Know your new Solar System

glactus · #1 08-12-2006, 12:09 AM

Know your new Solar system

http://www.cygo.com/ref/knowyour.jpg

This insertion is to keep you up to date with the composition of our new Solar system.

What Planets it now comprises of. What names are given to the two groups - the inner and outer Planets. What each Planet is made up of. Where the Asteroid belt is and where the home of the comets is located.

Since the invention of the telescope, three more planets were discovered in our solar system: Uranus (1781), Neptune (1846), and Pluto (1930).

Recently Though, pluto has been downgraded to a Dwarf Planet status, leaving eight recognized Planets that make up our Solar System.

In addition, there are thousands of small bodies such as asteroids and comets. Most of the asteroids orbit in a region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, while the home of comets lies far beyond the orbit of Pluto, in the Oort Cloud.

The four planets closest to the Sun -- Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars -- are called terrestrial planets because they have solid rocky surfaces. The four large planets beyond the orbit of Mars -- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune -- are called gas giants. Tiny, distant Dwarf Planet Pluto has a solid but icier surface than the terrestrial planets.

Nearly every planet -- and some of the moons -- has an atmosphere. Earth's atmosphere is primarily nitrogen and oxygen. Venus has a thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide.

Mars' carbon dioxide atmosphere is extremely thin, while Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are composed primarily of hydrogen and helium.

http://www.cygo.com/ref/girl.gif

Glactus

johnno · #2 08-12-2006, 01:46 AM

Hi Glactus,

Thanks for that link.

And a warm welcome to IIS.

Regards.John

iceman (Mike) · #3 08-12-2006, 06:11 AM

Hi Glactus,

to IIS!

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background.. what scope(s) do you own?

How did you find out about us?

I've moved this thread to the Astronomy Science, as it appears to be a discussion about planets rather than an image - hope that's ok.

Even months later, I think most people still call Pluto a planet, and I think it will remain that way... I heard somewhere that they're even considering putting Pluto "back in the mix" and calling it a planet again? Is that true?

glactus · #4 08-12-2006, 11:50 AM

Thanks for that. I am having difficulty in inserting the images and am not sure if I will be able to continue as a mamber as my images are an important part of my insertions. Anyhow, Glactus is a retired engineer and an old Astronomer 75. He has his own 16 inch meade cassegrain lxd 200, fully automated. His wife tells all her friends that he lives in the Cosmos.

He has belonged to an American Space website for 8 years and inserted thousands of articles, all with images and animations, but now that site has included jaz and political debate. He is looking for a vibrant site and finds it no easy task. All forms of Cosmology and space exploration is his strong point. All these articles have been filed, so I have ready access to them, and all in their original form. My insertions have been one each day.

You will find Glactus easy to get along with, never a harsh word for anyone, never interfere with the running of a site in which he is a member. Always offering encouragement at all times. Just a humble bloke of no importance.

The universe has made him that way.

Glactus

glactus · #5 08-12-2006, 12:11 PM

Thanks Iceman, I got the site from the web. It looked good as I was able to see up to date insertions, that's a benchmark to look for - something vibrant. In reference to Pluto, no I don't think it will become a planet in that sense again. Pity, and I was disappointed with the discision, but never mind, Little Pluto will always be a planet as far as we Astronomers are concerned. like all things in life, the Space environment is rapidly changing and we must change with it. Today things are Space tourism, and of course the return to the Moon, Mars and beyond.

What is good news though is that NASA is trying to involve international partners in these ventures, so the Cosmos may be responsible for bringing us all together in the end - lets hope so.

Glactus

Argonavis (William) · #6 10-12-2006, 06:17 PM

The soalr system once held 18 planets...
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=13373

and I think the IAU was wrong not to designate the 8 planets "classical planets" as distinct from the dwarf planets.

mickoking · #7 10-12-2006, 06:56 PM

9 planets sounds more rounded than 8.

G'day and welcome glactus

Gargoyle_Steve (Steve) · #8 11-12-2006, 01:27 AM

I think what I don't like about the whole Pluto thing was that it was never a decision about Pluto per se, it was a decision that was based around how to limit the number of bodies within the planet category, Pluto was sadly a casuality of this decision.

Why can't we consider accepting a solar system model that contain 12, or 18, or even more planets? After all the community readily accepts the fact that Jupiter (and Saturn) each have dozens of moons, in fact there are approximately 140 known "moons" presently in the solar system of which 2 are larger even than Mercury. Should we also make plans to somehow exclude Mercury from the planet club as well?

I know this "official" decision is a done and dusted issue - for now at least

- but I know that I still consider Pluto as a planet when I think about it.

Thanks again William for that great link referring to an 18 planet solar system, I think that's a great read!

Cheers fellow planet hunters.

xelasnave · #9 11-12-2006, 08:36 AM

Greetings Glactus and welcome to iceinspace from me as well .
I hope you can resolve the posting of images so that you feel comfortable with posting here. Have you considered something like the "photo bucket site" that one can post relatively larger images and linking to that site from your particular post.
Your experience and interests would be most welcome here I am sure.
I like your view of things and I for one look forward to any input you care to provide.
The people here are very decent from my experience and I expect that I would be the worst "crack pot" you could encounter but I dont like Jass or Politics but thirst for any interesting astronomy stuff.. Just dont mention gravity within my ear shot..it is a sickness that I can not control my interest in that subject.
I hope we can see something of your work in the near future.
best wishes
alex

h0ughy (David) · #10 11-12-2006, 04:42 PM

A 16" lx200, well then, nuff said - where's your happy snaps?

nice to meet you as in the third person!

styleman333 · #11 12-12-2006, 04:58 AM

hahahah houghy ,
Was a little strange , i was thinkin the same.........