The Creative Writing Project of a Youth: planet

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Simple Facts About Pluto

Pluto is the only planet that we do not know a lot about. It was found in the Kuiper Belt, which is comprised of objects in space (most of them rocks and debris) outside of the orbit of the planets around us. It is seen as the marker of the end of our solar system. It was discovered after years of research because astronomists saw that Neptune was being pulled with gravity by something. Of course, they learned later on that it wasn't Pluto doing so, but this question did lead to Pluto's discovery. Some, because of the facts surrounding the discovery, think that Pluto is not a real planet. One of the main reasons is because Pluto's moon, Charon, looks too big to be a moon. Also, some think that it is just a comet, because of its orbit. But, the answer to the question varies from person. Both sides have equal standpoints that make sense, so it's really hard to choose. Which one will you choose?

Pluto

Kuiper Belt

Here's an article I enjoyed: http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/mission/whereis_nh.php

1st image taken from this article: http://www.metalsucks.net/2014/04/17/allegaeon-wrote-25-second-track-former-planet-pluto/

2nd image taken from this article: http://moviewriternyu.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/pluto-trying-to-buy-its-way-back-to-big-boy-planet-status/

3rd image taken from this article: http://planetfacts.org/kuiper-belt/

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Simple Facts About Saturn

Saturn is one of the most beautiful planets there are out in this part of the solar system. But, it would not be an ideal place for human colonization for two reasons. One, because it is a gas giant, being mostly made of helium and other gasses. Two, because of the violent storms that have raged on for years. Jupiter is a 'twin' according to astronomists and scientist out there, because it is a very similar planet to Saturn. Most of its basic features are pretty much identical to Saturn. One of the only major differences, is that Saturn is a little smaller than Jupiter. Saturn's rings are made of rocks, which have been pulled by Saturn's gravity, and his shepherd moons. A shepherd moon is a moon, which pulls together and 'herds' the rocks around it. Basically meaning, it 'herds' the rocks that make the rings around Saturn, and keeping them from flying off into space. It would take thirty Earth years for Saturn to orbit the Sun. That's a lot! But ironically because of its winds and storms, it spins faster than it rotates. That is why it looks like its being squeezed, with a round body and a flat top. There was a space mission that went to Saturn called the Cassini mission. It took the Cassini thirty years to get to Saturn, take pictures of him and his moon Titan, and then finish what it came to do. Many good things have come out of this mission, and we have learned a lot from it. We learned more about Saturn's haunting beauty, and his magnificence.

Image taken from: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/photo_gallery/photogallery-saturn.html