Latest news with #PVOL
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
An unidentified object might have just crashed into Saturn
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. A bright flash on Saturn was captured by NASA's Mario Rana on July 5, 2025. This marks the first time we've ever seen an object crash into the ringed giant in real time. Now, astronomers around the world are scrambling to verify what could be a rare and historic planetary event. Rana, a volunteer with NASA's Planetary Virtual Observatory and Laboratory (PVOL), was imaging Saturn when the sudden burst of light appeared. The flash occurred at around 09:00 UTC and stood out sharply against the planet's typically uniform cloud bands. PVOL quickly shared the footage of the object that crashed into Saturn and issued a call for help from the astronomical community to see if anyone else had captured similar footage or images of an object crashing into Saturn. Today's Top Deals XGIMI Prime Day deals feature the new MoGo 4 and up to 42% off smart projectors Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Ring Video Doorbell deals But impacts on gas giants like Saturn don't leave behind smoking craters or visible scars. Unlike Earth or the Moon, which wear their collisions like badges of honor, Saturn's thick atmosphere of hydrogen and helium swallows evidence fast. Any disturbances quickly blend into the turbulence of the planet's outer layers, making it extremely difficult to prove a collision occurred without corroborating footage. While massive objects over a kilometer in size are believed to hit Saturn only once every few thousand years, smaller meteoroids likely collide with it much more frequently. Cassini mission data once uncovered ripples in Saturn's rings that researchers believe were caused by objects crashing into the planet, revealing that the planet's outer halo can act like a cosmic seismograph. What makes this event exciting is that, if confirmed, it would be the first time an object crashing into Saturn has ever been directly observed. Past detections of impacts on gas giants have mostly involved Jupiter, where dark impact scars or heat signatures were easier to detect. Until now, Saturn has eluded such direct visual proof. That's why PVOL's call for additional footage is so important. Astronomers — both professional and amateur — who happened to be watching Saturn that morning could help confirm the flash wasn't a fluke, a cosmic ray artifact, or an imaging error. With multiple observations, researchers could triangulate the flash and better estimate the size of the object that crashed into Saturn, as well as the impact energy it created. More Top Deals Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98 See the
NDTV
09-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Did Something Hit Saturn? Astronomers Investigate Possible Impact Flash
Astronomers are investigating a mysterious flash spotted on Saturn that may be the first recorded instance of a space object crashing into the ringed planet, according The Independent. The phenomenon was captured on July 5 by Mario Rana, a NASA employee and amateur astronomer, who filmed a brief glow on Saturn's disc. The footage, now under review by the Planetary Virtual Observatory and Laboratory (PVOL), is part of the DeTeCt project, which monitors gas giants for signs of collisions. "Marc Delcroix reports a potential impact in Saturn captured in a few frames in a video observation obtained by Mario Rana. The potential impact would be very faint and is unconfirmed," PVOL said in a statement quoted by outlet. They added: "The very short impact flash occurred on Saturn between 9 am and 9.15 am UTC. It is very important to get other videos of Saturn taken during that time frame." Unlike rocky planets where asteroid impacts leave visible craters, gas giants like Saturn have outer layers of hydrogen and helium that can absorb impacts without obvious traces. According to IFL Science, astronomers estimate that large objects - over 1 kilometre wide - strike Saturn only once every 3,125 years. Smaller meteoroids are thought to hit more often. IFL Science noted that past data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft suggested Saturn's rings act as a massive impact detector, registering ripples caused by incoming debris. "Current-day impact rates for small particles at Saturn are about the same as those at Earth - two very different neighbourhoods in our solar system - and this is exciting to see," said Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in a 2013 remark cited by IFL Science. Though unconfirmed, the July 5 flash could offer rare visual evidence of such an event. PVOL is urging astronomers worldwide to review their recordings from the same window to help verify the sighting. If confirmed, the impact would mark a first-of-its-kind observation, shedding new light on the dynamic nature of Saturn's atmosphere and the frequency of cosmic collisions in our solar system.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Mysterious object may have crashed into Saturn, astronomers still searching for clues
A strange glow spotted on Saturn's surface has triggered a wave of excitement and confusion within the astronomy community. On July 5, 2025, amateur astronomer and NASA employee Mario Rana captured footage that appears to show a mysterious object crashing into the gas giant. If confirmed, this would be the first-ever recorded impact event on Saturn, a planet known for its turbulent atmosphere but elusive when it comes to visible cosmic collisions. Now, both professional and amateur astronomers are racing to analyze the footage and gather more data in hopes of solving this rare celestial puzzle. Saturn's elusive collisions make this discovery stand out Unlike rocky planets like Earth or Mars, Saturn's outer layer is made of gas, primarily hydrogen and helium. This makes it extremely difficult to observe visible signs of impact, like craters. But on July 5, a faint flash on the left side of the planet was caught in video footage during routine observation by Mario Rana. The brief glow resembled an atmospheric entry or explosion, prompting widespread speculation that a comet or asteroid may have struck Saturn. Why this event is unusual Studies suggest that large objects more than a kilometer wide hit Saturn roughly once every 3,000 years. While smaller meteoroids may collide with the gas giant more frequently, about 7 or 8 times a year, such impacts are rarely, if ever, directly observed. Unlike Jupiter, where previous impacts have been captured and analyzed, Saturn's dense atmosphere tends to absorb and obscure evidence before scientists can confirm it. Global astronomers asked to help confirm Saturn impact The potential impact is now under review by PVOL (Planetary Virtual Observatory and Laboratory), which includes a network of professional and amateur astronomers. They have issued a public call for footage taken between 9:00 and 9:15 AM UT on July 5, 2025, urging astronomers worldwide to share any video or image data. Professor Leigh Fletcher of the University of Leicester amplified the appeal, noting that amateur footage could be crucial to verifying this rare event. Until more data is gathered, the flash remains officially unconfirmed. However, projects like DeTeCt, which uses software to scan planetary footage for possible impacts, will continue to analyze submissions. If verified, this could be a breakthrough moment for planetary science, offering insights into how often large objects strike the gas giants in our solar system and how these planets absorb such impacts.
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Science
- The Independent
An object has hit Saturn - astronomers need help finding out what it is
Astronomers are investigating a potential impact on Saturn, observed by amateur astronomer Mario Rana, which could be the first recorded instance of a space object hitting the gas giant. The unconfirmed event reportedly occurred on 5 July 2025, between 9am and 9.15am UT, appearing as a faint glow in video footage captured by Rana. Unlike rocky planets, gas giants such as Saturn do not retain impact craters, and previous smaller strikes have not been directly observed. The Planetary Virtual Observatory and Laboratory (PVOL) and Professor Leigh N Fletcher are urging other amateur astronomers to share any videos from the specified timeframe to help confirm or refute the impact. Studies suggest large objects strike Saturn approximately once every 3,125 years, while smaller space rocks hit more frequently but have never been witnessed.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Astronomers call for help identifying mystery object that may have just crashed into Saturn
Astronomers have called for help to identify a mystery object that may have hit Saturn on Saturday in what could be the first recorded instance of a space object crashing on to the gas giant. Studies suggest large objects – measuring over a kilometre across – strike Saturn once every 3,125 years on an average. Although data shows seven or eight small space rocks hit the planet every year, none have been spotted in the act by astronomers so far. Compared to rocky planets where cosmic collisions leave impact craters, gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn don't reveal such signs. But a new image captured by a Nasa employee and amateur astronomer Mario Rana appears to show a space object crashing into Saturn for the first time. Since gas giants have outer layers made of hydrogen and helium, strikes by asteroids or comets can quickly fade out. Ms Rana is part of the DeTeCt project, which analyses images of Jupiter and Saturn using computer software. Videos taken of Saturn by the astronomer last Saturday show a faint glow in the left side of the footage, which seems like an impact event. The Planetary Virtual Observatory and Laboratory, or PVOL, a consortium of professional and amateur astronomers, has called for experts in the field to attempt to confirm or refute the potential impact on Saturn. 'Marc Delcroix reports a potential impact in Saturn captured in a few frames in a video observation obtained by Mario Rana. The potential impact would be very faint and is unconfirmed,' PVOL said in a statement. 'The very short impact flash occurred on Saturn on 5 July 2025, between 9am and 9.15am UT. It is very important to get other videos of Saturn taken during that time frame.' PVOL has urged astronomers who may have also captured observations from this time to contact Mr Delcroix on email ( and submit their data. Leigh N Fletcher, a planetary science professor at the University of Leicester, also called for amateur space observers to share any potential videos they may have of the impact. 'Amplifying the call from Marc Delcroix and co over the weekend: the team are looking to verify/refute a potential impact on Saturn on 5 July, 9am to 9.15am UT,' Dr Fletcher wrote on BlueSky. 'Videos taken by amateur observers at that time might hold the key.'
