The Moon and Planets

[Mr Squarekins]

Downloaded this from the BBC a while back. 13 minutes to the moon.

The Apollo 11 one is a great listen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w13xttx2

[Gnevans]

I found this clip on Twitter very interesting in the way it demonstrates how the planets move in the solar system:
https://x.com/MAstronomers/status/1805395482069360...

[RustyMX5]

I find it fascinating that although Pluto is no longer formally called a planet, there are around another 8 or 9 other Pluto sized dwarf planets floating around.

[Eric Mc]

The problem is that there are thousands of these Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs).

[brake fader]

I'm constantly amazed by space and how huge it is, mind boggling. Yet i find it very calming to watch space programs for some reason.

[Eric Mc]

I've always liked "Solar System" topics because, even though the solar system is pretty big, it is our own "cosmic back yard" and we have been able to send probes to virtually all the major bodies that exist in the solar system.

[SpudLink]

RustyMX5 said:

I find it fascinating that although Pluto is no longer formally called a planet, there are around another 8 or 9 other Pluto sized dwarf planets floating around.

Pluto was only ever a Kuiper belt object. We only hold on to the idea that it is special because we were taught in school that it was a planet.

[Ken_Code]

brake fader said:

I'm constantly amazed by space and how huge it is, mind boggling. Yet i find it very calming to watch space programs for some reason.

Space is big.

You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is.

I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space.

[epom]

Ken_Code said:

brake fader said:

I'm constantly amazed by space and how huge it is, mind boggling. Yet i find it very calming to watch space programs for some reason.

Space is big.

You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is.

I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space.

Open to correction, but I read in my kids book (which is a great read) that to travel from one side of The Milky Way Galaxy in a rocket doing approx 10,000 mph it would take 3,000,000 years

[Ken_Code]

epom said:

Open to correction, but I read in my kids book (which is a great read) that to travel from one side of The Milky Way Galaxy in a rocket doing approx 10,000 mph it would take 3,000,000 years

I think it’d be closer to 6 billion years.

[Actual]

Ken_Code said:

brake fader said:

I'm constantly amazed by space and how huge it is, mind boggling. Yet i find it very calming to watch space programs for some reason.

Space is big.

You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is.

I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space.

Two possibilities exist: Either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.

Arthur C. Clarke

[Eric Mc]

Can we try to keep on Solar System topics rather than the universe in general?

What do people think is the most interesting moon in the Solar System?

I am constantly amazed at the variety of the moons we have - from frozen ice worlds to semi molten hot worlds.

[SpudLink]

Eric Mc said:

Can we try to keep on Solar System topics rather than the universe in general?

What do people think is the most interesting moon in the Solar System?

I am constantly amazed at the variety of the moons we have - from frozen ice worlds to semi molten hot worlds.

Our moon is interesting because of it's large size relative to Earth, and the possible influence it has had on the evolution of life. But not that interesting for itself.

Europa has to be the most interesting because of the (very very remote) possibility of the oceans supporting life 'as we know it'. But probably not the most interesting geologically, which I guess is what you have in mind.

[RustyMX5]

SpudLink said:

RustyMX5 said:

I find it fascinating that although Pluto is no longer formally called a planet, there are around another 8 or 9 other Pluto sized dwarf planets floating around.

Pluto was only ever a Kuiper belt object. We only hold on to the idea that it is special because we were taught in school that it was a planet.

But conversely, how can you not look at this and go Wow!

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

What do people think is the most interesting moon in the Solar System?

If I remember my Arthur C. Clarke correctly, Europa.

Wasn't the message something like 'You can have all the other worlds, but this one is taken'?

[Mont Blanc]

Great thread.

[WrekinCrew]

Simpo Two said:

If I remember my Arthur C. Clarke correctly, Europa.

Wasn't the message something like 'You can have all the other worlds, but this one is taken'?

All these worlds are yours except Europa. Attempt no landing there.

[Tigerite]

Eric Mc said:

Not heard of that one. Have you any pictures?

It's only an artist's impression because it's too far away to have a full res photo, but:

[Eric Mc]

Better than nothing😊

[Eric Mc]

SpudLink said:

Our moon is interesting because of it's large size relative to Earth, and the possible influence it has had on the evolution of life. But not that interesting for itself.

Europa has to be the most interesting because of the (very very remote) possibility of the oceans supporting life 'as we know it'. But probably not the most interesting geologically, which I guess is what you have in mind.

Clarke wrote that just after the Voyagers had flown by Jupiter but not visited any other planets yet.
I’d nominate both Titan and Triton as very weird worlds.