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Sunday 10 December 2023 Dublin: 7°C

# Solar System

This year
2023
New planet ring system discovered in our Solar System
The ring system is around a newly discovered dwarf planet, named Quaoar, which is around half the size of Pluto and orbits the Sun beyond Neptune.
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Feb 8th 2023, 8:22 PM
Last year
2022
All the planets in the solar system visible tonight and tomorrow night
While the chances of seeing Venus and Saturn are gone for tonight, Jupiter is still visible.
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Dec 29th 2022, 7:37 PM
All time
New Earth-like planet found where a year lasts just under 10 days
The announcement was made by a team using an observatory in Chile.
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Nov 15th 2017, 6:37 PM
A massive asteroid is going to come 'very close' to Earth today
Smaller asteroids whizz by Earth several times a week.
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Apr 19th 2017, 11:36 AM
Large asteroid to hurtle past Earth tomorrow
Nasa has said there is no chance the asteroid will hit us, but it will be “a very close approach”.
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Apr 18th 2017, 3:36 PM
Check out these incredible photos of the solar system
Simply breathtaking.
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Feb 7th 2016, 11:15 AM
It looks like there could be a ninth planet in our solar system
And it takes as long as 20,000 years to orbit the sun.
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Jan 20th 2016, 9:27 PM
What would happen if the sun disappeared right now?
It wouldn’t be the best thing that could happen.
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Aug 23rd 2015, 2:00 PM
Nasa just released the clearest photo you've ever seen of Pluto
It has never been seen in such detail.
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Jul 11th 2015, 1:00 PM
A huge comet that's as solid as a pile of talcum powder just buzzed by Mars
The comet, known as Siding Spring, whizzed past Mars yesterday. Three NASA spacecraft had to take shelter behind the Red Planet as the close encounter took place.
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Oct 20th 2014, 3:00 PM
After hitting the brakes from 10,000 mph, Nasa's newest Mars orbiter is circling the red planet
Maven is joining a growing number of probes observing Mars from above.
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Sep 22nd 2014, 2:26 PM
NASA finds 'bonanza' of 715 new planets, but how many could support life?
About four in fact.
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Feb 27th 2014, 10:10 AM
One in four Americans don't know the earth circles the sun
Eh…
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Feb 15th 2014, 10:07 AM
Is there life on Mars? Ten years on the Opportunity rover is still looking
The rover was only supposed to run for 90 days, but 10 years a 40 Martian kilometers later, it shows no signs of stopping.
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Jan 25th 2014, 10:00 AM
Column: Why is Pluto not a planet?
Most of us grew up learning that there were nine planets in the Solar System. But why did Pluto get demoted? Conor Farrell explains how our understanding of the icy body changed.
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Jan 17th 2014, 12:55 PM
Final Frontier: NASA's Voyager departs the solar system for deep space
The Voyager 1 probe was launched in 1977 on a mission to explore the outer planets. It will continue to drift across the galaxy, carrying discs of greetings from planet Earth…
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Sep 12th 2013, 8:34 PM
This is what earth looks like from Saturn, 1.44 billion km away
See the tiny blue dot there that’s the earth (not to be confused with dust on your screen).
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Jul 23rd 2013, 2:12 PM
NASA denies report that Voyager left solar system
The US space agency described a report published today as “premature”.
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Mar 20th 2013, 8:21 PM
2012: The year in space exploration
Landing on Mars, meteor showers and fixing the space station with a toothbrush – it’s been quite a year.
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Dec 25th 2012, 2:00 PM
Astronomers get rare glimpse of icy, dwarf planet
‘Makemake’ is one of five dwarf planets known to exist on the edge of our Solar System – but very little has been known about it until this point.
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Nov 21st 2012, 8:30 PM
Earth-sized planet found just outside solar system
Astronomers have found the closest planet in location and size to the Earth circling a star in the system Alpha Centauri.
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Oct 17th 2012, 3:33 PM
Life on Mars: how close are we to living in space?
Mankind’s fascination with space has long sparked fantasies of living away from Earth, but is this any closer to becoming a reality?
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5.2k
Jul 28th 2012, 1:00 PM
Is NASA's Voyager about to leave the solar system?
The spacecraft, which was launched in 1977, appears to be on the verge of becoming the first spaceship to leave the solar system. Bon voyage…
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Jun 26th 2012, 6:39 PM
NASA refines Mars landing – but brings it closer to dangerous landing zone
‘Curiosity’ is set to land on the red plant in early August.
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Jun 12th 2012, 2:30 PM
VIDEO: Venus passes in front of the sun for the last time before 2117
The ‘Transit of Venus’ occurs in pairs, and won’t be seen again this century – but NASA, thankfully, took this video.
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Jun 6th 2012, 8:17 AM
Astronomers gear up for rare Venus Transit solar event
Next time Venus can be seen travelling across the face of the Sun will be in 2117.
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Jun 5th 2012, 11:36 AM
European Space Agency sets sights on Jupiter
New mission will focus on the gas giant’s three large icy moons.
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May 3rd 2012, 10:31 AM
Gallery: Dramatic images of our nearest star
NASA has compiled an exhibition of the colourful and intriguing images captured by its Solar Dynamics Observatory.
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Feb 12th 2012, 5:34 PM
Video: Two 'Earth-sized' planets discovered outside solar system
The planets offer hope that extraterrestrial life could be discovered, scientists say.
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Dec 21st 2011, 9:48 PM
NASA's Voyager 1 in "cosmic purgatory" and preparing to leave solar system
In pictures: Check out the amazing space images captured by the Voyager craft since they launched in the late 1970s.
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Dec 8th 2011, 11:07 AM
'New Earth' found in distant solar system
Nasa has called the discovery of Kepler 22-b a “major milestone on the road to finding Earth’s twin”.
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Dec 6th 2011, 11:58 AM
How today is the planet Neptune's first birthday (kind of)
Neptune was first observed from Earth on 24 September 1846. So how does that make today a birthday?
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Jul 12th 2011, 12:15 PM