Planets have fascinated human beings for thousands of years. From the ancient Greeks to modern astronomers, people have studied the movements of these celestial bodies and tried to understand their place in the universe. But what exactly is a planet? … Read More
LHS 475 b is a rocky exoplanet roughly the same size as Earth that orbits very close to a small, dim star. And for the first time, researchers are able to study the planet’s atmosphere. The James Webb Space Telescope … Read More
All of the planets of the solar system are visible together in the night sky right now, providing stargazers with a “spectacular” show to end the year. Over the next few days, it is possible to see Mercury, Venus, Mars, … Read More
All stars, including the Sun, have a finite lifetime. Stars shine by the process of nuclear fusion in which lighter atoms, such as hydrogen, fuse together to create heavier ones. This process releases vast quantities of energy which counteracts the … Read More
Is the solar system stable? In relative human and historical terms, it is pretty stable, but small gravitational influences can cause dramatic effects due to the chaotic and complex nature of the forces involved. Now, two researchers have set out … Read More
Scientists have discovered an enormous planet nine times the mass of Jupiter at a remarkably early stage of formation – describing it as still in the womb – in a discovery that calls into question current theories about planetary formation. … Read More