Tag: solar system
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Rubin Observatory Unveils Record-Breaking Asteroid 2025 MN45
Groundbreaking Findings in the First Nights of Observation The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has announced a striking discovery from its initial image data: the fastest-spinning asteroid in its size class to date. Named 2025 MN45, this space rock is exceptional not only for its rapid rotation but also for its sheer size, challenging researchers’ expectations…
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Starwatch: Jupiter Dominates the Night Sky During 2026’s Close Approach
Jupiter Shines in 2026: A Rare Close Approach This week, astronomy enthusiasts around the world have a front-row seat to one of the most predictable, awe-inspiring sky events of the year: Jupiter’s close approach to Earth in 2026. As the solar system’s largest planet, Jupiter dominates the night sky when it comes so close that…
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The Sun Appears Largest in 2026: Earth at Perihelion Today
What is perihelion and why does the Sun look bigger today? On January 3, 2026, Earth reaches perihelion, the point in its orbit closest to the Sun. This annual event, part of a predictable celestial dance, isn’t dramatic in terms of distance—Earth comes within about 147 million kilometers (91 million miles) of the Sun—but it…
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Perihelion 2026: Earth’s Closest Approach to the Sun Delivers Biggest Sunrise of the Year
What perihelion means for 2026 On January 3, 2026, Earth reaches a point in its orbit known as perihelion, the moment when our planet is closest to the Sun for the year. While the distance is not the sole factor behind seasonal temperatures, perihelion can influence the intensity of sunlight and the apparent size of…
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Mercury: The planet that shouldn’t exist
Mercury’s paradox: a world too small and too close Mercury — the innermost planet of our solar system — has long puzzled scientists. It is minuscule compared with its rocky siblings yet orbits perilously close to the Sun. Its extreme environment, a sluggish rotation, and unusually large iron core have driven researchers to rethink how…
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Mercury: The Planet That Should Not Exist
Mercury’s Curious Position in the Solar System Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system and the closest to the Sun. Its size, density, and orbital dynamics have long puzzled scientists. Despite being a rocky world like Earth and Venus, Mercury’s extremely tight orbit and unexpectedly high metallic core have raised questions about how…
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Mercury: The Planet That Shouldn’t Exist
Mercury: A World That Defies Expectations Mercury, the innermost planet of our solar system, sits in a paradox. It is tiny, rocky, and scorched by the Sun’s rays, yet it preserves secrets that challenge our most basic theories of planet formation. From its extreme temperatures to its unusually high density, Mercury asks hard questions of…
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Is the Sun a Dwarf Star? Debunking the Myths About Our Star
Do you know what makes a star a “dwarf”? When people hear the phrase warf star, they might picture a tiny sun or a dim, distant beacon. In astronomy, however, the word warf is a technical term that helps astronomers categorize stars by size and evolutionary stage relative to giants and supergiants. The Sun is…
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Planet-Eating Stars Hint Earth’s Fate: What Our Sun Will Do
Introduction: A distant, fateful horizon Our Sun is about halfway through its life, which means Earth is in the middle of its own planetary journey. As astronomers continually refine models of stellar evolution, a striking image emerges: stars like the Sun are not static sentinels but dynamic engines that will eventually reshape the worlds orbiting…
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3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet: NASA Facts and Findings
Introduction: A rare visitor from beyond the solar system Comet 3I/ATLAS, often simply called 3I/ATLAS, marked a rare moment in astronomical history. It was the third object observed to travel through our solar system from interstellar space, a sign that the cosmos constantly sends travelers from other stellar nurseries. NASA and other space agencies studied…