This week I’ll be quickly reviewing dwarf planets. Probably the first image that pops into your head when I say that phrase is Pluto. Pluto is, after 2006, classified as a dwarf planet. In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU), had a discussion about the definition of “planet”. Out of this discussion came a new term, “dwarf planet” and the … More Day 326. Fun Fact Friday: Dwarf Planets
Uranus is the 7th planet from our sun and is 1.8 billion miles away from it. It was the first planet to be found by telescope, although at the time, the man who discovered it, William Herschel, thought it was a comet or star. An ice giant, 80% or more of the “planet’s mass is made up … More Day 291. Fun Fact Friday: Uranus
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the sun. It is about 484 million miles away from it, 5.2 AU. It is the largest and most massive planet in our solar system. After the sun formed, the majority of leftover material went to Jupiter. If all the other material in the solar system was combined, Jupiter … More Day 270. Fun Fact Friday: Jupiter
In between Mars and Jupiter is a region of space where most of the asteroids in our solar system hang out. This area is known as the asteroid belt. As of now, we know that there are more than 1/2 million asteroids in the belt, most likely more. Asteroids are “rocky remnants left over from … More Day 263. Fun Fact Friday: Asteroid Belt
Last week we learned a bit about Mercury. Now let’s learn about the second planet closest to the sun, Venus! Venus is a bit smaller than Earth and is a terrestrial planet. This means that it’s very rocky. It has a “cratered and volcanic landscape” (NASA). In 2010 there was evidence provided that there was … More Day 221. Fun Fact Friday: Venus
Just Lauren 