https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/space_time/saturn/ Saturn News. Learn all about Saturn. Read astronomy articles on Saturn's ring spokes, Saturn's moons, even Titan's sand dunes. Pictures. en-us Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:01:38 EDT Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:01:38 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/space_time/saturn/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260407193919.htm For all its ancient, familiar features, the Moon is still changing—and sometimes in dramatic ways. Scientists recently identified a fresh 22-meter-wide crater by comparing orbital images taken years apart, revealing a relatively recent impact that no one actually saw happen. The collision blasted bright material outward in striking rays, making the new crater stand out sharply against the darker lunar surface. Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:43:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260407193919.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260403002014.htm Saturn’s magnetic field isn’t the smooth, symmetrical shield scientists see around Earth. Instead, it’s noticeably skewed, and researchers now think they understand why. By analyzing years of data from the Cassini spacecraft, scientists found that a key region where solar particles enter Saturn’s atmosphere is consistently shifted to one side. This distortion appears to be driven by the planet’s rapid spin combined with a thick cloud of charged particles coming from its moon Enceladus. Fri, 03 Apr 2026 20:44:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260403002014.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260402004721.htm A new era of lunar exploration has begun as NASA launches four astronauts on Artemis II—the first crewed mission to fly around the Moon in over 50 years. Riding aboard the powerful SLS rocket, the Orion spacecraft is now on a 10-day journey that will test critical systems, push human spaceflight farther than it’s gone in decades, and set the stage for future Moon landings and eventual missions to Mars. Thu, 02 Apr 2026 01:08:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260402004721.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260317064449.htm Kepler-51d is a giant, ultra-light “super-puff” planet wrapped in an unusually thick haze that’s blocking scientists from seeing what it’s made of. Observations from JWST revealed that this haze may be one of the largest ever detected, possibly stretching as wide as Earth itself. The planet’s low density and close orbit don’t match existing models of how gas giants form or survive. Now, researchers are left with more questions than answers about how such a strange world came to be. Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:47:28 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260317064449.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260317064440.htm A mysterious metal-rich asteroid called Psyche has been baffling scientists for over two centuries, and its true origin remains one of the biggest unanswered questions in planetary science. Is it the exposed core of a failed planet, or a chaotic mix of rock and metal forged through countless violent collisions? To find out, researchers simulated how a massive crater near Psyche’s north pole formed, revealing that the asteroid’s internal “porosity” — how much empty space it contains — may hold the key to its secrets. Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:19:15 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260317064440.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260312020101.htm Scientists have grown chickpeas in simulated moon soil, offering a promising step toward farming on the lunar surface. Researchers mixed moon-like regolith with worm-produced compost and helpful fungi that protect plants from toxic metals. The combination allowed chickpeas to grow and produce a harvest in soil that normally cannot support plant life. Scientists now need to confirm the crops are safe and nutritious for astronauts. Thu, 12 Mar 2026 06:56:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260312020101.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260302030646.htm Icy moons circling the outer planets may be far more dynamic—and explosive—than they appear. New research suggests that when heat from tidal forces melts their ice shells from below, the sudden drop in pressure could cause hidden oceans to boil beneath the surface. On smaller moons like Enceladus, Mimas, and Miranda, this process may help explain strange features such as Enceladus’ tiger stripes and Miranda’s towering cliffs. Mon, 02 Mar 2026 03:54:10 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260302030646.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260227071945.htm Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, may have been born in a colossal cosmic crash. New research suggests Titan formed when two older moons slammed together hundreds of millions of years ago—an event so violent it reshaped Saturn’s entire moon system and may have indirectly sparked the formation of its iconic rings. Clues come from Titan’s unusual orbit, its surprisingly smooth surface, and the strange behavior of the tumbling moon Hyperion. Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:19:45 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260227071945.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260226042445.htm Scientists at the University of Oxford have finally settled a decades-long mystery about the Moon’s magnetic field — and it turns out both sides were right. By reanalyzing Apollo mission rocks, they discovered that the Moon did occasionally generate an incredibly powerful magnetic field, even stronger than Earth’s — but only for fleeting bursts lasting thousands of years or less. Most of the time, the Moon’s magnetic field was weak. Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:03:17 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260226042445.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260225081147.htm Mars’ frozen ice caps may be time capsules for ancient life. Lab experiments show that key building blocks of proteins can survive tens of millions of years in pure ice, even under relentless cosmic radiation. Ice mixed with Martian-like soil, however, destroys organic material far more quickly. The findings point future missions toward drilling into clean, buried ice rather than studying rocks or dirt. Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:13:57 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260225081147.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260218031532.htm Researchers have uncovered more than a thousand previously unknown tectonic ridges across the Moon’s dark plains, showing the Moon is still contracting and reshaping itself. These features are among the youngest geological structures on the lunar surface. Because they form through the same forces linked to past moonquakes, they could signal new seismic hotspots. Wed, 18 Feb 2026 07:49:00 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260218031532.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260208011014.htm A colossal ancient impact may have reshaped the Moon far more deeply than scientists once realized. By analyzing rare lunar rocks brought back by China’s Chang’e-6 mission from the Moon’s largest crater, researchers found unusual chemical fingerprints pointing to extreme heat and material loss caused by a giant impact. The collision likely stripped away volatile elements, reshaped volcanic activity, and left a lasting chemical signature deep below the surface. Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:04:07 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260208011014.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260118064633.htm A huge bar of iron has been discovered lurking inside the iconic Ring Nebula. The structure is enormous, spanning hundreds of times the size of Pluto’s orbit and containing a Mars-sized amount of iron. It was detected using a new instrument that allowed astronomers to map the nebula in far greater detail than ever before. The origin of the iron bar is still a mystery, with one theory suggesting it could be the remains of a vaporized planet. Sun, 18 Jan 2026 10:24:20 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260118064633.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260104202730.htm Tiny bits of Earth’s atmosphere have been drifting to the moon for billions of years, guided by Earth’s magnetic field. Rather than blocking particles, the magnetic field can funnel them along invisible lines that sometimes stretch all the way to the moon. This explains mysterious gases found in Apollo samples and suggests lunar soil may hold a long-term archive of Earth’s history. It could also become a valuable resource for future lunar explorers. Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:47:06 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260104202730.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251228074458.htm Thanks to Einstein’s relativity, time flows differently on Mars than on Earth. NIST scientists have now nailed down the difference, showing that Mars clocks tick slightly faster—and fluctuate over the Martian year. These microsecond shifts could play a big role in future Mars navigation, communications, and even a solar-system-wide internet. It’s a small time gap with big consequences for space exploration. Tue, 30 Dec 2025 11:54:08 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251228074458.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251220104621.htm For years, scientists thought Saturn’s moon Titan hid a global ocean beneath its frozen surface. A new look at Cassini data now suggests something very different: a thick, slushy interior with pockets of liquid water rather than an open sea. A subtle delay in how Titan deforms under Saturn’s gravity revealed this stickier structure. These slushy environments could still be promising places to search for life. Sat, 20 Dec 2025 10:52:08 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251220104621.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251125081919.htm Mars’s Coloe Fossae reveals a landscape shaped by ancient ice ages, with deep valleys, cratered terrain, and frozen debris flows preserved from a time when the planet’s climate dramatically shifted. Wed, 26 Nov 2025 06:05:14 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251125081919.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251117095650.htm Cutting-edge simulations show that Enceladus’ plumes are losing 20–40% less mass than earlier estimates suggested. The new models provide sharper insights into subsurface conditions that future landers may one day probe directly. Tue, 18 Nov 2025 07:59:29 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251117095650.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251109032415.htm NASA’s Cassini mission has revealed surprising heat flow at Enceladus’ north pole, showing the moon releases energy from both ends. This balance of heat could allow its subsurface ocean to remain liquid for billions of years, supporting conditions for life. The study also refined estimates of ice thickness, giving scientists a clearer picture of where to search next. Sun, 09 Nov 2025 03:46:46 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251109032415.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251109013238.htm From Cassini’s awe-inspiring flybys to cutting-edge simulations, scientists are decoding the secrets of Enceladus’s geysers. Supercomputer models show the icy moon’s plumes lose less mass than expected, refining our understanding of its mysterious interior. These discoveries could shape future missions that may one day explore its subsurface ocean—and perhaps even detect life below the ice. Mon, 10 Nov 2025 01:36:32 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251109013238.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251027023806.htm A massive crater hidden beneath the Atlantic seafloor has been confirmed as the result of an asteroid strike from 66 million years ago. The new 3D seismic data reveals astonishing details about the violent minutes following impact—towering tsunamis, liquefied rock, and shifting seabeds. Researchers call it a once-in-a-lifetime look at how oceanic impacts unfold. Mon, 27 Oct 2025 04:50:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251027023806.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251016223031.htm Scientists from NASA and Chalmers University have discovered that incompatible substances can mix on Titan’s icy surface, breaking the “like dissolves like” rule of chemistry. Under ultra-cold conditions, hydrogen cyanide can form stable crystals with methane and ethane. This surprising reaction could help explain Titan’s mysterious landscapes and offer clues to how life’s building blocks formed. Fri, 17 Oct 2025 02:51:11 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251016223031.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251012054611.htm A colossal northern asteroid impact billions of years ago likely shaped the Moon’s south polar region and explains its uneven terrain. Researchers found that the South Pole-Aitken Basin formed from a glancing northern strike, revealing deep materials from the Moon’s interior. This discovery sheds light on how KREEP elements gathered on the near side, driving volcanic activity. Artemis astronauts may soon uncover samples that rewrite lunar history. Sun, 12 Oct 2025 10:23:19 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251012054611.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251006051111.htm Astronomers have found the most distant and energetic “odd radio circle” ever detected — a massive double-ringed radio structure nearly 10 billion years old. The discovery, made with the help of citizen scientists using LOFAR, challenges theories that these cosmic rings are caused by black hole mergers. Instead, researchers suggest galactic superwinds may be to blame. Mon, 06 Oct 2025 05:11:11 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251006051111.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251005085754.htm October’s night sky is set to dazzle, featuring a radiant supermoon, the fiery Draconid meteor shower, and the sparkling Orionids. As the full moon reaches its largest and brightest on October 6, stargazers can also catch the Draconids streaking from the constellation Draco. Later in the month, the Orionid meteors—fragments of Halley’s Comet—will light up the sky, creating a breathtaking celestial display for anyone willing to look up. Sun, 05 Oct 2025 08:57:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251005085754.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251002074004.htm New lunar samples from the far side reveal it formed from cooler magma than the near side, confirming the Moon’s interior is not uniform. Researchers suggest fewer heat-producing elements on the far side explain the difference. Theories range from ancient cosmic collisions to Earth’s gravitational pull. These discoveries bring us closer to solving the Moon’s long-standing “two-faced” mystery. Fri, 03 Oct 2025 01:02:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251002074004.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251001092210.htm Fresh analysis of Cassini data has revealed new complex organic molecules inside ice grains spewing from Enceladus. These discoveries strengthen the case that the moon’s underground ocean hosts chemistry similar to life’s building blocks on Earth. Scientists now believe Enceladus could be habitable, and plans are underway for a European mission to sample its surface and jets. Thu, 02 Oct 2025 01:32:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251001092210.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250914205848.htm Scientists are unraveling the mysteries of "steam worlds"—exoplanets known as sub-Neptunes that are rich in water but orbit so close to their stars that their surfaces are shrouded in thick atmospheres of vapor. Using advanced models, researchers at UC Santa Cruz are now mapping how water behaves under extreme pressures and temperatures, offering insights into exotic phases like supercritical fluids and superionic ice. Mon, 15 Sep 2025 07:27:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250914205848.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250909031501.htm Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus has long fascinated scientists with its spectacular water plumes, which NASA’s Cassini spacecraft once revealed to contain organic molecules. Many hoped these molecules hinted at life-supporting chemistry in the moon’s hidden ocean. But new experiments suggest they may not come from the ocean at all—instead, radiation from Saturn’s magnetosphere could be producing them right on Enceladus’s frozen surface. Tue, 09 Sep 2025 03:15:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250909031501.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250906013457.htm For decades, scientists have puzzled over why lunar rocks show signs of strong magnetism when the moon itself has no global magnetic field today. New simulations suggest the answer may lie in a powerful asteroid impact billions of years ago. Sat, 06 Sep 2025 14:31:19 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250906013457.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250831112449.htm Saturn’s moon Titan may be more alive with possibilities than we thought. New NASA research suggests that in Titan’s freezing methane and ethane lakes, simple molecules could naturally arrange themselves into vesicles—tiny bubble-like structures that mimic the first steps toward life. These compartments, born from splashing droplets and complex chemistry in Titan’s atmosphere, could act like primitive cell walls. Mon, 01 Sep 2025 04:36:40 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250831112449.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250811094005.htm NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer, a mission designed to create high-resolution maps of water on the Moon, ended after losing contact with the spacecraft just one day after its February 26 launch. Despite extensive global efforts to reestablish communication, the small satellite’s misaligned solar arrays prevented its batteries from charging, leaving it powerless and drifting in a slow spin into deep space. Mon, 11 Aug 2025 10:57:49 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250811094005.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250713031449.htm A 2.35-billion-year-old Moon rock that fell to Earth in Africa is rewriting what we know about lunar volcanism. This rare meteorite, studied by UK scientists and unveiled at a major geochemistry conference, reveals that the Moon was volcanically active far longer than previously thought. With a unique chemical makeup and an age that bridges a billion-year gap in Moon rock samples, it suggests the Moon had internal heat sources that persisted for ages. Sun, 13 Jul 2025 03:14:49 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250713031449.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250711082745.htm NASA is gearing up for an exciting chapter in lunar exploration by sending a trio of high-tech instruments to the Moon. Two of the devices will be attached to a new lunar rover capable of carrying astronauts or operating remotely, while the third will gather data from orbit. These tools will hunt for ice, map minerals, and analyze what lies beneath the surface, offering a clearer picture of the Moon s makeup and potential resources. Fri, 11 Jul 2025 08:27:45 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250711082745.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250523141921.htm Scientists may have solved the mystery of why the moon shows ancient signs of magnetism although it has no magnetic field today. An impact, such as from a large asteroid, could have generated a cloud of ionized particles that briefly enveloped the moon and amplified its weak magnetic field. Fri, 23 May 2025 14:19:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250523141921.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522125206.htm The puzzling behavior of Titan's atmosphere has been revealed. The team has shown that the thick, hazy atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon doesn't spin in line with its surface, but instead wobbles like a gyroscope, shifting with the seasons. Thu, 22 May 2025 12:52:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522125206.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514175436.htm By analyzing how far material ejected from an impact crater flies, scientists can locate buried glaciers and other interesting subsurface features. Wed, 14 May 2025 17:54:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514175436.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423112641.htm Scientists and space explorers have been on the hunt to determine where and how much ice is present on the Moon. Water ice would be an important resource at a future lunar base, as it could be used to support humans or be broken down to hydrogen and oxygen, key components of rocket fuel. Researchers are now using two innovative approaches to advance the search for ice on the Moon. Wed, 23 Apr 2025 11:26:41 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423112641.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250418133725.htm New research finds that despite large rivers and seas of liquid methane, Saturn's moon Titan seems mostly devoid of river deltas, raising new questions about the surface dynamics on this alien world. Fri, 18 Apr 2025 13:37:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250418133725.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250407172910.htm Despite its uniquely rich inventory of organic molecules, Saturn's largest moon, Titan, may be able to support only a minuscule amount of biomass, if life exists on the moon, according to a study using bioenergetic modeling. Mon, 07 Apr 2025 17:29:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250407172910.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250403122628.htm The same dirt that clings to astronauts' boots may one day keep their lights on. Researchers created solar cells made out of simulated Moon dust. The cells convert sunlight into energy efficiently, withstand radiation damage, and mitigate the need for transporting heavy materials into space, offering a potential solution to one of space exploration's biggest challenges: reliable energy sources. Thu, 03 Apr 2025 12:26:28 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250403122628.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250225122457.htm On Wednesday 26 February, a thermal imaging camera blasted off to the Moon as part of NASA's Lunar Trailblazer mission. This aims to map sources of water on the Moon to shed light on the lunar water cycle and to guide future robotic and human missions. Tue, 25 Feb 2025 12:24:57 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250225122457.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250212134829.htm Scientists are studying Saturn's moon Titan to assess its tidal dissipation rate, the energy lost as it orbits the ringed planet with its massive gravitational force. Understanding tidal dissipation helps scientists infer many other things about Titan, such as the makeup of its inner core and its orbital history. Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:48:29 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250212134829.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250210132844.htm Euclid, the European Space Agency's dark Universe detective, has made an astonishing discovery -- right in our cosmic backyard. Mon, 10 Feb 2025 13:28:44 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250210132844.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250206113517.htm A new study focusing on Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, shows that the physics of alien oceans could prevent evidence of deep-sea life from reaching places where we can detect it. Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:35:17 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250206113517.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250204132023.htm NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured a cosmic bullseye! The gargantuan galaxy LEDA 1313424 is rippling with nine star-filled rings after an 'arrow' -- a far smaller blue dwarf galaxy -- shot through its heart. Astronomers using Hubble identified eight visible rings, more than previously detected by any telescope in any galaxy, and confirmed a ninth using data from the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii. Previous observations of other galaxies show a maximum of two or three rings. Tue, 04 Feb 2025 13:20:23 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250204132023.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250129115212.htm Scientists found that asteroid Bennu contained a set of salty mineral deposits that formed in an exact sequence when a brine evaporated, leaving clues about the type of water that flowed billions of years ago. Wed, 29 Jan 2025 11:52:12 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250129115212.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250128221320.htm Scientists developed advanced dating methods to track geological changes on the far side of the moon and found evidence of relatively recent activity. Tue, 28 Jan 2025 22:13:20 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250128221320.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250128124331.htm As humankind imagines living off-planet -- on the moon, Mars and beyond -- the question of how to sustain life revolves around the physical necessities of oxygen, food and water. We know there is water on the moon, but how do we find it? Researchers may help bring science fiction to reality by providing a divining rod to guide future space missions. Tue, 28 Jan 2025 12:43:31 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250128124331.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250127124141.htm Scientists have performed laboratory experiments to better understand how Saturn's moon Titan can maintain its unique nitrogen-rich atmosphere. Titan is the second largest moon in our solar system and the only one that has a significant atmosphere. Mon, 27 Jan 2025 12:41:41 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250127124141.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250116133314.htm A research team has discovered another piece in the puzzle of the formation of the Moon and water on Earth. The prevailing theory was that the Moon was the result of a collision between the early Earth and the protoplanet Theia. New measurements indicate that the Moon formed from material ejected from the Earth's mantle with little contribution from Theia. In addition, the findings support the idea that water could have reached the Earth early in its development and may not have been added by late impacts. Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:33:14 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250116133314.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241218131303.htm Scientists propose a 'remelting' of the Moon's surface 4.35 billion years ago due to the tidal pull of Earth causing widespread geological upheaval and intense heating. Wed, 18 Dec 2024 13:13:03 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241218131303.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241213125505.htm A new study points to why, and how, Io became the most volcanic body in the solar system. Fri, 13 Dec 2024 12:55:05 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241213125505.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241209163211.htm A NASA Hubble Space Telescope observation program called OPAL (Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy) obtains long-term baseline observations of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune in order to understand their atmospheric dynamics and evolution. Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:32:11 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241209163211.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241125163025.htm A new computer model can be used to detect and measure interior oceans on the ice covered moons of Uranus. The model works by analyzing orbital wobbles that would be visible from a passing spacecraft. The research gives engineers and scientists a slide-rule to help them design NASA's upcoming Uranus Orbiter and Probe mission. Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:30:25 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241125163025.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241111155235.htm Like the Earth, the Sun likely has swirling polar vortices, according to new research. But unlike on Earth, the formation and evolution of these vortices are driven by magnetic fields. Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:52:35 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241111155235.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241025122818.htm A new study has revealed that methane gas may be trapped within the icy surface of Saturn's moon Titan, forming a distinct crust up to six miles thick, which warms the underlying ice shell and may also explain Titan's methane-rich atmosphere. Fri, 25 Oct 2024 12:28:18 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241025122818.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240927173206.htm A crater-rich dwarf planet named Ceres located in the main asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter was long thought to be composed of a materials mixture not dominated by water ice. Researchers at Purdue used data from NASA's Dawn mission to show that Ceres' crust could be over 90 percent ice. Fri, 27 Sep 2024 17:32:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240927173206.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240903144929.htm Around 4 billion years ago, an asteroid hit the Jupiter moon Ganymede. Now, a researcher realized that the Solar System's biggest moon's axis has shifted as a result of the impact, which confirmed that the asteroid was around 20 times larger than the one that ended the age of the dinosaurs on Earth, and caused one of the biggest impacts with clear traces in the Solar System. Tue, 03 Sep 2024 14:49:29 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240903144929.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240827105001.htm Lunar igneous activities including intrusive and extrusive magmatism, and their products contain significant information about the lunar interior and its thermal state. Their distribution is asymmetrical on the nearside and farside, reflecting the global lunar dichotomy. In addition to previously returned lunar samples all from nearside (Apollo, Luna, and Chang'e-5), samples from the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin on the farside have long been thought to hold the key to rebalancing the asymmetrical understandings of the Moon and disclosing the lunar dichotomy conundrum. Tue, 27 Aug 2024 10:50:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240827105001.htm