jacob Bean

7 Jun 2024
Global News

Scientists Discover Real-Life Tatooine: Solar System With Two Suns and Three Planets

A new solar system has been discovered by a team of scientists, where planets orbit two suns, similar to the fictional home of Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise. The discovery of the solar system, named TOI-1233, offers new insights into the formation and evolution of planets in binary star systems. The discovery was made by an international team of astronomers using data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The researchers found that TOI-1233 has three exoplanets, with the innermost planet orbiting both stars in just under four days. The two stars in the TOI-1233 system are smaller and cooler than the sun, and are located about 1,200 light-years away from Earth. The discovery of this solar system offers a unique opportunity for astronomers to study the formation and evolution of planets in binary star systems, which are common in the Milky Way galaxy. The discovery of the TOI-1233 solar system is a significant step forward in our understanding of the universe and the diversity of planetary systems that exist. It also offers a glimpse into the fictional world of Star Wars and the possibility of finding habitable planets in binary star systems, a concept that has long fascinated astronomers and science fiction enthusiasts alike.

16 Jun 2023
Global News

Jupiter Gets 12 New Moons — Takes the Total to 92

Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, has just gotten even more fascinating with the discovery of 12 new moons. This brings the total number of known moons around the gas giant to 92, making Jupiter one of the most heavily populated celestial bodies in our solar system. The discovery was made by Scott Sheppard of the Carnegie Institution for Science and his team, who have been studying the Jovian system for years.   The new moons were found using the Blanco 4-metre telescope in Chile and confirmed using other telescopes in Hawaii and Arizona. They range in size from just a few kilometres to several dozen kilometres across and belong to two distinct groups: 11 are part of an outer group of moons that orbit in the opposite direction of Jupiter's rotation and one moon is part of a group that orbits in the same direction as the planet's rotation.   This discovery provides new insights into the early evolution of the Jovian system and the history of the solar system as a whole. The outer group of moons is thought to be remnants of a larger moon that was shattered by a collision with another celestial object. The moon that orbits in the same direction as Jupiter's rotation is thought to be a "captured" object, meaning it was likely formed elsewhere in the solar system and was later pulled into orbit around Jupiter.   The new moons also offer opportunities for scientific exploration and study. They provide a window into the history of the Jovian system and the formation of the solar system itself. In addition, the moons are potential targets for future missions to study the interior and surface of the objects and learn more about the evolution of the Jovian system.  

7 Feb 2023
Global News

The Whys and Hows

Fragments of Moon-Forming Planet Found in Earth's Core, Study Reveals

A groundbreaking study published in the journal Nature has unveiled new evidence suggesting that remnants of the planet responsible for the formation of the Moon may still be buried deep within Earth's core. The study sheds light on the long-standing mystery surrounding the origin of our Moon and provides key insights into the Earth's internal structure and the evolution of the solar system. Scientists from an international, interdisciplinary team have identified Large Low-Velocity Provinces (LLVPs) in the Earth's mantle, which could be remnants of the protoplanet called Theia. Theia, roughly the size of Mars, is believed to have collided with Earth billions of years ago, ejecting enough material to form the Moon. However, the new study suggests that Theia's impact on our planet is ongoing, as it continues to influence the forces within Earth's interior. This discovery challenges previous theories on the Moon's formation and the homogenization of the early Earth. It is now believed that the Moon-forming giant impact led to the heterogeneity of Earth's mantle, marking the starting point for the geological evolution that has occurred over the past 4.5 billion years. The study also highlights the existence of two anomalous regions, the LLVPs, located beneath the African and Pacific tectonic plates. These regions have significant implications for mantle evolution and plate structures, and their origins may be linked to the entry of Theian material into Earth's lower mantle. By analyzing rock samples and refining giant impact models, scientists aim to unravel the history of the inner solar system's formation. The findings demonstrate that the Earth's interior is far from uniform, with traces of Theian material shaping our planet's geological evolution even today.

7 Nov 2023
The Whys and Hows

Global Inspirations

AI Discovers A Twin Solar System

NASA’s Kepler space telescope and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has helped discover a solar system just like ours with eight planets orbiting a star. NASA in a statement said,  "Our solar system now is tied for most number of planets around a single star." However, experts have ruled out any possibility of life on the planets. The eight planets orbit a star called Kepler 90 some 2,545 light-years away. Andrew Vanderburg, an astronomer at the University of Texas at Austin said that the Kepler-90 star system is like a mini version of our solar system. There are small planets inside and big planets outside, but everything is scrunched in much closer. Scientists have been able to find new planets by using machine learning from Google. Vanderburg states that one day, artificial intelligence might even be used to search specifically for more Earth-like planets, which have proven difficult to pin down. The Kepler Space Telescope that was launched in 2009 has scanned some 150,000 stars. Using Kepler data, astronomers have already confirmed the existence of some 2,500 far-away worlds. Vanderburg predicts that there may be systems out there with so many planets that they make our eight-planet solar system seem ordinary.

17 Dec 2017
Global Inspirations

Two added to Jupiter’s moons’ list making the count to 69 now

Jupiter had 67 moons until astronomers accidentally discovered two more making it 69 now. The moons are basically celestial bodies orbiting a planet. The highly developed telescopes spotted the two tiny moons revolving around Jupiter. The discovery was accidental as astronomers were searching for some bodies outside the solar system when they spotted these tiny moons around Jupiter. The discovery was made by researchers from the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington DC with the help of the Magellan-Baade reflector at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. They have been referred to as moonlets since they are very tiny in size measuring 1 mile across. They haven’t been named yet but are referred to as S/2016 J 1 and S/2017 J 1 – where S stands for Satellite, and J stands for Jupiter. In correspondence with the Sky and Telescope, the leader of the team Dr. Scott Sheppard said that his team was continuing the survey finding bodies outside the solar system that includes looking Planet X, while Jupiter was just spotted in the area they were surveying in 2016 and 2017. Astronomers claim that the tiny moons might have drifted towards Jupiter as they might have gone close to the gravitational pull of the planet.  

14 Jun 2017
Global Inspirations

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