Category Archives: SolarSystem

Ceres: Smallest Dwarf Planet or Biggest Asteroid?

Posted on April 9, 2018 by lexisastronomyblog

In 1801, Ceres was discovered by Father Giuseppe Piazzi, who believed it to be a planet or “new star.” Originally, Ceres was classified as a planet. However, after more objects were discovered in the asteroid belt, Ceres was demoted to an asteroid in the 1850s. Today, Ceres is classified as a dwarf planet. Ceres is … Continue reading Ceres: Smallest Dwarf Planet or Biggest Asteroid? → Continue reading →

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Halley’s Comet

Posted on April 9, 2018 by dempsy

Halley’s Comet is well-known to people and it might be the most famous comet in the world. However, people know it but most of people do not know what makes Comet Halley famous. In fact, Comet Halley is famous because it is the only short-period comet which regularly comes close to Earth and be visible … Continue reading Halley’s Comet → Continue reading →

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The Giant Red Whale

Posted on April 9, 2018 by haleytopper04

In 2015, scientists discovered what they call the giant red whale on Pluto’s surface. This is simply a red part of Pluto that vaguely takes the shape of a whale. Their theory is that it was created by a giant impactor, most likely the same one that lead to Charon, Pluto’s large moon. We knew … Continue reading The Giant Red Whale Continue reading →

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Life on Europa?

Posted on April 9, 2018 by interplanetira

For thousands of years, humans have considered the possibility of life existing on other planets – specifically those in our own solar system. Perhaps one of the most prime candidates for harboring life in our Solar System (other than our own planet, of course) is Europa – one of Jupiter’s 4 largest moons. Europa, the […] Continue reading →

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The End of the World?

Posted on April 8, 2018 by Katie

There are so many objects in the solar system that coexist with Earth in this universe. These objects range range from other planets, moons, asteroids and comets. But what would happen if they stopped playing nice with each other and ended up colliding? Specifically, what would happen if a comet hit the Earth? Well, that … Continue reading The End of the World? Continue reading →

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Odd One Out

Posted on April 8, 2018 by Katie

  Neptune’s moon Triton is a peculiar world in the Solar System. It just doesn’t fit with any solar system formation theory and the mysteries still remain. Why does the moon orbit backwards? Why is the surface so smooth? Is there a subsurface ocean? If a collision caused the backwards orbit, why does Triton still … Continue reading Odd One Out Continue reading →

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Some Interesting Facts about Uranus

Posted on April 7, 2018 by lin0214

Uranus is one of the gas giants in our solar system. Unlike most of the objects in our solar system, Uranus is rotating in an opposite direction, which means it is rotating clockwise if viewed from Earth’s north pole. However, this is not a unique feature. In fact, Venus does this as well. Uranus’s tile … Continue reading Some Interesting Facts about Uranus → Continue reading →

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Blog 6: Jupiter Fluid Dynamics

Posted on April 7, 2018 by battismm

Jupiter has a very thick atmosphere with lots of temperature difference causing strong convective currents. These convective currents and Jupiter’s fast rotation give the planet it’s colorful bands and demonstrate different fluid behaviors. The image above, captured by the Juno Spacecraft, shows a storm in Jupiter’s atmosphere. The eddies are similar to that caused by vortex … Continue reading Blog 6: Jupiter Fluid Dynamics Continue reading →

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Facts About Callisto

Posted on April 7, 2018 by lin0214

Callisto is one of Jupiter’s moons, and it is one of the four Galilean moons. Compared to Earth’s Moon, Callisto’s diameter is about 1.4 times that of the Moon and 1.5 times in mass. The distance between its parent planet, Jupiter, and Callisto is about 5 times the distance between Earth and our Moon. From … Continue reading Facts About Callisto → Continue reading →

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The Great Titan

Posted on April 7, 2018 by adventuresinspace

Titan Picture Source Titan is Saturn’s Largest moon (the second largest moon in the solar system), and was discovered in 1655. Titan is almost the size of the largest moon, which is Ganymede (Jupiter’s largest moon). However, despite their similar size and relatively similar distance from the Sun, Titan has characteristics that Ganymede does not. … Continue reading The Great Titan → Continue reading →

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