Tag

Planetary Formation

All articles tagged with #planetary formation

Inside-Out Exoplanet System Upends Formation Theory
world13 days ago

Inside-Out Exoplanet System Upends Formation Theory

CHEOPS observations reveal four planets orbiting the red dwarf LHS 1903 far closer to their star than Mercury is to the Sun: two rocky super-Earths and two gaseous mini-Neptunes. The outermost planet, surprisingly rocky, challenges standard models that predict rocky worlds close in and gas giants farther out, suggesting an 'inside-out' assembly in which gas was depleted by inner planets or the atmosphere was stripped after formation. With a mass of about 5.8 Earth masses and a surface temperature around 60°C, it could be marginally habitable, and future JWST studies could probe its atmosphere.

Jupiter Found to Be 1.5x Oxygen-Rich Compared to the Sun
space25 days ago

Jupiter Found to Be 1.5x Oxygen-Rich Compared to the Sun

Using data from NASA's Juno and Galileo missions, researchers built a combined chemistry–hydrodynamics model of Jupiter's atmosphere. They find Jupiter may contain about 1.5 times the Sun's oxygen—far more than earlier estimates of roughly one-third—much of which is in water. The study also shows gas diffusion in Jupiter's atmosphere could be 35–40 times slower than previously thought, a result that informs theories about how the planet formed from icy material near the frost line.

Oxygen Clues Rewrite Jupiter’s Formation Story
space29 days ago

Oxygen Clues Rewrite Jupiter’s Formation Story

New 1D chemistry and 2D hydrodynamic models suggest Jupiter contains about 1.5 times more oxygen than the Sun and that its atmospheric circulation is slower than previously thought, refining theories of gas-giant formation; the work builds on NASA’s Juno data revealing complex weather and a possible fuzzy core, as the mission continues through 2025 with a planned end that preserves the moons from Earth microbes.

New simulations suggest Jupiter harbors 1.5 times the Sun’s oxygen
space1 month ago

New simulations suggest Jupiter harbors 1.5 times the Sun’s oxygen

A detailed set of simulations modeling Jupiter’s interior atmosphere finds the gas giant contains about 1.5 times more oxygen than the Sun, likely due to Jupiter’s early accretion of icy material beyond the snow line. The models couple atmospheric chemistry with hydrodynamics, explaining why deep oxygen (mostly in water) is hidden from direct measurement and suggesting slower deep atmospheric circulation (gas movement taking weeks). The findings support formation scenarios for Jupiter and offer insight into the solar system’s history, with the study published Jan 8 in the Planetary Science Journal.

NASA's Hubble Reveals Violent Collisions and a Vanishing Planet
science1 month ago

NASA's Hubble Reveals Violent Collisions and a Vanishing Planet

Astronomers observed what they thought was a planet around star Fomalhaut, but it vanished due to a collision between asteroid-sized bodies, creating a debris cloud. A second similar object appeared nearby, indicating violent impacts rather than a new planet, challenging existing models of planetary formation and raising concerns for future exoplanet detection methods.

Scientists Discover Massive Water Reservoir Hidden Deep Within Earth's Mantle
science2 months ago

Scientists Discover Massive Water Reservoir Hidden Deep Within Earth's Mantle

Scientists have discovered evidence suggesting that Earth's lower mantle may contain a massive, hidden water reservoir, potentially larger than all surface oceans combined, stored within mineral structures like bridgmanite, which could significantly impact our understanding of Earth's water cycle, planetary formation, and geological processes.

Mysterious Rogue Planet Rapidly Growing Like a Star
science4 months ago

Mysterious Rogue Planet Rapidly Growing Like a Star

A rogue planet named Cha 1107-7626 is rapidly growing by consuming six billion tonnes of material per second, challenging traditional distinctions between planets and stars and suggesting that some planets may form through star-like processes. Advanced telescopes like the VLT and upcoming ELT are helping astronomers study these phenomena, which could reshape our understanding of planetary and stellar evolution.

New Study Suggests Earth and Many Exoplanets Are Less Unique Than Previously Thought
science4 months ago

New Study Suggests Earth and Many Exoplanets Are Less Unique Than Previously Thought

New research indicates that planets outside our solar system, including the exoplanet K2-18b, contain far less surface water than previously believed, challenging earlier theories of water-rich worlds and suggesting Earth may be more typical than extraordinary. The study highlights the importance of chemical interactions between planetary atmospheres and interiors in determining water content, which has implications for the search for extraterrestrial life.