All articles tagged with #solar system history
Using Webb telescope data and simulations, scientists propose that Neptune’s moon Nereid is the sole survivor of an ancient, Triton-triggered disruption of Neptune’s original moon system; Triton’s capture likely destroyed the other moons, while Nereid was hurled outward into a highly eccentric, distant orbit. Its water-rich surface and Uranian-like signature support its status as the last remnant of Neptune’s early lunar family.
Recent research models the distribution and impact risk of interstellar objects (ISOs) on Earth, suggesting they are more likely to come from the solar apex and galactic plane, with impacts more probable near the equator and in the Northern Hemisphere, though the exact number of impacting ISOs remains unknown.
Recent research models the distribution and impact risk of interstellar objects (ISOs) on Earth, suggesting they are more likely to come from the solar apex and galactic plane, with impacts more probable at low latitudes near the equator. The study focuses on ISOs ejected from M-dwarf systems and highlights the importance of upcoming observations from the Vera Rubin Observatory to better understand ISO impact risks.
Scientists have discovered evidence of large impact craters on Venus, known as tessera terrain, which are concentric rings formed by two massive impacts on the planet's thin crust about 3.5 billion years ago. This finding challenges previous assumptions about Venus's geological history and suggests that not all impact structures resemble traditional craters. The study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, provides new insights into the early processes of planetary formation and evolution.