Jun 14

Solar System Diagrams

The Solar System No Comments »

Solar system diagrams help readers visualize the actual positions of the planets in the solar system. They provide an easy understanding of our earth and the solar system.

The orbit diagrams of the solar system show the planes of the earth and the comets. Comet orbit diagrams show the comets’ relative movement with the sun. There are two types of orbit diagrams - outer solar system orbit diagrams and inner solar system orbit diagrams.

Outer solar system orbit diagrams show the positions of all asteroids and comets with semi-major axes. They also show orbits and positions of planets such as Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and comets like Halley and Hale-Bopp. In outer solar system orbit diagrams, asteroids and comets are shown in separate colors or blocks.

The inner solar system diagrams show the positions of all numbered asteroids and all numbered comets. The positions and orbits of the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Jupiter are also shown. In the diagram, asteroids and comets are represented in separate blocks or colors. Top diagrams and bottom diagrams of the inner solar system can also be plotted. The inner solar system diagram shows the location of the asteroid belt and the distribution of interplanetary dust.

Separate comet and asteroid orbit diagrams can be viewed using a java based orbit applet. The distribution of orbital elements for most known inner solar system asteroids and comets are shown using distribution diagrams such as distribution diagram of elements for comets and asteroids, distribution diagram of elements for asteroids only, and distribution diagram of semi major axis. Bifurcation diagrams show selected stable and unstable orbits and the numerical iterations depending on a parameter.

Solar System provides detailed information on Solar System, Solar System Pictures, Solar System Projects, Solar System Models and more. Solar System is affiliated with Mirror Telescopes.

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May 29

The Planets

Planets No Comments »

To the ancient astronomers, Saturn appeared to be the most distant planet, at the edge of the universe. That belief continued until the year 1781. In the year William Herschel (1738-1822), a German-born musician living in England, discovered a planet beyond the orbit of Saturn.

At the time, Herschel was an amateur astronomer. Using homemade telescope set up on the sidewalk in front of his home, he observed a speck of light that moved from night to night. Herschel at first thought if was a comet. But other astronomers worked out the orbit of the moving light, and Herschel’s discovery was recognized as a planet. It was named Uranus.

Neptune was discovered with the aid of mathematics. In the years following the discovery of Uranus, astronomers were puzzled by its failure to move as expected. Up to 1822, the planet seemed to move too quickly; then it lagged. By the 1840’s, it was suspected that the peculiar motion was caused by the gravitational pull of and even more distant planet. Two astronomers, working independently, calculated where the suspected planet must be. They were John Couch Adams, of England, and Urbain Leverrier, of France. In 1846, Johann Galle, a German astronomer, found the planet just where Adams and Leverrier had predicted it would be. The planet was named Neptune.

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May 17

Finding Uranus - Serious Astronomy - Really!

Planets No Comments »

Hunting distant Ice Giants

With the inner planets now gracing the morning rather than the early evening skies & Jupiter setting early in the evening, it is the ideal time to go hunting for slow moving Uranus & Neptune in their cold dark outer orbits. The timing is good, especially for viewing Uranus, with its current position being close to the Zenith (overhead) mid evening, in the constellation of Aquarius (the water bearer) & with Neptune not far away in Capricornius (the sea goat).

Finding Uranus

Uranus at Magnitude +5.9 will be just visible to the sharp eyed observer under clear dark skies (avoid moonlit nights and city lights) Neptune at Magnitude +7.9 on the other hand is almost twice as dim and cannot be seen with the naked eye. A good pair of 10×50 binoculars will allow you to locate both of these planets, however a telescope will be needed to see any detail.

Uranus (at 3 billion kilometers away) is in a good position to be found, located as it currently is about ½ way between the stars Phi Aquari & Lambda Aquari. These stars are close to the meridian (the central part of the sky) in the early evening soon after twilight.

With a moderate sized telescope or greater (150mm or 6 inchs) you will be able to see the Blue dot that is Uranus. However you will need Approximately 150x magnification to see the small aquamarine disk of the planet & the same goes for Neptune.

Unlike Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, there are no surface or cloud features to be seen unless you have a very large telescope and the season is right for storm formation on Uranus or Neptune.

Finding Neptune

Neptune (at 4.5 billion kilometers away) is a little harder to find, but once you have located the fainter but none the less distinctive triangle of Capricornius, locate the bright star (Magnitude 4.5) Iota Capricorni. Approximately 2 degrees (2 finger widths) away from this star and outside of the Triangle you will see the small deep blue disk of Neptune.

Ian Maclean - Author, Presenter and host of “The Science Hour”
To Discover the Universe the fun and easy way, go to: http://www.nightskysecrets.com

When you register with http://nightskysecrets.com you will get exclusive access to my blog page and the star Charts to help find these planetary gems.

It is certainly worth the effort to seek out these distant gas giants in the cold outer reaches of our solar system, if only to say you have done it !

To discover heaps more hints, tips and little known secrets, showing the fun and easy way to discover all the delights of the universe around us, go to: http://www.nightskysecrets.com

From there you will get access to download a f r e e copy of my audio “Night sky secrets revealed”.

Happy Planet Hunting !

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May 06

The importance of mathematics and telescope in the history of astronomy

Astronomy, History of Astronomy No Comments »

The history of astronomy is closely associated with the history of mankind.

Right from the beginning of history, man adored the natural forces and stars and anything that they could not define. The history of astronomy develops from Stonehenge to the famous astrophysicist Galileo to the telescope to the human planetary missions.

Stonehenge has a significant role in the evolution of astronomy. Stonehenge was built by the Neolithic people to establish the replica of Sun’s movement. They believed that the stars and other celestial objects can predict their future. So, Stonehenge had religious importance in those days. There were some practical realities in this belief. Predicting seasons correctly helped the farmers to plan their cultivation. Position of Stars was used as the guiding factors for sailors. The practical history of astronomy begins with the Stonehenge.

Astronomy greatly depends upon the theories of mathematics. Eratosthenes, one of the great Greek mathematicians defined the earth circumference by deriving the position of shadow created by sun. The history of astronomy greatly owed to another thinker, Ptolemy for his geocentric theory even though it was later discovered wrong.

The invention of telescope was a turning point in the history of astronomy. Hans Lippershey invented the first modern telescope in 1608. Isaac Newton was the person who invented the reflecting telescope. The history of astronomy had changed at this point. The discovery of Uranus, and Neptune was materialized by using this type of telescope.

Twentieth century is considered as the golden age of Astrophysics. In 1937, Grote Reber developed a sophisticated telescope called Radio telescope. The advancement in technology brought astronomy in a new realm. This advancement enabled astrophysicists to develop powerful telescopes such as the one in Mount Palmor; the telescope is with 200 inch mirror. This is one of the biggest telescopes in the history of astronomy.

The space shuttle, discovery has placed a telescope in the orbit of earth in 1990. This amazing telescope is no other than but Hubble Telescope. The functionality theory of the Hubble telescope is still based on the reflecting telescope of Newton! The telescope has historical importance because, it discovered around 200 planets till this date. Interestingly, placing the Hubble telescope in the orbit of earth was a landmark event in the history of astronomy.

Armature astrophysicists have an inevitable role in the proliferation of astronomy among the common. There are hundreds of amateur astronomers who contributed to the history of astronomy. David H. Levy was an amateur astrophysicist who was co-discovered shoemaker-levy comet.

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