Case of Sedna's Missing Moon Solved

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Sedna
When the distant planetoid Sedna was discovered on the outer edges of our solar system, it posed a puzzle to scientists. Sedna appeared to be spinning very slowly compared to most solar system objects, completing one rotation every 20 days. Astronomers hypothesized that this world possessed an unseen moon whose gravity was slowing Sedna's spin. Yet Hubble Space Telescope images showed no sign of a moon large enough to affect Sedna.


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All News summaries for April 14, 2005

NASA study finds rising Arctic storm activity sways sea ice, climate

1 hour ago | User rating: not rated yet
A new NASA study shows that the rising frequency and intensity of arctic storms over the last half century, attributed to progressively warmer waters, directly provoked acceleration of the rate of arctic sea ice drift, long ...

Lichens function as indicators of nitrogen pollution in forests

2 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
Scientists have found lichens can give insight into nitrogen air pollution effects on Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino mountain ecosystems, and protecting them provides safeguards for less sensitive species.

NASA spacecraft ready to explore outer solar system

3 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
The first NASA spacecraft to image and map the dynamic interactions taking place where the hot solar wind slams into the cold expanse of space is ready for launch Oct. 19. The two-year mission will begin from ...

University professor stresses links between US Navy sonar and whale strandings

4 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
Earlier this summer, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review a series of lower court rulings that restrict the Navy's use of sonar in submarine detection training exercises off the coast of Southern California. The court ...

India to launch unmanned lunar mission this month

4 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
India will launch its first lunar mission on October 22 from southern India, a top official from the country's space agency said Monday.
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