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The Planets

 

The planets spice up the night ... adding surprise and delight! Their dances with the setting and rising Sun, the phases of the Moon, the twinkling stars and each other are heavenly treats that fill our hearts with unforgettable images.

Is it a planet? ... What planet? When you look up at the night sky, how do you know you are looking at a planet? Keep reading and you'll find out!

 


The New Solar System ~ August 24, 2006
8 Planets and 3 Dwarf Planets

Image: International Astronomical Union (IAU)

Larger Image: 48 KB

Note: 2003 UB313 has officially been named Eris.

 

The Planets Defined

The International Astronomical Union, meeting in Prague August 24, 2006, voted and agreed that a "planet" is defined as a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.

Note: Pluto doesn't meet the (c) planet requirement.

This means Pluto has been reclassified and we no longer have 9 planets. The 8 remaining planets in our solar system are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Much Ado about Pluto ~ Pluto Petition

 

Dwarf Planets

Pluto, Ceres, and Eris (2003 UB313) are now known as “dwarf planets”.

More "dwarf planets" are expected to be announced by the IAU in the coming months and years. Currently a dozen candidate "dwarf planets" are listed on IAU's "dwarf planet" watchlist, which keeps changing as new objects are found and the physics of the existing candidates becomes better known.

The "dwarf planet" Pluto is recognised as an important proto-type of a new class of trans-Neptunian objects. The IAU will set up a process to name these objects. IAU News: 8/24/06 Resolution Votes

Ceres ... Pronunciation

Eris ... Pronunciation

 


Plutoids
June 11, 2008

The International Astronomical Union decided on the term plutoid as a name for dwarf planets like Pluto. IAU Press Release 6/11/08

A plutoid is a celestial body orbitting around the Sun at a greater distance than Neptune. It assumes a near-spherical shape, and has not cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit. Satellites of plutoids are not plutoids themselves.

As of June 11, 2008 the two known and named plutoids are Pluto and Eris. It is expected that 42+ plutoids will be named as science progresses and new discoveries are made.

 

Eight Planets Plus Earth's Moon
How Many Planets Can You See in the Night Sky?

 

 

Image: NASA

Foreground to background: Neptune (furthest from Sun), Uranus,
Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Earth and moon, Venus, Mercury (closest to Sun)

New Planetary Mnemonic ~ 8 Planets
Jan. 2007 Winner of the Astronomy Magazine Contest:
Kyle Sullivan of Lumberton,Mississippi
My Violent Evil Monster Just Scared Us Nuts.

Traditional Mnemonic ~ 9 Planets
My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas.

New Planetary Mnemonic ~ 8 Planets + 3 Dwarf Planets
(Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Eris)
Feb. 2008 National Geographic Children's Books Contest
Winner: Maryn Smith of Great Falls, Montana
My Very Exciting Magic Carpet Just Sailed Under Nine Palace Elephants.

 

Look Up!

The planets follow the path of the Sun and Moon. If you watch the Sun travel across the sky during the day and the Moon during the night, you will become acquainted with their path from horizon to horizon. This path is called the ecliptic and changes only slightly with the seasons. If you find an unusually bright non-twinkling object in the night sky along this path, it is probably a planet.

 

 

What Planet Are You Looking At?
Consider the following:

1. Certain planets are not visible or rarely visible to the naked eye.

2. Some are typically seen near the horizon at sunrise or sunset.

3. Others are visible in the night sky.

4. Each planet emits different color.

Neptune

This planet is not visible to the naked eye.

Uranus

This planet is rarely visible to the naked eye however, annually, a few weeks before and after its opposition, Uranus reaches the faint visible magnitude 6.0 and can be seen by the unaided eye in a dark country sky. See Planets 2001-2030 to find the planet's dates of opposition, currently occurring in September and October.

Saturn

Small yellowish-white Saturn is generally seen in the night sky.

Jupiter

Jupiter is usually found in the night sky far from the Sun. It is large and glows a brilliant white light.

Mars

Reddish Mars, generally seen during the night hours, appears at its biggest and brightest about every 2 years during its opposition. See Planets 2001-2030 to find the planet's dates of opposition.

Venus*

Venus can be found near the horizon at sunset or sunrise. It is large, extremely brilliant, silvery in color and often mistaken for a UFO!

Mercury*

This elusive planet is only occasionally seen low in the eastern sky before sunrise, or low in the western sky after sunset.  It is often hidden in the glowing embrace of the Sun. Elusive Mercury is the only planet that twinkles, flashing a bright yellow color.

 

*Both Mercury and Venus may appear as crescents, while the other planets will always appear full. Most observers only see the crescent shape through a telescope.

 

 

Where Are the Planets Now?

Check out the helpful links on this page.

 

Spiritual, Astrological Qualities

Planets ... Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

Dwarf Planets ... Pluto, Eris, Ceres

 

 

Current Scientific Knowledge, History, Mythology

Panets ... Tour the Solar System (includes Pluto and its moons)

Dwarf Planets ... Pluto, Eris, Ceres

 

Become a night sky traveler!
Be blessed by the planets.

 

I'd like to know your thoughts about The Night Sky ...
send me an email
.
May your Night Sky traveling always be filled
with Celestial Delights and Treats!
Susan Sun

 

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Getting Started in Astronomy
Includes a downloadable Moon map and bimonthly star charts.

At Skymaps.com download a current monthly guide, evening sky map & calendar.

Link to Sky and Telescope's This Week's Sky at a Glance.

Spaceweather.com keeps you looking up!

Online Schools
A space and science study guide for kids

Astronomy Resources
Valuable links for stargazing, meteorology, education and job resources

 

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