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Inside the Stony Surface That Sets 3 Juno Apart

Inside the Stony Surface That Sets 3 Juno Apart

3 Juno is not just another asteroid in the vast expanse of the asteroid belt. It possesses unique orbital and physical characteristics that disting...

The Second Asteroid Discovery That Reframed the Cosmos

The Second Asteroid Discovery That Reframed the Cosmos

2 Pallas is a fascinating celestial body that holds a significant place in the history of astronomy. Discovered in the early 19th century, it was o...

3 Juno and the Story of the Main Asteroid Belt

3 Juno and the Story of the Main Asteroid Belt

3 Juno is a prominent member of the asteroid belt, a region of space filled with rocky bodies orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. As one of ...

Vesta’s Discovery Opened a New Chapter in Astronomy

Vesta’s Discovery Opened a New Chapter in Astronomy

The discovery of 4 Vesta marked a significant milestone in the study of our solar system. As one of the largest asteroids, Vesta has intrigued astr...

NASA Advances Near-Earth Asteroid Detection with New Space Telescope

NASA Advances Near-Earth Asteroid Detection with New Space Telescope

NASA is advancing its efforts to detect potentially hazardous near-Earth objects (NEOs) with the development of the NEO Surveyor, an infrared space telescope. Scheduled for launch no earlier than September 2027, the telescope is designed to discover asteroids and comets that pose risks to Earth. The NEO Surveyor will operate from the Sun-Earth Lagrange point, scanning the sky for five years to identify objects that ground-based telescopes might miss. The mission aims to provide critical data for planetary defense by detecting NEOs that are difficult to observe due to their size, darkness, or proximity to the Sun.

The Night-Sky Glow Most City Dwellers Never See

The Night-Sky Glow Most City Dwellers Never See

Zodiacal light is a fascinating celestial phenomenon that has intrigued astronomers and sky watchers for centuries. This faint glow, visible in the...

Why 3 Juno’s Reclassification Still Matters

Why 3 Juno’s Reclassification Still Matters

3 Juno is a significant asteroid in the asteroid belt, known for being the third asteroid ever discovered. Its discovery marked an important milest...

Atmosphere detected on celestial body in solar system's far reaches

Atmosphere detected on celestial body in solar system's far reaches

By Will Dunham WASHINGTON, May 4 (Reuters) - In the far reaches of our solar system - beyond the outermost planet Neptune - resides a host of icy and desolate celestial bodies. Among these objects, only the dwarf planet Pluto was known to possess an atmosphere - until now.

Astronomers Discover Atmosphere on Distant Icy World Beyond Pluto

Astronomers Discover Atmosphere on Distant Icy World Beyond Pluto

Astronomers have detected an atmosphere around a minor planet known as (612533) 2002 XV93, a plutino located beyond Pluto in the Kuiper Belt. This discovery was made using three telescopes in Japan as the object passed in front of a background star, causing a dimming effect. The atmosphere is believed to be 5 million to 10 million times thinner than Earth's and is composed of gases such as methane, nitrogen, or carbon monoxide. This finding challenges the conventional view that atmospheres are limited to larger celestial bodies like planets and moons.

Astronomers Use Lasers to Create 'Artificial Stars' for Atmospheric Measurement

Astronomers Use Lasers to Create 'Artificial Stars' for Atmospheric Measurement

Astronomers at the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) in Chile are utilizing lasers to create 'artificial stars' in the sky. This technique is employed to measure atmospheric turbulence, which can distort astronomical observations. By observing how these laser-created points of light blur and disturb molecules in Earth's atmosphere, scientists can use computer algorithms to account for and cancel out these disturbances. This method, known as adaptive optics, is still in its developmental stages and is used by only a few observatories worldwide. The VLTI, which consists of four separate telescopes working together as one large virtual telescope, has been using this system since 2016.

Astronomers believe they've detected an atmosphere around a tiny, icy world beyond Pluto

Astronomers believe they've detected an atmosphere around a tiny, icy world beyond Pluto

A new study suggests that a tiny, icy world beyond Pluto harbors a thin, delicate atmosphere

Thin Atmosphere Detected on Distant Kuiper Belt Object Beyond Pluto

Thin Atmosphere Detected on Distant Kuiper Belt Object Beyond Pluto

A recent study has identified a thin atmosphere around a trans-Neptunian object (TNO) known as (612533) 2002 XV93, located in the Kuiper Belt beyond Pluto. This object, approximately 300 miles in diameter, is the smallest known to have a global atmosphere. The atmosphere is believed to be composed of methane, nitrogen, or carbon monoxide and is significantly thinner than Earth's and Pluto's. The discovery was made by Ko Arimatsu and his team from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, who observed the object during a stellar occultation event. This finding challenges the conventional view that atmospheres are limited to larger celestial bodies.