On January 21, 1979, a rare phenomenon occurred in our solar system: Neptune, the 8th planet from the Sun, took over Pluto and became the outermost planet as Pluto moved closer due to their highly elliptical orbits. Pluto was still a planet back then (good old days!).
Author Archives: M. Özgür Nevres
The first soft landing on Titan was performed by the Huygens spacecraft on January 14, 2005
![Huygens spacecraft on Titan [artist concept]](https://cdn-0.ourplnt.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Huygens-spacecraft-on-Titan-artist-concept.jpg)
On January 14, 2005, the Huygens spacecraft, the atmospheric entry robotic probe part of the Casini-Huygens mission performed the first soft landing on Titan. As of 2023, it is the only one accomplished in the outer Solar System and was also the first on a moon other than Earth’s, and the most distant landing ever.
10 amazing Uranus facts [the most underrated planet in the solar system]
Uranus looks like a featureless blue-green marble from space. Because of this, most people consider the gas giant “boring” and as a result, it receives the least attention from science enthusiasts. But, actually, the planets in our solar system are all fascinating in their own way, and each one has unique features that make it …
Continue reading “10 amazing Uranus facts [the most underrated planet in the solar system]”
The Year 2023 in Science Fiction
Here’s how science fiction novels and movies imagined the year 2023. Science fiction vs reality: what actually happened?
10 Biggest Spiders in the World
Here are the top 10 biggest spiders in the world, based on leg span:
Spirit Rover landed on Mars on January 4, 2004
On January 4, 2004, NASA’s Spirit Rover landed on Mars. It was a robotic Mars exploration vehicle, and with its twin Opportunity, studied the history of climate and water at sites on Mars where conditions may once have been favorable to life. Operational from January 4, 2004, to March 22, 2010, Spirit far outlasted her …
Continue reading “Spirit Rover landed on Mars on January 4, 2004”
The first soft landing on the far side of the Moon was performed on January 3, 2019, by China’s Chang’e 4
On January 3, 2019, China’s lunar lander and rover Chang’e 4 achieved the first soft landing on the far side of the Moon in the history of humanity’s space exploration. It’s a space exploration success no nation or space agency (including NASA) has accomplished even as of January 2023.
How long do great white sharks live?
Great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) can live for a very long time, with an estimated lifespan of 70 years or more. However, it is difficult to determine the exact lifespan of the great whites because they are not easy to study in the wild. And they cannot be kept in captivity, they start to weaken …
How many elephants are left in the world? [2023]
Elephants are wonderful creatures for many reasons! They are intelligent and social animals that form close bonds with one another and live in complex family groups. They are also highly adaptable and can survive in a variety of different habitats, from the savannas of Africa to the rainforests of Asia. In addition, they play important …
Continue reading “How many elephants are left in the world? [2023]”
Sponge City Concept can be an answer to increased flood and water crisis
Sponge City is a concept in urban planning and design that aims to make cities more resilient to flooding and other natural disasters by designing urban areas to absorb, store, and use water more efficiently. This can be achieved through a variety of strategies, including green infrastructure, permeable pavement, and rainwater harvesting systems.
