Which planet fascinates you the most?

[LewisM]

Title says it all.

For me, the fascination lies with Neptune, as well as the dwarf Eris.

I am so impatiently awaiting the day we finally get to see Pluto in detail too.

[glend]

Some of the moons seem to be far more interesting than the planetary parent for the simple reason that they harbour a chance for some form of life in oceans under the ice, take Europa for example.

[JB80]

That's a real toughie. Good question.

The two big giants are nothing short of spectacular and not only can I look at pics of them all day I believe I stand a chance of being able to image them well one day. Not only that their atmospheres are fascinating, you can witness things crashing into them and they are probably aside from the Sun and Earth the most dynamic objects in the solar system. Then you have their moons which are a whole other thing.

That said I chose Mars, sooo many questions and possibilities remain about it's past. Will we possibly put a human on there one day. It would be a geologists and possibly a biologists dream.
Also it remains elusive to me with my modest equipment.

[pluto]

Exactly what you said Lewis, except I'd add Venus, always been fascinated ever since those intriguing pictures from the Venera landers, it would be amazing to overcome the immense technical challenges and have a rover (or what we would call a submarine here) on the surface or a balloon/blimp/aircraft in the atmosphere.
Of course Europa, Ganymede, Enceladus, Titan, and many of Neptunes moons are of huge interest as well.

Can't wait for New Horizons encounter! And Juno!

Has everyone seen the amazing shots of Phobos occluding Deimos from Curiosity this week?

[DJT]

Earth....the mechanics of us.., ie how do you get from a string to a sentient being who forgets to remove a dust cap but knows where to find an object 5,000,000,000,000,000 kms away through a teeny weeny piece of glass?

Beats me :shrug:

[Steffen]

Call me Mr Unadventurous, but it's Earth for me, too. Especially its oceans. The fact that we know the topology of Mars pretty well but that of the bottom of our oceans hardly at all fascinates me. It seems easier to study the moons of Saturn than the obscure, cloaked depths of our own oceans.

Cheers
Steffen.

[noeyedeer]

Neptune fascinated me tonight, spent an hour or so star hopping, from the square in Pegasus and trying again from Fomalhaut, no success ... I guess I need to learn the northern sky a bit more. its a bit washed out with surfers paradise being in that direction.

like others have said ... Earth is the most fascinating planet for me. the oceans are an abyss of undiscovered life ... and to think we know so little about them, there's hope for life on other planets/moons or whatever.

matt

[shenanigans000]

Good question!

I do have a soft spot for Neptune with it's gorgeous colour and amazing weather.

But really I'd have to go with Uranus - for it's lovely colour, and it's mystery. Just how did it wind up on it's side like that???

[Ric]

I'd have to say Pluto is holding my imagination at the moment.

I cant wait until the flyby in 2015 and those first close up images.

[casstony]

Mars because of the potential to set up a permanent manned base there in the not too distant future. While robotic missions are great for research, there's nothing quite so exciting as the prospect of watching humans walking (and working) on another planet.

[rustigsmed]

good question Lewis.

I voted Venus, probably the most 'alien' world out there. although saying that, I am HANGING to see the surface of Pluto. Brings home the fact that we are still explorers.

[LewisM]

I must admit to a profound loving of our own planet - amazing how "alien" it can be when off the beaten track, away from civilisation. I have many a time day dreamed I was on another planet :)

Neptune has a mystique I just cannot explain. It has always thrilled me more than any other, but with the discovery of the TNO's, I fell "in love' with Eris moreso than the others. I fear we will not see it in any detail in my lifetime.

Bring on 2015... I can hardly wait! This is going to be one for the history books, FINALLY, after seeming stagnation in proper research beyond Saturn for many decades.

[AG Hybrid]

Earth. Durr? Because that's where Kate Upton lives!

[gary]

The Emerald Planet has to be way up on anyone's list -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd4jZoKGK5A

[UniPol]

Planet X, I believe it is on the other side of our sun and is in a synchronous orbit with us here on earth but we cannot see it, what a shame. It is most likely to be the antithisis of our planet but one can only speculate of course.

[LewisM]

Damn, you are right Steve - I should have added Nibiru.

[bigjoe]

I also choose Earth, just ahead of Mars (all that water in the past).

The rest though beautiful and mysterious are just that.

Possibly harbouring life, or previously so.

There seems soo much more to do here on Earth and discover.

Though who knows.

The last lot of humans could end up colonizing Mars or our Moon at the
rate were going

[Eggmoon]

The most fascinating planet.... is whichever one OUTSIDE our solar system mankind VISITS first.... Whenever that may be.... :D

[mark3d]

Always loved the colour of Neptune. Not much of a criterion but it will do for now :)

[mr bruess]

Uranus.It has a funny and strange name of which many jokes have been made about.LOL

[rcheshire]

http://www.deepflight.com/project/deepflight-challenger/

[Shark Bait]

Mars. The thought of Humans setting up a permanent base captured my imagination as a child. I hope to see it happen in my lifetime.

[UniPol]

Just watch the "Martian Chronicles", what a classic. More to the point though, why wasn't planet X included?

[Marcus10]

I'd say the outer gas giants, Uranus and Neptune. All we have close up is the old Voyager photos and who know if and when the next spacecraft will be sent.

That said, I'm also looking forward to seeing the New Horizons photos of Pluto.

[MichaelSW]

Saturn was my first Astronomy "Wow" as a 7 year old, but 48 years later, Jupiter fascinates me the most. Being able to watch the mechanics of a mini solar system in action with satellite and shadow transits, occultations and eclipses and appreciate what is happening, never ceases to amaze. I make good use of the 'Jupiter Moon Events' pages in the annual Astronomy Australia guide. Setting up someone to unexpectedly watch their first satellite eclipse is fun.