The study of planets, asteroids, comets, etc, including weather, geology, composition, etc. This tag should be used when the focus of the question is on the the science of a non-Earth non-star natural object, and not used when designing spacecraft to cope with said challenges.
Questions tagged [planetary-science]
325 questions
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What defines the radius of a ball of gas like Jupiter?
I've seen statements to the effect of: "the gravity on the surface of Jupiter is about 2.5 times that of Earth". The problem with such a statement is that as essentially a ball of gas, Jupiter is not believed to have a solid surface. Behind the…
Anthony X
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Which of the four inner planets has the strongest magnetic field, Mars, Mercury, Venus, or Earth?
Which of the four terrestrial planets has the strongest magnetic field, Mars, Mercury, Venus, or Earth?
john1616
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By my calculation the cumulative mass of Mercury, plus Venus, plus Earth's moon, plus Mars, plus Mars' moons, total 99% of Earth's mass. Am I correct?
Does cumulative mass of Mercury, Venus, Earth's moon and Mars total 99% of Earth's mass ?
Reid
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Habitable rocky exoplanet with radius 2 times of Earth but similar surface gravity
Planet Earth has radius 2x of planet Mars, while having 10x times of Mars mass and 60% higher surface gravity. Could there exist rocky exoplanet with 2x radius of Earth but similar surface gravity (+-10%). Not a gas giant or pure ocean world planet,…
David Cage
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When do Mars, Venus and Earth Align?
I found that all planets in the solar system align on 6 May 2492.
How can I find when Mars, Venus and Earth align? Perhaps it is sooner.
Sharpless512
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Can waterworld exoplanets have an ocean that's fresh or brackish by terrestrial standards?
The basic system is a terrestrial-type exoplanet in the liquid water zone around a star. The planet has a worldwide, liquid ocean with at most small islands above the surfaceMy question is what the current thinking about the salinity (primarily…
Heteromeles
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If something were ejected from the solar system (like a planet for example), where exactly would it end up? Where does it go?
I have been reading about space and whatnot, and came across an article about a “lost planet” that Jupiter kicked out of the solar system therefore ejecting it, and it made me wonder where it went. Does it just keep falling? Or is there a particular…
Brianna Carver
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How Earth-like is "Earth-like"?
This is about planets on which life as we know it could arise, and how different they might seem to Earth. By "life as we know it", I mean life sharing the same chemical basis as our own - requiring liquid water and employing the same amino acid /…
Anthony X
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Sensors for measuring charged particle density and particle density
We are designing a 3U CubeSat using solar sail. We have everything we need for all the subsystems except payload. Our mission is to measure charged particle density, particle density and temperature. We have a temp sensor already, but we can not…
GEAUXTIGHAS
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Surface material on Saturn's moon Rhea
The Cassini mission has made several flybys of Saturn's second largest moon, Rhea. Do we have any data about that moon's surface geochemistry? I do know there is a thin Oxygen/Carbon Dioxide atmosphere and that the planet is 75/25 ice/rock.
MercuryPlus
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What Languages Need To Create A Space Application Like Stellarium
I'm Studying 3rd Year Of Computer Science And Engineering. I Planned To Create A Space Application Like Stellarium For Final Year Project. I'm Space Enthusiast.Please Help Me To Choose Which Language Is Best To Create A Space Application.
ksivasuriyaprakash
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