Planets | Observations in Astronomy

How Many Planets Are There?

According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), there are eight planets. These planets include Mercury, Venus, Mars, Neptune, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Earth. Are you wondering what happened to Pluto?

Pluto is considered a dwarf planet. There are five dwarf planets, including Ceres, Haumea, Makemake, Eris and Pluto. This was clarified in August 2006. These five planets were potentially going to be considered IAU planets, but the definition of a planet was clarified with a formal defined by the IAU.

The IAU determined that a planet must have three qualifications in order to be considered a planet in the Solar System. First, it must orbit around the sun. Secondly, it must be big enough to be gravitationally dominant in it’s own orbit, so that no other large bodies are in the “neighborhood.” Thirdly, the planet must be large enough to be round (or, at least, almost round). If the planet does not meet all three of these qualifications, it’s considered a dwarf planet.

Not everyone agrees with this classification, of course. Some say that not all of the planets have actually cleared their own neighborhoods, for example. Many astronomers refuse to follow the classification. Also, scientists like Mike Brown say there are actually lots and lots of “dwarf planets” out there, soon to be discovered.

Naturally, many people in the non-scientific community have had trouble letting go of Pluto as a planet. Remember grade school? Or, perhaps the 1930′s discovery. Also, when Eris was first discovered it was called the “tenth planet” which has lead to much media attention and some confusion. Still, at this point, there are officially nine planets.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Planets Tagged With: Dwarf planet, Haumea, Pluto

Living With a Star: The Glory Mission

NASA continues to study the sun in the newest introduction to the Living With a Star program, the Glory mission. This mission will study aerosols and the sun, delving into the affects of aerosol products on the Earth.
The Living With a Star Program
Introduced in 2010, the Living With a Star Program measures and studies different aspects of the sun as it relates to Earth, to people, and to the existence of life. The hope in the program is to gain an understanding of the sun to better predict space weather, Earth’s weather, and the climate.
The Glory Mission
Glory, NASA’s sun and aerosol mission, will measure how solar energy and aerosols affect the Earth’s energy budget (the balance of energy entering and exiting the Earth’s atmosphere).
Historically, Earth has been an excellent energy budgeter: the amount of energy entering Earth and exiting Earth have been close to equal. However, scientists wish to study this phenomenon more closely to determine aerosol’s affects on the budget.
As the scientists study the energy budget and aerosols, they expect to be able to predict the climate’s future changes. This will further translate into a study of how these effects may affect human life.
Contributors
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is responsible for Glory’s project management, but Kennedy Space Center (FL) is in charge of the launch management. The launch service provider and satellite builder is Orbital Sciences Corp. (VA).
Liftoff
Liftoff is scheduled for February 23, 2011, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The space launch complex will launch Glory at 5:09 a.m. EST, and the liftoff will be completed in a 48-second launch window.
The Taurus XL rocket will carry both the Glory spacecraft and three ELaNa nanosatellites, all of which will be released from Taurus 13 minutes after launch.
As NASA scientists move forward with research into the sun and aerosols, they should soon discover aerosols affect Earth’s energy budget.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Observatory, Planets Tagged With: Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA, Vandenberg Air Force Base

Solar Dynamic Observatory: Studying the Sun and Space Weather

The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is a spacecraft designed to study the sun and the sun’s influence on space weather. The five-year unmanned spacecraft mission is twofold: to study the space weather and to study the sun (through the Living With a Star program).
Space Weather
By studying the sun and the space weather phenomenon, NASA scientists can better understand the sun’s affects on power grids, satellites, global positioning systems, airplanes and other technologies subject to the sun’s ionizing radiation — which occasionally causes these systems to fail.
Coronal Mass Ejections, Solar Flares, High Speed Streams in the Solar Wind, Geomagnetic Storms and Galactic Cosmic Rays will be the most-studied space weather phenomenons. Coronal Mass Ejections occur when a propulsion above the sun’s surface bursts and sends a bubble of radiation toward Earth, and Solar Flares send the radiation toward Earth in intense bursts of light.
High Speed Streams in the Solar Wind radiate from fixed holes in the sun’s surface, and occasional high speed streams can produce inter-planetary shock. Geomagnetic Storms allow for a temporary decrease in the Earth’s magnetic field, and Galactic Cosmic Rays occur constantly but only occasionally penetrate Earth’s magnetosphere.
Although each of these space weather occurrences are produced by different events, they all produce radiation that can cause some of our electronic systems to fail. Therefore, scientists will continue to study their affects through the SDO.
Living With a Star Program
The powerful SDO can also give scientists insight into the sun’s surface, variability and internal processes in a program called Living With a Star. This will help scientists understand the sun’s affects on people and places on Earth, life, and society.
As the scientists begin to understand both space weather and the sun, they will be able to combine this information to predict space weather, understand how space weather affects Earth’s weather, and understand the Earth’s atmospheric climate.

Filed Under: Observatory, Planets Tagged With: Coronal mass ejection, Solar Dynamics Observatory, Solar flare

The Haughton-Mars Project: An Earth-Bound Link to Mars Exploration

The Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) studies the terrain of Devon Island, High Arctic, and the subsequent technologies that make travel to Mars possible. The Devon Island location mimics Mars in many aspects, which makes the location an ideal setting for study, research and tests.
HMP works collaboratively with NASA, however, the project is operated and managed by the Mars Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to the scientific study of Mars. HMP findings are shared with scientists around the world, making their two focuses, scientific and exploratory studies, extremely important to NASA and the world.
Scientific Study
Scientific study in this extreme environment includes geological, biological and historical studies. These studies allow scientists to better determine the evolution of the rocky, polar and desert setting — which may offer insights into the possibility of former life on Mars.
The studies also actively seek life in the environment, studying Devon Island for signs of current life forms. As scientists research this phenomenon, they hope to link signs of life to the possibilities of former or present Martian life forms.
Historically, the Devon Island facility can offer insights into the history of water in the High Arctic. This can then be linked to the possibility of water’s existence on Mars, either in the past or currently.
Exploration Study
Since the Devon Island location is so similar to Mars, researchers are also making headway into the developments that will make human exploration of Mars possible. These research parameters include: developing and testing new technologies, strategizing exploration possibilities and testing the human power to withstand extremes.
The scientists develop and test new technologies, which include robotics, space suits and rovers. Exploration possibilities strategized and human power testing include the most recent HMP test, the Northwest Passage Drive Expedition, which drove over 490 km of sea-ice in the Moon-1 and Mars-1 Humvee Rovers to test the dual-pressurization in a long-range usage.
As HMP moves forward, NASA, the Mars Institute, and scientists worldwide will learn more about Mars, technologies and human capabilities, making our future civilian treks to Mars possible.

Filed Under: Planets, Satellites Tagged With: Mars, Mars Institute, NASA

The Milky Way

The Milky Way is not a phenomenon that is part of a random event seen from many galaxies far away. Rather the Milky Way is the galaxy that we live in. Earth is but one small planet in the galaxy Milky Way, and amazingly enough, the Milky Way is one of many galaxies in what we call Space. So, how did our galaxy get the name? It is comes from the Latin term for milky, galaxias, because our galaxy resembles a milk spill, or it has the resemblance of pooling milk. The Hubbell satellite has captured phenomenal pictures of our galaxy, and the Greeks had it right, it does look, well, milky.
So what is contained inside our galaxy, the Milky Way? Tens of billions of stars, dust particles, planets, moons, suns, and gas are contained within. They are held together by the circling motions that create what we know as gravity. Essentially, what holds us down on earth is also holding our entire galaxy together so we do not go flying off into outer space. Picture the Milky Way being a water pale, and the contents of the galaxy is the water. When swung around and around very fast, the water in the pale will not move; that is the effect of creating gravity. Our little planet is a little droplet of water in the bucket of the Milky Way.
So, how did the Milky Way form? That is a question that could have many answers, some might be right, or none of them are right, scientists are not completely sure. The theory that is being used now is that there was a catastrophic explosion, and the results from that explosion are what we know as our galaxy. It is like knocking over a building, and sections pile up together as a result. We are one piled up section, and our section is called the Milky Way.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Planets, Satellites Tagged With: Galaxy, Greeks, Milky Way, Planet

What Time Do You Have?

Have you ever thought about time, and how relative it is? Not in the form of what Einstein concluded, but rather what is a day, a month, or a year. If we say that we are 33 years old, we are basing that on a 365 day calendar. Here is a tough question, what if our day was no longer 24 hours long? Say it was only 12 hours long or even 60 hours long. Would our calendar and our age still be the same? These questions are important because on earth, our day is 24 hours long; our annual year is 365, approximate, days long. We have determined this to be the case not because it seemed like a good idea at the time, but because someone figured out that it takes 365 days to completely circle the sun, and at which time, we begin the cycle again.
Not every planet has the same time frame of completing their year, or even their day. The earth takes 24 full hours in order to complete a full revolution. Saturn takes just over 10 hours; however, Pluto can take over six earth calendar days in order to complete a full rotation. This difference also applies to completing a full rotation around the sun as well. Some planets can take over 650 days to complete, but Mercury only needs 88 days.
So, how old are we, and what time is it really? Depending on the planet, you could have a very mixed and confusing answer. Because our planet provides a consistent pattern, and it is all that way know as far as time is concerned, we have to stick with it. But, I think it would be fun if we used a Neptune calendar. It takes over 160 years for Neptune to make a full rotation around the sun.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Planets Tagged With: Mercury, Neptune, Planet, Pluto

Pluto No More

One of the most exciting astronomical decisions made in our lifetime is the decision to reclassify Pluto from the status of a planet, to the status of a dwarf planet. This has been a highly contested decision, and many astronomers do not necessarily agree with the decision. This landmark event comes after the definition of a planet is fully explained, and therefore Pluto does not fit the bill.
A planet is defined as a large star that is round in shape due to its own spinning and force. It also must be in control of the area near the planet. This would mean that any moons would have to be under the force of the spin of the planet of the orbit it shares. The original definition was that a large being had to have a moon within its orbit. The moon must also be somewhat smaller than the plant it orbits. In the case of Pluto, its moon is only half its size, and not necessarily under Plutos control.
The problem lies in that in order to be a planet, it is a rare claim. In fact, without Pluto, there are only eight planets in our solar system. With Pluto being added to the list of dwarf planet status, it joins a club of over 40 planets that are close by, and hundreds more that are known in our galaxy. The reclassification will bring about major changes on how the solar system is taught, how textbooks are written, and how the solar system is appears for school children.
All in all, what this means, is that there is a change within out galaxy, and that there will probably be many more to come. This is merely one instance of things that could affect the world we know in the future.

Filed Under: Planets Tagged With: Dwarf planet, Planet, Pluto, Solar System

Mars Water Still a Mystery

: Image via Wikipedia

Despite the advances in astronomical tools, such as new high-powered telescopes like the Spitzer and Mars space rovers, the red planet still holds mysteries for researchers. From previous study, astronomers and astrophysicists can tell that Mars once had oceans. But, one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the planet is the disappearance of the water.

Even though NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Spirit is stuck in action, the device is still transmitting valuable data. It appears to have found proof that water did seep underground from the planet’s surface. The European Space Agency’s Mars Express probe discovered the first evidence of ice/water on Mars. Later, NASA confirmed the discovery with its Phoenix lander and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Using the new information from Spirit, researchers hypothesize that the water turned into ice, which then melted. At that point in time, the dirt may have absorbed the melting water. Ironically enough, the new information may be a result of Spirit’s unfortunate condition. The rover has been stuck in a sand trap. The machine’s wheels continue to churn in the sand, digging the machine deeper into the Martian dirt. This process has actually allowed the rover to expose layers of dirt.

Just as geologists and other scientists can tell much about Earth’s history from its dirt layers, researchers may be able to use the date from these newly uncovered layers to learn more about the red giant. For example, it looks like the layers have different mineral compositions. One layer has silica, while another has hematite and gypsum. Layers with ferric sulphates show at deeper levels.

The major changes to Mar’s surface may relate to the lack of a moon. Without something to help stabilize the rotation, the planet tends to tilt. These tilts may in fact cause major elemental changes in the planet’s conditions. As astronomical and space exploration tools continue to develop, many hold out hope that the mystery of Mar’s water may one day have an answer.

Filed Under: Planets Tagged With: European Space Agency, Mars, Mars Exploration Rover, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, NASA, Phoenix (spacecraft), Planet, Water

The Mysteries of the Universe Continue to Unfold

: Image via Wikipedia

Since the beginning of time astronomy and space have intrigued mankind. The number of almanacs, books and guides published is an indication of the popularity of this field of study. There are even giant observatories all over the globe dedicated to star watching. Observatories can be equipped with a high powered telescope or smaller, less advanced equipment depending on location. One high tech observatory if NASA Kepler space telescope.

This vast reaches of space still continue to surprise us with their unfolding mysteries. Each year some new discovery is revealed as satellites find never before known bodies.

The discovery early in 2010 of five exoplanets was a major breakthrough in space exploration. These exoplanets are the first finds from NASA’s program to locate planets outside the Earth’s solar system. They were discovered using NASA’s Kepler space telescope which was designed for that very purpose.

In March 2009, the Kepler space telescope, a spacecraft was launched to identify other planets similar to earth that were orbiting around suns in other galaxies. The planets that have been discovered to date by the Kepler’s space telescope have been classified as giant planets. This means that they are bigger than or equal in size to Jupiter. Jupiter is 141700 km or 88,000 miles at its diameter. This makes its diameter 11 times bigger than that of the Earth. In fact, Jupiter’s mass is over 300 times more than the earth.

It is expected that over time smaller planets further away will be discovered. The major differences between the Kepler and Hubble space telescope are:

•Kepler focuses on one starfield for extended periods unlike the Hubble. In fact, 150,000 stars were selected to be the focus of Kepler. These stars are monitored continuously and simultaneously.
•Kepler’s space telescope field of view is much larger than the Hubble ever was.

It is expected that astronomy lovers will find much to amaze them in the coming years.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Planets, Satellites, Universe Beyond Tagged With: Astronomy, Jupiter, NASA, Solar System