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Planetary Sciences news

Does planetary evolution favor human-like life? Study ups odds we're not alone
Humanity may not be extraordinary but rather the natural evolutionary outcome for our planet and likely others, according to a new model for how intelligent life developed on Earth.
Astrobiology
Feb 14, 2025
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Asteroid Ryugu samples suggest presence of salty water in outer solar system
Asteroids that orbit close to the Earth inevitably cause us some anxiety due to the even remote possibility of a collision. But their proximity also offers ample opportunities to learn more about the universe. Ryugu, a 900-meter ...
Astrobiology
Feb 14, 2025
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How NASA's Lunar Trailblazer will make a looping voyage to the moon
Before arriving at the moon, the small satellite mission will use the gravity of the sun, Earth, and moon over several months to gradually line up for capture into lunar orbit.
Space Exploration
Feb 14, 2025
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Why asteroid 2024 YR4 is unlikely to hit Earth in 2032 and how scientists keep track
The threat of a newly discovered asteroid has risen slightly in the past few weeks, as the world's telescopes rush to track its course. But the chance of an impact is still quite slim.
Space Exploration
Feb 13, 2025
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White dwarf stars may host more habitable exoplanets than expected
Among the roughly 10 billion white dwarf stars in the Milky Way galaxy, a greater number than previously expected could provide a stellar environment hospitable to life-supporting exoplanets, according to astronomers at the ...
Astrobiology
Feb 13, 2025
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Interstellar visitors: Material from Alpha Centauri may already be here
The appearance of the interstellar objects (ISOs) 'Oumuamua and Comet Borisov in 2017 and 2019, respectively, created a surge of interest. What were they? Where did they come from? Unfortunately, they didn't stick around ...
Planetary Sciences
Feb 12, 2025
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A jumping robot could leap over Enceladus' geysers
Locomotion makes things move, and certain forms of locomotion make them move better than others. Those more effective types of locomotion change depending on the environment, which is even more true for space exploration. ...
Space Exploration
Feb 12, 2025
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Witnessing the birth of planets: Webb telescope provides unprecedented view into PDS 70 system
Canadian astronomers have taken an extraordinary step in understanding how planets are born, using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). JWST was used to study PDS 70, a young star with two growing planets in its orbit. ...
Astrobiology
Feb 12, 2025
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What is space junk and why does it pose an increasing risk for Earth? An expert explains
Year after year, humanity is setting new records for the amount of stuff we're sending into the Earth's orbit, spurred mostly by Starlink's orbital domination. We're getting more eyes (satellites) on the sky, but we're also ...
Space Exploration
Feb 12, 2025
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Tidal energy measurements help scientists understand Titan's composition and orbital history
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) scientists are studying Saturn's moon Titan to assess its tidal dissipation rate, the energy lost as it orbits the ringed planet with its massive gravitational force. Understanding tidal ...
Planetary Sciences
Feb 12, 2025
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Astrophysicists suggest shaded outer disk regions formed Jupiter's largest moons
A pair of astrophysicists with Aix- Marseille Université, CNRS, and Institut Universitaire de France have developed a new theory about the formation of Jupiter's largest moons. In their paper published in The Planetary Science ...

Curiosity rover captures colorful clouds drifting over Mars
Red-and-green-tinted clouds drift through the Martian sky in a new set of images captured by NASA's Curiosity rover using its Mastcam—its main set of "eyes." Taken over 16 minutes on Jan. 17 (the 4,426th Martian day, or ...
Planetary Sciences
Feb 12, 2025
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NASA's mini rover team is packed for lunar journey
Three small NASA rovers that will explore the lunar surface as a team have been packed up and shipped from the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, marking completion of the first leg of the robots' ...
Space Exploration
Feb 11, 2025
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Astronomers announce largest collection of comets found outside our solar system
For the first time, astronomers have imaged dozens of belts around nearby stars where comets and tiny pebbles within them are orbiting.
Astronomy
Feb 11, 2025
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Yes, the odds of an asteroid striking Earth have doubled. No, you don't need to worry
At the end of 2024, astronomers detected an asteroid in the night sky. It was given the designation Y, since it was discovered in the last half of December, and R4 since it was the 117th rock to be found in the last couple ...
Planetary Sciences
Feb 11, 2025
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Is methane the key to finding life on other worlds?
How would detecting methane help astronomers identify if exoplanets, or even exomoons, have life as we know it, or even as we don't know it? This is what a recent study published in The Astronomical Journal hopes to address ...
Astrobiology
Feb 10, 2025
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Scientists spot candidate for speediest exoplanet system
Astronomers may have discovered a scrawny star bolting through the middle of our galaxy with a planet in tow. If confirmed, the pair sets a new record for the fastest-moving exoplanet system, nearly double our solar system's ...
Planetary Sciences
Feb 10, 2025
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Researchers confirm an exoplanet potentially capable of sustaining life
An international team has confirmed the discovery of a super-Earth orbiting in the habitable zone of a nearby sun-like star. The planet was originally detected two years ago by Oxford University scientist Dr. Michael Cretignier. ...
Astronomy
Feb 8, 2025
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Earth from space: Snow-capped Swiss Alps
The ranges and valleys of the Swiss Alps stand out in this image captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission in December 2024.
Planetary Sciences
Feb 7, 2025
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'Temperamental' stars may be distorting exoplanet observations
"Temperamental" stars that brighten and dim over a matter of hours or days may be distorting our view of thousands of distant planets, suggests a new study led by UCL researchers.
Astronomy
Feb 7, 2025
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More news

NASA CubeSat finds new radiation belts after May 2024 solar storm

Martian lava rocks shed light on critical period of red planet's history

Lightning strikes link weather on Earth and weather in space

Trench-like features on Uranus's moon Ariel may be windows to its interior

How an ancient asteroid strike carved out 2 grand canyons on the moon

Lunar rocks help scientists pinpoint when the moon crystallized

Burrowing mole-bot could characterize other planets' soil
Other news

Simulations reveal Anderson transition for light in 3D disordered systems

Research reveals how Earth got its ice caps

'Work flow' music designed to improve performance does just that

AI and biophysical modeling unite for novel protein design

Newly spotted asteroid has a tiny chance of hitting Earth in 2032

A balloon mission that could explore Venus indefinitely

Bizarre features on Mars are caused by carbon dioxide geysers
