Solar System
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We might have been completely wrong about the origin of Saturn's rings, new study claimsComputer modeling suggests Saturn's rings are billions of years older than previous research suggests — but the new findings are up for debate.
By Patrick Pester Published
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New thunderstorms wider than Earth are spewing out green lightning on Jupiter — and could make one of the gas giant's massive bands disappearA pair of massive thunderstorms have been spotted swirling in Jupiter's "South Equatorial Belt" and are likely unleashing massive bolts of green lightning. Some experts think the pale clouds could end up altering the rusty band's color — and potentially even making it "disappear."
By Harry Baker Published
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Solar system quiz: How well do you know our cosmic neighborhood?Quiz Test your knowledge on our solar system, from the biggest and smallest planets to the behemoth mountain on Mars.
By Ian Stokes Published
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Scientists trace origin of Earth's mysterious 'minimoon' days before it escapes into space for 30 yearsA new study reveals that the asteroid 2024 PT5, which has been orbiting Earth for 2 months, may have a "lunar origin." However, it is about to break free from our planet, making it tricky to tell for sure.
By Harry Baker Published
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3D map reveals our solar system's local bubble has an 'escape tunnel'A 3D map of our cosmic neighborhood has revealed hot and cold regions as well as an "escape tunnel" from our local bubble.
By Robert Lea Published
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Why is Pluto not considered a planet?Pluto was demoted from a planet to a dwarf planet in 2006. So why is its status still so controversial today?
By Joanna Thompson Published
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How old is planet Earth?How old is Earth? Our planet's age is known from a variety of sources, from rocks on our own planet to ones from the moon.
By Briley Lewis Published
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Why NASA is sending the Europa Clipper to search for aliens near JupiterIn the coming weeks, NASA's Europa Clipper will take off on a long journey to Jupiter's moon Europa. The icy moon could potentially host alien life — and there's only one way to find out.
By James Lloyd Published
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How far away is the moon?The moon's distance from Earth changes depending on where it is in its elliptical orbit.
By Sarah Wells Published
