Geology Fundamental Nature of the Planet

¶ … discovered solar system and how it works. Using this solar system as an example the writer develops a basis for a believable solar system in another area and describes its functions and actions.

The discovery of the new solar system is very exciting and the world is eager to explore its fundamentals and its possible future use. The world is going to organize a team of scientists that will explore the new solar system using carefully modulated steps with which to discover its workings and elements.

Phase one is going to be an attempt to discover its atmospheric elements. Much like this solar system has atmospheres that contribute to the ability for life to exist on earth, and possibly other planets it is suspected there are similar atmospheres in the newly discovered solar system. We are going to determine what the planets' atmospheres are comprised of and whether or not they are conducive to life forms as we know them.

The next thing that will be explored will be the geographic nature of the planets contained within this solar system. The geology of the planets will allow scientists to determine the age of the solar system as well as other things. The exploration will involve sending a satellite and robotic tools to the surface of some of the planets and having them collect samples from the surface of the planets. In addition there will be many pictures taken with the satellite that will be sent back to earth for examination. These samples and pictures will not only be examined on their own merit but will also be compared to the facts that have been decided and discovered in this solar system to see what the similarities and the differences might be between the two.

The planet first up for examination appears from initial studies to contain glaciers as well as an atmosphere similar to the ice age scientists believe occurred on earth millions of years ago. The glaciers appear to be two to three times larger than anything we have experienced on earth however.

We believe this planet has similar qualities to Jupiter in many areas.

The chart below evidences the things we will be looking for on this newly discovered planet. http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/jupiterfact.html

Jupiter Fact Sheet

Jupiter/Earth Comparison

Bulk parameters

Jupiter

Earth

Ratio (Jupiter/Earth)

Mass (1024 kg)

Volume (1010 km3)

Radius (1 bar level) (km)

Equatorial

Polar

Volumetric mean radius (km)

Ellipticity

Mean density (kg/m3)

Gravity (eq., 1 bar) (m/s2)

Acceleration (eq., 1 bar) (m/s2)

Escape velocity (km/s)

GM (x 106 km3/s2)

Bond albedo

Visual geometric albedo

Visual magnitude V (1,0)

Solar irradiance (W/m2)

Black-body temperature (K)

Moment of inertia (I/MR2)

J2 (x 10-6)

Number of natural satellites

Planetary ring system

Orbital parameters

Jupiter

Earth

Ratio (Jupiter/Earth)

Semimajor axis (106 km)

Sidereal orbit period (days)

Tropical orbit period (days)

Perihelion (106 km)

Aphelion (106 km)

Synodic period (days)

Mean orbital velocity (km/s)

Max. orbital velocity (km/s)

Min. orbital velocity (km/s)

Orbit inclination (deg)

Orbit eccentricity

Sidereal rotation period (hours)

Length of day (hrs)

Obliquity to orbit (deg)

System III (1965.0) coordinates

Jupiter Observational Parameters

Discoverer:

Discovery Date: Prehistoric

Distance from Earth

Minimum (106 km)

Maximum (106 km)

Apparent diameter from Earth

Maximum (seconds of arc)

Minimum (seconds of arc)

Mean values at opposition from Earth

Distance from Earth (106 km)

Apparent diameter (seconds of arc)

Apparent visual magnitude

Maximum apparent visual magnitude

Jupiter Mean Orbital Elements (J2000)

Semimajor axis (AU)

Orbital eccentricity

Orbital inclination (deg)

Longitude of ascending node (deg) 100.55615

Longitude of perihelion (deg)

Mean Longitude (deg)

North Pole of Rotation

Right Ascension: 268.05-0.009T

Declination

64.49 + 0.003T

Reference Date: 12:00 UT 1 Jan 2000 (JD 2451545.0)

Julian centuries from reference date

Jovian Magnetosphere

Goddard Space Flight Center O4 Model

Dipole field strength: 4.28 gauss-Rj3

Dipole tilt to rotational axis: 9.6 degrees

Longitude of tilt: 201.7 degrees