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Planetary Science
Planetary Science is the study of Planets and the Solar System, a combination of Astronomy and Earth Sciences. Find questions about the different planets and more.
25,144 Questions
What planet's moon is so close in size that scientists consider it to be a binary planet?
The Earth's moon is approximately 1/6 the size of Earth, making it the largest moon relative to its planet size in the solar system. Some scientists refer to the Earth-Moon system as a binary planet system due to the similar size and gravitational influence between the two bodies.
How many times do the planets orbit the sun in one earth year?
Values are approximate.
- Mercury: 4.14 times
- Venus: 1.63 times
- Earth: Once
- Mars: 0.53 times
- Jupiter: 0.085 times
- Saturn: 0.034 times
- Uranus: 0.012 times
- Neptune: 0.006 times
Great question to chew on ! And I think I can work it out, at least
to an order-of-magnitude approximation.
Radius of Jupiter's orbit is around 5 AU = 5 x 93 million = 465,000,000 miles.
15 light years = 15 x 5.8787 x 1012 = 8.818 x 1013 miles
(Tangent)-1 of (5 AU / 15 LY) = 0.000302 degree = roughly like 1.09 arc-second.
There's a rule for the resolution you need in order to completely resolve two sources
that subtend a given angle, and I don,t remember what it is. But the order of magnitude
for this particular case is about 1 arc-second ... with one bright object and a dim one.
That calculation looks right and the separation can theoretically be resolved by a telescope with a 4½" aperture. But there is a big difference in brightness because the Sun would be a star of magnitude 3.2 while Jupiter's magnitude would be about 21. So a considerably bigger telescope would be needed because to see something that dim needs a big aperture, round about 100".
Which planet does not move in orbit around the sun but is stationary?
None. All eight planets in the Solar System revolve around the sun.
How many times does each gps satellite rotate around the earth in a day?
If the satellite is in low orbit, it should take about one and a half hour to go once around the Earth.
If the satellite is in low orbit, it should take about one and a half hour to go once around the Earth.
If the satellite is in low orbit, it should take about one and a half hour to go once around the Earth.
If the satellite is in low orbit, it should take about one and a half hour to go once around the Earth.
What is the composition of inner planets and outer planets?
The compositions of the inner planets and outer planter are nickel, iron, and rock formations. Some of the gases are methane and ammonia and water.
2nd Answer:
The 'inner' planets, better called, "Terran" planets (Earth is Terra) are solid per the above answer. The 'outer' planets, better called, "Jovian" planets (Jove is a more 'English' form of Jupiter) are all gas giants - they are not solid, although some think that their cores might be rocky.
Why are the lighter colored halves of the moon and earth always facing the sun?
The lighter colored halves of the moon and earth are always facing the sun because of their positions in relation to the sun. As the moon orbits the earth and the earth orbits the sun, the side that is illuminated by the sun is the side facing the light source. This creates the phases of the moon and day/night cycle on earth.
How fast does the earth rotate on its axis in one hour?
A little more than 15 degrees per hour. How fast that is in miles per hour depends on the latitude; at the poles it's zero, but at the equator it's around a thousand.
What is a solar eclipse that leaves a ring around the sun?
A solar eclipse that leaves a ring around the sun is known as an annular solar eclipse. This type of eclipse occurs when the moon is too far from Earth to completely cover the sun, resulting in a ring of sunlight being visible around the moon's silhouette during the peak of the eclipse.
How much farther is canopus from earth than sirius?
These are the 2 brightest stars in the sky. However Canopus is a lot more
luminous because it is much further away.
Canopus is about 310 light years away.
Sirius is only 8.6 light years away.
Which rocky planets have well developed atmospheres?
Earth, Venus, and Mars have well-developed atmospheres compared to the other rocky planets in our solar system. Earth has a thick atmosphere that supports life, Venus has a thick and toxic atmosphere, while Mars has a thin atmosphere primarily composed of carbon dioxide.
What is terrestrial succession?
Terrestrial succession is the process of ecological change in an area that has been newly formed or disturbed. It involves the gradual replacement of plant and animal species in a specific order until a stable climax community is established. This process can take hundreds to thousands of years to complete.
When were the mississippians around?
The Mississippian culture existed between approximately 800 AD and 1600 AD in what is now the southeastern United States. They were known for their mound-building societies and agriculture-based economy.
Why do the 8 planets keep orbiting the sun?
The 8 planets continue to orbit the sun due to a balance between the sun's gravitational pull and the planets' forward motion, which creates an elliptical orbit. This balance allows the planets to constantly move around the sun in a stable manner.
Name the planets witch are made from gases?
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are the gas giant planets in our solar system, primarily composed of hydrogen and helium.
What is the name of your solar set system?
Our solar system is called the "Solar System" which consists of the Sun and all the astronomical objects orbiting around it, including planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and dust.
How are rotation and day related?
Rotation is the spinning of a planet around its axis, causing day and night to occur as different parts of the planet are exposed to sunlight. One complete rotation results in one full day cycle.
What is a circle around a planet called?
The circle of light around the sun is called a Corona. The corona can usually only be seen during a total solar eclipse. When this happens it can be seen as an irregularly shaped glow surrounding the moon.
What makes earth unique among all planets?
The Earth is unique in many ways. It has an atmosphere unlike most planets as well as water. water has never been proven to be on any other planet except earth, we can only speculate. these two facts make the Earth one of a kind.
A large ball of burning gas in space?
This is a description of a star, which is a celestial object composed mostly of hydrogen and helium that undergoes nuclear fusion in its core, releasing vast amounts of energy in the form of light and heat. Stars are crucial to the universe, as they are the primary sources of light and energy for planets and other celestial bodies in their vicinity.
What would happen if the earth was heated evenly?
If Earth were heated evenly, the overall temperature would rise uniformly across the planet. This could disrupt weather patterns, affect ecosystems, and lead to widespread climate change. It could also cause polar ice caps to melt, leading to rising sea levels.
Can you see the phases of any planets from Earth?
Yes, some planets in our solar system, like Venus and Mars, exhibit phases when observed from Earth. These phases are caused by the changing relative positions of the planets and the Sun as viewed from Earth. Mercury and Venus can display crescent phases, while Mars can show gibbous phases.
How long does it take a photon to reach the surface of the sun?
About a million years.
The reasoning:
As energy is produced, photons are emitted and they are free to travel. Unfortunately, there are also billions of other photons doing the same thing. they collide and are deflected, sometimes upwards, downwards, even sideways. There is no straight path. It's a random event, which is why no real true figure is available.
It's a bit like being placed in a forest, blindfolded and your hands are tied. As you wander about, you hit a tree and move around it, but another tree is in your way. You have no idea of direction so you just wander around bumping into trees. As you bumble, given enough time, you will eventually exit the forest and freedom, but it takes a long time.
Which member of the solar system has an equatorial diameter of 3.48 times 10 to the 3rd?
Mercury has an equatorial diameter of 3.48 times 10^3 kilometers.
Why do the constellations appear to move across the sky?
They move accross the sky during the night due to our planets rotation. They also appear at different points in the night sky throughout the year due to our orbit around the sun and our relative position with the sun. This is where star signs come into it, your star sign is the costellation that the sun was in front of when you were born (but in reality this has shifted a bit so is not really the same as the dates you see quoted in the astrology column).
