Category Archives: SolarSystem

The Frozen World: Pluto

Posted on April 9, 2023 by sahilreddy2

Pluto’s Icey Surface taken from the New Horizons Spacecraft Pluto is one of the most interesting “planets” in our solar system and for decades now has had constant debate surrounding it. Pluto has an extremely thin atmosphere, one that is a lot thinner than ours on earth that is made up of primarily nitrogen. Its […] Continue reading →

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Post 6

Posted on April 9, 2023 by berlinbe

Many people may remember the last total solar eclipse that was visible from North America. It occurred on August 21, 2017. The next total solar eclipse that covers North America, and the only one for the next 20 years, will occur on April 8, 2024—almost one year from today. Total solar eclipses are a fascinating […] Continue reading →

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Why is Jupiter the way it is?

Posted on April 9, 2023 by cuia2

Have you ever wondered why Jupiter looks so colorful? Well look no further than Jupiter’s atmosphere, where you’ll find similar and yet different features from Earth’s own atmosphere. Jupiter’s atmosphere consists of the thermosphere, stratosphere, and the troposphere, much like Earth’s atmosphere, yet where they differ is what each layer consists of. Jupiter’s thermosphere is […] Continue reading →

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What is up with Io?

Posted on April 9, 2023 by cuia2

Today I wanted to talk about one of the most fascinating moons in the Solar System, Io is one of the four Galilean moons that orbits Jupiter, which are each large enough to be counted as planets or dwarf planets if they orbited the Sun. Io is covered in snow, and yet is by far […] Continue reading →

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Touching the Sun

Posted on April 9, 2023 by andrewccascio

Many space missions are aimed outwards, away from the center of our solar system into the deep unknown. Fewer are aimed inwards, because what else is there to explore? The Sun is a fiery ball of extraordinary mass that we likely have no hope of making contact with soon, but how close can we get? […] Continue reading →

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Miranda

Posted on April 9, 2023 by aaronxu041009

Uranus is the only planet in the Solar System that rotates on its side, with an axis tilt of 97.77 degrees. This is most likely the result of a large collision not long after the planet formed. Among Uranus’ moons, there is one in particular that has drawn my attention, one that is also likely […] Continue reading →

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Callisto, The Ugly Duckling

Posted on April 9, 2023 by andrewccascio

When it comes to Jupiter’s Galilean moons, Callisto is the odd one out. Ganymede is the largest moon in the Solar System, Io is the most volcanically active world in the Solar System, Europa has incredible, potentially life-bearing subsurface liquid oceans, and Callisto… looks as dead as Mercury. It does not take part in the […] Continue reading →

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Strange Dwarf Planets!

Posted on April 9, 2023 by brandodan

We all recognize Pluto as one of the most famous dwarf planets in our solar system. Since its reclassification in 2006, moreover, it has continued to intrigue both astronomers and the general public. From its icy surface to its various moons, Pluto is an incredibly unique world. However, there are many more interesting dwarf planets […] Continue reading →

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Blog6: Kuiper Belt objects

Posted on April 8, 2023 by lucasliu6

The expansive Kuiper Belt, located beyond Neptune’s orbit, has intrigued astronomers as it offers insights into the early stages of our solar system’s formation. Home to numerous icy celestial bodies known as Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs), this region presents crucial information for understanding the development and composition of our cosmic environment. KBOs, encompassing dwarf planets […] Continue reading →

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Ceres, the Celebrity of the Asteroid Belt

Posted on April 8, 2023 by willems49

Despite comprising almost a third of the asteroid belt’s total mass, Ceres is often left out of dwarf planet discussions. However, Ceres is actually pretty unique and could potentially support life in the future. Because of its relative closeness compared to the likes of Pluto, it was the first dwarf planet to be visited by […] Continue reading →

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