All articles tagged with #exomoons
Astronomers have identified a promising exomoon candidate orbiting the exoplanet HD 206893 B using a novel astrometry-based method, potentially marking the first confirmed exomoon, though further verification is needed. This new approach could revolutionize exomoon detection and enhance our understanding of moons beyond our solar system.
Research suggests that in about 4.5 billion years, as the sun becomes a red giant, its habitable zone may extend to Jupiter's moon Europa, potentially allowing some water and possibly life to survive for up to 200 million years on its surface, especially in its polar regions, although this window is brief in cosmic terms.
New simulations suggest that smaller rocky planets are more likely to host large moons due to less energetic collisions that produce silicate-rich disks, which are more conducive to moon formation. This contrasts with larger planets, where more energetic impacts create vapor-rich disks that hinder moon formation. The findings imply that exomoons are more likely to be found around planets less than 1.6 times the size of Earth.
The Space Telescope Science Institute has revealed the 253 General Observers programs selected for the James Webb Space Telescope's Cycle 3, covering targets such as exomoons, exoplanets, supermassive black holes, distant galaxies, and dark energy. The telescope will also investigate the habitability of exoplanets and the early universe, including the epoch of reionization. Additionally, it will study objects within our solar system. The Cycle 4 GO proposal call will begin on August 1, 2024, with observations set to start on July 1, 2025.
The Space Telescope Science Institute has announced the 253 General Observers programs selected for the James Webb Space Telescope's Cycle 3 operations, which will run from July 2024 to June 2025. Targets include exomoons, exoplanets, supermassive black holes, distant galaxies, and dark energy. The telescope will also study the early universe, investigate the source of gas plumes from Saturn's moon Enceladus, and examine the dynamics of Uranus' rings. The Cycle 4 GO proposal call will begin on August 1, 2024, with observations set to start on July 1, 2025.
Scientists are debating the existence of the first exomoons seen beyond our solar system, with one team claiming to have detected exomoons around exoplanets Kepler-1625b and Kepler-1708b, while another team casts doubt on these findings. The disagreement revolves around the interpretation of telescope data and the use of algorithms for analysis. The debate highlights the challenges of detecting exomoons and the need for advancements in telescope technology and detection methods.
Researchers have found that the potential exomoons orbiting the exoplanets Kepler-1625b and Kepler-1708b are unlikely to be real. Detecting exomoons is extremely challenging due to their small size and distance from Earth. The analysis of millions of artificial light curves revealed that moonless scenarios better matched the observed data than exomoon scenarios. The difference in limb darkening between the Kepler and Hubble telescopes also played a role in the false positive signals. The study highlights the difficulty in detecting exomoons and suggests that only massive moons on wide orbits are likely to be detectable. Future missions like PLATO may provide more insights into exomoon discoveries.
Scientists are skeptical about the proposed detection of exomoons, or moons orbiting planets outside the solar system. The research suggests that exomoons may only be detectable if they are extremely large. While there is no reason to believe that moons don't exist around exoplanets, finding them is challenging. Previous detections of exomoons around Kepler-1625 b and Kepler-1708 b are now in doubt, and the study also indicates that current technology can only detect particularly large moons in wide orbits around their planets.
Scientists are skeptical about the proposed detection of the first exomoons orbiting planets outside the solar system. The research suggests that exomoons may only be detectable if they are extremely large. While there is no reason to believe that moons don't exist around exoplanets, finding them is challenging. Previous detections of exomoons around Kepler-1625 b and Kepler-1708 b are now in doubt, with alternative explanations for the observed signals. The study also indicates that current technology can only detect particularly large moons in wide orbits around their planets, making exomoon detection even more unlikely.
Recent research suggests that the previously detected hints of alien moons in the Milky Way may not actually exist. The evidence for two distant moons orbiting exoplanets outside the Solar System is now believed to fit better with other explanations. However, the techniques used to rule out the presence of these moons can be used in future observations to find exomoons. While finding exomoons is challenging due to their small size and proximity to their host exoplanets, the discovery of even one exomoon would be significant and provide exciting opportunities for exploration.
A recent study explores the formation mechanisms of binary planets, which are two large planetary bodies orbiting each other. The study suggests that tidal dissipation, or the energy shared between two planetary bodies as they orbit close to each other, could be a key factor in the formation of binary planets. Binary planets are not present in our Solar System, but their existence could open up new possibilities for habitable satellites orbiting giant planets. Understanding binary planets could also provide insights into the formation and evolution of exoplanets and their systems.
Moons around rogue free-floating planets may retain enough liquid water for sufficient time to enable the emergence of life, according to a new study. The gravitational pull between such a moon and the wandering planet can be enough to warm up the moon to sustain liquid water long enough for life to emerge. Earth-sized moons with Venus-like dense atmospheres that are in close orbits around their “orphan planets” can be “interesting candidates” for habitable worlds.