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Category Archives: Planet Rings
solar system superlatives: Saturn
Welcome back to solar system superlatives! Last time, we learned about Mars and the breathtaking enormity of Olympus Mons, the largest mountain in our solar system. Now, let’s take a look at my personal favorite of the giants: Saturn. Needless to say, Saturn wins the prize of “coolest rings in the solar system.” Just takeContinue reading “solar system superlatives: Saturn” Continue reading
earth’s rings?
Ever look at a picture of Saturn (or anything else with rings) and think “Wow, I wonder what those rings are made of?” Spoiler alert – they’re just very pretty rocks and ices and dusts. How about this one – Ever look up at the Moon (or any other moon) and think “Wow, I wonderContinue reading “earth’s rings?” Continue reading
The Lesser Known Planetary Rings
When quizzed about planetary characteristics in elementary school, the typical questioned asked when referring to Saturn is, “Which planet in the solar system has rings?” While answering Saturn is not incorrect, it isn’t completely correct either. Other planets with rings in our solar system are Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune. A more accurate way to askContinue reading “The Lesser Known Planetary Rings” Continue reading
Posted in Class, Planet Rings, SolarSystem
Tagged astro2110, blog5
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Saturn’s Rings and Shepherd Moons
One topic regarding Saturn’s rings that I found extremely interesting was the concept of its Shepherd Moons and how they contribute to the uniformity of the rings. If my understanding and memory are correct, this phenomenon is governed by conservation of energy. Essentially, the moons are on opposite sides of the ring, where the moon … Continue reading Saturn’s Rings and Shepherd Moons → Continue reading
Posted in Physics, Planet Rings, Science
Tagged astro2110, blog3
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Your Zodiac Sign is Wrong: 3 Misconceptions You Have About the Night-Sky
We all get it. You’re a Capricorn or a Taurus or a Sagittarius or a(n) [any other zodiac constellation]. You’ve read all of your horoscopes, and they fit your personality soooo well. “This is so me,” you might yell to your friends, completely disregarding the fact that they don’t care which vague internet prediction you identify with. […] Continue reading
Posted in Aliens, Class, Dwarf Planets, Exoplanets, Galaxies, General, Historical, Instruments, Jovians, Light, Moons, Observables, Outreach, Physics, Planet Rings, Public Policy, Science, Small SS Objects, SolarSystem, Space Travel, Stars, Sun, Terrestrials, Universe
Tagged astro2110, blog2, Misconceptions, seasons, zodiac signs
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If Earth had Rings
One of the most distinctive astronomical features of our solar system is the brilliant ring system of Saturn. Due to their position, scale and material composition, Saturn’s rings have a visibility and tone not present in the ring systems of other planets. I wondered what it would look like if earth had rings and what […] Continue reading
Posted in Jovians, Planet Rings, Terrestrials
Tagged astro201, blog7, rings
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Saturn 2.0
So all the planets know that Saturn’s rings give it a really over-inflated ego. But now there’s good news! Maybe it’ll quit bragging now that it looks like there’s another planet with a bigger ring system. Scientists think they’ve found an extrasolar planet with an elaborate ring system, the first discovery of a planet with… Continue reading
Put a Ring on It
An interesting characteristic that all the jovian planets possess is their rings. The most remarkable and noticeable of these are Saturn’s, which extend hundreds of thousands of kilometers wide. However, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune all have rings as well, on a much smaller scale. Although the rings are rather wide, they are only 1-1000 m… Continue reading Put a Ring on It Continue reading
Posted in Jovians, Planet Rings
Tagged astro201, blog7, rings, Solar System
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Blog Post #6: Gas Giant Rings
Universe Today Very few people know that Saturn is not the only planet in our solar system that has rings. …
Posted in Jovians, Planet Rings
Tagged astro201, blog6, gas giants, planets, rings, Solar System
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Saturn’s Rings
In the outer solar system, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all have rings, but Saturn’s are by far the largest and most spectacular. Galileo was the first to discover them in 1610, but for years they remained a mystery and much is still unknown about them. In the 1980s, the Voyager missions got a closer […] Continue reading