Tag: Exoplanets
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Are Uranus and Neptune Rock Giants? Reassessing the Ice Giants Label
Rethinking the Ice Giants label For decades, Uranus and Neptune have been classed alongside Jupiter and Saturn as “giants,” but categorized as “ice giants” due to their higher water, ammonia, and methane content relative to the gas giants. A recent study accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics challenges this long-standing framework. A team from…
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Are Uranus and Neptune Really Ice Giants? New Research Hints at a Rockier Interior
Rethinking a Long-Standing Label: Ice Giants or Rock Giants? For decades, Uranus and Neptune have been classified in astronomy as “ice giants,” a category that places them between the hydrogen-helium gas giants (Jupiter and Saturn) and the rocky Terrestrial planets. A recent study accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics invites scientists to reconsider that…
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James Webb vs Hubble: Which Space Telescope Truly Changed Astronomy?
Introduction: Two Milestones in Space Observation The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Hubble Space Telescope have both reshaped our understanding of the universe, but they do so in different ways. Hubble, launched in 1990, has been the workhorse of visible-light astronomy for over three decades. James Webb, launched more recently, is designed to…
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James Webb vs Hubble: Which Telescope Changes Astronomy
Introduction: Two Titans of Space Observation In the realm of astronomy, few topics spark as much excitement as the rivalry and collaboration between the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Hubble Space Telescope. Each telescope was built with different scientific goals in mind, and together they provide a more complete picture of the cosmos.…
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6,000 and Counting: The Next 30 Years in the Exoplanet Hunt
From a Census to a Quest for Earth-Like Worlds The tally of confirmed exoplanets recently surpassed 6,000, marking a milestone in humanity’s ongoing quest to understand worlds beyond our solar system. Yet for all the numbers, the field’s real excitement lies in what comes next: a shift from sheer discovery to the deep characterization of…
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Exoplanets: 6,000 and counting — the next 30 years of discovery
Six thousand exoplanets and the long road ahead The catalog of worlds beyond our solar system has surpassed 6,000 confirmed exoplanets, a milestone that underscores both the advances in detection methods and the huge potential for future discoveries. Yet as astronomers celebrate the bounty, they are also sharpening their gaze toward the most elusive prize:…
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6,000 and Counting: The Next 30 Years in the Search for Exoplanets
Six Thousand Planets and Counting The catalog of confirmed exoplanets has just surpassed 6,000, a milestone that underscores both how far astronomy has come and how far it has yet to go. The current tally is a reminder that while we have found a great diversity of worlds—hot Jupiters, super-Earths, and mini-Neptunes—the search for a…
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Blazing Auroras on a Sunless World: JWST Sheds Light on SIMP-0136
Introduction: A Sunless World that Dares to Shine In a striking demonstration of how far observational astronomy has come, the James Webb Space Telescope has turned its gaze toward a sunless world known as SIMP-0136. This rogue brown dwarf, free-floating through the galaxy about 20 light-years away in the Pisces constellation, is not bound to…
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Melbourne’s Adults-Only Stargazing Nights at the Planetarium
Introduction: A Night Sky Experience for Adults Scienceworks is expanding its evening offerings with Discover The Night Sky, an adults-only stargazing series hosted at the Melbourne Planetarium. Guided by astronomer Dr. Tanya Hill, the program combines rigorous astronomy education with engaging entertainment to create a sophisticated, accessible look at the cosmos for grown-up science lovers.…
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Melbourne Stargazing: Discover The Night Sky for Adults
Introduction: A stylish, adults-only stargazing night Scienceworks has launched the Melbourne Planetarium’s Discover The Night Sky, a monthly stargazing series designed exclusively for adults. Hosted by renowned astronomer Dr Tanya Hill, the program blends rigorous science education with entertaining storytelling to illuminate the wonders of the night sky. It’s a forward-thinking way to experience astronomy…