solar-system
3 stories related to this topic, newest first.
Lunar and Planetary Institute from Houston, TX, USA / Wikimedia (CC BY 2.0)Uranus's Outermost Rings Show Different Compositions Based on Telescope Data
Observations from multiple telescopes reveal that Uranus's mu and nu rings differ in color and material makeup. The mu ring consists of tiny ice grains, while the nu ring contains dust and organic molecules. These findings raise questions about the sources of the rings' materials…
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope from Greenbelt, MD, USA / Wikimedia (CC BY 2.0)Astronomers Detect Thin Atmosphere on Tiny Icy World Beyond Pluto
Japanese astronomers have identified a thin atmosphere around the distant object (612533) 2002 XV93, challenging views on atmospheric presence in small solar system bodies. The finding, based on 2024 observations, was published in Nature Astronomy. Experts call for verification t…
photo: Dr.Hausderivative work: an-d (talk) / Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)Comet C/2025 R3 PanSTARRS Visible in Southern Skies for Next Two Weeks
A comet originating from the Oort Cloud is currently visible in the southern hemisphere after passing around the sun. Viewers in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and the Pacific can observe it with binoculars or a telescope just after sunset. It will fade in brightness over…