The discovery of 2023 KQ14, a small body beyond Pluto, has sent shockwaves through the scientific community and rekindled theories about the existence of Planet Nine. This enigmatic object, classified as a “sednoid,” was found by the Subaru Telescope’s FOSSIL project, which leverages the telescope’s wide field of view to explore the outer reaches of our solar system.

Using observations from March, May, and August 2023, followed by follow-up observations in July 2024 with the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, astronomers tracked the object’s orbit over 19 years. The results were nothing short of remarkable: 2023 KQ14 has maintained a stable orbit for at least 4.5 billion years, despite its peculiar distant orbit.

Numerical simulations conducted by the FOSSIL team indicate that the orbits of sednoids, including 2023 KQ14, were remarkably similar around 4.2 billion years ago. However, the fact that 2023 KQ14 now follows an orbit different from the other sednoids suggests that the outer Solar System is more diverse and complex than previously thought.

This discovery places new constraints on the hypothetical Planet Nine, which, if it exists, must lie farther out than typically predicted. Dr. Yukun Huang of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan comments, “The fact that 2023 KQ14’s current orbit does not align with those of the other three sednoids lowers the likelihood of the Planet Nine hypothesis. It is possible that a planet once existed in the Solar System but was later ejected, causing the unusual orbits we see today.”

Dr. Fumi Yoshida adds, “Understanding the orbital evolution and physical properties of these unique, distant objects is crucial for comprehending the full history of the Solar System. At present, the Subaru Telescope is among the few telescopes on Earth capable of making such discoveries. I would be happy if the FOSSIL team could make many more discoveries like this one and help draw a complete picture of the history of the Solar System.”

The Moon has long been a subject of fascination for scientists and space enthusiasts alike. One of its most striking features is the asymmetry between its near and far sides, which manifests in various ways – from topography and crustal thickness to volcanic activity. The origins of these differences have puzzled researchers for decades, but the China’s Chang’e-6 mission has finally provided some answers.

Launched on May 3, 2024, the Chang’e-6 spacecraft returned a significant amount of material from the lunar farside’s South Pole-Aitken Basin (SPA), the largest and deepest known impact structure on the Moon. The samples arrived on Earth on June 25, 2024, and their analysis has shed new light on the evolution of the Moon.

Researchers led by institutions affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, including the Institute of Geology and Geophysics (IGG) and the National Astronomical Observatories (NAOC), have made four landmark discoveries based on the SPA samples. Their findings were published in cover articles in the journal Nature, providing a comprehensive understanding of the profound geological consequences of the impact that formed the SPA.

One of the most significant discoveries is that volcanic activity on the lunar farside persisted for at least 1.4 billion years, far longer than previously thought. This prolonged volcanic activity is attributed to two distinct phases – 4.2 billion and 2.8 billion years ago. The analysis also revealed a rebound in the Moon’s magnetic field 2.8 billion years ago, suggesting that the lunar dynamo, which generates magnetic fields, fluctuated episodically rather than fading steadily.

Furthermore, the research teams found significant asymmetry in water distribution within the lunar interior, with the farside mantle having lower water content than the nearside mantle. Geochemical analysis of basalt points to an “ultra-depleted” mantle source, likely resulting from either a primordial depleted mantle or massive melt extraction triggered by large impacts.

The Chang’e-6 mission has not only illuminated the evolution of the Moon’s farside but also underscored the transformative impact of space exploration on our understanding of planetary formation and evolution. The four landmark discoveries made possible by this mission are a testament to the power of international collaboration and the unwavering dedication of scientists to unraveling the secrets of our cosmos.

The discovery of 3I/ATLAS, a mystery interstellar object, has sent shockwaves through the scientific community. This ancient visitor is likely to be the oldest comet ever seen, possibly predating our solar system by more than three billion years. According to University of Oxford astronomer Matthew Hopkins, 3I/ATLAS could be more than seven billion years old and may be the most remarkable interstellar visitor yet.

Unlike previous objects that entered our solar system from elsewhere in the cosmos, 3I/ATLAS appears to be traveling on a steep path through the galaxy. Its trajectory suggests it originated from the Milky Way’s ‘thick disk’ – a population of ancient stars orbiting above and below the thin plane where the Sun and most stars reside.

Hopkins explained that all non-interstellar comets, such as Halley’s comet, formed with our solar system and are up to 4.5 billion years old. However, interstellar visitors have the potential to be far older, and 3I/ATLAS is likely to be the oldest comet ever seen.

The object was first spotted on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile, when it was about 670 million kilometers from the Sun. As 3I/ATLAS approaches the Sun, sunlight will heat its surface and trigger cometary activity, or the outgassing of vapor and dust that creates a glowing coma and tail.

Early observations already suggest the comet is active, and possibly larger than either of its interstellar predecessors, 1I/’Oumuamua (spotted in 2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019). If confirmed, this could have implications for how many similar objects future telescopes, such as the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory, are likely to detect.

The discovery of 3I/ATLAS has sparked excitement among astronomers, who believe it may provide clues about the role that ancient interstellar comets play in seeding star and planet formation across the galaxy. As the comet continues on its journey towards the Sun, scientists will be closely monitoring its activity and behavior.