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Metro
3 days ago
- Science
- Metro
Twist in search for mysterious 'Planet Nine' in the dark depths of our solar system
Scientists hunting for Planet Nine, an elusive planetary body that could change our understanding of the solar system, have found something. Planet X is a hypothetical planet seven times the mass of Earth tucked just behind Pluto. Despite possibly being the fifth most massive planet, scientists have never tracked the white whale of astronomy down – that is, if it even exists. But a trio of American scientists trying to find the elusive gas giant have discovered a new planet… of sorts, a dwarf planet called 2017 OF201. According to a study, which has not been peer-reviewed, 2017 OF201 is roughly 430 miles across, three times smaller than Pluto. The object is an extreme trans-Neptunian object (eTNO), a minor planet that orbits the Sun far beyond Neptune. So far away, in fact, OF201 would take 25,000 Earth years to complete a solar lap. Its orbit even swings out into the Oort Cloud – a sphere of icy comets a trillion miles from the Sun. OF201 can only be observed from Earth 0.5% of the time, making its closest approach to us in 1930 and won't do so again until 26,186. The International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center added 2017 OF201 to its database last week. Five other dwarf planets are officially recognised: Pluto, Eris, Ceres and two others beyond Neptune, Haumea and Makemake. The search for a ninth planet in our solar system has been going on for a century. The evidence for it that hunters have long clung to is how six objects – dwarf planets and chunks of ice – have been discovered in the vastly empty outskirts of the solar system. Bizarrely, they huddle together as they orbit, as if something a gassy behemoth of a planet were shepherding them, said Imo Bell, astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. They told Metro: 'Some astronomers believe that proving the existence of this planet would explain the behaviour of many other eTNOs with highly elliptical orbits clustered on one side of the Sun. 'It's thought that Planet Nine, with a mass of about five Earths, would explain the confined orbits of these eTNOs.' Sihao Cheng of New Jersey's Institute for Advanced Study and Princeton University graduate students, Jiaxuan Li and Eritas Yang, discovered 2017 OF201. They did so by combing through an archive of images of the outskirts of the solar system, taken by the Blanco telescope in Chile, as well as by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope in Hawaii. Over time, they realised that tiny dots in the images were a single dwarf planet-sized rock with a wide and eccentric orbit. Yang said: 'It must have experienced close encounters with a giant planet, causing it to be ejected to a wide orbit.' Yet the discovery isn't exactly what the team had hoped for, explained Bell, as it's not part of the pack of eTNOs that imply Planet Nine exists. They said: 'The discovery of 2017 OF201 is significant because it's found in a region of the Solar System thought to be empty, and it's presence points to the existence of other similar eTNOs with orbits that challenge ideas about Planet Nine as they are not clustered in the way that has been seen with other eTNOs.' Yang's simulations only considered one proposed orbit of Planet Nine, meaning that the findings don't disprove the planet's existence altogether. Cheng hasn't lost hope, saying that the existence of 2017 OF201 suggests there 'could be another hundred or so other objects with similar orbit and size'. 'They are just too far away to be detectable now,' he added. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Saturn in Aries for the first time since 1999 will impact these five star signs most MORE: Nasa warns of huge solar flares that could cause blackouts on Earth MORE: Here's the best spots to see the Northern Lights tonight
Metro
20-05-2025
- Science
- Metro
Nasa warns of huge solar flares that could cause blackouts on Earth
A solar flare last week was so big it disrupted radio transmissions on Earth. Nasa said the burst of energy was the biggest flare of 2025 so far, and there could be more to come, with the sun at the most active point of its eleven year cycle. They warned: 'Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.' This latest flare on May 14 affected high frequency radio communications for ten minutes in the Middle East. It was classed as X2.7, which means it is in the highest, 'extreme' category of solar flare – though the category is open ended, and the highest ever recorded was an estimated X45, during the 'Halloween' solar storms in 2003. The Met Office space weather prediction also says there is a risk of 'minor radio blackouts' throughout this week. The idea of the sun interfering with our electrics and radio signals, as well as giving us sunburn, sounds dramatic but it isn't unheard of. In May last year, multiple coronal mass ejections led to a strong geomagnetic storm which massively impacted the US precision industry, which uses GPS to help improve crop yields and make farms more efficient. The Met Office said there are seven sunspot regions currently facing Earth which could potentially impact us. Yesterday, a 'slow but large' Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) was visible – the thing which can cause us to see the Northern Lights. However, don't go rushing for your camera, as this has been modelled as most likely missing Earth. Solar flares are powerful bursts of electromagnetic radiation from the Sun. They are are often associated with solar magnetic storms known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Affelia Wibisono, an astronomer at Royal Observatory Greenwich, told Metro last year: 'Solar flares appear as localised bright flashes of light that can last for minutes and even hours. But solar flares don't just emit visible light – they also release radiation from the rest of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as ultraviolet light and X-rays. 'These emissions of electromagnetic radiation travel at the speed of light and so reach the Earth about eight minutes after they have left the Sun.' Meanwhile, CMEs can take anywhere between 15 hours and several days to reach Earth. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Here's the best spots to see the Northern Lights tonight MORE: Successful test flight for company aiming to travel London to New York in one hour MORE: Life and everything we know in the universe will end sooner than we thought
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
How 600,000-mile-long solar eruption could impact Earth
In a post on X, formerly Twitter , aurora chaser Jure Atanackov predicted that the full force of this eruption could trigger a severe or even extreme geomagnetic storm, the highest level on official rating systems. Stunning video recorded by NASA 's solar observation satellites shows the moment that filaments of plasma 75 times larger than Earth peeled away from the sun in a pair of sweeping 'wings'. Most of the material was shot out of the sun's north pole, so it will mostly avoid Earth. Jake Foster, astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, told MailOnline: 'Loops of hot plasma can sprout up from the Sun's surface, following along its magnetic field lines, and occasionally they break free and shoot off into space at high speeds.' Sometimes this triggers an event called a coronal mass ejection, a wave of plasma and magnetic fields which is launched into space. It is the arrival of these coronal mass ejections (CMEs) which trigger geomagnetic storms and enhanced auroral activity on Earth. As astronomers observed, this is exactly what happened on Tuesday as two huge filaments became unstable and collapsed, triggering a huge CME. As the filament eruption tore away from the sun's surface, eagerly-watching aurora chasers were amazed by the sheer scale of the blast. Mr Atanackov wrote in a post on X that the blast 'dwarfs all the filament eruptions we have seen recently.' Likewise, Northern Lights photographer Vincent Ledvina said: 'Not sure what to call this eruption, maybe the "bird-wing" or "angel-wing" event? Either way, it is truly something to witness! Look at how large the blast is off the Sun's northern hemisphere.' In her solar forecast, space weather physicist Dr Tamitha Skov reported a 'massive dual filament launch that could give Earth a glancing blow.' When a filament eruption escapes the solar surface, it leaves behind a cool 'scar' on the sun, which shows up as a dark region in solar imaging cameras. While it initially appeared that most of the blast had been directed northward, away from Earth, the remains scars suggested that some of the eruption could be coming our way. Dr Skov said: 'You'd think this was just going northward. But, believe it or not, the scar from this thing as it lifted off the sun makes us think that maybe there's part of this that's Earth-directed.' It is considered likely that part of the CME or its wake will hit Earth tomorrow, causing a minor geomagnetic storm and lingering effects for a few days. Mr Foster says: 'These eruptions are huge collections of high energy solar particles, so when they hit the Earth's atmosphere they can cause a few different effects. 'With enough energy, they have the potential to cause a geomagnetic storm, temporarily blocking out radio communications and satellite navigation in certain areas. 'On the more serious end of the scale, they can cause an overload to electrical infrastructure, damaging the power grid and railway lines, and potentially even sparking electrical fires.' Additionally, as charged particles from the sun arrive, they are channelled towards the poles by the planet's powerful magnetic fields. These particles then collide with nitrogen and oxygen in the air, transferring their energy into the gases and causing them to glow, in an effect we see as the aurora. Since the Earth's magnetic fields protect us extremely well from these charged particles, auroras are only normally visible close to the magnetic poles. Although Dr Skov predicts a 20 per cent chance of a major storm occurring, the chances of significant geomagnetic activity are low. Stephen Dixon, Met Office spokesperson, told MailOnline: 'A coronal mass ejection could possibly glance the Earth later this evening and could lead to aurora being visible in northern Scotland, though there is low confidence in this. 'Should it occur, skies are relatively clear, but viewers might need to take a photo with a long exposure.'
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Earth could be hit by 600,000 mile-wide 'bird wing' solar eruption TOMORROW, astronomers warn
On Tuesday, astronomers watched as a vast 'bird wing' eruption sent waves of superheated plasma surging across the sun's northern hemisphere. At over 600,000 miles long (one million km), the filament of solar material was more than twice as long as the distance from the Earth to the moon. Now, scientists predict that part of this filament eruption could hit Earth tomorrow. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, aurora chaser Jure Atanackov predicted that the full force of this eruption could trigger a severe or even extreme geomagnetic storm, the highest level on official rating systems. Stunning video recorded by NASA 's solar observation satellites shows the moment that filaments of plasma 75 times larger than Earth peeled away from the sun in a pair of sweeping 'wings'. Most of the material was shot out of the sun's north pole, so it will mostly avoid Earth. However, astronomers say that Earth will probably receive a glancing blow from the wake of the passing storm. That means there is an increased chance of being able to spot the Northern Lights and a risk of disruption to electrical equipment. Solar filaments are dense ribbons of cooler solar plasma which are suspended above the sun's surface by powerful magnetic fields. When these magnetic fields become unstable, they can release the filaments in a violent eruption. Jake Foster, astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, told MailOnline: 'Loops of hot plasma can sprout up from the Sun's surface, following along its magnetic field lines, and occasionally they break free and shoot off into space at high speeds.' Sometimes this triggers an event called a coronal mass ejection, a wave of plasma and magnetic fields which is launched into space. It is the arrival of these coronal mass ejections (CMEs) which trigger geomagnetic storms and enhanced auroral activity on Earth. As astronomers observed, this is exactly what happened on Tuesday as two huge filaments became unstable and collapsed, triggering a huge CME. As the filament eruption tore away from the sun's surface, eagerly-watching aurora chasers were amazed by the sheer scale of the blast. Mr Atanackov wrote in a post on X that the blast 'dwarfs all the filament eruptions we have seen recently.' Likewise, Northern Lights photographer Vincent Ledvina said: 'Not sure what to call this eruption, maybe the "bird-wing" or "angel-wing" event? Either way, it is truly something to witness! Look at how large the blast is off the Sun's northern hemisphere.' In her solar forecast, space weather physicist Dr Tamitha Skov reported a 'massive dual filament launch that could give Earth a glancing blow.' When a filament eruption escapes the solar surface, it leaves behind a cool 'scar' on the sun, which shows up as a dark region in solar imaging cameras. While it initially appeared that most of the blast had been directed northward, away from Earth, the remains scars suggested that some of the eruption could be coming our way. Dr Skov said: 'You'd think this was just going northward. But, believe it or not, the scar from this thing as it lifted off the sun makes us think that maybe there's part of this that's Earth-directed.' It is considered likely that part of the CME or its wake will hit Earth tomorrow, causing a minor geomagnetic storm and lingering effects for a few days. Mr Foster says: 'These eruptions are huge collections of high energy solar particles, so when they hit the Earth's atmosphere they can cause a few different effects. 'With enough energy, they have the potential to cause a geomagnetic storm, temporarily blocking out radio communications and satellite navigation in certain areas. 'On the more serious end of the scale, they can cause an overload to electrical infrastructure, damaging the power grid and railway lines, and potentially even sparking electrical fires.' Additionally, as charged particles from the sun arrive, they are channelled towards the poles by the planet's powerful magnetic fields. These particles then collide with nitrogen and oxygen in the air, transferring their energy into the gases and causing them to glow, in an effect we see as the aurora. Since the Earth's magnetic fields protect us extremely well from these charged particles, auroras are only normally visible close to the magnetic poles. Although Dr Skov predicts a 20 per cent chance of a major storm occurring, the chances of significant geomagnetic activity are low. Stephen Dixon, Met Office spokesperson, told MailOnline: 'A coronal mass ejection could possibly glance the Earth later this evening and could lead to aurora being visible in northern Scotland, though there is low confidence in this. 'Should it occur, skies are relatively clear, but viewers might need to take a photo with a long exposure.' SOLAR STORMS PRESENT A CLEAR DANGER TO ASTRONAUTS AND CAN DAMAGE SATELLITES Solar storms, or solar activity, can be divided into four main components that can have impacts on Earth: Solar flares: A large explosion in the sun's atmosphere. These flares are made of photons that travel out directly from the flare site. Solar flares impact Earth only when they occur on the side of the sun facing Earth. Coronal Mass Ejections (CME's): Large clouds of plasma and magnetic field that erupt from the sun. These clouds can erupt in any direction, and then continue on in that direction, plowing through solar wind. These clouds only cause impacts to Earth when they're aimed at Earth. High-speed solar wind streams: These come from coronal holes on the sun, which form anywhere on the sun and usually only when they are closer to the solar equator do the winds impact Earth. Solar energetic particles: High-energy charged particles thought to be released primarily by shocks formed at the front of coronal mass ejections and solar flares. When a CME cloud plows through solar wind, solar energetic particles can be produced and because they are charged, they follow the magnetic field lines between the Sun and Earth. Only charged particles that follow magnetic field lines that intersect Earth will have an impact. While these may seem dangerous, astronauts are not in immediate danger of these phenomena because of the relatively low orbit of manned missions. However, they do have to be concerned about cumulative exposure during space walks. The damage caused by solar storms Solar flares can damage satellites and have an enormous financial cost. The charged particles can also threaten airlines by disturbing Earth's magnetic field. Very large flares can even create currents within electricity grids and knock out energy supplies. When Coronal Mass Ejections strike Earth they cause geomagnetic storms and enhanced aurora. They can disrupt radio waves, GPS coordinates and overload electrical systems. A large influx of energy could flow into high voltage power grids and permanently damage transformers. This could shut off businesses and homes around the world.
North Wales Live
24-04-2025
- Science
- North Wales Live
Exact time to find rare 'smiley face' in the sky - and what you'll really see
A rare 'smiley face' celestial alignment is due to appear in the sky early tomorrow morning (Friday, April 25). Venus, Saturn and the Moon will be aligning to create a slightly surreal formation that will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere just before sunrise. The triple conjunction, with a thin crescent Moon resembling a smile and the planets as the 'eyes', could last up to an hour, according to NASA. Since it will appear low in the sky, it might be not be blocked from view by trees, buildings and mountains, said the American space agency. But at sites with unobscured views of the eastern skies, anyone should be able see the spectacle, weather permitting. 'Find Venus, Saturn, and the crescent Moon gathered low in the east as dawn warms the morning sky,' said NASA in a statement. 'Those with a clear view to the horizon might also pick out Mercury looking bright, but very low in the sky.' Some social media outlets have portrayed the formation like an an emoji or an emoticon, as above. In reality, the celestial rarity will be a little more crooked: stargazers will need quite a bit of imagination to see the conjunction as a smiley face. For a start, the face will be on its side, rotated almost 90 degrees. And as Venus will be about 150 times brighter than Saturn, one 'eye' will appear much bigger than the other. In fact, it may be a struggle to see Saturn at all, depending on the conditions. The Moon itself will be just 8% lit, a crescent waning towards new Moon on April 27. However there may be enough earthshine to pick out the rest of the Moon, slightly spoiling the smiley face effect. Saturn will be the last of the three to rise in the morning, sitting below Venus and the Moon in the sky. For stargazers, it will still make compelling viewing. 'You'll need to turn your head sideways and really squint, but then you might be able to see the two planets as the eyes and the Moon as the mouth of the face,' Jessica Lee, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, told PA. 'Above the Moon, Venus will be bright and easily visible. Below Venus on the other side of the crescent moon, Saturn will technically be visible. However, Saturn rises just before the Sun and the sky will be brightening by the minute. 'How often we can interpret them as smiley faces, I think, depends on individual imaginations.' To see for yourself, find a clear view of the eastern horizon about 30-60 minutes before sunrise. Tomorrow, sunrise is around 5.50am-5.56am in Wales. First, look out for Venus, a bright 'star' above the horizon, then the rising crescent Moon. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox About 30 minutes before sunrise, the Moon will form a triangle with Venus and the much dimmer Saturn. No special equipment is needed to see it but as the planets will be rising in the same part of the sky as the Sun, caution is needed to not look directly at the latter as it rises.
