Neptune Shares

Recent studies of trojan asteroids has discovered that Neptune is currently sharing its orbit with three trojan asteroids. Less famous than Jupiter for its trojan asteroid count, this recent find now brings the number of asteroids held by Neptune to four. The discovery makes the Neptune trojan asteroids the fourth group of asteroids with a stable orbit around the sun. Scientists suspect that there are many more trojan asteroids revolving around the planet, but are unable to detect them due to their great distance from the sun. In the picture seen below, we are able to see the four asteroids on their path following Neptune's orbit. It is not suspected that that any of these asteroids will collide with Neptune in the near future. For now though, scientists will continue to observe the group in an attempt to locate even more asteroids within the group.

More Cassani Exploration

Another recent flyby the poles of Enceladus has produced many more images of Saturn's now most familiar satellites. These new photos simply highlight the fine fractures (or tiger stripes) in the surface of Enceladus and with enhanced imaging, show the small collections of ice around them. Unfortunately, this is the final opportunity astronomers will have to capture images such as this in a very long time. The next flyby for the satelite is in over a year and with the sun shifting from focus on the southern pole, it is expected images will not be as clear. Hopefully this is not the last chance we will have to look at one of the bodies which could possibly support life, but for now, we will be required to wait at least a year until we get a closer look. Below are a few images taken from the NASA Cassini mission webiste from the recent flyby.

Uranus, Neptune and Earth: We may look different, but inside, we're all the same

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists determined the melting pressure of ice ranging from 100,000 to 500,000 atmospheres. From pressures ranging from 100,000 to 400,000, the ice melted similarily to that of ice in water. However, they noticed at 450,000 atmospheres and up, there is a sharp increase in the slope of the melting curve. This discovery makes it possible for ice to exist at the solid cores of the Earth, Neptune and Uranus. What does this mean? It is a major step forward in determining the composition of the earth. Using these studies, it is possible that we can determine the components of the cores of Neptune, Uranus, and Earth. We may even be able to use this information to discover ways in which we can dig to the centre of these three planets.

Cyclones of Saturn!

Cassini space shuttle images sent back interesting photos to Nasa Astronomers earlier this month. Scientists were surprised to see images of giant cyclones on either end of the planet's poles. What is so special about these poles is the fact that they are powered by storm patterns similar to those of Earth's.

Time lapsed movies (taken in infrared) show they cyclones to be rotating at a speed of 530km/h. The storm itself is raging inside of a large hexagon, which remains still. Scientists are confused in that the hexagon remains still despite raging winds from both sides. The storms are currently locked upon the poles, unlike those on earth which move across the ocean.

The eye of the vortexes is surrounded by a high ring of clouds. Scientists are crediting the size and power of the storms to Saturn's high level of convection. Further looks into the storms will be made in alternate seasons of the planet.

both photos are courtesy of Nasa. com. (top) an infrared image shows he apparent hexagonal shape surrounding the northern cyclone. (above) detailed imaging shows the storm using two different cameras.

For more information, check out: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/media/cassini-20081013.html - Take note of the spelling error in the title!

Cassini goes for Two

Cassini, NASA's current space shuttle sent to explore the conditions of Saturn's moons, is about the make another visit after it's previous discoveries on Titan. This time, the space shuttle is set to fly a mere 25km above the surface of the moon, Enceladus. Scientists, after discovering liquid hydrocarbons on Saturn's satellite titan, are now suspecting that Enceladus may be hiding an ocean of water beneath its surface. Images taken of the satellite last August may be seen above, but the October 9th fly by will be focusing more largely on the composition of the planet, rather that the appearance. A second loop around the planet this month will take place on October 31st, as the satellite attempts to take images of the large fractures which plagues the southern region of Enceladus.

The flyby will allow astronomers to get a better understanding on the surface temperatures associated with the planet. Earlier readings from March of this year registered 180 kelvins lower than those recorded in August. The October findings will give scientists a better understanding of just how hot or how cold specific areas of the satellite may be. These missions will be the 2nd and third focuses of the planet out of a total of 7 for the cassani mission.

Discovered in 2005, the geysers of Enceladus have been fascinating scientists as to where they get their energy from. The planet itself is a mere 500km in diameter, giving making scientists questions what could be inside it's small mass. An artists conception of the surface of the planet can be seen below.

All this discussion of the solar system is really important for our world today. I am almost fascinated at how many resources there are out in space that the states of the world have yet to attempt to Harvest. Perhaps with china's latest technological advances, one day we may pick an item up off of the grocery store shelve only to read "Made in enceladus". The thought that Saturn has so many moons of so many different varieties gives attention to the fact that there are a lot more satellites out in the world, and that the odds of one of them having life on it are farely good. As for now though, I suppose just flying really close to its surface is just about all that we can do.

Jupiter: A whole disfunctional family of great red spots

It's a boy! Well, not really, but just this past May, scientists discovered a third red spot as seen above. This comes just shortly after the 2006 discovery of the red spot junior alongside the famous Great red spot. These spots, or storms, I like to think of as category 5 hurricanes of Jupiter. They occur as a result of the storm rising in elevation, where an unknown chemical reaction occurs, turning the storm the familiar red color. While the effects of these storms are still relatively unknown on the surface of the planet, it is hard to imagine them being anything but powerful.

Like all families however, the red spots don't always get along, as was seen this summer when the great red spot essentially consumed the baby red spot. As seen in the photo below, the great red spot eventually caught up to the baby one as the planet's atmosphere continued to rotate, until it eventually consumed it. The only reason the red spot Jr. is not expected to be consumed is because of it's latitude in relation to the great red spot. This occurrence is similar to what happens on earth when two tropical depressions can collide to create a powerful hurricane.

The great red spot is still quite a mystery for folks on earth. I suppose it would be interesting to discover what chemical reactions are occurring on that planet, because for all we know, it could be creating immense amount of energy through a simple chemical process, which we could use to transition from fossil fuels. I think that at this time, any unknown chemical reaction needs to be investigated for it could be useful here on earth. The red spots are very interesting and it still puzzles me as to why we have not funded More research into understand exactly what it does.

Both Photos courtesy of hubblesite.org

Saturn: Liquid Discovered on Titan

An Artist's representation of the recently discovered hydrocarbon lakes on Titan's Surface curtosy of NASA.com

Earlier this summer, NASA Cassini mission to Titan, one of Saturn's largest moons, confirmed that a lake of ethane exists on it's surface. Titan joins only earth as known bodies in our solar system with bodies of liquid on their surface. This recent discovery merely adds to the large collection of support that Titan is the most similar body in the solar system to Earth.

When the Cassini mission began, scientists were not sure if the dark spots they say on the moon's surface were liquid, or simply spots. Predictions were made that the moon would be covered in vast oceans of hydrocarbons. The mission has proved the existence of such bodies of hydrocarbons, but on a small scale. The surface is coated with a large amount of lakes which cover the surface of the planet.

The hydrocarbons are still able to stay in their lake form, even with Titans -300 degree temperatures. It is also hypothesized that the moon experiences rain, which flowed through channels to form the lakes. While Earth's water cycle is based on water, Titan's consists of Hydrocarbons such as methane, and ethane. Mapping of the moon's lakes is expected within the next few years.

Most recently, Scientists believe what they think is evidence pointing to vast oceans of hydrocarbons beneath titan's surface. Scientists were surprised when landmarks recorded on the planet's surface had shifted over 15 miles from recordings earlier. This has led them to believe that the moon's icy surface is laying atop a deeper ocean of hydrocarbons.

Well what does this all mean? I think it is pretty exciting that there is a possibility we have found a mini earth within our very own solar system. I get excited thinking that if this planet has even similar features to earth, that it may be supporting life of its own right now. If there is water, and the atmosphere is similar to ours, who knows, maybe it could even support humans one day! I suppose that's not likely in my lifetime, but if our planet ever becomes desperate, we could find ways to survive there. It would be amazing seeing the sun for days, and watching Saturn in our night times. There are also fairly good chances that we would be hit by an asteroid, or that we would go without sunlight for weeks, but its not too much fun to think of the realistic parts on living somewheres else in the solar system. Its also cool because if there is something so close to our planet just in our solar system, the chances of one that is even closer in our entire galaxy is pretty good. I suppose all we have to do is look, and do our best to find something out there, and pay it a visit, before it decides to come here.

Neptune

The last of our four gas giants, Neptune lies 8th from the sun. It is the only planet discovered by prediction of existence, rather than actual sighting. It's components are similar to that of Uranus, and its size varies only a small amount in comparison to its sometimes called "twin". The planet's strong winds measure speeds of up to 1200 km/h, and its temperature is one of the coldest in the solar system due to it's great distance from the sun. Like the other gas giants, it has a subtle ring system, though it is less viewable than the other three planets.
Neptune has only been visited by one satellite, voyager two, so much of the planet is still unknown.




this photo courtesy of NASA

Uranus

Visible to the naked eye, Uranus is the 7th planet from the sun. Uranus's atmosphere contains large amount of hydrogen and helium like the other gas giants, but is also known for its large amounts of ice, due to it's higher levels of water and ammonia. It is the coldest of the planets in our solar system. Its axis is tilted so much that it's poles lie where other planets have their equators. It is only in recent years that scientists have began recording meteorological changes in the planet's atmosphere.

Saturn

The 6th planet from the sun, and second only in size to Jupiter of all the planets, Saturn has a solid core of rock and ice, with outer atmospheric and surface layers consisting of mostly hydrogen and helium. It has a large set of visible rings comprised of large amount of ice and rock. Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is larger than the planet mercury, and is the only known planet to have its own atmosphere. Saturn takes about 29.5 earth years to orbit the sun.

Known for it's beautiful rings, Saturn is a mystery, like the rest of the gas giants.

Jupiter

The fifth and largest planet, Jupiter is the second birghtest planet in our nighttime sky. It consists of a large amount of liquid and gas. Perhaps the most recongizable part of Jupiter is its large red spot, a storm currently occuring in its atmosphere. The planets atmosphere consists of about 9/10 hydrogen and 1/10 helium. Much of Jupiter's mystery has yet to be solved due to the intense conditions of its atmospheres, but daily findings on the planet are regular.

Jupiter, seen here with it`s satellite, Io. Photo courtesy of NASA

Introductions

This blog is going to be dedicated to the gas giants of our solar system. This class of elite planets includes Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus. Over the course of the year, I will be updating this blog with recent news articles and perspectives on the four planets as reported by respected astronomy websites. To begin though, I figured I would start with a small paragraph on each of the four planets to give readers a chance to get to know those planets which we will be reading so much about over the next few months.

this photo courtesy of http://www.solarviews.com