Scientists have never actually seen a moon orbiting a planet other than the ones in this solar system. An exomoon, a companion to an exoplanet, likely would be too tiny and far away for telescopes to resolve. 

But a new NASA study may have found a clue that one is orbiting a planet some 635 light-years from Earth. The inference comes from a vast sodium cloud spotted in space. Whatever is causing it produces about 220,000 pounds of sodium per second. 

The research suggests a rocky moon circling exoplanet WASP-49 b, a Saturn-sized gas giant discovered in 2017, is the source. That could mean the distant world is accompanied by a moon like Jupiter’s Io — a highly volcanic place, blasting out its own massive cloud of gasses 1,000 times wider than Jupiter.

“The evidence is very compelling that something other than the planet and star are producing this cloud,” said Rosaly Lopes, a planetary geologist who co-authored the study, in a statement. “Detecting an exomoon would be quite extraordinary, and because of Io, we know that a volcanic exomoon is possible.”

An exomoon could be the source of a bewildering sodium cloud found around an exoplanet.
Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech illustration

This is not the first time astronomers have suspected an exomoon was lurking in their data. There have been exomoon candidates discovered in the past, though confirming their existence is much more difficult. Scientists such as Apurva Oza, once a postdoctoral researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, are interested in finding unconventional ways to detect them for what they could represent: Moons throughout the galaxy could also potentially offer habitable conditions for life, even if their host planets don’t. 

That’s why Oza wanted to return to studying WASP-49 b to further investigate the source of its bewildering cloud. Researchers used a ground-based telescope to observe the silhouettes of the cloud and the exoplanet as they passed in front of the host star. 

At one point, they noticed that the cloud was moving faster than WASP-49 b and away from Earth. If the cloud were coming from the exoplanet, they figured they would have seen it moving toward Earth. The observation led them to conclude that the cloud was coming from a separate source, according to the paper recently published in Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Exoplanet WASP-49 b could have an exomoon similar to Jupiter’s Io, a highly volcanic world pumping gasses into space.
Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech illustration

“We think this is a really critical piece of evidence,” said Oza, a staff scientist at Caltech and the lead author, in a statement. “The cloud is moving in the opposite direction that physics tells us it should be going if it were part of the planet’s atmosphere.”

The team’s research provided other clues that an exomoon was making the cloud. Both the planet and the star are mostly made of the lightest elements, hydrogen and helium, with hardly any sodium. Seemingly neither has enough to be responsible for the cloud. Scientists also used the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile to see that the cloud hovers high above the exoplanet’s atmosphere — just like the cloud Io envelops around Jupiter. 

Next the team developed computer models to see if an exomoon could be the cloud’s catalyst. Their simulations found that a moon with a snug eight-hour orbit around the planet could explain the cloud’s motion — the way it seemed to sometimes drift in front of the planet and how it didn’t appear to be tied to any particular region of the alien world. 

Jupiter’s moon Io, seen in multiple views above, is the most volcanically active world in our solar system.
Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSS

Scientists can’t say anything definitive about the exomoon because it’s just a candidate. But here’s what astronomers know about Io, the third-largest Jovian moon out of 95. Io is the most volcanic world in the solar system. Astronomers believe hundreds of volcanoes spew fountains that reach dozens of miles high.

Jupiter’s gravity squeezes Io‘s core as the moon moves closer, then slackens as it moves farther away. This swelling and contracting causes Io’s interior to heat up, triggering tidal volcanism. 

Scientists will need to continue observing this cloud to confirm its behavior, so the team is likely a long way from knowing with certainty if they have proof of an exomoon. Still, the results are thrilling for Oza, who believes looking for gas clouds — perhaps an order of magnitude larger than their source — could be an indirect method of finding habitable moons in other star systems.

California-based aerospace company Vast has revealed the remarkable interior design of Haven-1, which is set to become the world’s first commercial space station. In a newly released video, the company showcased a habitat that looks more like a luxury hotel than a typical orbital laboratory. The design, both sleek and inviting, promises a new level of comfort for future space travelers.

Today, Vast unveiled the final design for Haven-1, the world’s first commercial space station, setting a new standard. Guided by visionary designer Peter Russell-Clarke and astronaut Andrew Feustel, we’re pushing the boundaries of life in space with human-first design led by… pic.twitter.com/xDdMzNFnuF
— VAST (@vast) October 10, 2024

Haven-1 features modern wood veneer accents, padded white walls, and amenities similar to those found in top-tier hotels. The station also offers visitors a fully equipped gym to help them stay active, even in zero gravity. Additionally, private rooms are outfitted with the latest entertainment and communication technologies, ensuring that astronauts can easily stay in touch with family and friends on Earth.

“Set to launch on SpaceX’s Falcon rocket in 2025, Haven-1’s first paying customers will board in 2026,” Vast said in a press release.

ALSO SEE: What Will Earth Look Like From Private Space Station? Axiom Space’s Astronaut Reveals

Accommodating up to four astronauts, Haven-1 provides a level of comfort far surpassing that of the International Space Station (ISS). Each astronaut will have a cosy private room, complete with storage, a vanity, and a specially engineered queen-sized bed to enhance sleep quality in space.

Veteran NASA astronaut Andrew Feustel, who has accumulated over 225 days in space, played a key advisory role in shaping the design and layout of Haven-1. His extensive experience contributed to ensuring that the space station would not only be functional but also comfortable for its inhabitants.

“From communication and connectivity, to private space and interacting with others aboard, to advancing human progress on Earth and beyond, every detail has been designed with the astronaut experience at the core of our work,” he said.

ALSO SEE: Astronaut Floats In Space As Tiangong Space Station Cruises Above Blue Earth; Watch

(Image: Vast)

Some hurricanes rapidly intensify. Hurricane Milton has “explosively” intensified.

The National Hurricane Service, after observing the Category 5 cyclone continually strengthen, reported Monday that Florida-bound “Milton Explosively Intensifies With 175-Mph Winds.” This means Milton “is unfortunately hitting the top-end of possible intensification rates,” meteorologist Levi Cowan posted online. The hurricane jumped from a Category 1 to 5 in under a day.

Tropical storms, particularly the most powerful hurricanes, can exploit favorable environment conditions to rapidly intensify. This means increasing wind speed by some 35 mph, or 30 knots, in 24 hours. Milton has gone well beyond that.

“There is such a thing as ‘extreme rapid intensification’ and #Milton has done it,” Kathryn Prociv, a meteorologist with NBC news, explained online. “Extreme RI defined as a 58mph+ increase in 24 hours. Milton has gone 90mph.”

The footage below, captured by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather satellites, demonstrates Milton’s robust windup and growth. The storm is projected to make landfall on the west coast of the Florida peninsula on Wednesday, and is tracking toward the well-populated Tampa Bay region. It’s serious.

“If the storm stays on the current track, it will be the worst storm to impact the Tampa area in over 100 years,” the National Weather Service said.

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“Extreme RI defined as a 58mph+ increase in 24 hours. Milton has gone 90mph.”

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The storm is now rapidly spinning through the Gulf of Mexico, with extreme winds circulating around its well-defined eye:

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Though a number of factors influence the formation of strong hurricanes (opposing winds that can break apart storms, moist or dry air, etc.), a vital influence is warm sea surface temperatures of over 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius). Warm oceans act as jet fuel for hurricanes, storm scientists explain. That’s because warmer oceans fuel tropical storms as more water naturally evaporates into the air, giving storms energy and moisture to intensify. Crucially, the oceans, which absorb most of the heat created by burning fossil fuels, are relentlessly warming.

Today, Atlantic hurricanes are already twice as likely to develop from a milder storm into a major hurricane.