February 6, 2013 Saturn’s irregularly-shaped moon Hyperion Image Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA Hyperion is, at 410 x 260 x 220 kilometers (255 x 163 x 137 miles) in diameter, the largest of Saturn’s irregularly-shaped moons and the largest irregularly-shaped moon in the Solar System. A possible explanation for the irregular shape is [continue reading]
Astronomers have discovered a veritable rogues’ gallery of odd exoplanets — from scorching hot worlds with molten surfaces to frigid ice balls. And while the hunt continues for the elusive “blue dot” — a planet with roughly the same characteristics as Earth — new research reveals that life might actually be able to survive on [continue reading]
A team of astronomers using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope is reporting the discovery of another moon orbiting the icy dwarf planet Pluto. This image, taken by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, shows five moons orbiting the distant, icy dwarf planet Pluto. The green circle marks the newly discovered moon, designated P5, as photographed by Hubble’s Wide [continue reading]
The largest planet in the Solar System has been hiding a couple of minuscule moons, which have only recently been confirmed. The three kilometre wide moon S/2010 J 1 is circled in green. Credit: University of British Columbia Jupiter now has 67 known satellites. The two new additions, dubbed S/2010 J 1 and S/2010 [continue reading]
A team of scientists from Japan are suggesting that the asteroid impact that killed dinosaurs may have also spread life from Earth throughout the galaxy. 65 million years ago, a 10km-wide asteroid smashed into the Earth and brought the 165 million-year reign of the dinosaurs to an end. It also spewed billions of tonnes of [continue reading]