Latest news with #planets
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
When did our solar system's planets form? Discovery of tiny meteorite may challenge the timeline
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A tiny meteorite is rewriting what scientists thought they knew about the origins of our solar system. New evidence found in shavings from a meteorite known as Northwest Africa 12264 — a 50-gram (1.8 ounces) piece of space rock that is believed to have formed in the outer solar system — suggests that rocky planets like Earth and distant icy bodies may have formed at the same time. This challenges the long-standing belief that planets closer to the sun formed before those in the outer solar system, the ones that lie beyond the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Planets form within the rotating disks of gas and dust that surround young stars, where particles collide and stick together through a process known as accretion. As developing rocky planets heat up, they begin to differentiate, forming separate internal layers known as the core, mantle and crust. Scientists have thought that our solar system's inner rocky planets — Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars —formed first (around 4.566 billion years ago), while gas giants and icy bodies in the outer solar system came together slightly later (4.563 billion years ago), due to the colder temperatures at a greater distance from the sun. Rocky planets farther out were also thought to form more slowly because their higher water and ice content would have delayed internal heating and core development. Analyzing the composition of the meteorite (which was purchased from a dealer in Morocco in 2018) revealed a ratio of chromium and oxygen that indicates it came from the outer part of the solar system. Using precise isotopic dating methods, the researchers found that the rock formed 4.564 billion years ago — just two to three million years after the solar system's earliest solid materials. Until now, such early formation was thought to be limited to bodies from the inner solar system, according to a statement announcing the new study. RELATED STORIES — How did the solar system form? — Solar system guide: Discover the order of planets and other amazing facts — What are meteorites? Evidence that rocky planets beyond Jupiter formed as rapidly, and at the same time, as the inner planets could transform our understanding of how planets take shape — not only in our solar system, but in planetary systems throughout the universe, the researchers said. Their findings were published on July 4 in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Don't Miss Jupiter and Venus in the Early Morning Sky This Week—Here's How to Spot Them
These planets will share the night sky with a waning crescent moon. From the northern lights to a stunning meteor shower, July has been an exciting time for stargazers. If you missed these celestial events, you will have another opportunity to catch a few more dazzling displays before the month ends. Early morning risers will want to head outside this week to see a pre-dawn display. Tomorrow morning, July 22, before sunrise, the waning crescent moon will lie between Venus and Jupiter. And on Wednesday, you'll find the moon below Venus and closer to Jupiter, according to EarthSky. Nearby, you'll also be able to spot the bright star Aldebaran, a first-magnitude star that shines with a distinct orange hue and marks the right eye of Taurus the Bull. Venus outshines Aldebaran by almost five magnitudes or a light ratio difference of almost 100-fold, according to To see the display, head out in the early morning hours (i.e. during the hours before sunrise) and look toward the east to see the moon and Venus. If you have a clear view toward the horizon, Jupiter can be seen low in the sky, rising in the hour before sunrise. According to NASA, Jupiter will rise a bit higher each day through August, quickly approaching Venus each morning. By mid-August, expect Venus and Jupiter to be super close, offering up another celestial show. Read the original article on Martha Stewart Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists watch a solar system being born for the first ever time
Scientists have watched a solar system being born for the first ever time. Using a powerful telescope, researchers saw the first pieces of material that will go onto form planets. A solar system has never been seen this early in its formation before. Researchers hope that the breakthrough discovery will allow for a new understanding of how such systems form – including our own. The findings are like 'a picture of the baby Solar System', said Merel van 't Hoff, a professor at Purdue University, USA, and a co-author on the new study. 'We're seeing a system that looks like what our Solar System looked like when it was just beginning to form.' The new system is being born around HOPS-315, a baby star located around 1300 light-years away. Researchers believe that it looks like our Sun would have done in its youth. Those baby stars often have 'protoplanetary discs' around them, made up of dust and gas that will eventually clump together and form the beginnings of planets. Researchers have seen massive newborn planets in those discs before, but they have now spotted those baby planets as they begin to form. The work is described in a new paper, 'Refractory solid condensation detected in an embedded protoplanetary disk', published in the journal Nature. More follows


UAE Moments
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- UAE Moments
Your Love and Relationship Horoscope for July 17th, 2025
You need to alter your perception towards relationships. Find daily astrological predictions for all sun signs for July 17. We recommend reading the horoscopes for your rising sign. Aries Love Horoscope Today's energy is likely to disrupt some heart affairs. Your normally good relationship could become toxic because of jealousy and intolerance. Such feelings may hinder one from thinking properly and lead to arguments with your partner or people you are attracted to. One needs to pause and ask where these insecurities are coming from. Be patient and talk to your partner to overcome this insecure period. Taurus Love Horoscope You need to alter your perception towards relationships. The planets are well aligned to assist you in changing your attitude towards your loved ones and being more tolerant of them. Your level of empathy increases, which is a good time to reconcile with those with whom relations have worsened in recent times. If single, your new openness can attract people with character and ability to comprehend feelings. Gemini Love Horoscope The cosmos pushes you to express yourself and share your opinion when something bothers you. For those in relationships, the best policy is to tell the truth. If your partner proposes something you do not like, do not keep quiet but say it as it is. Holding in your emotions could result in a buildup of anger and confusion in the long run. When you establish boundaries right from the start, you prepare the ground for better relationships. Click here to follow our WhatsApp channel for tarot readings, love, health, career, and Chinese horoscopes delivered to your phone daily! Cancer Love Horoscope Today, you should be more playful in your love life. The stars urge you to bring some humour into your interactions with the people close to you, reminding them and yourself of the passion that may have faded in the day. This is the best time for couples to escape the routine and get a new experience. Such moments can deepen affection and make you recall the reasons that made you interested in each other in the first place. Leo Love Horoscope Do not underestimate the importance of small gestures. A simple touch, a kind word, or even paying full attention to the words of the person you love can be powerful. Today, let your actions speak louder than your words and see your relationship grow. Take an extra mile to make your partner happy. Organise a romantic evening. Whether it is a candle-lit dinner at home or watching their favourite movie, your effort will bring you two closer. Virgo Love Horoscope As much as love remains in your mind, other life activities may pull you in different directions today. It is possible to feel the desire for intimacy and, at the same time, lack time for your partner. Towards the evening, tiredness may come in, and all that you may wish from your partner is warmth and care. Do not hesitate to seek help from the other person, but remember that it should be reciprocal. Libra Love Horoscope You may want something, but it is outside your expectations today. Picking the middle ground is much better rather than going to the extremes. Before you express your feelings verbally, pause and think that what you are saying is more of a well-thought process than a random anger outburst. Breathe through any tension. Do not pay too much attention to what is wrong with the other person; instead, focus on what you need. Scorpio Love Horoscope The stars advise prudence in affairs of the heart today. Learn not to jump into new friendships or rush into a commitment immediately. Instead, let things be as they are; gentleness and simple gestures foster deep relationships. If tension builds between you and your significant other, don't let the rough patch last too long, and remember that the problem is only temporary. Stick to the fundamentals you both share. Sagittarius Love Horoscope The stars prompt you to indulge in life's pleasures without restraint. It is time to let go of the shyness and enter the sea of romantic escapades. Whether single or in a relationship, the universe encourages one to go for it in heart matters. Follow your gut and let your wants lead the way. Believe in the cosmic energy and let yourself go with the flow of love's euphoria. Capricorn Love Horoscope Your partner may appear to be rigid, which may make you feel annoyed and irritated. Just remember that this friction is only for a short time. Instead of arguing and trying to prove yourself right, try to put yourself in the other person's shoes. One should be persistent but not pushy. If you cannot speak, write it down or make a sign that will be understood. Singles try to know what one feels before knowing how others feel. Aquarius Love Horoscope A better work performance might increase your self-esteem, making you more appealing to the opposite sex. Singles could find chances to date through business-related functions or meetings. For couples, it is good to share your professional achievements with your partner to help build the relationship. A balanced life makes for a happier heart. Allow the professional optimism of the day to extend to the area of love. Pisces Love Horoscope Today, the cosmic energy encourages waiting and evolution. Free yourself and let your emotions grow and develop without constraints. For those in relationships, this is a time to embrace the current level of your relationship and your journey. Single people can discover that giving up on expectations of when they will find a partner is liberating. Learn to appreciate the current stage of your romantic life and do not rush things.


South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Astronomers observe birth of a solar system for the first time
Astronomers said on Wednesday they had observed the moment when planets start forming around a distant star for the first time, revealing a process that sheds light on the birth of our own solar system. The new planetary system is forming around the baby star HOPS-315 - which resembles our own Sun in its youth - 1,300 light years from Earth in the Orion Nebula. Young stars are surrounded by massive rings of gas and dust called protoplanetary discs, which is where planets form. Inside these swirling discs, crystalline minerals that contain the chemical silicon monoxide can clump together. This process can snowball into kilometre-sized 'planetesimals', which one day grow into full planets. In our home Solar System, the crystalline minerals that were the starter dough for Earth and Jupiter's core are believed to have been trapped in ancient meteorites. Now astronomers have spotted signs that suggest these hot minerals are starting to solidify in the disc surrounding HOPS-315, according to a new study in the journal Nature.