Our home planet is a complex and wondrous place, brimming with mysteries and surprises. Yet, in the vast expanse of knowledge we hold about Earth, some misconceptions have taken root. These widely held but incorrect beliefs often stem from outdated textbooks, misunderstood science, or the oversimplification of complex concepts for ease of learning. They range …
Category Archives: Solar System
5 Reasons Why We Should Search for Exomoons
In his video titled “Why Exomoons Are So Important,” astrophysicist David Kipping passionately elucidates five compelling reasons behind the significance of exploring exomoons. With a career-long dedication to the subject, Kipping artfully dissects the role of exomoons in shaping our understanding of the cosmos. Delving into themes like habitability, the Rare Earth hypothesis, moon formation, …
Continue reading “5 Reasons Why We Should Search for Exomoons”
Elizabeth Langdon Williams: The Pioneering “Human Computer” Behind Pluto’s Discovery
Elizabeth Langdon Williams, born in 1879 in Putnam, Connecticut, was more than just an early female graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She played a crucial role in the quest to discover Planet X, now known as Pluto. In an era before the dawn of electronic computers, Elizabeth was a leading figure among …
9 Full Moon Facts and Myths
Moonlit nights have often been the backdrop for tales of mystery and wonder, especially if there’s a full moon. Whether through superstitions or folklore, the moon has been the muse for countless narratives of supernatural occurrences and strange behaviors. But how much of what we’ve heard is truth, and how much is a mere myth? …
Moons of the Solar System: The Complete List [2023 Update]
As of June 2023, there are 290 confirmed moons in our solar system. A moon, also known as a natural satellite, is a celestial body that orbits planets, and asteroids. This number includes only the planetary moons (moons orbiting a planet) plus Pluto’s moons. Here is the list of the known planetary moons in the …
Continue reading “Moons of the Solar System: The Complete List [2023 Update]”
When the Earth is farthest and closest to the Sun? [Perihelion and Aphelion explained]
The Earth’s journey around the Sun is not a perfectly circular orbit but rather an elliptical one. As a result, our planet experiences variations in its distance from the Sun throughout the year. Two significant events in the Earth’s orbit, known as perihelion and aphelion, mark its closest and farthest points from the Sun, respectively.
Saturn’s rings are no more than 400 million years old, study suggests
![Cassini image of Saturn and its rings [October 28, 2016]](https://cdn-0.ourplnt.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Saturn-Cassini-2016-10-28.jpg)
A new study led by physicist Sascha Kempf at the University of Colorado Boulder has upended our understanding of Saturn’s iconic rings, suggesting that they may be much younger than previously believed. According to recent research, the majestic rings encircling the gas giant could be no more than a mere 400 million years old. These …
Continue reading “Saturn’s rings are no more than 400 million years old, study suggests”
Imagine Earth with Saturn’s Rings [It would offer breathtaking views!]
The photos of Saturn, with its majestic rings, are a testament to the breathtaking beauty of our solar system. Now, imagine if Earth had a similar feature! The sight of a vibrant ring system surrounding our planet would undoubtedly leave us in awe. The striking contrast of the rings against the blue and green of …
Continue reading “Imagine Earth with Saturn’s Rings [It would offer breathtaking views!]”
Pluto was discovered on February 18, 1930
Pluto was discovered on February 18, 1930, by the American astronomer Clyde W. Tombaugh (February 4, 1906 – January 17, 1997) at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Neptune became the outermost planet on January 21, 1979
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!).
