Author Archive
SAINT-EX discovers eccentric exoplanet
Led by the University of Bern, an international research team has discovered a sub-Neptune exoplanet orbiting a red dwarf star. The discovery was also made thanks to observations performed by the SAINT-EX observatory in Mexico. SAINT-EX is run by a consortium including the Center for Space and Habitability (CSH) at the University of Bern and […]
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How did the peculiar moons of Uranus form?
The peculiar characteristics of Uranus’ moons have been a topic of debate in astronomy for decades. Making use of state-of-the-art supercomputing and interdisciplinary expertise, researchers of the University of Zurich (UZH), who are part of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) PlanetS, propose a detailed answer in a new study. There is one […]
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Two-year launch anniversary of CHEOPS
After two years in orbit, the CHEOPS space telescope has exceeded expectations. By reliably revealing details of some of the most fascinating exoplanets, it has quickly become a key instrument for astronomers in Europe and has led to fruitful collaborations throughout the continent. CHEOPS is a joint mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) and […]
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A planet beyond the realm of possibility
An international team of researchers with participation of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) PlanetS, ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich has succeeded in capturing an image of a very special planet. No known planet orbits a hotter or more massive star system. Some astronomers even considered it impossible for planets to […]
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“Dust puzzles” wins Global Science Film Festival
All of us are made from stardust. But how were the first small space bodies formed out of this dust? The film “Dust puzzles” by NCCR PlanetS researcher Tatjana Drozhzhova takes a closer look at this question from the perspective of Dave (portrayed by Eashan Saikia of ETH Zurich). Rushing to the examination, Dave asks […]
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Editorial
Dear Reader Time flies! Over 7 years have passed since PlanetS was established (2014) and yet we feel that the more research we do, the more questions emerge and the more exciting they are! And not only for us, everywhere the huge interest in the field keeps growing! It gives everybody, young and old, […]
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Monika Lendl and Clémence Fontanive at #NCCRWomen
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of women’s right to vote in Switzerland, the #NCCRWomen campaign introduces you to women from Swiss research institutes. NCCR PlanetS also participated in the campaign with two of its researchers: Monika Lendl and Clémence Fontanive. Clémence Fontanive is an astrophysicist and postdoc at the University of Bern. Clémence […]
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ESA Voyage 2050 and NCCR PlanetS: it’s a match!
This year, the European Space Agency (ESA) chose the themes for its large-class science missions for the timeframe 2035-2050. Two of the three chosen themes are ones that the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) PlanetS is actively involved in with promising projects. If you had a budget of 1 billion €, where […]
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Where Predator and Pikachu learn about exoplanets
Fantasy Basel is Switzerland’s largest convention for comic culture, science fiction, cosplay and more. Around 45,000 visitors from near and far flocked to the big event to read the latest comics, meet their favourite artists – or to learn about exoplanets and space history at the NCCR PlanetS exhibition, which was part of the Swiss […]
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The planet does not fall far from the star
A compositional link between planets and their respective host star has long been assumed in astronomy. For the first time now, a team of scientists, with the participation of researchers of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) PlanetS from the University of Zurich and the University of Bern, deliver empirical evidence to support […]
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