All articles tagged with #solar system
New simulations show that spinning clouds of pebble-sized particles can form contact binaries—two linked bodies—and even triple planetesimals, offering a simple explanation for space snowmen in the Kuiper Belt; the study finds about 4% of simulated planetesimals become contact binaries, a share below the previously thought 10–25%, and notes that more detailed particle modeling could raise that fraction.
Space.com playfully imagines the Winter Olympics going interplanetary and explores which solar-system locales—particularly icy moons with subsurface oceans—could, in theory, host skiing, while delving into the science of ocean worlds and the extreme conditions of space.
Juno's latest measurements refine Jupiter's equatorial diameter to 88,841 miles (142,976 km) and polar diameter to 83,067 miles (133,684 km), about 5 miles and 15 miles smaller than earlier estimates, confirming the planet's oblateness and aiding models of its interior and atmosphere.
The Sun and planets all orbit in a single, flat disk aligned to the ecliptic because the solar nebula collapsed with rotation; similarly, the Milky Way and Local Group lie in near-planes (galactic and supergalactic), though these planes tilt relative to one another. “Down” isn’t universal in space—it depends on the reference plane—demonstrating how initial angular momentum during formation shapes the cosmos’s familiar flat structure from the solar system outward.
Earth’s planets orbit the Sun in a relatively flat plane called the ecliptic, and there is no universal 'down' in space—the direction depends on the scale and frame of reference: beyond the solar system, stars lie in a galactic plane inclined about 60° to the ecliptic, and galaxies lie in the supergalactic plane; traveling in the apparent 'down' would eventually take you to other stars and galaxies, illustrating that spatial orientation in the cosmos is relative rather than fixed.
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.
There isn’t a universal ‘down’ in space. The solar system lies in a flattened disk (the ecliptic) because the collapsing rotating solar nebula shaped planets to orbit in roughly the same plane. The Milky Way has its own galactic plane (tilted about 60° to the ecliptic), and the Local Group sits in a nearly perpendicular supergalactic plane (about 84.5° to the galactic plane). Orientation of these planes comes from the initial rotation of matter when clouds collapsed, so every star, planet, and galaxy can have its own plane and direction depending on where you’re looking.
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has discovered asteroids in the Main Belt spinning faster than the previously believed limit, suggesting they are much stronger and more cohesive than thought, which could reshape our understanding of asteroid structures and the history of the Solar System.
Scientists using the Vera C. Rubin Observatory discovered the record-breaking asteroid 2025 MN45, which is over 700 meters wide and spins faster than any known asteroid of its size, providing new insights into asteroid composition and the early solar system.
The sun appears largest in the sky on January 3, 2026, during Earth's closest approach to the star, known as perihelion, but the difference is minimal and has no significant effect on Earth's climate or seasons.
Astronomers have discovered a new compact cluster of icy objects in the Kuiper belt beyond Neptune, called the inner kernel, which may provide insights into the early dynamics of the outer solar system and Neptune's migration. Using advanced data analysis and orbit recalculations, the study suggests this cluster could be a remnant of planetary movement or a separate formation, challenging existing models of solar system evolution.
Mercury's unusual characteristics and orbit challenge current understanding of planet formation, with theories including giant impacts and migration. The upcoming BepiColombo mission aims to uncover its origins by studying its surface and internal structure, potentially solving one of the Solar System's biggest mysteries.
Astronomers have discovered a new compact cluster of icy objects in the Kuiper belt, called the inner kernel, which challenges existing models of solar system formation and suggests complex gravitational influences, possibly from Neptune's migration.
Astronomers observed wobbling jets on interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, revealing its rotation and complex activity, providing rare insights into the behavior of pristine objects from beyond our solar system as it exits after a brief visit, enhancing understanding of comet formation in other planetary systems.
Astronomers have found preliminary evidence of a potential ninth planet in our solar system, based on infrared data from decades-old sky surveys indicating a distant, Neptune-sized object beyond the Kuiper Belt. Further observations are needed to confirm its existence and orbit, which could explain gravitational anomalies observed in the Kuiper Belt. The discovery, if verified, would add a new ice giant to our solar system, similar in composition to Uranus and Neptune.