Mars lies much further from the Sun than Earth, so it doesn’t receive nearly as much heat. Additionally, its thin atmosphere enables solar radiation to quickly escape. Due to this, temperatures change drastically from day to night on Mars, without its thermal blanket retaining heat energy for long. Temperature Mars, unlike Earth, has a thinner…
As you explore our Solar System, it is essential to determine which planets are the closest to Earth in terms of atmospheric proximity and why their atmospheres vary so drastically from each other. Venus, considered Earth’s “sister planet,” can often be confused for being too hot; this is because of its thick carbon dioxide atmosphere…
An Earth analog or Earth twin planet is defined as any planet which shares most of the characteristics found here on our own planet, including geological processes and lifeforms. Astrobiologists and astronomers study such planets in search of extraterrestrial life forms. Scientists have recently identified an increasing number of rocky exoplanets – planets like Earth…
NASA’s Cassini spacecraft has returned an abundance of data about Saturn and its moons, which is revolutionizing our understanding of this fascinating planet. Since 2005, Cassini has conducted an in-depth investigation of Saturn and its rings and moons, uncovering mysteries but leaving others for future scientists to solve. On September 3, it will conclude its…
When sunlight reaches Earth’s atmosphere, it bounces off of molecules. The air molecules scatter light — just like billiard balls do when they collide. The shorter the wavelength of the light, the more it gets scattered. This is why the sun’s light looks blue. Sky Blue Is Due to Rayleigh Scattering Sky blue is a…
Planet Mars lies between Earth and Venus. Travelling at approximately 228 billion km per year from Sun to Matahari, Planet Mars can be seen moving outward from its surface. As its equatorial orbit is circular, so has low altitude, its surface temperature is significantly lower than that of the Moon, giving rise to its classification…
Mars is one of the most interesting planets in our solar system. Throughout history, it has captivated scientists from around the world with its incredible features. Some of the most striking features include a huge volcano, the deepest gorge in the solar system and two small moons, Phobos and Deimos. Water A swathe of Mars…
A surprisingly detailed picture of Mercury is emerging thanks to NASA’s MESSENGER mission that spent four years in orbit about the Sun’s innermost planet. Its rocky terrain has similarities to lunar landscapes, but it’s far denser than the Moon, with a metallic core that takes up 61 percent of its volume. Geology Mercury is a…
Mars is one of the smallest and driest planets in the solar system, with a year that’s almost twice as long as Earth’s. But it also has a fair share of water—mostly in the form of ice. Seasonal ice caps and gullies abound, along with evidence that the Red Planet once had an atmosphere rich…
