Tag: Astrophysics

The smallest moon ever detected around Uranus and two around Neptune
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The smallest moon ever detected around Uranus and two around Neptune

[ad_1] Astronomers have recently made an intriguing discovery in our solar system, uncovering two tiny moons circling Neptune and one orbiting Uranus. These newfound celestial companions bring the total count of known moons around these gas giants to 16 for Neptune and 28 for Uranus.The most remarkable of these discoveries is Uranus' new moon, believed to be the smallest ever detected around the ice giant. Measuring a mere 5 miles (8 kilometers) in width, this diminutive moon completes a single orbit around Uranus every 680 days. To put its size into perspective, it's even smaller than Mars' moon Deimos, one of the tiniest known moons in our solar system, according to Carnegie Institution for Science. Currently designated as "S/2023 U1," the Uranian moon awaits an official name, likely ...
Breakthrough! In a first, infrared auroras on Uranus confirmed
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Breakthrough! In a first, infrared auroras on Uranus confirmed

[ad_1] In a remarkable breakthrough, scientists have, after nearly two decades of research, confirmed the presence of stunning infrared auroras gracing the northern regions of Uranus. This revelation not only enhances our comprehension of Uranian auroras but also offers a glimmer of insight into why this distant gas giant boasts an unexpectedly high temperature.Uranus, like its planetary siblings, is significantly hotter than theoretical models predict, especially when considering its vast distance from the Sun. Astrophysicist Emma Thomas from the University of Leicester in the UK posits that the energetic auroras on Uranus might be the key to this mystery, as they generate and channel heat from the auroras toward the magnetic equator, Sciencealert reported. We are now on WhatsApp. Clic...
Astronomers discover a gigantic mirror-like planet with clouds made of metal
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Astronomers discover a gigantic mirror-like planet with clouds made of metal

[ad_1] Astronomers have made a remarkable discovery using data from the European Space Agency's Cheops satellite. They have found a planet that defies expectations and, according to them, should not even exist. It is known as LTT9779 b. This Neptune-sized exoplanet orbits very close to its host star, completing a full orbit in less than a day.LTT9779 b- The Mirror PlanetLTT9779 b is essentially a colossal mirror in space, reflecting an astonishing 80% of the light it receives from its nearby star. For comparison, Venus, with its thick cloud layer, reflects only 75% of the Sun's light, while Earth reflects a mere 30%. The reason for this planet's incredible reflectivity lies in its atmosphere, which is laden with thick metal clouds, majorly composed of silicate (similar to sand and glass...
James Webb Space Telescope makes sensational discovery on coolest exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 c
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James Webb Space Telescope makes sensational discovery on coolest exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 c

[ad_1] Back in February 2017, researchers with the help of the Spitzer Space Telescope discovered a large batch of Earth-sized rocky exoplanets. Ever since then, researchers have been trying to study the atmosphere of TRAPPIST-1 c with the help of NASA's Jammes Webb Space Telescope.Recently, researchers were successfully able to study the atmosphere of the rocky exoplanet and stated that it is the coolest exoplanet with a dayside temperature of about 225 degrees Fahrenheit based on thermal emission. However, researchers at NASA are unsure about its atmosphere due to its very thin layer of carbon dioxide. They believe that if the planet's atmosphere exists at all, it is extremely thin. The finding represents a significant advancement to understand whether planets orbiting small red dwarf...
ISRO gets groundbreaking telescope to track the Sun, space weather; will fly aboard ADITYA-1 spacecraft
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ISRO gets groundbreaking telescope to track the Sun, space weather; will fly aboard ADITYA-1 spacecraft

[ad_1] The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), based in Pune, has successfully developed a groundbreaking space telescope called the Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT).On June 6, IUCAA handed over the telescope to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), where it will be integrated into the ADITYA-L1 mission as a crucial instrument.   Once launched with the satellite, it will travel approximately 1.5 million kilometers towards the Sun, specifically to the L1 point, and provide regular updates and images of the Sun's surface phenomena and space weather.Leading the project at IUCAA are Prof. AN Ramprakash and Prof. Durgesh Tripathi, who have collaborated closely with ISRO to create the SUIT. The observations captured by this telescope will place I...