02 October 2017
New molecule discovery may have implications for chemistry on Earth
.... It’s clear now that these molecules form readily in stellar nurseries, providing insights into the chemical evolution of planetary systems, including our own.” Indeed this may be the case as Fayolle and team found similar abundances of different...
01 August 2019
One of Ten Billion Earths
...of the ‘astronomical’ numbers involved in the study of the universe and its estimated population of 100 sextillion planetary systems (that’s 100 followed by 21 noughts!). According to the author, “Earth is estimated to be one of several billion Earth...
17 March 2017
Giant Jupiter-like planet gives a rare peek at alternative planet formation
... we have a snapshot of a baby star that just formed its planetary system," said Smadar Naoz, a UCLA assistant professor of physics and astronomy...it does by focusing on the effects of a planetary-mass perturber orbiting within the disk. However the ...
11 December 2019
Water abundance lower than expected on exoplanets
... for signs of sodium (Na) and potassium (K) as these elements can provide important constraints on how planets are formed. Planetary systems, like our own, are born from a giant cloud of matter called a protoplanetray disk. First the star...
August 2020
Revisiting the Drake Equation - a cultural addendum
...other planets. Lisa Pratt, NASA’s current Planetary Protection Officer, is concerned with forward ...past. As we begin the intrepid adventure of colonising our own solar system, I believe it is important to reflect on global colonial habits. ...
02 December 2015
Displaced dusty planet booted out of its birthplace
...planet is also unusual in that its orbit is possibly tilted 21 degrees away from the plane of the inner planetary system, whereas most planets typically lie close to a common plane,” explains Kalas. It is clear that further observations of HD 106906b...
