Searching for Planets: New Mission Goes Rogue; Possible Extragalactic Planet Found

Searching for Planets: New Mission Goes Rogue; Possible Extragalactic Planet Found

Oct 27, 2021 | Daily Space, Exoplanets, Galaxies, Guest Interview, Observatories, Saturn, Spacecraft, Supernovae

A proposed mission called the Contemporaneous LEnsing Parallax and Autonomous TRansient Assay, or CLEoPATRA, seeks to work with the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope to find rogue planets not orbiting any star. Meanwhile, a possible planet has been discovered in the Whirlpool Galaxy and could be the first planet found outside the Milky Way. Plus, an interview with Dr. Margaret Meixner, Director of Science Mission Operations for the SOFIA telescope.

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Six Early, Massive, “Dead” Galaxies Found in Hubble Data

Six Early, Massive, “Dead” Galaxies Found in Hubble Data

Sep 24, 2021 | Asteroids, Daily Space, Earth, Galaxies, Mars, Moon, Neptune, Observatories, Rovers, Sky Watching, Supernovae, Uranus

While searching for objects deep in the universe’s history, at about three billion years of age, researchers found six massive but “dead” galaxies in Hubble and ALMA data, a strange finding for a time period known for prolific star birth. Plus, planetary science from the EPSC2021 conference and this week’s What’s Up.

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New Class of Exoplanet Could Accelerate Search for Life

New Class of Exoplanet Could Accelerate Search for Life

Sep 8, 2021 | Asteroids, Astrobiology, Climate Change, Daily Space, Earth, Exoplanets, Galaxies, Mars, Neutron Stars / Pulsars, Our Solar System, Perseverance, Supermassive Black Holes, Supernovae, Very Large Array

Hycean worlds have hydrogen-rich atmospheres and are covered in oceans, making them prime candidates for the search for life outside our own solar system. These worlds are also more numerous and easier to find than Earth-like exoplanets. Plus, an update on the search for Planet 9 and how volcanoes may provide a climate safety valve.

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NASA’s TESS Maps Symphony of Pulsating Red Giant Stars

NASA’s TESS Maps Symphony of Pulsating Red Giant Stars

Aug 9, 2021 | Climate Change, Daily Space, Earth, Exoplanets, Neutron Stars / Pulsars, Planetary Nebulae, Stars, Supernovae

NASA’s TESS spacecraft, which is primarily used to search for exoplanets, has now observed a veritable symphony of pulsating red giant stars, each with its own internal vibrations. This work was presented at this week’s TESS Science Conference. Plus, some more climate change news (bad) and superflares may be less harmful to exoplanets than thought (good).

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