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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
Which planet is tilted more than 90 degrees on its axis?
In relationship to its plane of orbit around the Sun, the planet Uranus's axis is tilted at about 97.7 degrees to the perpendicular! Sometimes it's said to be tilted at only about 82.3 degrees. It just depends how you define the "North pole".
(97.7+82.3=180, of course.)
Therefore, in comparison with Earth's plane of orbit around the Sun, and Uranus's own plane of orbit around the Sun, Uranus is "on its side"! Its North pole doesn't point towards the Pole star as Earth's North pole does.
It takes just over 84 Earth years for Uranus to make one complete orbit of the Sun. Meanwhile it is spinning on its axis, about once every 17 hours. At one point in Uranus's orbit around the Sun, and due to the fact that the planet is 'on its side', its North pole points almost directly at the Sun. 42 years later, as Uranus has moved to the other side of the Sun, its North pole is pointing away from the Sun and is in total darkness. So each pole experiences about 42 years of being in the light, and then 42 years of darkness.
(For more information, pictures and diagrams, see Related links below)
SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) not to be confused with the once "red light" district of London UK.
See related link for more information
Who is the father of the Milky Way?
The Milky Way does not have a "father" in a literal sense. It is a vast spiral galaxy that formed billions of years ago through the gravitational collapse of gas and dust in space. It is home to billions of stars, including our own Sun.
Which 4 planets rotate the fastest?
- Jupiter's atmosphere rotates at about 9.8 hours (but it varies with longitude)
- Saturn at about 10 hours 32 minutes
- Neptune 16 hours 6 minutes.
- Uranus 17 hours 14 minutes
What is true of the studio-based star system?
The studio-based star system refers to a time when film studios controlled actors' careers by signing them to exclusive contracts and managing their public images. Studios would promote their stars through marketing and publicity campaigns to attract audiences. This system began to decline in the mid-20th century with the rise of independent production companies and changes in the entertainment industry.
How far are the planets from the sun in light years?
The Earth's distance from the Sun varies slightly, since Earth's orbit is not a perfect circle.
Earth's closest distance (perihelion) occurs in early January each year when it is approximately 91,445,000 miles (147,166,000 km) from the sun.
Earth's farthest distance (aphelion) occurs in early July each year when it is approximately 94,555,000 miles (152,171,000 km) from the sun.
The distance is one AU (astronomical unit) from the sun. One AU is 93 million miles, which is 8.3 light minutes.
Which of these are the smallest planet star solar system galaxy galaxy cluster?
A solar system is smaller. There are billions of solar systems in a single galaxy.
Each star is a solar system. (some have planets, some don't)
When you look at the sky at night, every star is a solar system and all of them are part of the Milky Way galaxy.
A galaxy cluster is a group of galaxies.
Astronomers generally agree that the matter in the sun and its planets came from an?
No two astronomers (secular) agree on the origin of any matter. However Creation scientists agree that God created everything ex-nihilo (from nothing). Science continues to try and see beyond what they refer to as the big bang. However their techniques they use in order to track back that far into history supposedly bring them to what they believe to be .1111 (or something) seconds after the big bang. Secular Science has been baffled by "the beginning of the universe" for years because they have no solid evidence on which to base their findings. Everything is postulated and supposedly correct all so they can continue to move forward even if it is in the wrong direction. A beginning based on the Bible's account found in Genesis 1 is the only feasible story about the creation of our known universe. And by feasible, I mean the only source that can be trusted for absolute truth.
Some fallacies for you to look into regarding an evolutionary point of view on the beginning of the world would in the fossil records including carbon dating (newly created rocks from active volcanoes being dated millions of years old using carbon dating even though their creation was observed in a much shorter span of time.) And also evolutionary records having no physical proof of any species (not just human) evolving from one kind to another (such as lizard to bird which is constantly portrayed by attempts of artist renderings on dinosaurs as certain ones having feathers.)
I encourage you to research this yourself. Realize that Evolution is still called "The THEORY of Evolution". Find out for yourself which stories of creation can actually hold up against a valid argument. You can start at answersingenesis.com Though it is a Christian site they do not simply throw scripture at you to prove their point they actually approach each issue with practised science and give straight answers.
Another view
The misinformation above is staggering in its ignorance.
Evolution is a fact, recognised not only by secular scientists but also by organised religions, including the Catholic church. The theories concerned are the reasoned attempts to explain the process. Failure to see the difference show a lack of intellectual capacity and rigour.
In addition there is evidence of the big bang, both physical and theoretical. One theory has the capacity to describe the universe at 10-43 seconds after the big bang (not .1111 or something). There is no evidence whatsoever for the creation of the universe by a deity.
It is indeed fortunate that the vast majority of people that hold strong spiritual beliefs have a little more integrity and scepticism than the views of fundamentalist above. (Those views are, perhaps, proof that evolution is not universal in all cases)
People used to believe the earth was flat, well some of us have learned a thing or two since then, even if others find that difficult.
What is the smallest planet that is near to the sun?
Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system and is closest to the sun. Its proximity to the sun means that it is a rocky planet with a surface that can reach high temperatures.
Which planets are called terrestrial and why?
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are called terrestrial planets because they have solid, rocky surfaces similar to Earth's. These planets are located closer to the Sun, have higher densities, and are composed primarily of silicate rocks and metals.
How large can a terrestrial planet get?
Terrestrial planets can vary in size, but typically they range from around the size of Mars to about 1.5 times the size of Earth. This is because larger planets tend to have more gravity, which can lead to a thicker atmosphere and different geological processes that may prevent them from being classified as terrestrial.
Are the moons in the solar system larger than the planets?
No, moons in the solar system are typically smaller than planets. Moons are natural satellites that orbit around planets, while planets are larger celestial bodies that do not orbit anything except their host star.
What planet has dozens of moons?
Jupiter has the most moons in our solar system, with at least 79 known moons. Some of its well-known moons include Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. These moons vary in size, composition, and characteristics.
Thoes the sun move westwards around the earth?
No, the sun does not move westwards around the Earth. From our perspective on Earth, it appears as though the sun moves across the sky from east to west due to the Earth's rotation on its axis. In reality, the sun appears to move because of our planet's rotation, not because it is moving around the Earth.
A place to watch stars is called what?
An area with minimal light pollution, such as a remote location or an observatory, is ideal for stargazing. You may also refer to it as a dark sky site or an astronomical observatory.
What scientific trait Johannes Kepler have?
Johannes Kepler was a mathematician, astronomer, and astrologer who is best known for his laws of planetary motion. He made significant contributions to the fields of optics and geometry as well, laying the groundwork for modern physics. Kepler's astute observational skills and mathematical insights revolutionized our understanding of the movement of celestial bodies.
What are the likenesses in comets asteroids and dwarf planets?
Comets, asteroids, and dwarf planets are all celestial bodies that orbit the Sun. They are remnants from the early stages of the solar system's formation and are composed of rock, dust, and ice. Additionally, they are all classified as minor planets within our solar system.
What group of planets have rings around it?
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are the 4 inner planets (terrestrial planets). Although none of them have planetary rings of their own, surrounding them is the Asteroid Belt. Asteroids are chunks of rock and and dust particles that in the the creation of the sun, never grew big enough to be classified as planets. However, if you are asking about planetary rings, then the 4 gas giants, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune have those, Saturn's rings being the largest, of course.
Why is a solar eclipse of a shorter duration than a lunar eclipse?
The reason a solar eclipse is shorter and more elusive than a lunar eclipse is because of the relative sizes of the shadows of Earth and the Moon.
The shadow of the Moon is much smaller, so it takes less time for the shadow to pass over a given point on the surface of the Earth. However, the shadow of the Earth and the smaller surface of the Moon means that it takes longer for the Earth's shadow to pass over a given point on the Moon's surface.
Difference between a star and a firefly?
A star is a massive celestial body that emits light and energy through nuclear fusion. A firefly is a small insect that produces bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. The main difference is in their size, nature, and source of light production.
How long does it take for light to travel across a room?
Light travels at a speed of about 186,282 miles per second (299,792 kilometers per second). Therefore, it can travel across a standard-sized room of about 12 feet (3.7 meters) in less than a nanosecond.
What is bigger a neutron star r main sequence stars?
If you refer to the diameter, a neutron is tiny - only 20-30 kilometers in diameter. In comparison, main sequence stars have a diameter of at least several hundred thousand kilometers.
What two planets have a unique rotations?
Venus rotates in the opposite direction to most other planets, a phenomenon known as retrograde rotation. Uranus rotates on its side, with its axis almost parallel to its orbital plane, causing extreme seasonal variations.
How much matter in the solar system can be found in the planets?
About 99.85% of the matter in the solar system is concentrated in the Sun, with the remaining 0.15% distributed among all the planets, moons, asteroids, and other celestial bodies. The planets contain a significant portion of this matter, with Jupiter holding the most mass after the Sun.
