Editing 1547: Solar System Questions
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− | ==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 | + | {{incomplete|Explain "in the wrong places" re: Io's volcanoes. Do known exoplanets also have a "size gap"? Explanation needed for why "ice spikes" on Europa may possibly exist.}} |
+ | |||
+ | 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 actual fact 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}}. | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Question given | ! Question given | ||
− | + | ! Answer given by Randall (in Red) | |
− | ! Answer given by Randall (in | ||
! Comments | ! Comments | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Why is the the Moon so blotchy? | | Why is the the Moon so blotchy? | ||
− | |||
| Lava | | Lava | ||
− | | The {{w|Moon}} is in synchronous rotation with Earth, which means that we always can see only one half of the surface of the Moon. And on that side we can see large {{w|lunar | + | | The {{w|Moon}} is in synchronous rotation with Earth, which means that we always can see only one half of the surface of the Moon. And on that side we can see large {{w|lunar mare}} formed by lava from big volcanoes. This surface is very different to all other celestial bodies we know in our Solar system. The double "the the" could be a Randallism — intended or unintended. |
|- | |- | ||
| Why are all the blotches on the near side? | | Why are all the blotches on the near side? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | 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? | ||
− | |||
| Yes (briefly?) | | Yes (briefly?) | ||
− | | Recent explorations have confirmed there was once standing (and also flowing) water | + | | Recent explorations have confirmed there was once standing (and also flowing) water. Many rovers and orbiters on Mars give us the evidence on this early development of that planet, but it is still unknown how long such conditions existed in its history. |
|- | |- | ||
| Was there life on Mars? | | Was there life on Mars? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | One of the big mysteries, | + | | One of the big mysteries, not yet answered. |
|- | |- | ||
| What's Titan like? | | What's Titan like? | ||
− | |||
| 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 Titan. The {{w|Huygens_(spacecraft)#Findings|Huygens}} lander itself returned some very yellow images of a dry lake bed from Titan's surface. |
|- | |- | ||
| What was Earth like during the Hadean? | | What was Earth like during the Hadean? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | 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. |
|- | |- | ||
| Is the Oort Cloud a real thing? | | Is the Oort Cloud a real thing? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | The {{w|Oort Cloud}} is a theoretical spherical cloud of icy | + | | The {{w|Oort Cloud}} is a theoretical spherical cloud of icy planetesimal, maybe dust, and also larger objects at a distance of up to around 100,000 {{w|Astronomical units|AU}} to 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? | ||
− | |||
| Something about magnets? | | Something about magnets? | ||
− | | The {{w | + | | The {{w|corona}} of the sun is hotter than it theoretically should be. The looping magnetic fields in this area could be responsible. |
|- | |- | ||
| What are comets like? | | What are comets like? | ||
− | |||
| Precipitous | | Precipitous | ||
− | | | + | | The {{w|Philae (spacecraft)|Philae lander}} is next to a cliff... |
|- | |- | ||
| Where's Philae, exactly? | | Where's Philae, exactly? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | ...but we | + | | ...but we're not sure ''which'' cliff. |
|- | |- | ||
| What's Pluto like? | | What's Pluto like? | ||
− | |||
| rowspan="2" | [Soon!] | | rowspan="2" | [Soon!] | ||
− | | rowspan="2" | | + | | rowspan="2" | The probe {{w|New Horizons}} may be about to answer both of these questions. |
|- | |- | ||
| What's Charon like? | | What's Charon like? | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Why don't we have in-between-sized planets? | | Why don't we have in-between-sized planets? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | There is a size-gap between the rocky | + | | There is a size-gap between the rocky planets up to Earth size and the gas giants much larger than Earth. |
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
| What's Ceres like? | | What's Ceres like? | ||
− | |||
| [Working on it!] | | [Working on it!] | ||
− | | The {{w|Dawn (spacecraft)|Dawn probe}} | + | | The {{w|Dawn (spacecraft)|Dawn probe}} is currently exploring the Dwarf Planet {{w|Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres}} and reveals unseen surface features. |
|- | |- | ||
| Why is Europa so weird-looking and pretty? | | Why is Europa so weird-looking and pretty? | ||
− | |||
| Ice over a water ocean | | Ice over a water ocean | ||
− | | {{w|Europa (moon)|Europa}} is a moon of | + | | {{w|Europa (moon)|Europa}} is a moon of Jupiter and the surface is basically thick pack ice covered in {{w|lineae}}. |
|- | |- | ||
| Why is Io so weird-looking? | | Why is Io so weird-looking? | ||
− | |||
| 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 | + | | The moon {{w|Io (moon)|Io}} is also orbiting Jupiter and is close enough that tidal forces make it the most volcanic object in the solar system. The bright red color comes from {{w|sulfur}} which is ejected by the volcanoes. |
|- | |- | ||
| Why are so many Kuiper Belt objects red? | | Why are so many Kuiper Belt objects red? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | 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 | + | | 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 {{w|New Horizons}} probe might also shed light on this. |
|- | |- | ||
| What are those spots on Ceres? | | What are those spots on Ceres? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | The Dawn probe found some | + | | The {{w|Dawn probe}} found some misterious spots on the dwarf planet {{w|Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres}}. These [http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA19568.jpg white spots] are still not understood, but the mission is still running and we hopefully will figure out the source of that glowing white features. |
|- | |- | ||
| What's in the seas under Europa's ice? | | What's in the seas under Europa's ice? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | The {{w|ESA}} selected the mission {{w|Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer|Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer (JUICE)}} to Jupiter. The moon Europa is one target for that mission. But we have to wait, | + | | The European {{w|ESA}} selected the mission {{w|Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer|Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer (JUICE)}} to Jupiter. The moon {{w|Europa (moon)|Europa}} is one target for that mission. But we have to wait, it's launch target is 2022 and the arrival at Jupiter is planned for 2030. But that's not uncommon for missions like this, {{w|New Horizons}} or {{w|Rosetta (spacecraft)|Rosetta}} did also travel approx. ten years to reach their target. And before such a mission can start many preparations have to be done. |
|- | |- | ||
| Which of the other moons have seas? | | Which of the other moons have seas? | ||
− | |||
| Several | | Several | ||
− | | | + | | Depending on the definition of 'sea', other less obviously 'frozen water world' moons such as Ganymede 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. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | What are the big white things in Titan's | + | | What are the big white things in Titan's Lakes? |
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | | + | | {{w|Lakes of Titan}} |
|- | |- | ||
| What do Jupiter's clouds look like up close? | | What do Jupiter's clouds look like up close? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| What's all that red stuff in the Great Red Spot? | | What's all that red stuff in the Great Red Spot? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | | + | | {{w|Great Red Spot}} |
|- | |- | ||
− | | What's pushing the Pioneer | + | | What's pushing the Pioneer Probes? |
− | |||
| Heat from the RTG | | Heat from the RTG | ||
− | | Discussed as the {{w|Pioneer anomaly}}. RTG stands for {{w|Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator}} | + | | Discussed as the {{w|Pioneer anomaly}}. RTG stands for {{w|Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator}}. |
|- | |- | ||
| What pushes spacecraft slightly during flybys? | | What pushes spacecraft slightly during flybys? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
| Several spacecraft experienced unexplained speed increases during Earth flybys. This is called the {{w|flyby anomaly}}. | | Several spacecraft experienced unexplained speed increases during Earth flybys. This is called the {{w|flyby anomaly}}. | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Where are all the Sun's | + | | Where are all the Sun's Neutrinos? |
− | |||
| Oscillating | | Oscillating | ||
− | | | + | | {{w|Solar neutrino problem}} |
|- | |- | ||
| Why is there so much air on Titan? | | Why is there so much air on Titan? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | + | | Titan has an atmospheric pressure 1.45 times that of Earth, but 1/7th of the surface gravity (that's less than Earth's own, practically airless, Moon). 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 gasses (mostly nitrogen), and {{w|cryovolcanoes}} may replenish the methane fraction (which should by now have ''all'' been converted into the other hydrocarbons present) from subsurface reservoirs. But further studies are required to properly answer this question. | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Why does the Kuiper Belt | + | | Why does the Kuiper Belt Stop? |
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | A reference to the {{w|Kuiper Cliff}} | + | | A reference to the {{w|Kuiper Cliff}}. |
|- | |- | ||
| Why is Iapetus weird-colored? | | Why is Iapetus weird-colored? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | {{w|Iapetus (moon) | + | | {{w|Iapetus (moon)}} is a moon of Saturn and has a white side and a dark side. |
|- | |- | ||
| Why does Iapetus have a belt? | | Why does Iapetus have a belt? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | Iapetus has a 13 | + | | {{w|Iapetus (moon)|Iapetus}} has a 13 km high ridge around most of the equator, and a number of 10 km high mountains where the ridge is interrupted. |
|- | |- | ||
| What's the deal with Miranda? | | What's the deal with Miranda? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | {{w| | + | | {{w|Miranda_(moon)|Miranda}} is the smallest of Uranus's 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 [[Firefly|''Firefly'' reference]] since {{w|List of Firefly planets and moons#Miranda|Miranda}} is the name of a planet in {{w|Serenity (film)|''Serenity''}}, a film in the {{w|Firefly (TV series)|''Firefly''}} series. |
|- | |- | ||
| Did Uranus and Neptune change places? | | Did Uranus and Neptune change places? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | The {{w|Nice model}} is a theory of how our solar system formed, which | + | | The {{w|Nice model}} is a theory of how our solar system formed, which suggested the possibility of Uranus and Neptune having swapped places before reaching their current positions. Work by Professor S. Desch [http://dusty.la.asu.edu/~desch/publications/2007/Desch2007.pdf| also came to this result]. |
|- | |- | ||
| Did the Late Heavy Bombardment happen? | | Did the Late Heavy Bombardment happen? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | | + | | {{w|Late Heavy Bombardment}} |
|- | |- | ||
| Did life start before it? | | Did life start before it? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | For some speculation on this topic, see [http://www.livescience.com/5426-life-survived-earth-early-bombardment.html | + | | For some speculation on this topic, see [http://www.livescience.com/5426-life-survived-earth-early-bombardment.html]. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Is Europa covered in | + | | Is Europa covered in Ice Spikes? |
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| 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? | ||
− | |||
| ... | | ... | ||
− | | | + | | See, e.g., ''{{w|The Menace From Earth}}'', a 1957 short story by Robert Heinlein. |
− | |||
− | |||
|} | |} | ||
− | The title text refers to the {{w|2015 FIFA Women's World Cup}} which was won by | + | The title text refers to the {{w|2015 FIFA Women's World Cup}} which was won by USA a 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). |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why are all the blotches on the near side? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why are all the blotches on the near side? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Did Mars have seas? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Did Mars have seas? | ||
Line 217: | Line 182: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Was there life on Mars? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Was there life on Mars? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What's Titan like? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What's Titan like? | ||
Line 223: | Line 188: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What was Earth like during the Hadean? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What was Earth like during the Hadean? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Is the Oort Cloud a real thing? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Is the Oort Cloud a real thing? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why is the Sun's corona so hot? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why is the Sun's corona so hot? | ||
Line 235: | Line 200: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Where's Philae, exactly? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Where's Philae, exactly? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What's Pluto like? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What's Pluto like? | ||
Line 243: | Line 208: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why don't we have in-between-sized planets? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why don't we have in-between-sized planets? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What's Ceres like? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What's Ceres like? | ||
| style="border: 0px; color:red;" | [Working on it!] | | style="border: 0px; color:red;" | [Working on it!] | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why is Europa so | + | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why is Europa so wierd-looking and pretty? |
| style="border: 0px; color:red;" | Ice over a water ocean | | style="border: 0px; color:red;" | Ice over a water ocean | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 255: | Line 220: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why are so many Kuiper Belt objects red? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why are so many Kuiper Belt objects red? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What are those spots on Ceres? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What are those spots on Ceres? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What's in the seas under Europa's ice? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What's in the seas under Europa's ice? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Which of the other moons have seas? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Which of the other moons have seas? | ||
Line 267: | Line 232: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What are the big white things in Titan's Lakes? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What are the big white things in Titan's Lakes? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What do Jupiter's clouds look like up close? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What do Jupiter's clouds look like up close? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What's all that red stuff in the Great Red Spot? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What's all that red stuff in the Great Red Spot? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What's pushing the Pioneer Probes? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What's pushing the Pioneer Probes? | ||
Line 279: | Line 244: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What pushes spacecraft slightly during flybys? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What pushes spacecraft slightly during flybys? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Where are all the Sun's Neutrinos? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Where are all the Sun's Neutrinos? | ||
Line 285: | Line 250: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why is there so much air on Titan? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why is there so much air on Titan? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why does the Kuiper Belt Stop? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why does the Kuiper Belt Stop? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why is Iapetus weird-colored? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why is Iapetus weird-colored? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why does Iapetus have a belt? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why does Iapetus have a belt? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What's the deal with Miranda? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | What's the deal with Miranda? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Did Uranus and Neptune change places? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Did Uranus and Neptune change places? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Did the Late Heavy Bombardment happen? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Did the Late Heavy Bombardment happen? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Did life start before it? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Did life start before it? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Is Europa covered in ice spikes? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Is Europa covered in ice spikes? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why haven't we built a big inflatable<br> extreme sports complex on the moon? | | style="border: 0px; text-align: right" | Why haven't we built a big inflatable<br> extreme sports complex on the moon? | ||
− | | style="border: 0px;" | | + | | style="border: 0px;" | |
|} | |} | ||
+ | |||
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Firefly]] | [[Category:Firefly]] |