SwRI scientists find evidence of geothermal activity within icy dwarf planets

Webb telescope observes potentially young methane deposits on surfaces of Eris, Makemake.

Southwest Research Institute
Could Modified Gravity Be the Answer to Planet 9?
Modified Newtonian Dynamics (or MOND) theory has already been proven accurate for things like understanding galactic rotation. But what about using it closer to home?
https://www.universetoday.com/163533/could-modified-gravity-be-the-answer-to-planet-9/ #ModifiedGravity #Planet9? #KuiperBeltObjects #MOND
Could Modified Gravity Be the Answer to Planet 9?

As students advance to higher and higher physics courses, they eventually learn that the simple Newtonian dynamics they learned about in early classes aren’t completely accurate models for understanding the universe. If things get too big or fast, they fall into the realm of relativity, or if they get too small, they get caught up … Continue reading "Could Modified Gravity Be the Answer to Planet 9?"

Universe Today

It's out. Papers and results from the New Horizons pass of the Kuiper Belt Object, Arrokoth. [ https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/02/details-pour-in-from-new-horizons-visit-to-a-kuiper-belt-object/ ]

Article summarises the findings. Links to the open access papers can be found at the end.

#NewHorizons #Arrokoth #KuiperBeltObjects #Space

@evilscientistca
@NetMassimo

Details pour in from New Horizons’ visit to a Kuiper Belt Object

We've now got some ideas about how its two-lobed shape came to be.

First results from the New Horizons flyby of 2014 MU69 are out, based on 10% of the data sent back by the probe so far.

#Astronomy #Space #NewHorizons #Exploration #2014MU69 #UltimaThule #KuiperBeltObjects

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/05/first-results-from-new-horizons-time-in-the-kuiper-belt/

First results from New Horizons’ time in the Kuiper Belt

Only about 10 percent of the data has been transmitted so far, but it says a lot.

First 'good' images of the New Horizons flyby of Ultima Thule are out. It's a 'dirty snowman'. :-)

#Space #Exploration #NewHorizons #KuiperBeltObjects

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/News-Center/News-Article.php?page=20190102

New Horizons: News Article?page=20190102

The New Horizons spacecraft launched on January 19, 2006 – beginning its odyssey to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. New Horizons now continues on its unparalleled journey of exploration with the close flyby of a Kuiper Belt object called 2014 MU69 – nicknamed Ultima Thule – on January 1, 2019.

Alan Stern on Twitter

“NOW THIS ROCKS!! HERE'S A GIFT: For all you New Horizons and Ultima Thule fans, this is the flyby PRESS KIT-- JUST FOR YOU (and everyone else)! :-) Download it here: https://t.co/34cTGncZmc RTs please! #NASA #science #Space #UltimaThule #UltimaFlyby”

Twitter

In the lead-up to New Horizons close encounter with Ultima Thule, here's a Twitter thread by Alex Parker about the search for and discovery of Ultima Thule.

#Research #Space #Exploration #NewHorizons #UltimaThule #KuiperBeltObjects

https://twitter.com/Alex_Parker/status/1077986070128668674

Alex Parker on Twitter

“In just a few hours I will depart for Maryland for New Horizons' New Years flyby of the Kuiper Belt Object (486958) 2014 MU69. Before I go, I thought I would re-tell some of the stories about how we came to know about this little world. https://t.co/iE7f0KeFVK”

Twitter

It has begun!

"Alan Stern @AlanStern

BREAKING…Signal has just been received at mission control, New Horizons has successfully started its flyby program of stored commands and the exploration of Ultima Thule 4 billion miles away! THIS IS IT FOLKS, FLYBY HAS BEGUN! Go New Horizons!!"

#NASA #Science #Space #UltimaThule #NewHorizons #Exploration #KuiperBeltObjects

https://twitter.com/AlanStern/status/1077638375602032641

Alan Stern on Twitter

“BREAKING…Signal has just been received at mission control, New Horizons has successfully started its flyby program of stored commands and the exploration of Ultima Thule 4 billion miles away! THIS IS IT FOLKS, FLYBY HAS BEGUN! Go New Horizons!! #NASA #Science #SPACE#ULTIMAFLYBY”

Twitter

It's a 'go' for closest approach to Ultima Thule by New Horizons. The Hazard team have concluded that there are 'no moons or rings in the path of New Horizons on its planned closest approach to Ultima'.

#NewHorizons #Space #Exploration #UltimaThule #KuiperBeltObjects

https://blogs.nasa.gov/pluto/2018/12/20/the-pis-perspective-on-final-approach-to-ultima/

The PI’s Perspective: On Final Approach to Ultima – Pluto New Horizons

Post by Emily Lakdawalla of the Planetary Society on what's going to happen during the New Horizons encounter with Ultima Thule.

#Exploration #SpaceProbes #NewHorizons #KuiperBeltObjects #UltimaThule #Space

[ http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2018/what-to-expect-new-horizons-mu69-ultima-thule.html ]

What to Expect When New Horizons Visits 2014 MU69, Ultima Thule

New Horizons is rapidly approaching its New Year’s encounter with the most distant world ever visited, 2014 MU69. Closest approach will be at a distance of 3,500 kilometers at about 05:33 on 1 January UTC.