Rings of the Solar System: Exploring Origins and Mysteries
Rings in the solar system, once thought exclusive to giant planets, have been discovered around smaller objects like Chariklo, Haumea, and Quaoar. These rings exhibit diverse origins, from tidal disruptions to cometary activity, yet often converge in structure due to shared physical processes. The puzzling presence of Quaoar’s rings beyond its Roche limit challenges traditional models, suggesting unique dynamics shaped by resonance and particle collisions in cold environments.
Exploring Uranus at New Angles: Insights from New Horizons' Observations
Samantha Hasler and colleagues analyzed unique high-phase-angle observations of Uranus captured by New Horizons in 2010, 2019, and 2023, revealing insights into Uranus’s energy balance and atmospheric characteristics. They found that Uranus’s brightness varies minimally across its surface and appears darker in certain filters than models predicted, suggesting limited large-scale atmospheric features. These observations, complemented by Hubble and amateur astronomer data, provide valuable benchmarks for future studies of ice giants, including distant exoplanets observed at similar angles.