Universe Archives - Page 2 of 2

Category: Universe

Janus and Epimetheus: Saturn’s Orbit-Swapping Twin Moons

noor-e-aishaSeptember 6, 2025

Janus and Epimetheus are two of Saturn’s moons that share the same orbit, separated by only about 50 kilometers (31 miles). When they approach each other, they exchange momentum and switch orbits—the inner moon becomes the outer, and vice versa. This orbital swap occurs roughly every four years. Janus was discovered by Audouin Dollfus in […]

Enceladus Geysers Reveal Subsurface Ocean and Potential Life

noor-e-aishaAugust 22, 2025

Enceladus has active geysers that spew water vapor and ice particles from its south polar region into space. These plumes are a key indicator of a subsurface ocean beneath its icy shell. Scientists believe this ocean is in contact with a rocky core, potentially providing the necessary ingredients for life. The combination of liquid water, […]

Iapetus: Saturn’s Two-Toned Moon with Equatorial Ridge

noor-e-aishaAugust 21, 2025

Iapetus was first discovered by Giovanni Domenico Cassini in 1671. One of its hemispheres is very dark, reflecting only about 5% of sunlight, while the other is bright, reflecting nearly 50%. The dark material is believed to be composed of carbon-rich substances, while the bright side is primarily made of ice. Iapetus features a unique […]

What Is a Black Hole? Origins, Physics & Discovery Explained

noor-e-aishaJuly 11, 2025

A black hole is a massive, compact astronomical object so dense that its gravity prevents anything—even light—from escaping. Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass will form a black hole. The boundary beyond which nothing can escape is called the event horizon. While a black hole has a profound effect […]

June 23, 2015: 60,000 orbits for Mars Odyssey

noor-e-aishaJune 30, 2025

NASA’s Mars Odyssey spacecraft completed its 60,000th orbit of the Red Planet on June 23, 2015. When Odyssey launched in April 2001 with a goal of better understanding Mars’ environment, the Red Planet was generally thought to be dry, barren world; the mission transformed our understanding, discovering widespread subsurface water ice. Its continuous observations have […]

June 28, 2011: Kerberos is discovered

noor-e-aishaJune 30, 2025

On June 28, 2011, Pluto’s moon Kerberos was discovered by a team using the Hubble Space Telescope, led by senior research scientist Mark Showalter. While the primary goal of the observing program was to identify both potential targets and potential hazards for the then-upcoming New Horizons mission, Kerberos and its fellow moon Styx were also […]

How a signal from a 60-year-old satellite baffled astronomers for over a year

noor-e-aishaJune 30, 2025

Around midday on June 13 last year, my colleagues and I were scanning the skies when we thought we had discovered a strange and exciting new object in space. Using a huge radio telescope, we spotted a blindingly fast flash of radio waves that appeared to be coming from somewhere inside our galaxy. After a […]

1 2

Category: Universe

Janus and Epimetheus: Saturn’s Orbit-Swapping Twin Moons

Enceladus Geysers Reveal Subsurface Ocean and Potential Life

Iapetus: Saturn’s Two-Toned Moon with Equatorial Ridge

What Is a Black Hole? Origins, Physics & Discovery Explained

June 23, 2015: 60,000 orbits for Mars Odyssey

June 28, 2011: Kerberos is discovered

How a signal from a 60-year-old satellite baffled astronomers for over a year

Social Media

Don't Miss

How a signal from a 60-year-old satellite baffled astronomers for over a year

June 28, 2011: Kerberos is discovered

June 23, 2015: 60,000 orbits for Mars Odyssey

What Is a Black Hole? Origins, Physics & Discovery Explained