Far beyond the reach of strong sunlight, some of humanity’s greatest explorers rely on one of the most dependable power sources ever built: Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs). Powering exploration beyond the Sun In the vast expanse of space, where the Sun’s rays barely reach, RTGs are often essential for missions operating far from the Sun or in environments where sunlight is scarce. These devices convert heat from the decay of plutonium‑238 into electricity, using thermocouples powered by the Seebeck effect, a principle that converts temperature differences into electrical energy. See the diagram below for an illustration of RTG thermoelectric conversion. Why RTGs excel in deep space RTGs are widely used where solar panels cannot function effectively for extended periods, such as in the outer solar system, shadowed craters, or dusty planetary surfaces. They operate by relying on a temperature gradient: the decay of plutonium‑238 provides the heat source, while the cold vacu...

Astronomy lovers, meet HD 100546 b, a candidate gas giant approximately 359 light-years away in the constellation Musca, as revealed by Gaia DR3 data. 🪐✨ This intriguing world, still shrouded in scientific debate, offers a unique lens into the origins of planetary systems. 🌟 Decoding the Size, Structure, and Distance Infrared observations suggest that HD 100546 b may be enveloped in a circumplanetary gas cloud up to 6.9 times the radius of Jupiter, with a potential core around 3.4 times Jupiter's radius. These estimates remain tentative due to uncertainties in the planet's formative environment. HD 100546 b's mass estimates vary widely, ranging from 1.65 to 25 times that of Jupiter, due to different detection methods and theoretical models. This highlights the challenges of observing objects in such formative stages. The planet orbits its star, HD 100546, at a distance of 53 ± 2 AU. An Astronomical Unit (AU), the average Earth–Sun distance (~93 million miles or 150 millio...