On Earth, you can look up at night and see the moon shining from hundreds of thousands of miles away. But if you went to Venus, that wouldn’t be the case. Not every planet has a moon – so why do some planets have multiple moons while others have none? I am a physics teacher … Read more
Recent findings from the InSight mission suggest that Mars experiences 280 to 360 significant meteorite impacts per year, far exceeding previous estimates based on satellite images. This seismic approach offers a new way to date the surfaces of Mars and other planets. Credit: NASA/JPL – Caltech Seismic signals indicate Mars is hit by about 300 … Read more
Chinese space officials said Thursday they welcomed scientists from around the world to apply to research the moon rock samples the Chang’e 6 probe brought to Earth on a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that collaboration, especially… By means of HUIZHONG WU Associated Press June 27, 2024, 05:03 ET • 3 minutes … Read more
Astronomers have gained new insight into the formation of planets around twin stars that orbit each other. Despite the fact that we are most familiar with planets orbiting a single central star – such as the arrangement of our Solar System – more than 50% of the stars in the cosmos exist in a binary … Read more
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question that you would like an expert to answer, please send it to Curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. Why do some planets have moons and others don’t? – Siddharth, age 6, Texas On Earth, you can look up at night and see the moon shining … Read more
New simulations describing how moons, including Soil‘s own mohformed strongly implies that exomons are more likely to be found around rocky exoplanets. Our moon is thought to have that formed when a Mars-size planetesimal called Theia smashed into Earth, cutting a huge wound in our planet and melting its entire surface. It is believed that … Read more
Jupiter has long been famous for its Great Red Spot, but only recently did scientists learn more about how and how long ago it formed. The enormous vortex on the side of the solar system’s largest planet is a massive storm, long thought to have raged for more than 300 years, and larger than the … Read more
Planets could survive the death of their star and be able to sustain life – and now astronomers are hunting for them. Stars don’t survive forever, the sun included. In about five billion yearsEarth’s star will begin to deplete its supply of hydrogen used to generate energy nuclear fusion at its core. The Sun’s core … Read more
Edward C. Stone, who opened a window to the farthest reaches of the solar system while serving as chief scientist of NASA’s Voyager mission, which oversaw a pair of spindly, plutonium-powered spacecraft that continue to operate billions of miles from Earth, died in June 9 at his home in Pasadena, California. He was 88. His … Read more
NASA has plans to return astronauts to the moon’s surface in the near future. Next year, four astronauts will orbit the moon. “We don’t have to go back to the moon just for the moon. We go back to learn new things. So we can go to Mars and beyond,” said Administrator Bill Nelson. The … Read more