Scientists got a peek at the solar system's future when they found a gas giant planet orbiting a white dwarf. One day the sun will die and become a white dwarf.
Pluto's atmosphere is disappearing. The dwarf planet's atmosphere is freezing as it moves farther from the sun in its orbit and falling to the surface.
Comet or asteroid? Both! Some objects blur the lines, including (248370) 2005 QN173, which is active with a long tail but resides in the asteroid belt.
Kelly Kizer Whitt - EarthSky’s nature and travel vlogger on YouTube - writes and edits some of the most fascinating stories at EarthSky.org. She's been writing about science, with a focus on astronomy, for decades. She began her career at Astronomy Magazine and made regular contributions to other outlets, including AstronomyToday and the Sierra Club. She has nine published books, including a children's picture book, Solar System Forecast, and a young adult dystopian novel, A Different Sky.
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