SPACERIUM

The search for life beyond Earth has taken a major leap forward with the recent discovery of intriguing biosignatures on K2-18b , an exoplanet located about 120 light-years away in the constellation Leo . Scientists have found promising indications of potential life , sparking global excitement within the astronomical and astrobiological communities. Let’s dive into what makes K2-18b so fascinating, what scientists discovered, and how we are detecting the signs of possible life on this distant world. What is K2-18b? K2-18b is a super-Earth or mini-Neptune —a type of exoplanet that lies between Earth and Neptune in size. It orbits within the habitable zone of its red dwarf star, K2-18 , where temperatures might allow for liquid water to exist. Key facts about K2-18b: Distance from Earth : ~120 light-years Radius : ~2.6 times that of Earth Mass : ~8.6 times Earth’s mass Orbital Period : ~33 days Atmosphere : Hydrogen-rich Its relatively cool star a...

In 2025, NASA’s  James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)  delivered yet another mesmerizing view of the cosmos this time, of the  Crystal Ball Nebula , scientifically known as  NGC 1514 . Nestled approximately 1,500 light-years away in the constellation  Taurus , this planetary nebula offers an ethereal glimpse into the final evolutionary stages of a dying star. Thanks to JWST’s high-resolution imaging and infrared capabilities, astronomers have gained new insight into the structure, composition, and evolutionary history of this enigmatic nebula. What is the Crystal Ball Nebula? The Crystal Ball Nebula, NGC 1514, is a  planetary nebula  – a glowing shell of gas and dust ejected by a dying star in the late stages of its life. The name “planetary nebula” is somewhat misleading; these structures have nothing to do with planets. The term dates back to the 18th century, when early astronomers like William Herschel observed their round, planet-lik...

  The vastness of the cosmos has always been a realm of curiosity, with countless stars harboring their own planetary systems. One such fascinating system belongs to the star HR 8799 , a landmark in exoplanetary research. Recently, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) added a new chapter to this cosmic saga by detecting carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere of one of HR 8799's exoplanets. This discovery not only showcases the advanced capabilities of the JWST but also opens up intriguing questions about the composition and evolution of exoplanetary atmospheres. The HR 8799 System: An Overview HR 8799 is a young, massive A-type star located approximately 133 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Pegasus. Known for being one of the first star systems with directly imaged exoplanets, HR 8799 hosts a dynamic family of four gas giants: HR 8799 b, c, d, and e. These exoplanets are massive, ranging from 5 to 10 times the mass of Jupiter, and they orbit their parent star at d...

In the quest to understand the vast diversity of planetary systems beyond our own, the discovery of TOI-6038 A b stands as a significant milestone. This dense sub-Saturn exoplanet, identified by an international team of astronomers led by Sanjay Baliwal from India's Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), offers intriguing insights into planetary formation and migration theories. Discovery and Detection Methods The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) first detected a transit signal in the light curve of TOI-6038 A, a bright late F-type star located approximately 578 light-years from Earth. To confirm the planetary nature of this signal, researchers employed the PARAS-2 spectrograph at the PRL Observatory in India. This collaboration between space-based photometry and ground-based spectroscopy exemplifies the synergy required in modern exoplanet discovery and characterization. Host Star Characteristics TOI-6038 A is a metal-rich late F-type star with an effective temperature...

The Europa Clipper mission, a NASA-led exploration initiative, aims to investigate Jupiter's icy moon Europa, a prime candidate in the search for extraterrestrial life due to its subsurface ocean beneath a thick layer of ice. Scheduled for launch in late 2024, the mission is designed to conduct a series of 49 close flybys over four years, utilizing advanced scientific instruments to analyze the moon's surface and subsurface characteristics. By assessing the moon's habitability, researchers hope to uncover whether conditions suitable for life exist on Europa, which may significantly enhance our understanding of ocean worlds within our solar system and beyond. The mission's scientific objectives include mapping Europa's ice shell, analyzing its composition, and detecting potential geological activity such as cryovolcanism. These investigations are critical in determining if the moon can support life, given that it is believed to harbor essential ingredients like liqui...

The universe is vast and full of mysteries, and one such enigma is the Antlia 2 galaxy , often referred to as the "ghost galaxy" due to its faint and elusive nature. Discovered in 2018 through data from the Gaia spacecraft, Antlia 2 remains a topic of great interest for astronomers and astrophysicists. In this article, we delve into the uniqueness of this galaxy, its formation, the stars it hosts, and other fascinating aspects that set it apart from its counterparts. What Makes Antlia 2 Unique? Antlia 2 is a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, located approximately 420,000 light-years away in the Antlia constellation. What makes it unique is its incredibly low surface brightness, roughly 10,000 times fainter than the well-known Large Magellanic Cloud . Despite its large physical size, comparable to that of the Large Magellanic Cloud, Antlia 2’s faintness had kept it hidden until the advanced data analysis capabilities of the Gaia mission revealed its presence. Another striking...

  Introduction In the vast expanse of space, few celestial objects tell a story as dramatic as  S5-HVS1 , a star that’s literally breaking free from our galaxy. Discovered in November 2019 by the  Southern Stellar Stream Spectroscopic Survey  (S5), this remarkable star has captured the imagination of astronomers worldwide, as it races through space at the staggering speed of about 1,755 kilometers per second (approximately 6 million kilometers per hour), making it the fastest known star to be escaping the Milky Way. Discovery and Characteristics S5-HVS1 is a main-sequence star, similar to our Sun but about 2.35 times more massive and about twice as hot. Located in the constellation Grus, the star is currently about 29,000 light-years from Earth. What makes it particularly special is its status as a “ hypervelocity star ” – moving so fast that it will eventually escape our galaxy’s gravitational pull entirely. The star was discovered as part of the So...

The search for exoplanets—planets that orbit stars outside our solar system—has yielded many fascinating discoveries. One of the most recent is TOI-1231 b , a unique exoplanet that offers exciting opportunities for scientists to explore atmospheres beyond our solar neighborhood. Discovered in 2021 by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and confirmed by additional ground-based observations, TOI-1231 b has quickly become a topic of interest due to its favorable characteristics and potential to offer insights into water-rich planetary systems. Discovery of TOI-1231 b TOI-1231 b was first identified by TESS, a NASA mission designed to survey the brightest stars near the Earth for transiting exoplanets. The star system, TOI-1231, lies about 90 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Vela . Astronomers utilized the transit method to detect TOI-1231 b, observing the regular dimming of the host star as the planet passed in front of it, which allowed them to ...

Gonggong , a name derived from the Chinese water god, is a dwarf planet that has captivated astronomers with its unique characteristics. Discovered in 2007 , this distant world has been a subject of fascination ever since. Let's delve into the details of this intriguing celestial body. History of Discovery Initially designated as 2007 OR10 , Gonggong's unusual orbit and reddish hue sparked interest among astronomers. As more data was collected, it became apparent that this object was larger and more massive than initially thought, meeting the criteria for dwarf planet classification. In 2016 , it was officially named Gonggong. Orbit and Location Residing in the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune's orbit, Gonggong follows an exceptionally eccentric path. Its distance from the Sun varies significantly, ranging from approximately 33AU at perihelion and 60AU at aphelion . This extreme orbital eccentricity makes it a truly unique object in our solar system. Composition and Surface Whil...

Wise 1049AB, a binary system comprising two sub-brown dwarfs, presents a fascinating enigma in the realm of astronomy. Positioned approximately 63 light-years away in the Ophiuchus constellation, this system offers invaluable insights into the birth and evolution of objects at the extreme fringes of stellar classification. Sub-Brown Dwarfs: A Detailed Examination Sub-brown dwarfs are celestial bodies with masses insufficient to initiate and sustain nuclear fusion. They occupy a unique position between gas giants and brown dwarfs. The constituents of Wise 1049AB are exceptionally low-mass, each possessing less than 5% of the Sun’s mass, firmly placing them in the category of sub-brown dwarfs. The Intriguing Nature of Wise 1049AB Mass and Temperature: With masses significantly lower than even the smallest stars, the components of Wise 1049AB exhibit exceptionally low internal temperatures. This results in a predominant infrared emission, making their detection challenging in visible lig...

Have you ever wondered why our spacecrafts that have crossed the asteroid belt and gone for further exploration do not collide with these belts of millions of asteroids? There are millions of asteroids in the asteroid belt which are revolving around the Sun between Mars and Jupiter, and till date 12 spacecrafts have crossed the asteroid belt, then why does no one collide with these asteroids? Our solar system is very big, there are many members in our solar system like planets, comets, asteroids etc. and today we will talk about asteroids, asteroids are mostly found in the asteroid belt which is located between Mars and Jupiter, millions of asteroids of small and big sizes are found in the asteroid belt. Out of them more than 1.2 million asteroids are larger than 1 km in size. Elements like asteroids, dust particles, icy bodies are found in the asteroid belt. So the question is that despite such a large number of asteroids, why do our space probes not collide with them? What magic do t...

The solar system, our cosmic backyard, never ceases to amaze us. The latest jaw-dropping revelation comes from the scorching planet Mercury, the closest to our Sun. According to groundbreaking research based on data from NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, Mercury might be hiding a staggering secret: a 10-mile thick layer of diamonds beneath its crust! A Diamond-Encrusted World? Imagine a planet adorned not with gold, but with diamonds. While it might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, this could be the reality of Mercury. Scientists have proposed that the extreme pressure and temperature conditions within Mercury's core transformed carbon into diamonds over billions of years. This process is believed to have created a massive diamond layer beneath the planet's surface. NASA's MESSENGER: The Unsung Hero We owe this incredible discovery to NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft. Launched in 2004, it orbited Mercury from 2011 to 2015, gathering invaluable data about the planet...