Solar system videos

what gasses does the sun fuse to release energy?

The sun fuses hydrogen atoms into helium through nuclear fusion, releasing energy in the process.

what causes solar flares & coronal mass ejection?

Solar flares and coronal mass ejections are caused by the release of magnetic energy stored in the sun's atmosphere, often associated with sunspot activity.

which are the terrestrial & jovian planets?

The terrestrial planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, which are rocky and closer to the sun, while the jovian planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, are gas giants found farther out in the solar system.

what are gaseous planets mostly made up of?

Gaseous planets, or jovian planets, are mostly made up of hydrogen and helium, with trace amounts of other elements and compounds.

how long is a year on mercury? does it have an atmosphere? is there ice?

A year on Mercury is about 88 Earth days. It has a very thin atmosphere, composed mostly of oxygen, sodium, hydrogen, and helium, and ice exists in permanently shadowed craters at its poles.

why venus earth’s twin?

Venus is often called Earth's twin due to its similar size, composition, and proximity to the Sun.

what is venus’ atmosphere and surface conditions? why is it very hot?

Venus has a thick atmosphere composed mainly of carbon dioxide, with clouds of sulphuric acid. These conditions create a runaway greenhouse effect, resulting in surface temperatures hot enough to melt lead.

why is venus hotter than mercury? how long did the spacecraft survive on venus’ surface?

Venus is hotter than Mercury due to its dense atmosphere that traps heat, while Mercury lacks a significant atmosphere to retain heat. Spacecraft like the Soviet Venera 13 survived about 127 minutes on Venus' surface.

how did the moon form? what was the process?

The Moon originated approximately 4.5 billion years ago via the giant impact hypothesis, which involves a collision between the young Earth and a Mars-sized body that created debris, ultimately forming the Moon.

what is the goldilocks zone?

The Goldilocks Zone, also known as the habitable zone, is the region around a star where conditions are just right for liquid water to exist on a planet's surface. This zone is neither too hot nor too cold, allowing for the possibility of life.

what are the conditions on mars? why did it lose its atmosphere?

Mars has cold temperatures, thin atmosphere primarily composed of carbon dioxide, and evidence of liquid water in its past. It lost its atmosphere due to weak gravity and lack of a magnetic field, allowing solar winds to strip it away.

where is the asteroid belt? describe it

The asteroid belt is located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It contains numerous small rocky bodies remnants from the early solar system that never formed into a planet.

how does jupiter affect the asteroid belt

Jupiter's immense gravity influences the asteroid belt by preventing the formation of a planet and causing orbital disturbances among the asteroids, sometimes redirecting their paths and preventing collisions.

what is the surface of jupiter & its moons?

The surface of Jupiter is composed of thick bands of clouds and is marked by intense storms, including the Great Red Spot. Its moons, like Europa and Ganymede, feature diverse geologies, with Europa having a subsurface ocean and Ganymede being the largest moon in the solar system.

which moon has volcanic activity? what is it heated by? which moon might have an ocean underneath its ice and which is the largest?

Io is the most volcanically active moon, heated by tidal forces from Jupiter's gravity. Europa is believed to have an ocean beneath its icy surface, while Ganymede is the largest moon in the solar system.

describe saturn’s rings and its origin

Saturn's rings are an array of ice and rock particles that range in size from tiny grains to large boulders. They are thought to have originated from the remnants of moons or comets that were torn apart by Saturn's gravitational forces.

what is special about titan? enceladus?

Titan is the second-largest moon in the solar system and has a dense atmosphere along with liquid methane lakes, while Enceladus is known for its geysers that eject water vapor, indicating a subsurface ocean.

does uranus have rings? does it looked flipped on its side?

Yes, Uranus has faint rings and is tilted on its side, with an axial tilt of about 98 degrees, making its rotation unique among the planets in the solar system.

describe neptune and its moon triton

Neptune is the eighth and farthest planet from the Sun in our solar system, characterized by its deep blue color due to methane in its atmosphere. Triton, its largest moon, is unique for its retrograde orbit and is geologically active with geysers that spew nitrogen gas.

what is the name of pluto’s little brother?

Pluto's little brother is called Eris, a dwarf planet that is slightly smaller than Pluto and located in the scattered disc region of the solar system.

what type of objects are found in the kuiper belt and oort cloud?

The Kuiper Belt contains small icy bodies, including dwarf planets like Pluto and Eris, while the Oort Cloud is a hypothetical region that is believed to contain a vast number of comet nuclei.

what was the motive to come up with the criteria for a planet?

The motive to establish criteria for a planet was to provide a clear and consistent definition that distinguishes planets from other celestial bodies, especially in light of discoveries like Eris that challenged Pluto's status as a planet.

what are 3 criterias for a planet? which did pluto fail? why (relate to pluto’s location)

To be classified as a planet, an object must orbit the Sun, be spherical in shape, and clear its orbit of other debris. Pluto fails the clear orbital debris criterion since it shares its orbit with other Kuiper Belt objects.