Stronger Solar Storms Ahead!

Image by Samchio. via Flickr

The Sun will be getting more active in a few years from now. Scientists predicts that the solar activity will get higher causing stronger solar storms which affects the satellites and many communication tools such as GPS and radio communications.

The damage it may cause to earth can be reduced only by proper warning based on a deeper understanding of the phenomenon. Scientist are currently working to improve their knowledge and hence give timely and accurate warnings.

Full story below...

More Active Sun Means Nasty Solar Storms Ahead - Yahoo! News

Planet Venus Visible After Sunset

Image by Old Shoe Woman via Flickr

The brightest star in the night sky today is not actually a star but a planet. Planet Venus, the second planet from the sun is visible in the western sky just after the sun hides in the western horizon. It boast a magnitude of -3.9 that was brighter than any star in the dusk sky. Commonly mistaken as an airplane, the lonely planet can be seen just above the western horizon.

Planet Venus Trivia
- Planet Venus is named after the Roman equivalent of the Greek god love, Aphrodite.
- Galileo's observance of the phases of Venus led him to conclude that the Sun and not the Earth is the center of the Solar System. This was in agreement with the findings of an earlier astronomer, Copernicus.
- Planet Venus and not Mercury is the hottest planet in the Solar System. The cause of Venus' high temperature is the greenhouse effect due to its thick atmosphere of Carbon Dioxide.

New Planets Displaying Opposite Orbital Patterns - Space News - redOrbit

Scientists' recent discovery of exoplanets (planets orbiting another star) that revolve on their orbits in the opposite direction as the rotation their host stars led them to reevaluate and re-validate their current understanding of how the solar system formed.

See the original news article below.

New Planets Displaying Opposite Orbital Patterns - Space News - redOrbit

Pluto-Failed Planet?

Pluto still failed to be recognized as a planet after this week's international astronomical meeting held by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in Rio Janeiro. We can still recall the controversial move made by the IAU to demote Pluto as a "dwarf planet" three years ago in the same meeting held in Prague. The world witnessed table bangings and walk outs of some astronomers after the decision has been laid down.

Image by Image Editor via Flickr

The decision was based on the fact that it failed to pass the criteria to be major body on it's orbit. Pluto's mass only accounts for 0.07 of the entire mass of all objects in its orbit (which includes gas giant Neptune because their obits intersect). In contrast, earth is more than a million times heavier than all the objects on its orbit (which includes the moon).

Pluto joined the group of the dwarf planets that includes Ceres, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris.

Image via Wikipedia

(Right)The orbit of Haumea

Image via Wikipedia

(Right) Image of Eris and its moon Dysnomia
(Below) Pluto and its moons.

Image by the mad LOLscientist via Flickr