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Astronomers Confirm Exoplanets Around Barnard's Star Are Uninhabitable Due to Radiation

Astronomers Confirm Exoplanets Around Barnard's Star Are Uninhabitable Due to Radiation

Astronomers have determined that the exoplanets orbiting Barnard's Star, a red dwarf located less than 6 light-years from Earth, are extremely uninhabitable. A study from the University of Cambridge revealed that these planets, discovered between August 2024 and March 2025, are rich in periclase, a mineral that does not store water well. The planets' proximity to their star has likely caused them to lose their atmospheres due to radiation pressure. The study, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, highlights that the planets orbit very closely to Barnard's Star, leading to tidal locking and constant exposure to radiation. Despite their inhospitable nature, the planets' orbital resonance may provide stability to the system.

NASA Prepares for Launch of Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope with Upcoming Media Briefing

NASA Prepares for Launch of Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope with Upcoming Media Briefing

NASA is set to host a virtual media briefing on July 29 to discuss the upcoming launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, scheduled for August 30 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The telescope, named after NASA's first chief astronomer, promises to offer a field of view 100 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope, enabling extensive cosmic surveys. The mission aims to revolutionize the understanding of the universe by capturing unprecedented images and exploring celestial phenomena. The briefing will feature key NASA personnel, including Shawn Domagal-Goldman, Jackie Townsend, Julie McEnery, and Jeremy Perkins, who will provide insights into the mission's objectives and current status.

NASA Prepares for Launch of Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

NASA Prepares for Launch of Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

NASA is set to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on August 30, 2026. The telescope, which offers a field of view 100 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope, is designed for deep space exploration. A virtual news conference is scheduled for July 29 to provide an overview of the mission. Key participants include NASA officials from the Astrophysics Division and Goddard Space Flight Center. The mission aims to enhance our understanding of the cosmos through expansive surveys and detailed observations.

Scientists spot evidence of two huge companion stars that blew up

Scientists spot evidence of two huge companion stars that blew up

By Will Dunham WASHINGTON, July 21 (Reuters) - Unlike our sun, most of the largest stars in the cosmos are not solo acts, but rather are born together with another star in what is called a binary system, destined to spend their lives gravitationally bound in a cosmic marriage.

Astronomers Reclassify Milky Way Radio Structure as Nearby Stellar Bubble

Astronomers Reclassify Milky Way Radio Structure as Nearby Stellar Bubble

A radio structure, previously thought to be a massive feature towering over the Milky Way's center, has been reclassified as a nearby stellar bubble. Initially discovered in 1984, the structure was believed to be a result of an eruption from the galaxy's central black hole, Sagittarius A*. However, new observations have placed the so-called Galactic Center Lobe much closer to Earth, approximately 6,500 light-years away, and identified it as a closed shell of ionized hydrogen. This finding aligns with independent studies from 2024, which also suggested the object was in the foreground. The reclassification was achieved through optical integral-field spectroscopy, revealing the structure as a coherent bubble rather than a remnant of a galactic nucleus outflow.

Astronomers Detect Atmosphere on Earth-like Exoplanet in Habitable Zone

Astronomers Detect Atmosphere on Earth-like Exoplanet in Habitable Zone

Astronomers have discovered an atmosphere around a rocky exoplanet, LHS 1140 b, located in the habitable zone of its star, marking a significant milestone in the search for potentially habitable worlds. The planet, situated about 48 light-years from Earth, orbits a red dwarf star and is classified as a super-Earth due to its size, which is larger than Earth but smaller than gas giants. The discovery was made using the WINERED spectrograph on the Magellan Clay Telescope in Chile, which detected helium gas leaking from the planet's atmosphere. This finding suggests that LHS 1140 b has managed to retain its atmosphere despite the high-energy radiation from its star, a common challenge for planets orbiting red dwarfs.

Astronomers Detect Atmosphere on Earth-like Exoplanet, Marking a Milestone in Space Exploration

Astronomers Detect Atmosphere on Earth-like Exoplanet, Marking a Milestone in Space Exploration

Astronomers have discovered an atmosphere around a rocky exoplanet, LHS 1140 b, located 48 light-years from Earth. This marks the first time an atmosphere has been detected around a rocky planet in the habitable zone of another star. The planet, classified as a super-Earth, orbits a red dwarf star and has a mass 5.6 times that of Earth. Researchers used the WINERED spectrograph on the Magellan Clay Telescope in Chile to detect helium gas leaking into space, indicating the presence of an atmosphere. This discovery is significant as it suggests that some rocky planets can retain their atmospheres despite being bombarded by high-energy radiation from their stars.

Astronomers Detect Atmosphere on Rocky Exoplanet LHS 1140 b, Opening New Avenues in Search for Life

Astronomers Detect Atmosphere on Rocky Exoplanet LHS 1140 b, Opening New Avenues in Search for Life

Astronomers have identified an atmosphere around the rocky exoplanet LHS 1140 b, located approximately 48 light-years from Earth in the habitable zone of its star. This discovery marks the first time an atmosphere has been detected on a rocky planet in such a zone, suggesting that potentially Earth-like worlds can maintain atmospheres for billions of years. The planet orbits a red dwarf star, which typically emits strong radiation that could strip away planetary atmospheres. However, LHS 1140 b has retained its atmosphere, evidenced by helium escaping from it. This finding, published in the journal Science, is based on nearly a decade of research following the planet's initial discovery in 2017. The research team, led by Collin Cherubim from Harvard University, used the WINERED spectrograph at the Magellan Observatory in Chile to confirm the presence of helium in the planet's atmosphere.

Atmosphere Detected on Rocky Exoplanet LHS 1140 b, Advancing Search for Life

Atmosphere Detected on Rocky Exoplanet LHS 1140 b, Advancing Search for Life

Astronomers have detected an atmosphere around the rocky exoplanet LHS 1140 b, located 48 light-years from Earth in its star's habitable zone. This discovery marks the first time an atmosphere has been found on a rocky planet in such a zone, suggesting it could retain an atmosphere for billions of years. The planet, first discovered in 2017, shows signs of helium escaping from its atmosphere, indicating it has managed to hold onto its gaseous envelope despite orbiting an active red dwarf star. This finding, published in Science, opens new avenues in the search for potentially habitable planets.

Researchers Discover First Atmosphere on Earth-like Planet in Habitable Zone

Researchers Discover First Atmosphere on Earth-like Planet in Habitable Zone

Researchers have identified the first atmosphere surrounding an Earth-like, rocky planet located within the habitable zone of a distant star. The planet, named LHS 1140 b, is situated 48 light-years from Earth and orbits a red star that is smaller and cooler than the Sun. The atmosphere contains helium, which is not conducive to life, but the presence of other gases is possible. This discovery, led by Dr. Collin Cherubim of Harvard University, marks a significant step in the search for extraterrestrial life, as it is the first time an atmosphere has been found on a rocky planet in such a zone. The findings suggest that conditions similar to Earth could exist beyond our solar system, although the presence of life-supporting gases remains unconfirmed.

First atmosphere detected on a habitable Earth-like planet

First atmosphere detected on a habitable Earth-like planet

In a major milestone in the search for life on other planets, astronomers have detected, for the first time, an atmosphere surrounding an Earth-like, rocky planet orbiting within the habitable zone of another star.

Astronomers Discover Faintest Exoplanet, Beta Pictoris d, in Nearby System

Astronomers Discover Faintest Exoplanet, Beta Pictoris d, in Nearby System

An international team of astronomers has identified a new exoplanet, Beta Pictoris d, which is the faintest planet ever directly observed from Earth. Located 63 light-years away in the Beta Pictoris system, this gas giant is about 2.4 times the mass of Jupiter and is significantly fainter than its neighboring planet, Beta Pictoris b. The discovery was made while analyzing archival data from the past 11 years, initially collected to study another planet in the system. This finding makes the Beta Pictoris system only the second known planetary system with more than two exoplanets directly observed from Earth.