Topic: Planets
Clouds of Jupiter Made of Hydrogen and Helium
The Great Red Spot
The first thing you see when you look at the atmosphere of Jupiter is the bands of dark and light clouds as well as swirls, waves and oval spots. The patterns are mezmerizing! So what causes this complex mixture of colors and shapes?
The Rings of Planet Saturn: Particles of Water Ice
Saturn's Rings - Highlighted by the Eclipsed Sun
Did you know that Saturn’s rings are made up of particles of water ice? Saturn has the most extensive and complicated ring system of any planet in our solar system. These beautiful rings are primarily made up of particles of ice ranging in size from micrometers to meters. They also contain dust and other chemicals.
The Moons of the Planet Mars: Phobos and Deimos
Since the last post focused on the Planet Mars, I thought it would be worth highlighting the two tiny moons that light up the Martian night sky. The names of the moons of Mars are Phobos and Deimos.
Spirit Rover Status
The Spirit Rover on Mars
You know it had to happen sooner or later! After six years of performing valuable scientific research on the planet Mars, the Spirit Rover has found its final parking spot. On January 26, 2010, NASA designated the once mobile robot a “stationary science platform.”
Dust Devils on the Planet Mars
Dust Devil trails visible on the Martian surface
Nature…the artist. Take a look at this image of the surface of Mars. Can you guess what may have caused the gracefully arcing and curling lines? For a while, scientists were unable to untangle the mystery. Turns out that the dark tracings are caused by spinning columns of rising air – better known here on Earth as Dust Devils.
