The Science of the Red Planet
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A new study suggests that water came to the Earth from asteroids close to Earth's orbit. This is a win-lose scenario for the Search for Extraterrestrial Life. On the one hand, it proves that Earth is the only planet in the solar system that has water (Yeah, right!). On the other hand, it helps us to better understand how planets get their water and, thus, help us to narrow our search for life beyond Earth.
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Japanese astronomers have discovered streaks in Venus' clouds that could be jet streams, hundreds of miles wide and thousands of miles long.
The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) has detected another fast radio burst outside our galaxy. Is ET calling? Who knows? More on this as it develops.
The TESS telescope has found another planet around another star. This Neptune-like planet is just three times the size of Earth but 23 times as massive. (That's right! Mass and size are two different things!)
New studies suggest that an as-of-yet unseen disk of small, icy bodies may be responsible for the orbits of some trans-Neptunian objects, eliminating the need for a "Planet Nine". I could have been right! Dang it! I was hoping I was wrong!
New evidence suggests that the massive Mars-like planet orbiting Barnard's Star, 6 light-years away, may be in the "Habitable Zone" and may have liquid water on its surface.
"Habitable Zone": the area around a star where a planet's temperature is just right for liquid water on its surface. A new study suggests that "Hot Jupiters", a type of gas giant that orbits close to its star, are formed in their orbits rather than migrating inwards as previously thought. This is more proof that Bode's Law really does work!
Bode's Law: a mathematical formula describing where planets typically form. Scientists and engineers think that CubeSats, a revolutionary new technology tested on the Mars InSight mission could be used to study the Moon, Venus, and be used as "Guide Stars" for new space telescopes.
Most of us know that Jupiter's moon, Io, is volcanically active but the latest probe to Jupiter, Juno, captured a volcano on Io in the act of erupting.
Astronomers have found infant solar systems with warped protoplanetary discs and a double-star system with a tilted planetary disk.
Protoplanetary disks: Disks of gas and dust that eventually form planets Planetary Disks: disks of gas and dust with baby planets in them. |
Ryan Knipple
"In our time, we have sifted the sands of Mars, established a presence there, and fulfilled a century of dreams." Archives
December 2019
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