You are here

Topic: Solar System

Professor Michelle Thompson, of Purdue University, discusses the remarkable collection of asteroid Bennu samples, highlighting their potential to unravel the mysteries of life's beginnings on Earth. (representative image) (Pixabay) Space 

Purdue Professor Reveals Ancient Mysteries: Asteroid Bennu Specimens to Illuminate Life’s Beginnings

Nitin Misra,

Samples from the Asteroid Bennu have successfully made their way to Earth, holding the potential to unveil numerous enigmas of the Universe. Professor Michelle Thompson, from Purdue University in Indiana, has achieved an extraordinary accomplishment by spearheading a team that gathered these invaluable samples. Acting as time capsules, these samples provide valuable glimpses into the genesis of our solar system, dating back over four and a half billion years. In an interview with CBC News: The National, Professor Thompson described the surreal experience of holding pieces of the asteroid Bennu…

Read More
Asteroid 2023 RU belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids. (Pixabay) Space 

NASA Unveils Size and Speed of Asteroid 2023 RU as it Nears Earth

Adriana Marais, , ,

NASA, along with other space agencies, has successfully created technologies to monitor the orbits of asteroids and potentially alter their paths if they pose a threat. Utilizing these advanced tools, NASA has recently disclosed information regarding an asteroid named Asteroid 2023 RU, which is currently heading towards Earth and is expected to have its nearest encounter with our planet today, September 11. Asteroid 2023 RU: Approach details Using its various satellites and space and ground-based telescopes, NASA has tracked the orbit of this asteroid and revealed important information about its…

Read More
The Aditya-L1 mission is to be launched on September 2 at 11:50 a.m. from Sriharikota. (ISRO Twitter) Space 

Aditya-L1 mission to begin ISRO’s pioneering solar exploration

Sanjay Patil,

The Aditya-L1 solar mission, set to be launched by ISRO, is gearing up for a 125-day journey to the Sun. This mission, equipped with seven payloads such as the VELC instrument, has the objective of examining the solar corona, solar wind, and space weather. Aditya-L1 marks a noteworthy achievement in India’s space exploration endeavors. 1. India’s ISO is all set to launch its Aditya-L1 solar mission after its successful lunar mission Chandrayaan-3. 2. Aditya-L1’s launch countdown on PSLV C57 began with a 125-day journey to the Sun. 3. ISRO Chairman…

Read More
Japan’s JAXA plans a small-scale lunar mission. Check details here. (NASA) News 

JAXA to Send SLIM ‘Moon Sniper’ Lander to the Moon on August 26

Sanjay Patil,

The year of significant space exploration has begun, with multiple countries vying to reach the moon’s surface. The sheer number of missions planned and executed in 2023 is astonishing. Initially, India’s third moon mission, Chardrayaan-3, successfully launched and is set to land on August 23. Subsequently, Russia’s moon mission, which faced a 45-year delay, unfortunately ended in a spacecraft crash. Now, Japan’s Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is gearing up to launch its Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), also known as ‘Moon Sniper’, on August 26. There’s more! Several…

Read More
Check out why Uranus is the coldest planet in the solar system. (Pixabay) News 

Discover the Icy Wonders of Neptune and Uranus: The Coldest Planets in the Solar System

Jim Hendler,

The temperature of a planet decreases as its distance from the Sun increases. Earth, being at an ideal distance, enjoys a comfortable temperature suitable for human existence. However, as one moves further away from the Sun, conditions become increasingly unfavorable. Uranus and Neptune, being the most distant planets, experience extremely cold temperatures, making them the coldest in our solar system. The study of these planets poses challenges due to their vast distances from us. Uranus Uranus is the second farthest planet from the sun. Uranus is not oriented like the…

Read More
Venus is the hottest planet in the Solar System, where surface temperatures soar to 900 degrees fahrenheit. (AP) News 

Surprising Discovery: Venus is the Hottest Planet in the Solar System

Febin Mathew,

Venus, often called Earth’s “sister planet” due to its comparable size and composition, surpasses all other planets in our solar system in terms of scorching temperatures. Remarkably, it even outshines Mercury, the planet closest to the Sun, making it the hottest planet in our cosmic vicinity. Greenhouse effect on Venus Venus’s bubbling heat is primarily due to its thick atmosphere, which is composed primarily of carbon dioxide. This atmosphere creates a greenhouse effect that traps heat, leading to a rapid increase in temperature. Surface temperatures on Venus can reach as…

Read More
Read about 5 Secrets of our solar system that will blow your mind. (Pixabay) Space 

Discover 5 Fascinating Facts About the Solar System

Adarsh V.K,

The solar system continues to captivate our imagination with its endless wonders. From the scorching brilliance of the Sun, which serves as the radiant centerpiece, to the mysterious gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn adorned with magnificent rings, each planet possesses its own unique allure. Earth stands out with its vibrant blue oceans and lush green lands, while Mars resembles a fascinating desert planet. Further out, we encounter icy planets known as Uranus and Neptune. Occasionally, we witness shooting stars as comets and asteroids pass by. Exploring the solar system…

Read More
Jupiter's cosmic dance: Unveiling the truth behind Its orbit around the Sun. (Pexels) News 

Jupiter’s Orbit Around the Sun: Unbelievable Discovery Revealed

Febin Mathew,

When we imagine the solar system, we usually picture the sun as the central figure, with planets circling around it. This representation is a simplified version of reality and doesn’t fully capture the actual dynamics. However, Jupiter, our massive neighboring planet, challenges this conventional pattern. Contrary to common belief, Jupiter’s orbit doesn’t revolve around the core of the sun. Instead, it revolves around a fascinating point called the barycenter, which is located in the empty space between Jupiter and the Sun. Jupiter’s unique dance around the Barycenter The reason behind…

Read More
Solar storm sparks US radio blackout, aurora spectacle expected. (AFP) Space 

Radio Communications Disrupted by Solar Storm; Auroras Predicted to Increase

Jim Hendler,

The Sun’s recent increase in solar activity has resulted in multiple solar storms, and more are expected to occur. On August 7th, a powerful X-class solar flare caused radio blackouts in North America. At the same time, predictions indicated that a coronal mass ejection (CME) known as a “cannibal,” which had erupted on August 5th, might come close to Earth and potentially cause a delayed solar storm. However, recent observations indicate that it may have completely bypassed our planet. The sun’s activity will accelerate with a predicted peak in 2025…

Read More
On Monday, a glowing mirror-like planet was discovered outside our solar system. (via REUTERS) News 

Explore the Unique Exoplanet with the Largest Mirror in the Universe

Nitin Misra,

The Cheops Space Telescope in Europe has made an intriguing discovery of an exoplanet that is exceptionally reflective, surpassing any other planet observed beyond our solar system. This scorching hot planet, situated 260 light years away from Earth, is adorned with metal clouds and experiences titanium raindrops. Impressively, it reflects a remarkable 80 percent of the light emitted by its host star. Astronomers believe that the exoplanet matches the brightness of Venus and the planet LTT9779 b, which was discovered earlier in 2020 and orbits its star in just 19…

Read More
World Asteroid Day: Raising awareness about asteroid risks to our planet, observed on June 30th. (Pixabay) Space 

Celebrating World Asteroid Day 2023 – History, Significance, and Ideas for Observance

Sanjay Patil, ,

Every year on June 30th, World Asteroid Day is observed with the aim of increasing public knowledge about asteroids and the potential dangers they pose to Earth. This particular date holds great significance as it serves as a remembrance of the Tunguska event, a massive explosion triggered by an asteroid in Siberia back in 1908. History of World Asteroid Day The founding of World Asteroid Day dates back to 2014, when Brian May, known for his role as Queen, joined forces with Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart, filmmaker Grig Richters…

Read More
ESA's Euclid Space Telescope and NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will join forces to study dark energy! (NASA) Space 

NASA and ESA Unite to Investigate the Puzzling Dark Energy

Adriana Marais, , ,

Dark energy and dark matter exist in an invisible realm that surpasses the observable universe in size. NASA and ESA are now actively investigating this enigmatic force to uncover its concealed mysteries. NASA explains that dark energy and dark matter constitute an unseen substance that accounts for the majority of the universe’s mass and forms its fundamental framework. Astonishingly, dark energy makes up 68% of the universe, while dark matter comprises 27%, leaving a mere 5% for the observable entities such as Earth, the Sun, planets, and everything we have…

Read More
Is there a 9th planet in our solar system? Know what researchers say. (Representative) (Unsplash) Space 

Asteroid Reveals Possible Existence of 9th Planet in Solar System

Adarsh V.K, , ,

Pluto, which is widely recognized as a dwarf planet, is a celestial object that revolves around the Sun. However, it is not classified as a planet due to its failure to meet one of the three criteria used by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to categorize planets. Although Pluto satisfies most of the criteria, it falls short of being classified as a full-sized planet because it has not “cleared the neighborhood” around its orbit. The other two criteria are that it must be in orbit around the Sun and have…

Read More