#atmosphere

All articles tagged with "atmosphere"

A Tiny Kuiper Belt World May Have an Atmosphere It Shouldn’t Be Able to Keep

Astronomers studying trans-Neptunian object 2002 XV93 report signs of a thin atmosphere, raising new questions about how such a small body could retain gas so far from the Sun.

Key Takeaways

Astronomers observed signs of a thin atmosphere around the small Kuiper Belt object 2002 XV93.
Its size suggests it should not retain gas for long, raising questions about how the atmosphere is sustained.

DT Editorial Team·May 9, 2026·via universetoday.com

NASA Imagery Captures Cloud Vortices Spinning Off a Remote Antarctic Island

Fresh NASA Earth Observatory imagery shows von Karman vortex streets forming downwind of Peter I Island, a rare atmospheric display shaped by strong Southern Ocean winds and the island’s icy volcanic mass.

Key Takeaways

NASA Earth Observatory highlighted cloud vortex streets forming downwind of Peter I Island.
The pattern was captured by Landsat 8 on February 11, 2026.

DT Editorial Team·May 7, 2026·via science.nasa.gov

Why Some Skies Look Bluer Than Others

The sky’s color is more than a scenic backdrop. New reporting highlights how atmospheric physics, aerosols and pollution can turn deep blue skies milky white, making visible what is suspended in the air around us.

Key Takeaways

Blue skies arise from Rayleigh scattering, which favors shorter wavelengths of light.
Larger particles such as aerosols, smoke and moisture produce Mie scattering that can make skies appear white or hazy.

DT Editorial Team·Apr 13, 2026·via refractor.io

Chinese Researchers Pitch Integrated Venus System to Probe a Hostile Atmosphere

A research team in China has proposed an integrated system aimed at studying Venus’s extreme atmosphere, framing the concept as a new way to deepen exploration of one of the solar system’s harshest environments.

DT Editorial Team·Mar 30, 2026·via interestingengineering.com