El Solar system continues to surprise the scientific community, thanks to the latest discoveries that invite us to rethink some of its greatest enigmas and expand the boundaries of our knowledge. Far from being a static region, new findings show that, from the bodies closest to Earth to the outer limits, the solar system holds Mysteries that are being solved with the help of increasingly advanced space missions and telescopes.
In recent months, various studies and research have shed light on the internal structure of the Moon, the possible existence of a ninth planet still unconfirmed, the processes of giant comets originating from the Oort Cloud, and the functioning of the heliopause, the boundary that marks the end of the solar domain and the beginning of interstellar space. These works, combined with the analysis of icy moons and the observation of phenomena in the solar environment, create an up-to-date and fascinating portrait of our cosmic neighborhood.
A solid core on the Moon: impact on the history of the Solar System
One of the most significant recent discoveries concerns our own satellite. An international study has confirmed the presence of a solid core inside the Moon, with properties very similar to those of Earth. This discovery, achieved through data derived from space missions and laser analysis, provides new clues to decipher how the Moon and other rocky bodies of the planet formed and evolved. Solar system.
The existence of this core could explain why the Moon maintained a powerful magnetic field during its first billion years, now lost, and how internal movements have occurred, affecting its surface and the distribution of its materials. The research also impacts our understanding of the loss of this field and the implications this would have for other planets and neighboring satellites.
Planet Nine: increasingly concrete clues about its possible location
The existence of a Planet nine, a hypothetical ice giant far beyond Pluto, has intrigued astronomers for years. Recently, An international team has identified two possible candidates for this elusive presence at the edge of the solar system, using the thermal signal collected by the AKARI telescope instead of traditional reflected light.
If confirmed, we would be looking at an object between 5 and 10 times the mass of Earth, orbiting the Sun at distances between 400 and 800 times greater than that of our planet. This discovery reinforces the theory about its influence on the orbits of objects in the Kuiper Belt and could revolutionize our view of the formation and dynamics of planetary systems.
Comets and icy moons: natural laboratories for understanding the origin and life in the Solar System
The recent detection of activity in the comet C/2014 UN271, a colossus from the Oort Cloud, provides crucial information about the primitive materials that formed the solar system. This body, with its impressive jets of gas and its 135 km diameter core, acts as a window into the cosmic past and raises new questions about the processes that affect these objects when they approach the Sun.
At the same time, interest in the frozen moons of Jupiter and Saturn, such as Europa and Enceladus, continues to grow. The exploration of similar environments on Earth, along with missions such as Europa Clipper o JUICE, reinforce the hypothesis that they could host underground oceans with conditions suitable for lifeThe study of microbes in extreme environments on Earth helps shed light on how organisms might survive on other bodies in the solar system, thus expanding the range of potential locations where extraterrestrial life could be detected.
The invisible boundary: the heliopause and the role of the heliosphere
The Voyager probes, launched in the 1970s, have made it possible to reach and study previously inaccessible regions. One of their most notable contributions is the detection of the so-called "wall of fire" or heliopause, a region where the solar wind abruptly slows down upon encountering the interstellar medium, marking the true boundary of the solar system.
In this area, temperatures can exceed 30.000 degrees Kelvin, indicating the enormous energy involved in the interaction between the Sun and outer space. heliosphere, the bubble that surrounds and protects the solar system, plays a fundamental role in maintaining the stability of our cosmic environment.
Meteorites and other bodies: witnesses of solar formation and evolution
On meteorites and asteroids, in addition to large planets and comets, continue to be priority objects of study. The analysis of these bodies allows us to understand the processes that gave rise to the solar system and its components.
From recovering and examining fragments on Earth to missions to obtain direct samples from asteroids, scientists seek to reconstruct the chemical and physical conditions that gave rise to planets and, eventually, life.
The knowledge that The solar system is a dynamic environment full of surprises is reinforced by these advances. Discoveries about the Moon's internal structure, the boundaries of the heliopause, the possible existence of a new planet, and the study of minor bodies or icy moons contribute to broadening our perspective on our place in the cosmos and opening up new questions for future explorers.
