Category Archives: SolarSystem

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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Blog 5: Saturn’s Rings

Posted on April 7, 2018 by battismm

Saturn’s most distinct feature is its stunning rings, visible even through basic telescopes! Thanks to flyby and orbiter missions around the planet, we have wonderful photos of Saturn and its rings. The image above shows the rings on the night side of Saturn, part of which fall into the planet’s shadows and the other part … Continue reading Blog 5: Saturn’s Rings Continue reading →

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Black Holes Discovered in Milky Way Center

Posted on April 7, 2018 by jonsastroblog

For many years now, the astronomy community has believed that there must be a single super-massive black hole at the center of our galaxy, but new research done by astronomers at Columbia University may have changed that belief. According to their research, data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory has shown that there are at least … Continue reading Black Holes Discovered in Milky Way Center → Continue reading →

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Black Holes Discovered in Milky Way Center

Posted on April 7, 2018 by jonsastroblog

For many years now, the astronomy community has believed that there must be a single super-massive black hole at the center of our galaxy, but new research done by astronomers at Columbia University may have changed that belief. According to their research, data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory has shown that there are at least … Continue reading Black Holes Discovered in Milky Way Center → Continue reading →

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