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Topic: astronomy news

This artist’s impression shows the planet orbiting the Sun-like star HD 85512 in the southern constellation of Vela (The Sail). This planet is one of sixteen super-Earths discovered by the HARPS instrument on the 3.6-metre telescope at ESO’s La Silla Observatory. This planet is about 3.6 times as massive as the Earth and lies at the edge of the habitable zone around the star, where liquid water, and perhaps even life, could potentially exist. (ESO/M. Kornmesser/Nick Risinger)

Stars aligned to reveal this exoplanet

Nicole Karlis
This illustration shows a night-side view of the exoplanet WASP-76b. The ultra-hot giant exoplanet has a day side where temperatures climb above 2400 degrees Celsius, high enough to vaporise metals. Strong winds carry iron vapour to the cooler night side where it condenses into iron droplets. To the left of the image, we see the evening border of the exoplanet, where it transitions from day to night. (ESO/M. Kornmesser)

The planet with iron rain

Nicole Karlis
Radio transmission to the Milky way galaxy and star dusts in deep space (Getty Images)

A "mystery signal" hits home

Nicole Karlis
Neptune's inner moons Naiad and Thalassa enable them to avoid each other as they race around the planet. (NASA)

Neptune's strange, "dancing" moons

Nicole Karlis
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A black hole just ate a neutron star

Nicole Karlis
This artist’s impression shows the first interstellar asteroid: 'Oumuamua. (ESO/M. Kornmesser)

Bizarre space rock is not alien-made

Nicole Karlis
(Getty/dottedhippo)

Looking for life on BZ509

Nicole Karlis
(Getty/titoOnz)

Study: Methane changes habitability zone

Keith A. Spencer
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(Getty/vchal)

The black hole next door

Keith A. Spencer
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