Solar System – Page 14 – Astronomy Now

Largest planets likely formed first from icy “planetary pebbles”

20 August 2015 Astronomy Now

Researchers at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and Queen’s University in Canada have unravelled the mystery of how Jupiter and Saturn likely formed using computer simulations. The discovery, which changes our view of how all planets might have formed, also suggests that the gas giants in the solar system probably formed before the terrestrial planets.

Scientists solve age-old planetary ring riddle

6 August 2015 Astronomy Now

An international team of scientists has solved an age-old scientific riddle by discovering that planetary rings, such as those orbiting Saturn, have a universally similar particle distribution. The study also suggests that Saturn’s rings are essentially in a steady state that does not depend on their history.

Brazilian-led team leading the search for a Solar System 2.0

15 July 2015 Astronomy Now

A newly discovered planet orbiting a star known as HIP 11915 is the most accurate analogue yet found for the Sun and Jupiter. HIP 11915 is about the same age and composition as the Sun, suggesting that there may also be rocky Earth-like planets orbiting closer to the star.

Young solar system discovered around a nearby star

2 June 2015 Astronomy Now

An international team using the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) at the Gemini South telescope in Chile has discovered a young, emerging planetary system around star HD 115600 that has remarkable similarities to our own Solar System in its infancy.

Boldly go explore an asteroid with NASA’s Vesta Trek

2 April 2015 Astronomy Now

Data gathered from multiple instruments aboard NASA’s Dawn spacecraft have been compiled into Vesta Trek — a free, web-based application that provides detailed visualisations of one of the largest asteroids in our Solar System.

Make the most of observing Jupiter and its moons during April

1 April 2015 Ade Ashford

Jupiter may be two months past opposition, but it’s still big, bright and high to the south before 9 pm from the centre of the British Isles. The Galilean moons, their shadows and the Great Red Spot are all on show — plus mutual phenomena of the moons.

Wandering Jupiter swept away super-Earths, creating our unusual Solar System

25 March 2015 Astronomy Now

Researchers from Caltech and UC Santa Cruz say that Earth belongs to a second generation of planets in our Solar System after Jupiter swept clear the first, resulting in the formation of a planetary system unlike any other astronomers have yet found.

NASA spacecraft nears historic arrival at dwarf planet Ceres

2 March 2015 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft has returned new images captured on approach to entering orbit around Ceres on Friday, March 6th — the first mission to successfully visit a dwarf planet.