Tag

Exomoons

All articles tagged with #exomoons

space20 days ago•75 min saved

Rogue planets' moons may host billions of years of habitability

Astronomers propose that moons orbiting free-floating, starless rogue planets could stay warm enough for liquid water for billions of years thanks to tidal heating and hydrogen-dominated atmospheres that trap heat via collision-induced absorption (CIA). Using radiative-transfer (HELIOS) and chemistry (GGchem) codes, the study shows such exomoons could maintain long-term habitability even without a sun, though the models rely on simplifications (e.g., dry atmospheres, constant gravity) and future work will add clouds and water-vapor effects. This expands the search for life beyond traditional, star‑dependent habitable zones.

via Space|

#exomoons #habitability #hydrogen-atmosphere

space1 month ago•5 min saved

Rogue-Planet Moons Could Harbor Liquid Water Without a Star

Researchers suggest exomoons orbiting rogue planets—worlds ejected from their stars—could sustain liquid water for up to 4.3 billion years if their hydrogen-rich atmospheres trap heat via high-pressure molecular interactions, with tidal heating from the host planet providing the energy, offering a plausible path to habitability without a sun.

via ScienceAlert|

#exomoons #habitability #hydrogen-atmosphere

astronomy1 month ago•6 min saved

Distant Star Hosts a Nearly Five-Jupiter-Mass Gas Giant in a 180-Day Orbit

Astronomers using NASA's TESS have discovered TIC-65910228 b, a gas giant with about 4.8 Jupiter masses and a radius near 1.08 Jupiter radii, orbiting a metal-rich sun-like star 864 light-years away. The planet completes an ~180.5-day orbit at ~0.7 AU, placing it in the warm-Jupiter regime. Follow-up with NGTS, HARPS, and CORALIE confirmed the transit and radial-velocity signals, while atmospheric studies remain challenging but possible with next-generation telescopes. The system may also host moons or rings, making TIC-65910228 b a compelling target for future exploration.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#astronomy #exomoons #exoplanet

space2 months ago•76 min saved

Colossal exomoon candidate could redefine the meaning of 'moon'

Astronomers using the GRAVITY instrument on the VLT detected a small but measurable wobble in the gas giant HD 206893 B’s orbit, implying a massive unseen companion — an exomoon potentially about 40% of Jupiter’s mass (roughly nine Neptune masses) orbiting at ~0.2 AU with a ~9‑month period and a ~60° inclination. If confirmed, it would be among the most massive moons known and could force a reevaluation of what defines a moon, while guiding future exomoon searches via astrometry.

via Space|

#astrometry #astronomy #exomoons

science4 months ago•3 min saved

Potential First Discovery of an Exomoon Outside Our Solar System

Astronomers have identified a promising exomoon candidate orbiting the exoplanet HD 206893 B using a novel astrometry-based method, potentially marking the first confirmed exomoon, though further verification is needed. This new approach could revolutionize exomoon detection and enhance our understanding of moons beyond our solar system.

via Gizmodo|

#astrometry #astronomy #exomoons

science10 months ago•3 min saved

Could Life Survive on Europa After the Sun's Death?

Research suggests that in about 4.5 billion years, as the sun becomes a red giant, its habitable zone may extend to Jupiter's moon Europa, potentially allowing some water and possibly life to survive for up to 200 million years on its surface, especially in its polar regions, although this window is brief in cosmic terms.

via Space|

#europa #exomoons #future-of-life

science1 year ago•4 min saved

Small Planets with Large Moons May Be Key to Finding Life

New simulations suggest that smaller rocky planets are more likely to host large moons due to less energetic collisions that produce silicate-rich disks, which are more conducive to moon formation. This contrasts with larger planets, where more energetic impacts create vapor-rich disks that hinder moon formation. The findings imply that exomoons are more likely to be found around planets less than 1.6 times the size of Earth.

via Space.com|

#exomoons #moon-formation #planetary-science

science-and-technology2 years ago•8 min saved

"James Webb Telescope's Next Year Targets: Exomoons, Black Holes, and Dark Energy"

The Space Telescope Science Institute has revealed the 253 General Observers programs selected for the James Webb Space Telescope's Cycle 3, covering targets such as exomoons, exoplanets, supermassive black holes, distant galaxies, and dark energy. The telescope will also investigate the habitability of exoplanets and the early universe, including the epoch of reionization. Additionally, it will study objects within our solar system. The Cycle 4 GO proposal call will begin on August 1, 2024, with observations set to start on July 1, 2025.

via Livescience.com|

#astronomy #dark-energy #exomoons

astronomy2 years ago•8 min saved

"Exploring the Universe: James Webb Space Telescope's Year of Discovery"

The Space Telescope Science Institute has announced the 253 General Observers programs selected for the James Webb Space Telescope's Cycle 3 operations, which will run from July 2024 to June 2025. Targets include exomoons, exoplanets, supermassive black holes, distant galaxies, and dark energy. The telescope will also study the early universe, investigate the source of gas plumes from Saturn's moon Enceladus, and examine the dynamics of Uranus' rings. The Cycle 4 GO proposal call will begin on August 1, 2024, with observations set to start on July 1, 2025.

via Space.com|

#astronomy #black-holes #cycle-3

astronomy2 years ago•8 min saved

"Exomoon Controversy: Debating the Existence Beyond Our Solar System"

Scientists are debating the existence of the first exomoons seen beyond our solar system, with one team claiming to have detected exomoons around exoplanets Kepler-1625b and Kepler-1708b, while another team casts doubt on these findings. The disagreement revolves around the interpretation of telescope data and the use of algorithms for analysis. The debate highlights the challenges of detecting exomoons and the need for advancements in telescope technology and detection methods.

via Space.com|

#astronomy #exomoons #exoplanets

astronomy2 years ago•6 min saved

Elusive Exomoons: The Unpredictable Quest for Discovery

Researchers have found that the potential exomoons orbiting the exoplanets Kepler-1625b and Kepler-1708b are unlikely to be real. Detecting exomoons is extremely challenging due to their small size and distance from Earth. The analysis of millions of artificial light curves revealed that moonless scenarios better matched the observed data than exomoon scenarios. The difference in limb darkening between the Kepler and Hubble telescopes also played a role in the false positive signals. The study highlights the difficulty in detecting exomoons and suggests that only massive moons on wide orbits are likely to be detectable. Future missions like PLATO may provide more insights into exomoon discoveries.

via Universe Today|

#astronomers #astronomy #exomoons

science-and-technology2 years ago•4 min saved

Doubts Arise Over Existence of Proposed Exomoons

Scientists are skeptical about the proposed detection of exomoons, or moons orbiting planets outside the solar system. The research suggests that exomoons may only be detectable if they are extremely large. While there is no reason to believe that moons don't exist around exoplanets, finding them is challenging. Previous detections of exomoons around Kepler-1625 b and Kepler-1708 b are now in doubt, and the study also indicates that current technology can only detect particularly large moons in wide orbits around their planets.

via Space.com|

#astronomy #exomoons #exoplanets

astronomy2 years ago•4 min saved

Scientists Skeptical of Proposed Detection of First Exomoons

Scientists are skeptical about the proposed detection of the first exomoons orbiting planets outside the solar system. The research suggests that exomoons may only be detectable if they are extremely large. While there is no reason to believe that moons don't exist around exoplanets, finding them is challenging. Previous detections of exomoons around Kepler-1625 b and Kepler-1708 b are now in doubt, with alternative explanations for the observed signals. The study also indicates that current technology can only detect particularly large moons in wide orbits around their planets, making exomoon detection even more unlikely.

via Yahoo! Voices|

#astronomers #astronomy #exomoons

astronomy2 years ago•3 min saved

The Elusive Existence of Alien Moons and Gas Moons in Space

Recent research suggests that the previously detected hints of alien moons in the Milky Way may not actually exist. The evidence for two distant moons orbiting exoplanets outside the Solar System is now believed to fit better with other explanations. However, the techniques used to rule out the presence of these moons can be used in future observations to find exomoons. While finding exomoons is challenging due to their small size and proximity to their host exoplanets, the discovery of even one exomoon would be significant and provide exciting opportunities for exploration.

via ScienceAlert|

#astronomy #exomoons #exoplanets

astronomy2 years ago•3 min saved

"Unveiling the Mystery: The Elusive Double Planets Revealed"

A recent study explores the formation mechanisms of binary planets, which are two large planetary bodies orbiting each other. The study suggests that tidal dissipation, or the energy shared between two planetary bodies as they orbit close to each other, could be a key factor in the formation of binary planets. Binary planets are not present in our Solar System, but their existence could open up new possibilities for habitable satellites orbiting giant planets. Understanding binary planets could also provide insights into the formation and evolution of exoplanets and their systems.

via Universe Today|

#astronomy #binary-planets #exomoons