Category: Astronomy

Top 10 Largest Non-Planets in the Solar System

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date March 17, 2019
2 Comments on Top 10 Largest Non-Planets in the Solar System

The moons of the Solar System. If some of these moons were situated in different locations (orbiting the Sun instead of another planet), astronomers would define them as planets. Seven of the top ten largest non-planets in the Solar System are all moons.

The Solar System is a vast and fascinating place that is home to a diverse range of celestial bodies, ranging from small asteroids to giant planets. However, there are also a number of objects that fall somewhere in between – they are not planets, but they are also not small enough to be considered asteroids or comets.

In this article, we will explore the top 10 largest non-planets in the Solar System. From massive moons to dwarf planets, these objects are fascinating in their own right and play an important role in our understanding of the cosmos. Let’s take a closer look at these intriguing objects and learn more about what makes them so unique.

Solar System Astronomy

How large the Sun looks from other planets [Apparent Size of the Sun]

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date March 3, 2019
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Apparent size of the sun from the planets of the Solar System.

Have you ever wondered what the Sun would look like from the other planets in our solar system? Here is a visual showing the apparent size of the Sun from the planets of the solar system, including Earth.

Solar System Astronomy

FarFarOut: the new farthest object in our solar system

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date February 26, 2019
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Farfarout distance from the Sun — While searching for the hypothetical Planet X, Scott Sheppard, an astronomer at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C. has found what might be the most distant object ever identified in the Solar System. It orbits the Sun at a massive distance of 140 Astronomical Units (AU), and for now, the astronomers are jokingly calling the new object “FarFarOut". It is further away from the previous record holder, the "Farout" (far-out-there). (Scott Sheppard/Carnegie Institution for Science)

Meet Farfarout: in December 2018, astronomers discovered the farthest known object in our solar system, which is about 120 times farther than Earth is from the Sun (120 Astronomical Units -AU) and named it “Farout” (far-out-there). But its record didn’t last long. Now, while searching for the hypothetical Planet X, Scott Sheppard, an astronomer at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C. has found what might be the most distant object ever identified in the Solar System. It orbits the Sun at a massive distance of ~~140~~ ~132 (see the update below) Astronomical Units (AU), and for now, the astronomers are jokingly calling the new object “FarFarOut”.

Astronomy Physics

How many great minds does it take to invent a telescope?

Post author By Aeon Magazine
Post date February 2, 2019
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Isaac Newton's reflecting telescope of 1671. The Newtonian telescope, also called the Newtonian reflector or just the Newtonian, is a type of reflecting telescope invented by the English scientist Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727), using a concave primary mirror and a flat diagonal secondary mirror. Newton's first reflecting telescope was completed in 1668 and is the earliest known functional reflecting telescope. The Newtonian telescope's simple design makes it very popular with amateur telescope makers. Photo ©The Royal Society

On 11 January 1672, the Fellows of the British Royal Society were treated to a demonstration of Isaac Newton’s reflecting telescope, which formed images with mirrors rather than with the lenses that had been used since the time of Galileo. Afterward, the fellows hailed Newton as the inventor of this marvelous new instrument, an attribution that sticks to the present.

However, this linear historical account obscures a far more interesting, convoluted story. Newton’s claim was immediately challenged on behalf of two other contenders, James Gregory, and Laurent Cassegrain. More confounding, the earliest known concept of using a curved mirror to focus light predated Newton by more than 1,500 years; the final realisation of a practical reflecting telescope post-dated him by more than a half-century.

Solar System Astronomy

Moon Drawings of Galileo Galilei (1609)

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date January 29, 2019
1 Comment on Moon Drawings of Galileo Galilei (1609)

Galileo Galilei's Moon Drawings (cropped) — Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer Galileo Galilei's (1564-1642) moon drawings. These were the first realistic images of the Moon, due to Galileo's training in art and an understanding of chiaroscuro (a technique for shading light and dark) he understood that the shadows he was seeing were actually mountains and craters.

Italian astronomer, physicist, engineer, and polymath Galileo Galilei’s (15 February 1564 – 8 January 1642) moon drawings. These were the first realistic images of the Moon, due to Galileo’s training in art and an understanding of chiaroscuro (a technique for shading light and dark) he understood that the shadows he was seeing were actually mountains and craters.

Solar System Astronomy

Shadow of the Moon during a solar eclipse (amazing video)

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date January 27, 2019
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Shadow of the moon during the solar eclipse on March 20, 2015 — A total solar eclipse occurred on March 20, 2015. It began at 08:30GMT in North West Europe and moved towards the northeast but still in northern Europe. It was most visible from the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Faroe Islands, northern Norway and Murmansk Oblast. The shadow began its pass off the south coast of Greenland. It then moved to the northeast, passing between Iceland and the United Kingdom before moving over the Faroe Islands and the northernmost islands of Norway. The shadow of the eclipse was visible in varying degrees all over Europe. For example, London experienced an 85% partial solar eclipse while points north of the Faroe Islands in the Norwegian Sea saw a complete solar eclipse. Three chartered airliners flew above the clouds, giving passengers a slightly prolonged view. Astrophotographer Martin Junius captured this amazing image during the solar eclipse.

This… is… amazing! Astrophotographer Martin Junius recorded this stunning video of the total solar eclipse on March 20, 2015, during the E-Flight AB 1000. In the video, you can see the shadow of the moon moving across the clouds below. The plane was 35,000 feet (10,600 meters) above the Northern Atlantic / Norwegian Sea when the video was recorded.

Solar System Animals Astronomy Evolution Life on Earth Planet Earth Plants

Earth without Moon: what would it be like?

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date January 27, 2019
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Earth without moon - what it would be like — Have you ever wondered what Earth would be like without Moon? Without its closest celestial companion, our planet’s tides, climate, and even the length of days would change dramatically. The Moon stabilizes Earth’s axis, influencing seasons and weather patterns. Without it, life as we know it would be profoundly different.

The Moon is the Earth’s only natural satellite. It is also the fifth-largest natural satellite in the Solar System and the largest among planetary satellites relative to the size of the planet that it orbits. It formed about 4.51 billion years ago from the debris left over after a giant impact between Earth and a Mars-sized body called Theia (this is known as the Giant Impact Hypothesis and is the most widely accepted explanation of the formation of the Moon). This impact happened not long after the Earth has been formed. But, what if that giant impact never happened? What would the Earth without Moon be like?

Solar System Astronomy Planet Earth

Meteorites do not fall to Earth

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date January 23, 2019
No Comments on Meteorites do not fall to Earth

A Leonid meteor during the peak of Leonids in 2009. The Leonids (/ˈliːənɪdz/ lee-ə-nidz) are a prolific meteor shower associated with the comet Tempel-Tuttle. The Leonids get their name from the location of their radiant in the constellation Leo: the meteors appear to radiate from that point in the sky. Their proper Greek name should be Leontids (Λεοντίδαι, Leontídai), but the word was initially constructed as a Greek/Latin hybrid[citation needed] and it has been used since. They peak in the month of November. Photo: wikipedia

When a meteoroid hits Earth, it’s not because the space rock has “fallen out of” its orbit. It’s because its orbit crosses over Earth’s orbit at the exact right (or wrong) moment.

Space Exploration Astronomy Solar System

5 space probes leaving the solar system (for now)

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date January 19, 2019
1 Comment on 5 space probes leaving the solar system (for now)

Positions of the five space probes which leaving the solar system. Image: NASA

As of 2019, only five space probes are leaving the solar system: Pioneer 10, Pioneer 11, Voyager 1, Voyager 2, and New Horizons. The Voyagers already left the solar system and entered interstellar space (Voyager 1 on August 25, 2012, and Voyager 2 on November 5, 2018. The others also will leave the heliosphere (see notes 1) and reach interstellar space in a few years.

All of these spacecraft were launched by NASA.

Space Exploration Astronomy Mars Physics Solar System

Speed of Light [Perfect Visual Explanations]

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date January 18, 2019
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The speed of light is the Universal speed limit – nothing can travel faster than light. In the vacuum (commonly denoted c), its exact value is 299,792,458 meters per second (around 186,000 miles per second). In other words, if you could travel at the speed of light, you could go around the Earth 7.5 times in one second.