Posts by

Paul Scott Anderson

Astronomers probe a mini-Neptune’s atmosphere

Exoplanet Gliese 3470 b fits nicely in size between our solar system's Earth and planet Neptune. Known as a "mini-Neptune," it likely has a rocky core beneath a deep, crushing, hydrogen-helium atmosphere. The analysis of its atmosphere is a first for one of these mid-sized worlds.

Paul Scott Anderson

July 21, 2019

Are moons forming around this distant gas giant planet?

After many years of searching, astronomers have finally found what appears to be a circumplanetary disk - that is, a disk of gas and dust - surrounding a young exoplanet. Evidence suggests that moons may be forming there.

Paul Scott Anderson

July 21, 2019

Enceladus’ ocean right age to support life

The subsurface ocean of Saturn's moon Enceladus seems possibly habitable in many ways. Now a new study has determined it's the right age to support life, too.

Paul Scott Anderson

July 17, 2019

Dragonfly aims for Saturn’s moon Titan

Scheduled for launch in 2026, the Dragonfly mission will look for clues to the origins of life, and possibly even evidence of life itself, on Saturn's alien yet remarkably Earth-like moon Titan.

Paul Scott Anderson

July 14, 2019

Is the Random Transiter weirder than Tabby’s Star?

Move over, Tabby's Star. The Random Transiter may now be the weirdest star in the galaxy. Kepler data revealed 28 transits in front of this star in 87 days. What caused them? Multiple planets? A disintegrating planet? Alien megastructures?

Paul Scott Anderson

July 9, 2019

Do organic crystals create ‘bathtub rings’ around Titan’s lakes and seas?

Scientists have been trying to figure what creates the so-called "bathtub rings" around lakes and seas on Saturn's large moon Titan. Now they may have an answer: unusual organic crystals not found on Earth.

Paul Scott Anderson

July 5, 2019

Uranus’ rings surprisingly bright in ‘heat’ images

The rings of the 7th planet, Uranus, are thin and dark. But new thermal images from the ALMA and VLT telescopes show them glowing brightly.

Paul Scott Anderson

July 3, 2019

Astronomers ponder halos around galaxies

Galaxies are massive and beautiful islands of stars. But did you know that most galaxies are surrounded by halos? A complex instrument on the Very Large Telescope is giving astronomers new views of these galactic rings of light.

Paul Scott Anderson

July 3, 2019

Teegarden’s Star has Earth-sized planets in habitable zone

The Earth-sized exoplanets orbiting Teegarden's Star are 2 of the closest yet found, and at least 1 of them may be potentially habitable.

Paul Scott Anderson

July 2, 2019

When asteroids photobomb galaxies

Want to spend your days looking at awesome photos of distant galaxy clusters, and possibly discovering an asteroid? Check out this new citizen-science project called Hubble Asteroid Hunter.

Paul Scott Anderson

June 29, 2019

Paul Scott Anderson

Paul Scott Anderson has had a passion for space exploration that began when he was a child when he watched Carl Sagan’s Cosmos. He studied English, writing, art and computer/publication design in high school and college. He later started his blog The Meridiani Journal in 2005, which was later renamed Planetaria. He also later started the blog Fermi Paradoxica, about the search for life elsewhere in the universe. While interested in all aspects of space exploration, his primary passion is planetary science and SETI. In 2011, he started writing about space on a freelance basis with Universe Today. He has also written for SpaceFlight Insider and AmericaSpace and has also been published in The Mars Quarterly. He also did some supplementary writing for the iOS app Exoplanet. He has been writing for EarthSky since 2018, and also assists with proofing and social media.