11–20 of 26 posts
But Wikipedia says there isn't really a lower limit to the size of a moon -- if it orbits a planet, it's a moon. Unless we put it there, in which case it's a satellite. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_satellite#The_definitio...
With Earth-like planets being discovered in far off star systems and HD cameras roving about on Mars, it's easy to forget how much of our own solar system is still an unexplored frontier. It may not be a ground breaking discovery, but the fact that there are Moons we haven't found as of yet, is really exciting to me!
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ah, you are testing the assumption that the moon was there when Voyager flew by :-)
I think it's actually a Star Wars reference.
This little guy has a width less than the length of Manhattan, so I was surprised to hear it being called a moon. But Wikipedia says there isn't really a lower limit to the size of a moon -- if it orbits a planet, it's a moon. Unless we put it there, in which case it's a satellite. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_satellite#The_definitio...
(Only 12 miles!?)
With Earth-like planets being discovered in far off star systems and HD cameras roving about on Mars, it's easy to forget how much of our own solar system is still an unexplored frontier. It may not be a ground breaking discovery, but the fact that there are Moons we haven't found as of yet, is really exciting to me!
Well, Neptune is in the top three most likely places to find more moons. Jupiter and Saturn have been pretty well mined out by the orbiters Galileo and Cassini, and we can see the inner solar system pretty well from right here on earth. But Uranus and Neptune were visited for just one quick flyby each, and Pluto never yet until 2015, so there's plenty of opportunities to have missed stuff there.
With Earth-like planets being discovered in far off star systems and HD cameras roving about on Mars, it's easy to forget how much of our own solar system is still an unexplored frontier. It may not be a ground breaking discovery, but the fact that there are Moons we haven't found as of yet, is really exciting to me!
Well, Neptune is in the top three most likely places to find more moons. Jupiter and Saturn have been pretty well mined out by the orbiters Galileo and Cassini, and we can see the inner solar system pretty well from right here on earth. But Uranus and Neptune were visited for just one quick flyby each, and Pluto never yet until 2015, so there's plenty of opportunities to have missed stuff there.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
When you consider that the solar system is the only part of the universe that humans will explore for many generations, if ever, I'm not really sure why its exploration really isn't a higher priority. Everything else is too far away.
As soon as we can make some new advancements in energy generation and storage, I think that we'll see this happen. Think about it, we're already practically bursting at the seams here on earth; I can totally see the human race expanding to other parts as soon as it's sustainable (food, acquisition of new materials for fabrication, etc.) Who knows if it'll happen in my lifetime, but I'm pretty pumped about it :)
Not especially - developed countries have had declining birth rates for a while now, with several below the replacement rate.
Plus you have to consider that both Antarctica and the Sahara Desert are more habitable than any known extraterrestrial location, yet hardly anyone is living in either.
Also possibly of interest: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moons_of_Pluto
I had no idea Pluto (not a planet) had five moons.
Really cool. Also possibly of interest: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moons_of_Pluto I had no idea Pluto (not a planet) had five moons.
Ida and Dactyl are possibly the best-named pair, IMHO.