Latest news with #Saturnian
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Titan's Atmosphere 'Wobbles Like a Gyroscope' – And No One Knows Why
There's something very peculiar about the atmosphere surrounding Titan, Saturn's largest moon: rather than staying constantly fixed in line with its surface, the atmosphere wobbles across the course of the seasons. The discovery was made in new research led by a team from the University of Bristol in the UK, through a detailed analysis of 13 years' worth of infrared light readings. Gas composition and temperature can be interpreted from these readings, and from there the shifting position of the atmosphere. It's not clear yet what's causing the unusual behavior, but it could eventually lead to more insights about the history of Titan, and other planetary bodies that share similarities with it. That includes Earth, since both have a relatively thick atmosphere, liquid lakes, and weather patterns. "The behavior of Titan's atmospheric tilt is very strange," says planetary scientist Lucy Wright, from the University of Bristol. "Titan's atmosphere appears to be acting like a gyroscope, stabilizing itself in space." "Even more intriguingly, we've found that the size of this tilt changes with Titan's seasons." That seasonal shift suggests the tilt might have something to do with the moon's yearly cycle around the Sun, in tandem with Saturn. A year on Titan lasts almost 30 years on Earth, and comes with major changes in heating and temperature. However, while the magnitude of the atmospheric tilt changes, the direction it's pointing doesn't: it always remains directed towards the same fixed spot. Working out why is going to take some time and further research. "What's puzzling is how the tilt direction remains fixed in space, rather than being influenced by the Sun or Saturn," says planetary scientist Nick Teanby, from the University of Bristol. "That would've given us clues to the cause. Instead, we've got a new mystery on our hands." One hypothesis the team is considering is that there was a large impact event in Titan's past which caused the atmospheric wobbles to begin, bringing changes in the moon's climate along with them. This research has a very real practical and immediate use: the Dragonfly spacecraft is scheduled to pay a visit to Titan in 2034. Getting the probe to land successfully in the swirling winds of the Saturnian moon will need a precise understanding of its atmosphere. Once Dragonfly is in place, we can expect plenty more in the way of fascinating discoveries. The team behind this new study describes Titan as "one of the most intriguing bodies in the Solar System" because of its characteristics – including being the only moon in the Solar System to have a proper atmosphere. Titan could even enhance our understanding of how life might get started and survive on alien worlds, under the influence of an atmosphere like Titan's – something that future studies could investigate. "The fact that Titan's atmosphere behaves like a spinning top disconnected from its surface raises fascinating questions – not just for Titan, but for understanding atmospheric physics more broadly, including on Earth," says planetary scientist Conor Nixon, from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The research has been published in the Planetary Science Journal. A 'Crazy Idea' About Pluto Was Just Confirmed in a Scientific First A Giant Mouth Has Opened on The Sun And Even It Looks Surprised A Super-Tiny Star Gave Birth to a Giant Planet And We Don't Know How
Scientific American
22-05-2025
- Science
- Scientific American
How One Astronomer Helped to Discover Nearly 200 Moons of Saturn
A mere decade ago, astronomers knew of just 62 moons around Saturn. Today the ringed planet boasts a staggering 274 official satellites. That's more than any other world in the solar system—and far too many for most people to keep track of. Astronomer Edward Ashton is no exception, even though he has helped to discover 192 of them—he thinks that's the total, anyway, after pausing to do some mental math. Ashton is now a postdoctoral fellow at the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics in Taiwan. He fell into hunting for Saturn's moons in 2018, when his then academic adviser suggested the project for his Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia. It has been a fruitful search. Most recently, in March, Ashton and his colleagues announced a batch of 128 newfound Saturnian satellites. Scientific American spoke with Ashton about the science of discovering so many relatively tiny moons—most of them just a few kilometers wide—using vast amounts of data gathered by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT), located in Hawaii. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. [ An edited transcript of the interview follows.] How have you found these moons? To detect the moons, we use a technique known as shifting and stacking. We take 44 sequential images of the same patch of sky over a three-hour period because, in that time frame, the moons move relative to the stars at a rate similar to Saturn. If we just stack the images normally, then the moon appears as a streak across the images, and that dilutes the signal of the moon. So what we do is: we shift the images relative to one another at multiple different rates near that of Saturn, and then we basically blink between the different shift rates. If the shift rate is not quite at the rate of the moon, then it's going to be slightly elongated. As you get closer to the rate of the moon, then it slowly combines into a dot. And then, as you get faster than the moon's rate, it expands again. So basically, we look at the images and then quickly blink through the different rates, and you can see the moon coalescing. That's for a single night. But just seeing an object moving at a Saturn-like rate near Saturn doesn't guarantee that it is a moon. It's highly likely that the object is a moon, but that hasn't been confirmed. So what we need to do is track the objects to show that they are in orbit around the planet. To do that, we repeat the [shift and stack] process multiple times over many months and years. Why did this happen now? Did you need new techniques and observatories to do this work? The technique and the technology have been there for a while—the same technique has been used to find moons of Neptune and Uranus. But the sky area around those planets where moons can exist is a lot smaller, so it takes less time to search through the data. One of the reasons why this hadn't been done for Saturn is because it's very time-consuming. Why do those other planets have less space where moons could be than Saturn does? Those planets are less massive, so the stable orbits that moons can have are smaller. I had been wondering if this technique works for other planets, and clearly the answer is yes. But do you think there are other moons that have yet to be found around Saturn or other planets with the method? We did find moon candidates around Saturn that we weren't able to track long enough to be able to confirm them. So if you redo this technique again, you will be able to find more moons around Saturn, but this is a case of diminishing returns. If you use a larger telescope [than the CFHT], then you'd be able to see fainter moons, so you'd be able to find more. At the moment, if you use the same technique for Jupiter, you will be able to find fainter moons. The problem is: the amount of sky that moons of Jupiter can occupy is significantly larger than [the amount of sky that can be occupied by moons of] Saturn, so the method is even more time-consuming for Jupiter. And Jupiter is much brighter than Saturn and the other planets, so there's a lot of scattered light that makes it harder to see the moons. So it's even harder to find satellites around Jupiter, and as you mentioned, other groups have already done this work for Uranus and Neptune. Does that mean we're sort of 'maxed out' on moons until we have better observations? Yeah, you probably have to wait until better technology comes along. Is there something being built or planned right now that could be that 'better technology'? There currently are telescopes that can see deeper [than the CFHT], such as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The problem is: JWST's field of view is very small, so you have to do quite a few observations to be able to cover the required area. But there is a telescope that's set to launch pretty soon, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, that has quite a large field of view. So that'll be a good telescope to use for hunting more moons. What do we know about these new moons? You basically can only get the moons' orbits and approximate sizes. But if you look at the distribution of the orbits, you can understand a bit more about the history of the system. Moons that are sort of clumped together in orbital space are most likely the result of a collision, so you can see what moons come from the same parent object. Is seeing so many moons around Saturn unusual? What's unusual is how many there are. It appears that the planets have more or less equal numbers of the larger moons. But when you get down to the smaller ones that we're discovering, Saturn seems to shoot up in terms of the numbers. So that's quite interesting. This could just be because there was a recent collision within the Saturnian system that produced a large number of fragments. Do you get to name them all? Do you have to name them all? I guess I don't have to. Some of these new moons, they've been linked back to observations by a different group from more than 10 years ago. That's maybe 20 to 30 of them. For the rest, we get full discovery credit, which, I think, means we get the right to name them. But they can't be named just yet; first, they're just given a number when they have a high-precision orbit, and I'm not sure how long that's going to take. Do you have more moon-hunting observations to analyze? No, I'm taking a little break from moons! I've got other projects to work on, relating to trans-Neptunian objects. They're quite far away. They're hard to see. There are some mysteries about them at the moment. It's interesting to understand their structure and how it relates to planet formation.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The Perfect Cat Breed to Match Your Zodiac Sign
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways The cat's out of the bag. Your spiritual connection with felines goes much deeper than you realize, and astrology can determine which cat breed you are, based on your zodiac sign. There are currently 40 to 100 recognized cat breeds across the globe. Your zodiac sign is bound to align with one of these kitties. Which cat breed is destined for you? According to astrologers, each star sign is aligned with a particular cat breed. Although there are many popular choices, you might feel like there's only one made just for you. One of the astrological placements in your birth chart denotes your ideal cat breed. NEXT: Which Popular Dog Breed Are You, Based on Your Zodiac Sign Cat Breeds, According to Astrology You might be pleasantly surprised that your natal Saturn placement denotes your ideal cat Sparkly Cat - astrologer and author of Postcolonial Astrology: Reading the Planets through Capital, Power, and Labor - suggests that 'cats are Saturnians.' Cats may appear more Saturnian, since cats represent Saturn's desire for structure, innate authority, and aloofness. Sparkly Cat suggests that building a relationship with a cat is a form of 'Saturnian remediation', since honoring a cat's energy and presence is like working with Saturn itself. Tap into your natal Saturn's element and modality to tap into your inner cat breed. The qualities of your natal Saturn will allude to your feline traits, attributes, and personality. For example, cardinal Saturn placements will match with an independent, if detached, cat breed; fixed Saturn placements will fall for a stable, predictable cat breed; mutable Saturn placements may resonate with a playful, adaptable cat breed. Element-wise, fire and air Saturn placements will enjoy a sporty, vibrant cat breed, whereas earth and water Saturn placements will go with a gentle, peaceful cat breed. Figure out your natal Saturn placement needs, and you will find your feline soulmate. MORE: The Best Pet for Each Zodiac Sign, According to Astrologers Your Cat Breed, Based on Your Zodiac Sign Keep reading, and look for your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs. MORE: SIGN UP for Star Signs to get your horoscope and manifesting tips delivered straight to your inbox Aries: You're a Maine Coon Finding your feline counterpart isn't easy, Aries. Most kitties appear cute and cuddly, but you need something fiercer. Luckily, the Maine Coon captures your Martian energy. Maine Coons are loved for their strong features, formidable body, and wild appearance. Although Maine Coons come across as intimidating, they're really gentle giants. Like you, the Maine Coon looks tough, but has an outgoing, likable personality. You will surely resonate with this gentle giant, because the Maine Coon perfectly exemplifies your duality. Taurus: You're a Ragdoll Is there a cat breed that captures your serenity, Taurus? As an easygoing earth sign, you're not about the drama and fussiness. Neither is the Ragdoll, which is a breed beloved for its calm temperament. Ragdolls are named as such because these cute kitties tend to go limp when they're picked up and cuddled. Aside from the Ragdoll's friendly, pleasant personality, you will also fall in love with this kitty's plush coat and adorable face. Manifest the Ragdoll when you want to be amicable and delightful. Gemini: You're a Siamese Which cat breed exudes your intelligence, mischievousness, and chattiness, Gemini? The Siamese! Not only is the Siamese beloved for its unique coloring, but it's also one of the smartest, most vocal cat breeds. Siamese are curious felines who love getting into all kinds of trouble. You know the Siamese is meant for you, since this kitty needs to be preoccupied and entertained at all times. If you're looking for a Mercurial companion, consider inviting a Siamese into your life. You will never have a dull moment or a boring conversation with this kitty. Cancer: You're a Scottish Fold Given that you're an empath, you cannot be paired with a picky cat. Cancer, you may feel strongly connected to the Scottish Fold, because this kitty exemplifies your loving, affectionate nature. Scottish Folds are known to bond with everyone in their life, so you can be rest-assured that this kitty will undoubtedly love you as much as you love them. Aside from the Scottish Folds' familial energy, you may fall for this kitty's distinct yet darling folded ears. Between the Scottish Fold's charming appearance and family-oriented attitude, it's no wonder you're paired with a lovable kitty. Leo: You're an Egyptian Mau Leo, you ought to be paired with a cat breed who exemplifies your regality. Of all the cat breeds, the Egyptian Mau shares your dignified, expressive energy. Egyptian Maus exudes your refinery and elegance while maintaining a loyal, passionate personality. Like you, an Egyptian Mau loves being the center of attention. You and the Egyptian Mau enjoy it when everyone fusses over you. Invite the energy of the Egyptian Mau into your life when you want to attract attention, uplevel your confidence, and refine your self-expression. Virgo: You're a Russian Blue As a quick, nervous Mercurial sign, you may feel strongly connected to all kinds of kitties. However, the Russian Blue exudes your bright yet shy nature. Virgo, you might be initially drawn to this kitty for its bluish coat, curious eyes, and perked ears. But as you get to know the timid Russian Blue, you may feel more connected to this kitty's folklore. According to Russian folklore, Russian Blues are associated with healing abilities. Call upon the Russian Blue when you require peace, need a quick solution, or want to focus on healing. Libra: You're a Himalayan Every kitty is gorgeous in its own way, but you will be captivated by the Himalayan's loveliness, Libra. Your Venusian side will fall for the Himalayan's famed appearance. This kitty is well-known for its luxurious coat, beautiful coloring, and smushed face. You won't be able to resist snuggling up with a Himalayan. As you bond with the Himalayan, you will be pleasantly surprised to discover that this kitty shares your sociability and peaceful temperament. The Himalayan perfectly exemplifies everything about you – your docile energy, kindliness, and charm. A black cat with green eyes resting on a grass Scorpio: You're a Bombay It's no secret that all cats are mysterious creatures, but the Bombay truly captures your perplexity, Scorpio. You may feel initially drawn to this famous black cat since Bombay's carry witchy, magical vibes. Once you look past this kitty's beautiful dark coloring, you will feel highly connected to the Bombay's perceptiveness, resilience, and alertness. Like you, Bombay's are beloved for their pleasant personalities and striking appearance. Invoke the spirit of a Bombay when you want to exude the Bombay's cute but intimidating energy. Sagittarius: You're a Savannah Cat Sagittarius, your ideal cat is wilder than the average housecat, like a lion or tiger. Although you may resonate with these big cats, you will also align with the domesticated Savannah cat. This special cat breed is a hybrid between the wild Serval and domestic breeds, giving you the best of both worlds. You will fall in love with the Savannah cat's exotic looks and dog-like personality. Call upon the Savannah cat's energy when you want to amplify your adventurous spirit and playfulness. The Savannah cat will always be there to unleash your wild side. Capricorn: You're a Persian As a Saturnian star sign, you may feel highly connected to all cat breeds, Capricorn. Every kitty speaks to your soul, but your tried-and-true feline counterpart is none other than the Persian cat. Persians exude a luxurious, classic vibe that you resonate with. Like you, the Persian is an independent, selective creature. You and the Persian don't associate with just anyone, since both of you prefer to be around high-quality people. Given your high standards and wise energy, it's no doubt that the Persian is your soul cat. Aquarius: You're a Havana Brown Being the rarest zodiac sign suggests you should be paired with an equally unique feline. Aquarius, look no further since you will fall for the Havana Brown cat. This solid brown kitty is extremely rare and highly sought after. Like you, the Havana Brown is people-oriented but usually prefers to have one or two best friends. Havana Browns are noted for their curious and explorative personality, which is something your inner scientist understands. Manifest the Havana Brown's energy when you want to be social and amplify your brilliance. Pisces: You're a Selkirk Rex While you may see yourself in many delightful cat breeds, you will ultimately resonate with the Selkirk Rex. Pisces, how could you resist this curly-haired kitty? Selkirk Rexes are specifically bred for their curly coats, giving them an irresistible appearance. Aside from their curls, you may fall for this Selkirk Rex's affable, gentle personality. Selkirk Rexes are beloved for their mild temperament, making them mellow companions. You and the Selkirk Rex both exude a gentle, dreamy disposition, which is why the Selkirk Rex is your soul cat. UP NEXT:
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How to Manifest Sucess, Based on Your Zodiac Sign
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Are you looking to manifest money, career growth, or overall wins? Look no further. Expert astrologers have set each zodiac sign up for manifesting success. Crystal magic allows one to use the magical properties of crystals to align themselves with various high frequencies that each crystal emits. With each star sign's resourceful sector being ruled by a different planet, every zodiac sign has unique energies that will help them attract more lucky expansion. Additionally, we can utilize the mystical power of the word by writing, reciting, or concentrating on affirmations that remove the mental barriers to attracting successful outcomes. Our mind creates our reality, so this is another essential part of manifesting our desires. MORE: SIGN UP for Star Signs to get your horoscope and manifesting tips delivered straight to your inbox How to Manifest Success, Based on Your Zodiac Sign: Crystal and Affirmation Magic Read for your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs. Aries Success Crystal: Amethyst Aries' success is tied to Saturnian energy, the planet of maturity. Therefore, amethyst is an excellent crystal that allows them to align with foresight, pattern recognition, and a higher spiritual perspective. This magical stone allows Aries to visualize their path to success and manifest it into reality. Success Affirmation: I am destined for greatness despite any distractions that suggest otherwise. Taurus Success Crystal: Angelite Uranus, the planet of intelligent innovation, rules Taurus' successful sector. You're meant to make a difference through technology, humanitarian aims, or overall shaking up the status quo. Angelite allows Taurus to attract more wins and visibility and be a clear channel for receiving insight from their spirit team and angels. Success Affirmation: I am eager to walk the path less traveled to find my success. READ: 4 Zodiac Signs That Get Luckier in Their 30s and 40s Gemini Success Crystal: Lapis Lazuli Neptune, the planet of visionary transcendence, governs Gemini's success sphere. Lapis Lazuli is a beautiful spiritual tool that manifests success for this star sign. It taps into higher truth and empathy frequencies. It clears emotional blocks in your aura from sensitivity to others' thoughts, needs, and opinions. Success Affirmation: My imagination is sacred, guiding me toward my success story. Cancer Success Crystal: Red Jasper Red jasper helps Cancer attract success. This spiritual stone aligns with ambition, initiative, and leadership frequencies. With Cancer's success sphere being ruled by Mars, the warrior planet, they need extra boosts of vitality, autonomy, and self-discipline to thrive. Success Affirmation: I permit myself to go after the life of my dreams. Leo Success Crystal: Opal With Leo's success sector ruled by the planet of allure, Venus, Leo needs a Venusian crystal to manifest the best results. Opal is gorgeous to look at and aligns this star sign with their ambitions and goals and naturally magnetizing opportunities. Let your desires fall into your lap with its energetic frequencies. Success Affirmation: My hopes, dreams, and desires are sacred. READ: 3 Zodiac Signs Offer a Rare Mix of Romance and Loyal Devotion Virgo Success Crystal: Flourite Virgo's successful sphere is tied to Mercury, the planet of intellect. Therefore, Virgo does well carrying or keeping fluorite nearby on their journey to practical wins. This crystal promotes concentration, overcomes worry or indecisiveness, and clears scatter-brained mindsets for focused intent. Success Affirmation: I concentrate on my success story one step at a time. Libra Success Crystal: Moonstone Libra's success path is tied to the Moon, ruling over our emotions and sensitivities. Therefore, Moonstone allows them to nurture their sensitivities and allow breakthroughs with their potent intuition. This stone enables them to magnetize opportunities that align with their purpose. Success Affirmation: Following my heart and instincts will lead me to success. NEXT: Who's Your Soulmate, Based on Your Zodiac Sign Scorpio Success Crystal: Sunstone Scorpio's success story is intertwined with the Sun, our radiant cosmic consciousness. Therefore, this star sign does well with sunstone. This crystal manifests strength, willpower, confidence, and leadership skills. Success Affirmation: I walk into my success intentionally, not waiting for permission. Sagittarius Success Crystal: Hematite Hematite helps Sagittarius manifest success, thanks to their success sector being ruled by Mercury. The planetary messenger equips Sagittarius with the knowledge and ability to develop a great work ethic. This crystal clears negative thinking, tunes down one's inner critic, and brings positive opportunities. Success Affirmation: I focus on everything that can go right to exercise imagination over worry. Capricorn Success Crystal: Aquamarine Venus, the planet of allure and magnetism, rules Capricorn's success story. Therefore, Aquamarine is an ideal crystal for them to attract luck. This stone promotes emotional regulation, steadiness, and fulfilled ideals. Success Affirmation: I trust my path leads me to glory and gold. NEXT: 3 Zodiac Signs with a Rare Mix of Intelligence & Influential Power Aquarius Success Crystal: Obsidian Aquarius' success is related to Pluto, the planet of transformation. Obsidian allows them to make their subconscious conscious, leading the way to success with potent shadow work. Aquarius is the most successful with this crystal, replacing negativity with positivity. Success Affirmation: With each life transformation, I become more successful. Pisces Success Crystal: Citrine Citrine is tied to Jupiter, the planet of luck and expansion. Jupiter is tied to Pisces' success story, so this crystal brings success to the star sign. Citrine encourages vitality, passion, creativity, and empowerment. Success Affirmation: I trust my body and senses to guide me towards success, one instinctive message at a time.
Filipino Times
14-03-2025
- Science
- Filipino Times
Saturn reclaims 'Moon King' title with discovery of 128 new moons
Saturn has officially reclaimed its title as the 'Moon King' of the solar system after astronomers discovered 128 new moons orbiting the planet. This brings Saturn's total to 274 moons, leaving Jupiter—its closest rival—far behind with just 95 confirmed moons as of February 2024. The discovery was made by a team of astronomers using the Canada France Hawaii Telescope, who had already identified 62 Saturnian moons. In 2023, they took another look and confirmed the presence of even more hidden moons, which have now been officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union. Unlike Saturn's large and well-known moons like Titan and Enceladus, these new 'irregular' moons are small, potato-shaped, and only a few kilometers across. To find them, scientists used a special technique called 'shift and stack,' where they took multiple images over time, tracking the moons' movement across the sky and combining the images, making the moon bright enough to detect. Interestingly, the newly discovered moons are clumped into groups, suggesting they were once part of larger moons that broke apart due to violent collisions with comets or other space objects. These fragments, now orbiting Saturn in wide and tilted paths, may have been created in the last 100 million years. '[They] are likely all fragments of a smaller number of originally captured moons that were broken apart by violent collisions, either with other Saturnian moons or with passing comets,' said Prof. Brett Gladman, an astronomer at the University of British Columbia, in a statement.
