The next generation of powerful Earth- and space-based telescopes will be able to hunt distant solar systems for evidence of life on Earth-like exoplanets—particularly those that chaperone burned-out stars known as white dwarfs. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-04-astronomers-life-orbiting-long-dead-stars.html…
Tag: earth-like
What are exoplanets?
Exoplanets are worlds orbiting distant stars. The history of our knowledge of exoplanets, the various types of exoplanets, how astronomers find them, and more, here. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/what-are-exoplanets…
Dust devils may roam hydrocarbon dunes on Saturn’s moon Titan
Meteorological conditions on Saturn’s large moon Titan, the strange, distant world that may be the most Earth-like in the solar system, appear conducive to the formation of dust devils, according to new research in AGU’s journal Geophysical Research Letters. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-04-devils-roam-hydrocarbon-dunes-saturn.html…
Kepler data reveals hidden Earth-like exoplanet
Scientists have discovered one of the most Earth-like extrasolar worlds ever seen and they almost missed it. The hunt for alien worlds in distant star… Source: https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/news/336365/kepler-data-reveals-hidden-earth-like-exoplanet…
Top 5 Mercury mysteries that BepiColombo will solve
BepiColombo – a joint mission of Europe and Japan – successfully passed Earth last night and is now headed toward the innermost part of the solar system. Here are some questions about our sun’s innermost planet, Mercury, the spacecraft is expected to answer. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/top-5-mercury-mysteries-that-bepicolombo-will-solve…
Will we soon see potentially habitable exoplanets more clearly?
Because stars are so much brighter than their planets, we’ve barely begun to glimpse distant exoplanets, or planets orbiting distant stars. Now a new technology promises to provide better imaging of these potentially habitable exoworlds. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/exoplanets-direct-imaging-potential-habitability…
Meet the giant exoplanet where it rains iron
The temperatures on the day side of giant exoplanet WASP-76b are scorching, high enough for metals to be vaporized. But the night side is cooler, and winds carry an iron “rain” from the day side to the night side. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/wasp-76b-exoplanet-iron-rain-espresso…
NASA issues a Venus rover design challenge
NASA has issued a public challenge where you can help design a critical sensor that would be needed for a future rover on Venus. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/venus-aree-rover-sensor-public-challenge…
Cosmic rays and Titan’s organic molecules
A new study from researchers in Tokyo helps explain how cosmic rays affect prebiotic organic chemistry in the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/titan-cosmic-rays-atmosphere-prebiotic-organic-chemistry…
Saturn’s weird, Earth-like moon just failed a key test for alien life
Life on Earth likely began with the bubble-like membranes that surround our cells. Similar membranes probably wouldn’t form on Titan, according to quantum mechanics. Source: https://www.livescience.com/titan-is-lifeless-due-to-quantum-mechanics.html