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View the Great Bear’s contrasting spiral galaxies – Astronomy Now
M108 and M109 in Ursa Major are fine galaxies of dissimilar appearance that are curiously somewhat overlooked. Early spring sees the return of the galaxies, monumental rotating structures of many millions of gravitationally bound stars amid interstellar dust and gas that span tens of thousands or more light years in diameter. Read more
They coming home for us or giving us the tools to fight these devils I hope 🤷🏿♂️ 🚀 👨🏿🚀👨🏿🚀🏃🏿♂️💨 Reposted from @seekersofthecosmos The astronomers plan to keep a close eye on the object to look for more clues as to what it might be. What do you think it might be? 🤔 Are you ready to explore the Universe? 🔭 @SeekersOfTheCosmos Follow ➮ @SeekersOfTheFuture for interesting stuff about Engineering & Technology 🤖 ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ #astronomy #astrophysics #cosmology #space #deepspace #outerspace #milkyway #astrophotography #astronomylover #spacelover #astrophile #science #sciencenews #astronomynews #Aliens #extraterrestriallife #blackhole #stephenhawking #neildegrassetyson #CarlSagan https://www.instagram.com/p/CVDGrd3AgKovuwVlYARFR-1Q4d695ml5ibRKns0/?utm_medium=tumblr
Full Moon Supermoon 2026: आज दिखेगा साल का पहला सुपरमून! भारत में इस समय नजर आएगा वुल्फ मून का अद्भुत नजारा
Full Moon Supermoon 2026: नए साल की शुरुआत आसमान के एक बेहद खास और दुर्लभ नजारे से होने जा रही है। 3 जनवरी की शाम को साल का पहला सुपरमून दिखाई देगा। सर्दियों की लंबी रातों में यह नजारा और भी खास हो जाता है, क्योंकि इस दौरान चांद सामान्य से कहीं ज्यादा बड़ा और चमकदार नजर आता है। खगोल विज्ञान के अनुसार, सुपरमून उस समय होता है जब पूर्णिमा के दिन चंद्रमा पृथ्वी के सबसे नजदीकी बिंदु यानी पेरिजी पर…
The BAS is kicking off the Star Party season at Cloudland Canyon State Park! Please join us at the Disc Golf parking area for an evening of astronomical observations with visual telescopes, Electronically-Assisted scopes and monitors, and just looking up with our eyes!
Family-friendly, accessible, and guaranteed awesome!
11082025 Perseids 2025 Moonlit, But Still Magical
Mysterious Planet Discovered in Rare Cosmic Zone Challenges Planetary Theories
Source: scitechdaily.com
Scientists have made a surprising discovery in the realm of exoplanets with the detection of TOI-3261 b—a rare and puzzling planet located in the so-called “Neptune desert,” a region of space curiously sparse in Neptune-sized worlds with short orbits. Identified through data from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), TOI-3261 b defies many known planetary patterns and is already prompting astronomers to rethink existing models of planet formation and evolution.
TOI-3261 b orbits its host star in just 21 hours, classifying it as a “hot Neptune with an ultra-short orbit.” This rapid revolution places it extremely close to its star, where temperatures are blisteringly high. While astronomers have commonly found both large gas giants, like hot Jupiters, and small rocky planets in this orbital range, Neptune-sized planets are notably absent, making TOI-3261 b a significant anomaly. Its discovery opens up new questions about why planets of its kind are so rare in this region and how such a world could have formed and persisted under such extreme conditions.
Unusually Dense and Mysterious Composition Raises New Questions
Following TESS’s initial findings, observatories in Chile, South Africa, and Australia collaborated to confirm the planet’s existence and analyze its structure. What stood out most was TOI-3261 b’s unexpectedly high density. Unlike typical Neptune-sized planets, which are usually composed of light gases like hydrogen and helium, this planet appears to be made of much heavier elements, hinting at the possibility that it has lost much of its original atmosphere.
This finding, detailed in The Astronomical Journal, suggests that TOI-3261 b is not just a rare resident of the Neptune desert but a planet that may have undergone significant transformation. While its exact composition is still unknown, astronomers are hopeful that upcoming observations by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope will provide more clarity. The telescope’s advanced instruments are expected to offer a deeper look into the planet’s atmosphere, or what remains of it, helping scientists piece together its turbulent past.
A Journey of Transformation Sheds Light on Planetary Evolution
Researchers theorize that TOI-3261 b might have started its life much larger, possibly even resembling a gas giant like Jupiter. Throughout billions of years, estimated to be at least 6.5 billion, the planet could have experienced intense photo-evaporation from its star and powerful gravitational stripping. These forces may have gradually peeled away its outer gaseous layers, leaving behind a dense, compact core.
This transformation likely coincided with a dramatic inward migration. Scientists believe that gravitational interactions with other, as-yet-undetected planets in the same system could have flung TOI-3261 b closer to its star, pushing it into the Neptune desert. Similar processes may explain the existence of the only three other known planets of this type in that region, highlighting the role of planetary migration and atmospheric loss in shaping planetary systems.
The discovery of TOI-3261 b underscores the importance of studying rare and unusual worlds. Each outlier challenges existing theories and advances our understanding of the universe. As astronomers continue to uncover more about such planets, they edge closer to unraveling the complex processes that govern planetary evolution across the cosmos.
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Uranus’ Day Recalculated: Hubble Data Reveals New Rotation Period
Source: NASA
New Insights from Space – Uranus Spins Slower Than Believed
In a significant breakthrough for planetary science, researchers using over a decade of data from the Hubble Space Telescope have recalculated the length of a day on Uranus Rotation Period, revealing it is longer than previously thought. According to the updated findings, the ice giant completes one full rotation in 17 hours, 14 minutes, and 52 seconds, which is 28 seconds longer than the long-standing estimate based on data from NASA’s Voyager 2 mission in 1986.
Voyager 2, the only spacecraft to have visited Uranus, initially estimated the planet’s rotation at 17 hours, 14 minutes, and 24 seconds. This measurement relied on detecting radio signals from Uranus’ auroras and readings of its magnetic field. For nearly four decades, this figure served as the foundation for building planetary maps and calculating the planet’s geographic coordinates. However, the new study suggests that the original calculation carried enough uncertainty to gradually throw off the planet’s coordinate system by up to 180 degrees in longitude, leading to a complete loss in the accurate orientation of its magnetic axis.
Hubble Observations Unlock Magnetic Clues
To correct these inaccuracies, a team led by Laurent Lamy from the Paris Observatory analyzed the motion of Uranus’ auroras using Hubble data gathered between 2011 and 2022. These auroras, caused by interactions between the planet’s magnetic field and solar wind, offered consistent markers for tracking rotational movement. By following the periodic patterns of these glowing emissions, researchers were able to precisely determine the planet’s true spin rate and magnetic pole locations.
Lamy emphasized the importance of long-term data in the findings, noting, “The continuous observations from Hubble were crucial. Without this wealth of data, it would have been impossible to detect the periodic signal with the level of accuracy we achieved.”
The updated rotation rate now provides a far more dependable reference system for Uranus Rotation Period that scientists believe will hold for decades. The recalibration not only restores a stable planetary coordinate system but also enhances the understanding of the planet’s magnetic field orientation—an essential element for mapping and future exploratory missions.
A New Technique with Far-Reaching Potential
Beyond improving knowledge about Uranus, this technique marks a broader advancement in planetary science. Researchers now have a proven method to calculate the rotation rates of other celestial bodies that possess auroras and magnetic fields. This includes not only other planets in our solar system but also exoplanets light-years away.
The study’s findings could significantly impact the planning of future missions to Uranus Rotation Period, especially in determining orbital paths and selecting atmospheric entry points. With renewed interest in sending spacecraft to the ice giants, accurate rotational data is vital for mission design and navigation. As Lamy and his team note, this approach could redefine how scientists study distant planets, particularly those where direct observations are limited or infeasible.
Sights on a new flyby for New Horizons – Astronomy Now
In 2019, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft flew past Arrokoth, the most distant and primitive object ever explored. Now, as it ventures further, chief scientist Alan Stern shared exciting updates. New Horizon targeted Arrokoth in a close flyby in 2019. Read more
