3156: Planetary Rings - Revision history

Elektrizikekswerk: /* Explanation */ No reason for tag given. Explanation seems complete, removed tag.

2025-11-17T13:14:39Z

‎Explanation: No reason for <incomplete> tag given. Explanation seems complete, removed tag.

82.132.245.151: /* Explanation */ Tyop. And alternative to "towards" that won't invoke leftpondian/rightpondian issues of whether it's "toward".

2025-11-13T22:16:47Z

‎Explanation: Tyop. And alternative to "towards" that won't invoke leftpondian/rightpondian issues of whether it's "toward".

82.132.245.151: Undone then rewritten to cover the key part of that last change. But no moon has an active ring (some moons orbit in/with/through rings also around their parent-planet), by current knowledge. Tidied 'ring mass links'. Extended the Starlink bit, a bit.

2025-11-13T22:14:52Z

Undone then rewritten to cover the key part of that last change. But no *moon* has an active ring (some moons orbit in/with/through rings also around their parent-planet), by current knowledge. Tidied 'ring mass links'. Extended the Starlink bit, a bit.

50.25.237.196: Jupiter and Saturn are gas giants; Uranus and Neptune are ice giants; they are all giant planets

2025-11-13T20:31:46Z

Jupiter and Saturn are gas giants; Uranus and Neptune are ice giants; they are all giant planets

Mathmaster at 22:18, 31 October 2025

2025-10-31T22:18:30Z

Mathmaster at 22:17, 21 October 2025

2025-10-21T22:17:51Z

2.98.65.8: /* Transcript */ Detabled the Transcript and a few further descriptive tweaks.

2025-10-18T18:33:42Z

‎Transcript: Detabled the Transcript and a few further descriptive tweaks.

BunsenH: /* Explanation */ merge "notes"

2025-10-18T14:32:24Z

‎Explanation: merge "notes"

2404:440C:2A63:DB00:2C23:2136:A492:F285: added hyperlink

2025-10-18T11:54:49Z

added hyperlink

2404:440C:2A63:DB00:2C23:2136:A492:F285: added link to a visualization of satellite orbits around earth

2025-10-18T11:53:14Z

added link to a visualization of satellite orbits around earth

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:14, 17 November 2025
Line 10:		Line 10:

	==Explanation==		==Explanation==
−	~~{{incomplete\|This page was created by an off-axis satellite dish. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}~~
	A {{w\|ring system\|planetary ring}} is a disc of small objects and other material orbiting a planet. The most well known are the rings of {{w\|Saturn}}, which were discovered by {{w\|Galileo Galilei}}, but all the {{w\|gas giant}} and {{w\|ice giant}} planets in the Solar System have rings, as may (possibly transiently, due to interactions with other bodies) some of the {{w\|minor planet}}s and even {{w\|asteroid}}s.		A {{w\|ring system\|planetary ring}} is a disc of small objects and other material orbiting a planet. The most well known are the rings of {{w\|Saturn}}, which were discovered by {{w\|Galileo Galilei}}, but all the {{w\|gas giant}} and {{w\|ice giant}} planets in the Solar System have rings, as may (possibly transiently, due to interactions with other bodies) some of the {{w\|minor planet}}s and even {{w\|asteroid}}s.

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 Earth does not have a natural ring system, nor currently any of the other {{w|terrestrial planet}}s, although it's theorized that it [https://web.archive.org/web/20250401024532/https://time.com/7022440/earth-ring-like-saturn-study/ may have had one] in the distant past. However, since the 1950s (slightly over 68 years before this comic's publication), we have launched many [https://satellitetracker3d.com/track?norad-id=26548/ artificial satellites into Earth orbit]. The ones specifically in {{w|geostationary orbit}} (the {{w|Syncom|first}} of these being launched in 1964) are in the equatorial plane (as are some with different {{w|orbital period}}s), so they can be considered to constitute an artificial ring system. (Other satellites operate within various other {{w|orbital plane}}s, including {{w|geosynchronous orbit}}s that are not strictly geostationary, creating {{w|File:Starlink_SpaceX_1584_satellites_72_Planes_22each.png|various other}} halo-like clouds.)
-{{w|Satellite dishes}} are used to communicate with most of these devices. If they are stationary that means they are pointed at a {{w|geostationary satellite}} in middle and low latitudes, or a {{w|Molniya orbit}} satellite constellation in higher latitudes. Not all dishes are pointed at the geostationary orbit, but in that case, if they are used for communicating with satellites in other orbits or with space probes, they must move continuously to track the satellite/probe. There are motorized dishes that can move between some number of pre-programmed positions to select which geostationary satellite to use at a given moment, so if a dish moves, that doesn't prove that it ''isn't'' using geostationary satellites. Also, there are antennas which can "point" at different directions by {{w|Phased array|electronic means}}, without physically moving (e.g. {{w|Starlink}} user terminals, which have to make contact with one or more satellites passing rapidly overhead in a far lower orbit) that may therefore just be pointing 'generally up' without physcally being dynamically angled towards any particular satellite position.
+{{w|Satellite dishes}} are used to communicate with most of these devices. If they are stationary that means they are pointed at a {{w|geostationary satellite}} in middle and low latitudes, or a {{w|Molniya orbit}} satellite constellation in higher latitudes. Not all dishes are pointed at the geostationary orbit, but in that case, if they are used for communicating with satellites in other orbits or with space probes, they must move continuously to track the satellite/probe. There are motorized dishes that can move between some number of pre-programmed positions to select which geostationary satellite to use at a given moment, so if a dish moves, that doesn't prove that it ''isn't'' using geostationary satellites. Also, there are antennas which can "point" at different directions by {{w|Phased array|electronic means}}, without physically moving (e.g. {{w|Starlink}} user terminals, which have to make contact with one or more satellites passing rapidly overhead in a far lower orbit) that may therefore just be pointing 'generally up' without physically being dynamically angled at any particular satellite position.
 In terms of mass, Earth's ring system is tiny compared to other planetary ring systems in the Solar System. In descending order of mass, these are: Saturn ([https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aat2965 10<sup>19</sup>&nbsp;kg]), Uranus ({{w|Rings of Uranus|10<sup>16</sup>&nbsp;kg}}), Jupiter ([https://pages.astro.umd.edu/~dphamil/research/preprints/BurSimSho03.pdf between 10<sup>11</sup> and 10<sup>16</sup>&nbsp;kg]) and Neptune ({{w|Rings of Neptune|10<sup>15</sup>&nbsp;kg}}). Assuming 580 satellites (active and inactive, 1/2° slots) {{w|List of satellites in geosynchronous orbit|in geostationary orbit}}, and a typical mass of 1,000&nbsp;kg, Earth's ring system has a mass of 5.8x10<sup>5</sup>&nbsp;kg (580,000&nbsp;kg).

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 ==Explanation==
 {{incomplete|This page was created by an off-axis satellite dish. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
-A {{w|ring system|planetary ring}} is a disc of small objects and other material orbiting a planet. The most well known are the rings of {{w|Saturn}}, which were discovered by {{w|Galileo Galilei}}, but all the {{w|giant planet}}s in the Solar System have rings, as do some minor planets and moons.
+A {{w|ring system|planetary ring}} is a disc of small objects and other material orbiting a planet. The most well known are the rings of {{w|Saturn}}, which were discovered by {{w|Galileo Galilei}}, but all the {{w|gas giant}} and {{w|ice giant}} planets in the Solar System have rings, as may (possibly transiently, due to interactions with other bodies) some of the {{w|minor planet}}s and even {{w|asteroid}}s.
-Earth does not have a natural ring system, although it's theorized that it [https://web.archive.org/web/20250401024532/https://time.com/7022440/earth-ring-like-saturn-study/ may have had one] in the distant past. However, since the 1950s (slightly over 68 years before this comic's publication), we have launched many [https://satellitetracker3d.com/track?norad-id=26548/ artificial satellites into Earth orbit]. The ones specifically in {{w|geostationary orbit}} (the {{w|Syncom|first}} of these being launched in 1964) are in the equatorial plane (as are some with different {{w|orbital period}}s), so they can be considered to constitute an artificial ring system. (Other satellites operate within various other {{w|orbital plane}}s, including {{w|geosynchronous orbit}}s that are not strictly geostationary, creating {{w|File:Starlink_SpaceX_1584_satellites_72_Planes_22each.png|various other}} halo-like clouds.)
+Earth does not have a natural ring system, nor currently any of the other {{w|terrestrial planet}}s, although it's theorized that it [https://web.archive.org/web/20250401024532/https://time.com/7022440/earth-ring-like-saturn-study/ may have had one] in the distant past. However, since the 1950s (slightly over 68 years before this comic's publication), we have launched many [https://satellitetracker3d.com/track?norad-id=26548/ artificial satellites into Earth orbit]. The ones specifically in {{w|geostationary orbit}} (the {{w|Syncom|first}} of these being launched in 1964) are in the equatorial plane (as are some with different {{w|orbital period}}s), so they can be considered to constitute an artificial ring system. (Other satellites operate within various other {{w|orbital plane}}s, including {{w|geosynchronous orbit}}s that are not strictly geostationary, creating {{w|File:Starlink_SpaceX_1584_satellites_72_Planes_22each.png|various other}} halo-like clouds.)
-{{w|Satellite dishes}} are used to communicate with most of these devices. If they are stationary that means they are pointed at a {{w|geostationary satellite}} in middle and low latitudes, or a {{w|Molniya orbit}} satellite constellation in higher latitudes. Not all dishes are pointed at the geostationary orbit, but in that case, if they are used for communicating with satellites in other orbits or with space probes, they must move continuously to track the satellite/probe. There are motorized dishes that can move between some number of pre-programmed positions to select which geostationary satellite to use at a given moment, so if a dish moves, that doesn't prove that it ''isn't'' using geostationary satellites. Also, there are antennas which can "point" at different directions by {{w|Phased array|electronic means}}, without physically moving (e.g. {{w|Starlink}} user terminals).
+{{w|Satellite dishes}} are used to communicate with most of these devices. If they are stationary that means they are pointed at a {{w|geostationary satellite}} in middle and low latitudes, or a {{w|Molniya orbit}} satellite constellation in higher latitudes. Not all dishes are pointed at the geostationary orbit, but in that case, if they are used for communicating with satellites in other orbits or with space probes, they must move continuously to track the satellite/probe. There are motorized dishes that can move between some number of pre-programmed positions to select which geostationary satellite to use at a given moment, so if a dish moves, that doesn't prove that it ''isn't'' using geostationary satellites. Also, there are antennas which can "point" at different directions by {{w|Phased array|electronic means}}, without physically moving (e.g. {{w|Starlink}} user terminals, which have to make contact with one or more satellites passing rapidly overhead in a far lower orbit) that may therefore just be pointing 'generally up' without physcally being dynamically angled towards any particular satellite position.
-In terms of mass, Earth's ring system is tiny compared to other planetary ring systems in the Solar System. In descending order of mass, these are Saturn (10<sup>19</sup> kg [https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aat2965]), Uranus (10<sup>16</sup> kg [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_of_Uranus]), Jupiter (between 10<sup>11</sup> and 10<sup>16</sup> kg [https://pages.astro.umd.edu/~dphamil/research/preprints/BurSimSho03.pdf]), Neptune (10<sup>15</sup> kg [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_of_Neptune]). Assuming 580 satellites (active and inactive, 1/2° slots) in geostationary orbit [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_satellites_in_geosynchronous_orbit] and a typical mass of 1,000 kg, Earth's ring system has a mass of 5.8x10<sup>5</sup> kg (580,000 kg).
+In terms of mass, Earth's ring system is tiny compared to other planetary ring systems in the Solar System. In descending order of mass, these are: Saturn ([https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aat2965 10<sup>19</sup>&nbsp;kg]), Uranus ({{w|Rings of Uranus|10<sup>16</sup>&nbsp;kg}}), Jupiter ([https://pages.astro.umd.edu/~dphamil/research/preprints/BurSimSho03.pdf between 10<sup>11</sup> and 10<sup>16</sup>&nbsp;kg]) and Neptune ({{w|Rings of Neptune|10<sup>15</sup>&nbsp;kg}}). Assuming 580 satellites (active and inactive, 1/2° slots) {{w|List of satellites in geosynchronous orbit|in geostationary orbit}}, and a typical mass of 1,000&nbsp;kg, Earth's ring system has a mass of 5.8x10<sup>5</sup>&nbsp;kg (580,000&nbsp;kg).
 ==Transcript==

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 ==Explanation==
 {{incomplete|This page was created by an off-axis satellite dish. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
-A {{w|ring system|planetary ring}} is a disc of small objects and other material orbiting a planet. The most well known are the rings of {{w|Saturn}}, which were discovered by {{w|Galileo Galilei}}, but all the {{w|gas giant}} planets in the Solar System have rings, as do some minor planets and moons.
+A {{w|ring system|planetary ring}} is a disc of small objects and other material orbiting a planet. The most well known are the rings of {{w|Saturn}}, which were discovered by {{w|Galileo Galilei}}, but all the {{w|giant planet}}s in the Solar System have rings, as do some minor planets and moons.
 Earth does not have a natural ring system, although it's theorized that it [https://web.archive.org/web/20250401024532/https://time.com/7022440/earth-ring-like-saturn-study/ may have had one] in the distant past. However, since the 1950s (slightly over 68 years before this comic's publication), we have launched many [https://satellitetracker3d.com/track?norad-id=26548/ artificial satellites into Earth orbit]. The ones specifically in {{w|geostationary orbit}} (the {{w|Syncom|first}} of these being launched in 1964) are in the equatorial plane (as are some with different {{w|orbital period}}s), so they can be considered to constitute an artificial ring system. (Other satellites operate within various other {{w|orbital plane}}s, including {{w|geosynchronous orbit}}s that are not strictly geostationary, creating {{w|File:Starlink_SpaceX_1584_satellites_72_Planes_22each.png|various other}} halo-like clouds.)

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:18, 31 October 2025
Line 20:		Line 20:

	==Transcript==		==Transcript==
−	~~{{incomplete transcript\|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}~~

	:[On the left side of the single panel, a table with words in one column and checkboxes in the second:]		:[On the left side of the single panel, a table with words in one column and checkboxes in the second:]

@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 :Neptune [Ticked checkbox]
-:[On the right side of the single panel, an illustration of the Earth from space, with Africa most obvious and centrally in view. Many dots represent satellites, a lot of them close into the Earth but an even more significant number of them are in a very wide and tilted ellipse depicting a large circular orbit seen from a highly oblique angle. A labeled arrow points to it:]
+:[On the right side of the single panel, an illustration of the Earth from space, with Africa most obvious and centrally in view. Many dots represent satellites, a lot of them close into the Earth but an even more significant number of them are in a very wide and tilted ellipse depicting a large circular orbit seen from a highly oblique angle. A labeled arrow points to the ellipse:]
 :Geostationary satellite belt

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 {{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
-:[On the left side of the single panel, a table with words and checkboxes:]
+:[On the left side of the single panel, a table with words in one column and checkboxes in the second:]
-{|
+:[Two Column headers, underlined:]
-| style="text-align:right;text-decoration:underline;" | Planet || style="text-decoration:underline;" | Rings?
+:Planet
-|-
+:Rings?
-| style="text-align:right;" | Mercury || ☐
+:[Table entries, by line:]
-|-
+:Mercury [Unticked checkbox]
-| style="text-align:right;" | Venus || ☐
+:Venus [Unticked checkbox]
-|-
+:Earth [Originally unticked checkbox, now with a red tick added]
-| style="text-align:right;" | Earth || style="color:red;" | ☑
+:Mars [Unticked checkbox]
-|-
+:Jupiter [Ticked checkbox]
-| style="text-align:right;" | Mars || ☐
+:Saturn [Ticked checkbox]
-|-
+:Uranus [Ticked checkbox]
-| style="text-align:right;" | Jupiter || ☑
+:Neptune [Ticked checkbox]
-:[On the right side of the single panel, a drawing of the Earth from space, with Africa in view. Many dots represent the satellites, and most of them are in an ellipse. An arrow points to it:]
+:[On the right side of the single panel, an illustration of the Earth from space, with Africa most obvious and centrally in view. Many dots represent satellites, a lot of them close into the Earth but an even more significant number of them are in a very wide and tilted ellipse depicting a large circular orbit seen from a highly oblique angle. A labeled arrow points to it:]
 :Geostationary satellite belt
 :[Caption below the panel:]
-: Astronomy fact: a century ago, Earth didn't have rings, but we have one now! It's where all the satellite dishes are pointed.
+: Astronomy fact: A century ago, Earth didn't have rings, but we have one now! It's where all the satellite dishes are pointed.
 {{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 A {{w|ring system|planetary ring}} is a disc of small objects and other material orbiting a planet. The most well known are the rings of {{w|Saturn}}, which were discovered by {{w|Galileo Galilei}}, but all the {{w|gas giant}} planets in the Solar System have rings, as do some minor planets and moons.
-Earth does not have a natural ring system, although it's theorized that it [https://web.archive.org/web/20250401024532/https://time.com/7022440/earth-ring-like-saturn-study/ may have had one] in the distant past. However, since the 1950s (slightly over 68 years before this comic's publication), we have launched many artificial satellites into Earth orbit. The ones specifically in {{w|geostationary orbit}} (the {{w|Syncom|first}} of these being launched in 1964) are in the equatorial plane (as are some with different {{w|orbital period}}s), so they can be considered to constitute an artificial ring system. (Other satellites operate within various other {{w|orbital plane}}s, including {{w|geosynchronous orbit}}s that are not strictly geostationary, creating {{w|File:Starlink_SpaceX_1584_satellites_72_Planes_22each.png|various other}} halo-like clouds.)
+Earth does not have a natural ring system, although it's theorized that it [https://web.archive.org/web/20250401024532/https://time.com/7022440/earth-ring-like-saturn-study/ may have had one] in the distant past. However, since the 1950s (slightly over 68 years before this comic's publication), we have launched many artificial satellites into Earth orbit[https://satellitetracker3d.com/track?norad-id=26548]. The ones specifically in {{w|geostationary orbit}} (the {{w|Syncom|first}} of these being launched in 1964) are in the equatorial plane (as are some with different {{w|orbital period}}s), so they can be considered to constitute an artificial ring system. (Other satellites operate within various other {{w|orbital plane}}s, including {{w|geosynchronous orbit}}s that are not strictly geostationary, creating {{w|File:Starlink_SpaceX_1584_satellites_72_Planes_22each.png|various other}} halo-like clouds.)
 {{w|Satellite dishes}} are used to communicate with most of these devices. If they are stationary that means they are pointed at a {{w|geostationary satellite}} in middle and low latitudes, or a {{w|Molniya orbit}} satellite constellation in higher latitudes. Not all dishes are pointed at the geostationary orbit, but in that case, if they are used for communicating with satellites in other orbits or with space probes, they must move continuously to track the satellite/probe.