Latest news with #Pluto
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Search for 'Planet Nine' Yields Unexpected Discovery
Astronomers have long been on the hunt for "Planet Nine," a hypothetical planet that lies within our solar system just beyond Neptune. Scientific evidence has alternately pointed to and against the existence of such a planet, but the search is still on, stoked by the 2006 demotion of Pluto to "dwarf planet." This time, scouring the cosmos may have yielded a concrete result—it's just not the kind astronomers were hoping for. A small team of researchers at the Institute for Advanced Study and Princeton University spent half a year sifting through data from the Victor M. Blanco Telescope's Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey (DECaLS). Gathered in 2019 by the telescope's Dark Energy Camera, or DECam, the archive consists of wild-field optical imaging data from the green, red, and z bands. Though these filters make it possible to search for distant space objects via photometric redshift, no one (to the researchers' knowledge) had looked for Planet Nine in the DECaLS dataset before. According to a preprint paper that has not yet undergone peer review, the researchers found a dwarf planet candidate they've since dubbed 2017 OF201. With an estimated diameter of approximately 700 kilometers (435 miles), the object is just big enough to classify as a dwarf planet. The International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center announced the finding this month. This illustration shows just how wide 2017 OF201's orbit is, compared with the orbits of solar system planets. Credit: Jiaxuan Li, Sihao Cheng But the team is lucky they found 2017 OF201 at all: Only 0.5% of its wide, elliptical orbit comes close enough to Earth for Blanco to detect. At its farthest point from the Sun (aphelion), the object is more than 1,600 times farther away than Earth, making a complete orbit 25,000 years long. "This limited visibility window strongly suggests that a substantial population of similar objects—with large sizes, wide orbits, and high eccentricities—should exist but be difficult to detect due to their extremely large distance," the paper reads. The orbit of 2017 OF201 is also strange because it appears to contradict a common hypothesis about Planet Nine. The hypothetical planet's gravity is thought to shepherd trans-Neptunian objects into a cluster of sorts, but 2017 OF201 resists such clustering. What this means within the broader search for Planet Nine will likely be determined by Chile's Vera Rubin Observatory, which is expected to go online later this year.
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Horoscope today, May 31, 2025: Daily star sign guide from Mystic Meg
OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes. Read on to see what's written in the stars for you today. ♈ ARIES March 21 to April 20 Your creative juices flip into overdrive, and ideas flow from you – the moon's deep insight draws you towards the one that will give you the greatest satisfaction. So you know what to do next. A regular weekend meet-up has an undercurrent of attraction, and an intriguing new face can be the source. 3 Your daily horoscope for Saturday ♉ TAURUS April 21 to May 21 Pluto is a stamping-feet kind of planet – today this can come through in stubborn resistance and unreasonable demands. So if you sense these rising up, take steps to deal with the situation. Staying in control is less important than happiness. Two mega-smart moves can get a cash plan moving again. Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♊ GEMINI The moon and sun bring a stronger sense of self, plus the confidence to express this everywhere you go. Not letting bad behaviour pass without action is the theme of your day, and you are ready to see it through. Looking back at family legacy dates can tell you something sensational about a familiar face. Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♋ CANCER June 22 to July 22 Maybe you feel your resolve wavering, especially when a hot Taurus is around. Remember you can resist over-spending, or saving, but still keep a reserve of cash for a rainy day. Trusting yourself to cope is a smarter strategy than checking up on yourself. The luck factor links to a tattoo that is unique and artistic. Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♌ LEO July 23 to August 23 After a time of second-guessing, you can start to feel sure you know your true ambitions – but be prepared for these to be different to what you expect. Use down time to confirm with your head what your heart already knows. This can apply to work, but also to love. A past Number One hit can be lucky. Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♍ VIRGO August 24 to September 22 Building up your hopes and taking them seriously is a better strategy than trying to deny them. People closest to you can sense something is going on, and they will welcome your ability to be honest. But it's the way a recently arrived neighbour seems to really listen, and love your voice, that captures your heart. Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions 3 The sun has so much learning heat radiating into your chart Credit: Getty ♎ LIBRA September 23 to October 23 The sun has so much learning heat radiating into your chart – so even going back to a failed test or task can reap rewards. But you must be ready to believe in yourself. If you're not quite there yet, it's fine to take a few more days. Experience of a very unusual world can pay off when you are asked to do a talk, or show. Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♏ SCORPIO October 24 to November 22 Mercury can have a calming influence – so reflect on why you may be resisting. If you fear you may say or do something that sets a plan back, ask someone you trust for a second opinion. You can take it on board, but don't have to do what they say. Weighty love words slip thorough in the lightest chats, so do listen well. Get all the latest Scorpio horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♐ SAGITTARIUS November 23 to December 21 The rule-breaking side of planet Uranus is playful – and you can have lots of fun, but make sure it doesn't tip into sarcasm or cruelty. You are the sunniest sign in the zodiac. It may be a challenge to stay that way, but you have everything it takes. As for romance, initials E and H intertwine for a lifetime of love. Get all the latest Sagittarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♑ CAPRICORN December 22 to January 20 With those fitness schedules you plan to start following, the week can start with a surge of motivation, and end with a short-list of potential sports and activities. When choosing someone to fill a gap, try to go for the opposite of who you might usually choose. This can bring a ray of sunshine into your everyday life. Get all the latest Capricorn horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions 3 A group goal is worth so much more to you than a solo one Credit: Supplied ♒ AQUARIUS January 21 to February 18 Doing everything you can to keep the shares equal in a group is a smart move. So however tempting it may be to take charge, dial down your eager Aquarius self. A group goal is worth so much more to you than a solo one. Passion may have much to say, but stay silent – until you stage a special performance. Get all the latest Aquarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♓ PISCES February 19 to March 20 Saturn makes sure you know exactly who you are and where you stand, but this may not be what those closest to your heart are expecting. So give everyone time to get used to your choices. A temporary store or stall can spark interest in an item from your past. Gather all family views before you make any move. Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Horoscope today, May 31, 2025: Daily star sign guide from Mystic Meg
OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes. Read on to see what's written in the stars for you today. ♈ ARIES March 21 to April 20 Your creative juices flip into overdrive, and ideas flow from you – the moon's deep insight draws you towards the one that will give you the greatest satisfaction. So you know what to do next. READ MORE MYSTIC MEG A regular weekend meet-up has an undercurrent of attraction, and an intriguing new face can be the source. 3 Your daily horoscope for Saturday ♉ TAURUS April 21 to May 21 Pluto is a stamping-feet kind of planet – today this can come through in stubborn resistance and unreasonable demands. So if you sense these rising up, take steps to deal with the situation. Staying in control is less important than happiness. Two mega-smart moves can get a cash plan moving again. Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♊ GEMINI The moon and sun bring a stronger sense of self, plus the confidence to express this everywhere you go. Not letting bad behaviour pass without action is the theme of your day, and you are ready to see it through. Looking back at family legacy dates can tell you something sensational about a familiar face. Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♋ CANCER June 22 to July 22 Maybe you feel your resolve wavering, especially when a hot Taurus is around. Remember you can resist over-spending, or saving, but still keep a reserve of cash for a rainy day. Trusting yourself to cope is a smarter strategy than checking up on yourself. The luck factor links to a tattoo that is unique and artistic. Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♌ LEO July 23 to August 23 After a time of second-guessing, you can start to feel sure you know your true ambitions – but be prepared for these to be different to what you expect. Use down time to confirm with your head what your heart already knows. This can apply to work, but also to love. A past Number One hit can be lucky. Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions Most read in The Irish Sun ♍ VIRGO August 24 to September 22 Building up your hopes and taking them seriously is a better strategy than trying to deny them. People closest to you can sense something is going on, and they will welcome your ability to be honest. But it's the way a recently arrived neighbour seems to really listen, and love your voice, that captures your heart. Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions 3 The sun has so much learning heat radiating into your chart Credit: Getty ♎ LIBRA September 23 to October 23 The sun has so much learning heat radiating into your chart – so even going back to a failed test or task can reap rewards. But you must be ready to believe in yourself. If you're not quite there yet, it's fine to take a few more days. Experience of a very unusual world can pay off when you are asked to do a talk, or show. Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions List of 12 star signs The traditional dates used by Mystic Meg for each sign are below. Capricorn: Aquarius: Pisces: Aries: Taurus: Gemini: Cancer: Leo: Virgo : Libra: Scorpio: Sagittarius: ♏ SCORPIO October 24 to November 22 Mercury can have a calming influence – so reflect on why you may be resisting. If you fear you may say or do something that sets a plan back, ask someone you trust for a second opinion. You can take it on board, but don't have to do what they say. Weighty love words slip thorough in the lightest chats, so do listen well. Get all the latest Scorpio horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♐ SAGITTARIUS November 23 to December 21 The rule-breaking side of planet Uranus is playful – and you can have lots of fun, but make sure it doesn't tip into sarcasm or cruelty. You are the sunniest sign in the zodiac. It may be a challenge to stay that way, but you have everything it takes. As for romance, initials E and H intertwine for a lifetime of love. Get all the latest Sagittarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♑ CAPRICORN December 22 to January 20 With those fitness schedules you plan to start following, the week can start with a surge of motivation, and end with a short-list of potential sports and activities. When choosing someone to fill a gap, try to go for the opposite of who you might usually choose. This can bring a ray of sunshine into your everyday life. Get all the latest Capricorn horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions 3 A group goal is worth so much more to you than a solo one Credit: Supplied ♒ AQUARIUS January 21 to February 18 Doing everything you can to keep the shares equal in a group is a smart move. So however tempting it may be to take charge, dial down your eager Aquarius self. A group goal is worth so much more to you than a solo one. Passion may have much to say, but stay silent – until you stage a special performance. Get all the latest Aquarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♓ PISCES February 19 to March 20 Saturn makes sure you know exactly who you are and where you stand, but this may not be what those closest to your heart are expecting. So give everyone time to get used to your choices. A temporary store or stall can spark interest in an item from your past. Gather all family views before you make any move. Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Your June Horoscope by Zodiac Sign Is Here
June's astrology brings major cosmic shifts and a hint of luck and support, too! The month starts off in Gemini season, which reminds you how important it is to connect with your friends and build community. You want to feel like you belong and there's no better way than to get involved on a local level. You might consider finding a place to volunteer like a local soup kitchen or your local library, or perhaps put more effort into meeting your neighbors. You're in a social mood and also feeling curious, which makes this a great season to hone some of your skills and learn new things! Lots of ideas can flood your mind and you're initiating new important conversations. It's time to reconnect with your voice. You're feeling grateful and abundant when Venus in Aries links up with Jupiter in Gemini on June 4. It could feel like you're in the right place at the right time or maybe you're making progress on a longterm goals. This energy is lucky and supportive—however you decide to take advantage of it! You're making moves once Mercury in Gemini teams up with Mars in Leo on June 5. This can be an exciting moment to take the first step on a plan or project you've been working on. The energy is motivating and you have a confidence with whatever decisions you make today. Discussions can also move along at a quicker pace. Your relationships and finances experience a period of stability and even some luck once Venus moves into Taurus on June 5. The next few weeks can help singles meet someone special, couples discuss the future, and bring new opportunities your way. Communication planet Mercury moves into Cancer on June 8, heightening your intuition. Your psychic vibes are on point over the next few weeks, but try not to assume that everyone knows what you're thinking. You're also more prone to making decisions based on your emotions and how you're feeling in the moment. A reality check arrives on June 9 when Mercury in Cancer slams into Saturn in Aries. You might need to set a boundary or hit a temporary roadblock. This can kick up discouraging feelings, but it doesn't mean give up just yet! On the same day, you're dealing with power struggles and feelings of jealousy in some of your closest relationships when Venus in Taurus bumps into Pluto in Aquarius. You might need to address unhealthy patterns or dynamics in some of your connections. This can also mark a moment of vulnerability and depth that brings you closer to someone, as well. Jupiter enters Cancer for the first time in 12 years and that's the main event on June 9! Over the next year, you'll experience growth and expansion in a new area of your birth chart. You might feel more grateful for your chosen family and spend more time redefining what family and home mean to you. Jupiter is exalted when it moves through the sign of Cancer, which means growth and support are more accessible, which bodes well for reaching your dreams and goals! Mercury in Cancer will also ram into Neptune in Aries on June 9, which can stir up some confusion. Let your emotions come to the surface and avoid making important decisions today if you can—it's easier to give into your anxieties and projections. A full moon in Sagittarius on June 11 marks an important realization. This is a powerful time to stand up for what you believe in and to also receive attention for some of your expertise. People are paying attention to what you have to say and share, so do so wisely. On the same day, you're learning lucky news when Mercury in Cancer mingles with Venus in Taurus. This brings a compassionate energy to your interactions with others. It's great for brainstorming, making progress on creative projects, or telling someone how much you love or appreciate them. Tensions takes over the sky a few days later, on June 15, when Mars in Leo rams into Uranus in Taurus. This brings reactive and unpredictable energy to the collective and your personal life. People are acting rashly and tempers can flare. You might also be more accident prone so try to move throughout your day with intention and avoid running with scissors in your hand! You're coming to terms with what isn't working when Jupiter in Cancer bumps into Saturn in Aries on the same day. This can help you refine your plan, even if you feel pangs of disappointment with whatever you learn today. Mars has been traveling through either Cancer or Leo since September 2024 and finally leaves both signs once and for all on June 17 when it moves into Virgo! The next few weeks help you change your habits and take small, incremental steps toward your big goals. You might also deal with some overthinking, so focus on grounding exercises if and when necessary. You might also make some important decisions over the next few weeks and communication can pick up. There's a haze in the air when Jupiter in Cancer rams into Neptune in Aries on June 18. Slow down and avoid overcommitting today. You might have trouble discerning what is reality and what is fiction. Avoid making important decisions today and try not to overdo it. It's easy to wind up feeling exhausted. Your boundaries will also be tested! The Sun enters Cancer, and the Summer Solstice takes place on June 20, heightening your intuition and inviting you to reconnect with your roots. You might feel a little more sentimental over the next few weeks and spend more time reflecting on your past and patterns that run in your family. You could be ready to break cycles or make important decisions about your living situation, too. You're feeling confident enough to take a risk and chase after some of your dreams when Mars in Virgo mingles with Jupiter in Cancer on June 22. This is motivating energy and can help you act in alignment with what you desire. On the same day, you'll need to exercise some caution as the Sun in Cancer slams into both Saturn in Aries and Neptune in Aries. This can bring a depressive vibe or disappointing news. It can also just leave you feeling tired. Stick with your boundaries today and don't be afraid to say no. Fortunately, on June 24, luck fills the day when the Sun and Jupiter, both in Cancer, link up. This marks a moment of clarity or positive developments regarding some of your longterm goals. You might also gain attention for your talents or stand up for what you believe in. There's a new moon in Cancer on June 25 that ushers in a fresh start to your personal life. You're ready to release the past in order to create space for more magic to enter your life. This is a lovely time to nurture your relationships with your chosen family and make decisions about your living environment. You've got a bright idea when Mercury in Cancer links up with Uranus in Taurus on June 26. This can help you think out of the box and help you find solutions to your problems. You could also receive last-minute invitation or exciting opportunity that interest you. On the same day, you're full of energy and feeling confident when the Sun in Cancer teams up with Mars in Virgo. Put yourself out there and go after what you want! You're ready to focus on yourself once Mercury enters Leo later in the day on June 26. The next few weeks give you the courage to speak your mind and can also fill you with creative inspiration! It's a great time to pick up hobbies you used to enjoy when you were younger, too. Maybe it's time to take a relationship to the next level when Mercury in Leo connects with Saturn in Aries on June 27. This energy is great for having practical and grounding conversations about the future. You could also make progress on a creative goal or commit to a new creative project. The following day, on June 28, Mercury in Leo mingles with Neptune in Aries, inspiring sweet and thoughtful dialogue. You'll want to make the most of it while it lasts because on June 29 Mercury in Leo will stare down Pluto in Aquarius, highlighting power struggles. Secrets will be revealed and you're having conversations that feel triggering and cathartic, but ultimately healing and horoscope for Aries (March 21 to April 19) June horoscope for Taurus (April 20 to May 20) June horoscope for Gemini (May 21 to June 20) June horoscope for Cancer (June 21 t0 July 22) June horoscope for Leo (July 23 to August 22) June horoscope for Virgo (August 23 to September 22) June horoscope for Libra (September 23 to October 22) June horoscope for Scorpio (October 23 to November 21) June horoscope for Sagittarius (November 22 to December 21) June horoscope for Capricorn (December 22 to January 19) June horoscope for Aquarius (January 20 to February 18) June horoscope for Pisces (February 19 to March 20) You Might Also Like Here's What NOT to Wear to a Wedding Meet the Laziest, Easiest Acne Routine You'll Ever Try
GMA Network
7 hours ago
- Science
- GMA Network
Possible new dwarf planet spotted near the edge of the solar system
Cutout images of all 19 detections of the newly identified trans-Neptunian object named 2017 OF201 are seen, from the Canada France Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) and the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) on the 4-meter Victor M. Blanco Telescope, released by the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, on May 22, 2025. Jiaxuan Li and Sihao Cheng/Handout via REUTERS WASHINGTON - Scientists have identified an object about 435 miles (700 km) wide inhabiting the frigid outer reaches of our solar system that might qualify as a dwarf planet, spotting it as it travels on a highly elongated orbital path around the sun. The researchers called it one of the most distant visible objects in our solar system, and said its existence indicates that a vast expanse of space beyond the outermost planet Neptune and a region called the Kuiper Belt may not be deserted, as long thought. The Kuiper Belt is populated by numerous icy bodies. Given the name 2017 OF201, the object falls into a category called trans-Neptunian objects that orbit the sun at a distance beyond that of Neptune. The object takes about 25,000 years to complete a single orbit of the sun, compared to 365 days for Earth to do so. The researchers said 2017 OF201 was identified in observations by telescopes in Chile and Hawaii spanning seven years. "It is potentially large enough to qualify as a dwarf planet. Its orbit is very wide and eccentric, which means it experienced an interesting orbital migration path in the past," said astrophysicist Sihao Cheng of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, who led the study with collaborators Jiaxuan Li and Eritas Yang, graduate students at Princeton University. Its size is estimated to be a bit smaller than Ceres, which is the smallest of the solar system's five recognized dwarf planets and has a diameter of about 590 miles (950 km). Pluto, the largest of those dwarf planets, has a diameter of about 1,477 miles (2,377 km). The mass of 2017 OF201 is estimated to be about 20,000 times smaller than Earth's and 50 times smaller than Pluto's. "We don't know the shape yet. Unfortunately it is too far away and it is a bit difficult to resolve it with telescopes," Cheng said. "Its composition is totally unknown yet, but likely similar to other icy bodies." The discovery was announced by the Minor Planet Center of the International Astronomical Union, an international organization of astronomers, and detailed in a study posted on the open-access research site arXiv. The study has not yet been peer reviewed. Earth's orbital distance from the sun is called an astronomical unit. 2017 OF201 is currently located at a distance of 90.5 astronomical units from the sun, meaning 90.5 times as far as Earth. But at its furthest point during its orbit, 2017 OF201 is more than 1,600 astronomical units from the sun, while the closest point on its orbit is about 45 astronomical units. That means it sometimes is closer to the sun than Pluto, whose orbital distance ranges from 30 to 49 astronomical units as it travels an elliptical path around the sun. The researchers suspect that the extreme orbit of 2017 OF201 may have been caused by a long-ago close encounter with the gravitational influence of a giant planet. "We still don't know much about the solar system far away because currently it is difficult to directly see things beyond about 150 astronomical units," Cheng said. "The presence of this single object suggests that there could be another hundred or so other objects with similar orbit and size. They are just too far away to be detectable right now." The five dwarf planets recognized by the International Astronomical Union are, in order of distance from the sun: Ceres, which is the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, then Pluto, Haumea, Makemake and Eris, which all orbit beyond Neptune. The organization defines a planet and a dwarf planet differently. A planet must orbit its host star - in our case the sun - and must be mostly round and sufficiently large that its gravitational strength clears away any other objects of similar size near its orbit. A dwarf planet must orbit the sun and be mostly round but it has not cleared its orbit of other objects. Cheng said the discovery of 2017 OF201 has implications for hypotheses involving the potential existence of a ninth planet in our solar system, dubbed Planet X or Planet Nine. This is because 2017 OF201's orbit does not follow the pattern exhibited by other known trans-Neptunian objects, which tend to cluster together. Some scientists had hypothesized that such clustering was caused by the gravity of a yet-to-be discovered planet. "The existence of 2017 OF201 as an outlier to such clustering could potentially challenge this hypothesis," Cheng said. — Reuters
