Editing 1547: Solar System Questions
Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
The edit can be undone.
Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | This comic is a list of questions which [[Randall]] has about the Solar System, which at first glance may appear to be things that Randall would like to learn about. In actuality, most of the questions have not been satisfactorily answered or proven by anyone in the {{w| | + | This comic is a list of questions which [[Randall]] has about the Solar System, which at first glance may appear to be things that Randall would like to learn about. In actuality, most of the questions have not been satisfactorily answered or proven by anyone in the {{w|List_of_unsolved_problems_in_physics#Astronomy_and_astrophysics|scientific community}}. These open questions may serve to intrigue readers and prompt further interest in astronomy and austronautics. |
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
Line 25: | Line 25: | ||
|style="background: salmon" | No | |style="background: salmon" | No | ||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | The nearside of the Moon is dominated by the blotchy 'seas' or maria, the far side by craters. {{w| | + | | The nearside of the Moon is dominated by the blotchy 'seas' or maria, the far side by craters. {{w|Far_side_of_the_Moon#Differences|Several explanations}} for this have been proposed, including an overabundance of impacts obliterating the blotches on the more exposed far side, different compositions of heat-producing elements, large collisions, or heat produced by the still-cooling Earth. |
|- | |- | ||
| Did Mars have seas? | | Did Mars have seas? | ||
Line 40: | Line 40: | ||
|style="background: lightyellow" | Partly | |style="background: lightyellow" | Partly | ||
| Cold, yellow, lakes + rivers (methane) | | Cold, yellow, lakes + rivers (methane) | ||
− | | The {{w|Cassini–Huygens}} mission confirmed the presence of {{w| | + | | The {{w|Cassini–Huygens}} mission confirmed the presence of {{w|Lakes_of_Titan|lakes and rivers}} on {{w|Titan (moon)|Titan}}. The {{w|Huygens_(spacecraft)#Findings|Huygens}} lander itself returned some very yellow images of a dry lake bed from Titan's surface. The possibility of life on Titan was mentioned in [[829: Arsenic-Based Life]]. |
|- | |- | ||
| What was Earth like during the Hadean? | | What was Earth like during the Hadean? | ||
− | |style="background: | + | |style="background: salmon" | No |
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | The {{w|Hadean}} was the first geologic era on | + | | The {{w|Hadean}} was the first geologic era on earth, the planet had just formed and not much is known of that period of Earth. But since it was the time when Earth was formed it was mainly very hot with extreme volcanic activity, with the entire surface melted. This is why the era is named after {{w|Hades}} the ancient Greek god of the underworld, even though Hades was never associated with fire. |
|- | |- | ||
| Is the Oort Cloud a real thing? | | Is the Oort Cloud a real thing? | ||
− | |style="background: | + | |style="background: salmon" | No |
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | The {{w|Oort Cloud}} is a theoretical spherical cloud of icy planetesimals, maybe dust, and also larger objects at a distance of up to around | + | | The {{w|Oort Cloud}} is a theoretical spherical cloud of icy planetesimals, maybe dust, and also larger objects at a distance of up to around 100,000 {{w|Astronomical units|AU}} from our Sun. We can see similar clouds at other stars, but there is still no evidence that this cloud exists in our Solar System. |
|- | |- | ||
| Why is the Sun's corona so hot? | | Why is the Sun's corona so hot? | ||
|style="background: lightyellow" | Maybe | |style="background: lightyellow" | Maybe | ||
| Something about magnets? | | Something about magnets? | ||
− | | The {{w | + | | The {{w|corona}} of the sun is hotter than it theoretically should be. Tiny solar flares called {{w|nanoflares}} might be responsible. The sun's {{w|Stellar magnetic field|magnetic field}} is almost certainly relevant. |
|- | |- | ||
| What are comets like? | | What are comets like? | ||
Line 78: | Line 78: | ||
| ... | | ... | ||
| There is a size-gap between the rocky {{w|terrestrial planets}} up to Earth size and the {{w|gas giants}} very much larger than Earth in our Solar System. | | There is a size-gap between the rocky {{w|terrestrial planets}} up to Earth size and the {{w|gas giants}} very much larger than Earth in our Solar System. | ||
− | There are many known {{w|exoplanets}} (planets in other solar systems) filling in the range between our rocky planets and our gas giants, known as [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Exoplanet_Mass-Radius_Scatter_Super-Earth.png Super- | + | There are many known {{w|exoplanets}} (planets in other solar systems) filling in the range between our rocky planets and our gas giants, known as [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Exoplanet_Mass-Radius_Scatter_Super-Earth.png Super-Earths] However, there is an observed but unexplained {{w|Small planet radius gap|scarcity of planets of this size category}} even among exoplanets. |
|- | |- | ||
| What's Ceres like? | | What's Ceres like? | ||
− | |style="background: | + | |style="background: lightyellow" | Partly |
| [Working on it!] | | [Working on it!] | ||
− | | The {{w|Dawn (spacecraft)|Dawn probe}} was currently exploring the {{w|dwarf planet}} {{w|Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres}} at the time that this comic was written and released. | + | | The {{w|Dawn (spacecraft)|Dawn probe}} was currently exploring the {{w|dwarf planet}} {{w|Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres}} at the time that this comic was written and released. We now know. |
|- | |- | ||
| Why is Europa so weird-looking and pretty? | | Why is Europa so weird-looking and pretty? | ||
Line 93: | Line 93: | ||
|style="background: lightyellow" | Partly | |style="background: lightyellow" | Partly | ||
| Sulfur volcanoes (? in the wrong places?) | | Sulfur volcanoes (? in the wrong places?) | ||
− | | The moon {{w|Io (moon)|Io}} is also orbiting Jupiter and is close enough that {{w|tidal forces}} make it the most volcanic object in the solar system. The moon is mainly yellow but there are several other colors on the surface, for instance spots and streaks of bright red that comes from {{w|sulfur}} ejected by the volcanoes. The "wrong places" refer to some volcanoes discovered by the {{w|Voyager program|Voyager missions}} and believed to erupt sulfur. But more recent measurements showed that the temperature inside those volcanoes is about | + | | The moon {{w|Io (moon)|Io}} is also orbiting Jupiter and is close enough that {{w|tidal forces}} make it the most volcanic object in the solar system. The moon is mainly yellow but there are several other colors on the surface, for instance spots and streaks of bright red that comes from {{w|sulfur}} ejected by the volcanoes. The "wrong places" refer to some volcanoes discovered by the {{w|Voyager program|Voyager missions}} and believed to erupt sulfur. But more recent measurements showed that the temperature inside those volcanoes is about 2.000 °C where this element is not liquid anymore but gas. |
|- | |- | ||
| Why are so many Kuiper Belt objects red? | | Why are so many Kuiper Belt objects red? | ||
− | |style="background: | + | |style="background: lightyellow" | Maybe |
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | Many objects in the {{w|Kuiper Belt}} have a reddish hue. A possible explanation is that they are [http://www.space.com/9418-icy-red-objects-solar-system-edge-point-life-building-blocks.html covered in organic molecules] | + | | Many objects in the {{w|Kuiper Belt}} have a reddish hue. A possible explanation is that they are [http://www.space.com/9418-icy-red-objects-solar-system-edge-point-life-building-blocks.html covered in organic molecules] formed by the irradiation of their surface ices. The New Horizons probe might also shed light on this. |
|- | |- | ||
| What are those spots on Ceres? | | What are those spots on Ceres? | ||
− | |style="background: | + | |style="background: salmon" | No |
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | The Dawn probe found some mysterious spots on Ceres. These [http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA19568.jpg white spots] | + | | The Dawn probe found some mysterious spots on Ceres. These [http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA19568.jpg white spots] are still not understood, but the mission is still running and we may figure out the source of the glowing white features. These spots became the punch line of the joke in [[1476: Ceres]]. |
|- | |- | ||
| What's in the seas under Europa's ice? | | What's in the seas under Europa's ice? | ||
Line 113: | Line 113: | ||
|style="background: lightyellow" | Partly | |style="background: lightyellow" | Partly | ||
| Several | | Several | ||
− | | Randall has already mentioned above that there are liquids on two moons. The | + | | Randall has already mentioned above that there are liquids on two moons. The Moon Titan at Saturn has lakes on its surface formed by liquid ethane, methane, and propane and the Jupiter's moon Europa has a sea of water covered by a thick sheet of ice. Depending on the definition of 'sea', other less obviously 'frozen water world' moons such as {{w|Ganymede (moon)|Ganymede}} at Jupiter may have {{w|Ganymede (moon)#Subsurface oceans|subsurface}} [http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn27151-aurora-reveals-jupiter-moons-secret-subsurface-sea.html oceans] of liquid water and on other moons it could be other substances that are liquid at the relevant temperature, like on Titan. |
|- | |- | ||
| What are the big white things in Titan's lakes? | | What are the big white things in Titan's lakes? | ||
|style="background: lightgreen" | Yes | |style="background: lightgreen" | Yes | ||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | This | + | | This is a joke about some gaps in the radar measurements as shown in this [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PIA10008_Seas_and_Lakes_on_Titan_full_size.jpg image]. |
|- | |- | ||
| What do Jupiter's clouds look like up close? | | What do Jupiter's clouds look like up close? | ||
− | |style="background: | + | |style="background: salmon" | No |
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | The Jupiter mission {{w|Galileo (spacecraft)|Galileo}}, operated by NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), arrived at Jupiter in 1995 and was sent to impact the planet at the end of that mission in 2003 to eliminate the possibility of contaminating local moons with terrestrial bacteria. Several measurements were done on the atmosphere but no pictures were sent back to Earth. | + | | The Jupiter mission {{w|Galileo (spacecraft)|Galileo}}, operated by NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), arrived at Jupiter in 1995 and was sent to impact the planet at the end of that mission in 2003 to eliminate the possibility of contaminating local moons with terrestrial bacteria. Several measurements were done on the atmosphere but no pictures were sent back to Earth. So there is still no answer on this question. |
|- | |- | ||
| What's all that red stuff in the Great Red Spot? | | What's all that red stuff in the Great Red Spot? | ||
− | |style="background: | + | |style="background: salmon" | No |
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | The {{w|Great Red Spot}} is a storm south of Jupiter's equator. Observations from Earth show a lifespan of more than 150 years. It's unknown why it's stable for that long a time and it's also not clear why the color is red. The probe {{w|Juno (spacecraft)|Juno}} has arrived in July 2016 at Jupiter but has not answered Randall's question | + | | The {{w|Great Red Spot}} is a storm south of Jupiter's equator. Observations from Earth show a lifespan of more than 150 years. It's unknown why it's stable for that long a time and it's also not clear why the color is red. The probe {{w|Juno (spacecraft)|Juno}} has arrived in July 2016 at Jupiter but has not answered Randall's question. |
|- | |- | ||
| What's pushing the Pioneer probes? | | What's pushing the Pioneer probes? | ||
Line 143: | Line 143: | ||
|style="background: lightyellow" | Maybe partly | |style="background: lightyellow" | Maybe partly | ||
| Oscillating | | Oscillating | ||
− | | There are fewer observed electron neutrinos from the | + | | There are fewer observed electron neutrinos from the sun than the standard model predicts. This is called the {{w|Solar neutrino problem}}. Since the sum of all the neutrinos, regardless of type, that come from the sun add up to the predicted number of electron neutrinos it is theorized that neutrinos can change their type. This is called {{w|Neutrino oscillation}}, and can occur only if {{w|neutrinos}} have mass. Neutrino oscillation is considered a proof that the mass of a neutrino is non-zero. The {{w|Neutrino#Mass|mass of a neutrino}} is not yet measured and is one of the problems on the {{w|List_of_unsolved_problems_in_physics#High-energy_physics.2Fparticle_physics|list of unsolved problems in physics}} on Wikipedia. |
|- | |- | ||
| Why is there so much air on Titan? | | Why is there so much air on Titan? | ||
|style="background: salmon" | No | |style="background: salmon" | No | ||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | {{w|Titan (moon)|Titan}} has an atmospheric pressure 1.45 times that of Earth, but only 1/7th of the surface gravity which is less than Earth's own airless Moon has, hence the confusion. In fact, Titan actually has almost 20% more atmosphere by mass than Earth, and ''seven times'' more atmosphere across a given surface area! Less influence from the more distant Sun probably helps retain more of the atmosphere's gases (for instance, Mars saw most of its atmosphere blasted away by the | + | | {{w|Titan (moon)|Titan}} has an atmospheric pressure 1.45 times that of Earth, but only 1/7th of the surface gravity which is less than Earth's own airless Moon has, hence the confusion. In fact, Titan actually has almost 20% more atmosphere by mass than Earth, and ''seven times'' more atmosphere across a given surface area! Less influence from the more distant Sun probably helps retain more of the atmosphere's gases (for instance, Mars saw most of its atmosphere blasted away by the sun), and {{w|cryovolcanoes}} may replenish the methane fraction which should by now have ''all'' been converted into the other hydrocarbons present from subsurface reservoirs. Further studies are required to properly answer this question. |
|- | |- | ||
| Why does the Kuiper Belt stop? | | Why does the Kuiper Belt stop? | ||
− | |style="background: | + | |style="background: salmon" | No |
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | A reference to the {{w|Kuiper Cliff}}. Most Kuiper Belt Objects are found between 42 and 48 {{w|astronomical units|AU}}; calculations predicted that there would be more and larger KBOs beyond 50 AU, but instead very few objects have been found in that region. | + | | A reference to the {{w|Kuiper Cliff}}. Most Kuiper Belt Objects are found between 42 and 48 {{w|astronomical units|AU}}; calculations predicted that there would be more and larger KBOs beyond 50 AU, but instead very few objects have been found in that region. The reason for this is still unknown. |
|- | |- | ||
| Why is Iapetus weird-colored? | | Why is Iapetus weird-colored? | ||
|style="background: lightyellow" | Partly | |style="background: lightyellow" | Partly | ||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | {{w|Iapetus (moon)|Iapetus}} is | + | | {{w|Iapetus (moon)|Iapetus}} is a moon of {{w|Saturn}} and always keeps the same face towards Saturn. The trailing side is white while the other side is dark. |
|- | |- | ||
| Why does Iapetus have a belt? | | Why does Iapetus have a belt? | ||
Line 168: | Line 168: | ||
|style="background: salmon" | No | |style="background: salmon" | No | ||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | {{w| | + | | {{w|Miranda_(moon)|Miranda}} is the smallest of {{w|Uranus}}' five round satellites, and it's {{w|Verona Rupes|a bit rough around the edges}} and also has an unusually high orbital inclination that is difficult to explain. Also possibly a [[Category:Firefly|''Firefly'' reference]] since {{w|List of Firefly planets and moons#Miranda|Miranda}} is also the name of a planet in {{w|Serenity (film)|''Serenity''}}, a film based on the {{w|Firefly (TV series)|''Firefly''}} TV series. |
|- | |- | ||
| Did Uranus and Neptune change places? | | Did Uranus and Neptune change places? | ||
Line 188: | Line 188: | ||
|style="background: salmon" | No | |style="background: salmon" | No | ||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | |Dr Daniel Hobley has put forward a [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21341176 theory] that Jupiter's icy moon {{w|Europa (moon)|Europa}} has the right conditions to form ice spikes called {{w| | + | |Dr Daniel Hobley has put forward a [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21341176 theory] that Jupiter's icy moon {{w|Europa (moon)|Europa}} has the right conditions to form ice spikes called {{w|Penitente_(snow_formation)|penitentes}} of up to 10m in height. |
|- | |- | ||
| Why haven't we built a big inflatable Extreme Sports Complex on The Moon? | | Why haven't we built a big inflatable Extreme Sports Complex on The Moon? | ||
|style="background: lightyellow" | Partly | |style="background: lightyellow" | Partly | ||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | | + | | Apart from the question on the white on Titan, this is the only really silly question that has nothing to do with science or the solar system. However, it would be fun to watch sports in such a stadium - see the title text. See also, e.g., ''{{w|The Menace From Earth}}'', a 1957 short story by Robert Heinlein, as well as [https://what-if.xkcd.com/124/ What If # 124] which gives great detail to the topic of lunar swimming. |
− | |||
− | |||
|} | |} | ||
− | The title text refers to the {{w|2015 FIFA Women's World Cup}} which was won by the USA the day before. The nylon wings and flying may be a reference to two passages from 3001: The Final Odyssey, one where Frank Poole tries out various wings while in an extremely low gravity environment, and one where he remarks while watching Swan Lake that Tchaikovsky could never have imagined a performance where the dancers were actually flying (due to aforementioned low gravity). This is also a reference to the last point on the list, because if we had such a stadium on the | + | The title text refers to the {{w|2015 FIFA Women's World Cup}} which was won by the USA the day before. The nylon wings and flying may be a reference to two passages from 3001: The Final Odyssey, one where Frank Poole tries out various wings while in an extremely low gravity environment, and one where he remarks while watching Swan Lake that Tchaikovsky could never have imagined a performance where the dancers were actually flying (due to aforementioned low gravity). This is also a reference to the last point on the list, because if we had such a stadium on the moon, maybe it would be possible to use such wings to make very long floating leaps. |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== |