Like Mercury, rocky planets may undergo changes due to internal forces which push and pull at crustal material, creating landforms such as volcanoes, mountains, and canyons. These forces are known as tectonics and may contribute to landform formation such as volcanoes. Scientists have various hypotheses as to what caused Mercury’s scarred surface, one being its…
Earth is currently the only planet known to support life, and large radio dishes are actively searching distant stars for signs of alien life. Yet there is so much more to discover about this extraordinary planet we call home. Here are 10 intriguing facts about Earth to help get your learning underway. 1. The Earth…
Astrobiologists and advocates of human space colonization have long searched for planets similar to Earth in terms of conditions – with water bodies and an atmosphere that offers protection from cosmic radiation. Exoplanets circling stars other than our Sun are now estimated in the thousands, yet finding an Earth-like planet within its host star’s habitable…
Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, will come closer to Earth than ever in 59 years this Monday, making itself visible in the night sky as an enormous, bright spot. Astronomers can use any telescope to view its many moons and Great Red Spot (an oval twice wider than Earth) through telescopes. It…
Have you seen satellites zipping across the sky, taking minutes to travel from horizon to horizon? They appear tranquil but in reality are moving at hundreds of kilometers per second! Satellites help us explore our world and solar system with greater depth. They provide weather forecasts, route cell phone calls, and take pictures of Earth…
Last week, scientists announced the discovery of an Earth-like planet orbiting Proxima Centauri — our closest star and source of life — which might support life. This exoplanet represents one of the nearest possible candidate planets for human habitation ever found so far. But how close are we cosmically speaking? To answer that question, we…
The Earth is an immense, diverse planet teeming with life of all sorts, boasting thick atmosphere, vast oceans and towering mountains. If we were to dissect the Earth into piles of its various elements, they might look something like this: 32.1 percent iron, 30 percent oxygen, 15.1 percent silicon and 13.9% magnesium. 1. The Earth…
The closest planet to Earth changes over time depending on where each one stands in relation to the Sun in their orbital path. Jupiter will come closer to Earth than it has in 59 years on Monday, making its presence visible for those with an effective telescope. Venus Venus, our closest planet neighbor, lies approximately…
Astronomers have discovered a planet the size of Earth which orbits its host star within the habitable zone – meaning its surface could support liquid water life. Astronomers in search of alien life will take heart in this discovery, which indicates that rocky planets are far more widespread than previously assumed. Kepler-1649c Astronomers using data…
