Like Earth, Mars rotates and completes one day every 24 hours; however, their solar day, known as sol is 39 minutes longer. Astronomers typically refer to Mars days in terms of solar days. This can lead to confusion when planning space missions. Seasons Mars may often be considered Earth’s twin, yet its features remain distinct….
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…
The Sun’s gravity holds together our Solar System, keeping planets, asteroids, meteoroids, as well as microscopic debris in orbit around it. At its core lies nuclear fusion processes which turn hydrogen into helium; all this heat makes up our star. This video from BBC Planet Earth series, hosted by David Attenborough. Volume Comparing planet sizes…
Due to its closeness to the Sun, Mercury experiences extreme temperatures during daylight. At nighttime without an atmosphere to retain warmth, however, its warmth quickly dissipates into space. Earth is second only in density and features an immense iron core, while Venus boasts greyish-brown skin with bright streaks known as crater rays. Temperature Mercury, being…
Voyager spacecraft are our greatest ambassadors into space. Now exploring beyond our solar system’s boundaries, both probes have enough fuel left over to continue transmitting scientific information until 2025. The Voyagers were designed to take advantage of an unlikely alignment among outer planets that enabled them to study two, four and eventually all their unique…
