Neptune's Rings

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

By: Lillian When Neptune was Discovered Neptune was first predicted before directly observed. With a prediction by Urban Le Verrier, observations confirming the existence of a major planet were made on the night of September 23, 1846, and into the early morning of the 24th, by astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle, working from Le Verrier's calculations. After it was discovered it turned out it had been observed many times before, but not recognized. By 1846, the planet Uranus had completed nearly one full orbit since its discovery by William Herschel in 1781. In 1845, Le Verrier in Paris and John Couch Adams in Cambridge separately began calculations to determine the nature and position of such a planet. Shortly after the discovery, George Airy, at the time British Astronomer Royal, announced that Adams had also predicted the discovery of the planet. How Neptune Got Its Name Shortly after its discovery, Neptune was referred to simply as "the planet exterior to Uranus" or as "Le Verrier's planet". The first suggestion for a name came from Galle, who proposed the name Janus. Claiming the right to name his discovery, Le Verrier quickly proposed the name Neptune for this new planet. In October, he sought to name the planet Le Verrier, after himself. Struve came out in favor of the name Neptune on December 29, 1846, to the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences. Soon Neptune became the internationally accepted name. Neptune’s Rings Neptune has five rings: Galle, Le Verrier, Lassell, Arago, and Adams. Its rings were named after the astronomers who made an important discovery regarding the planet. The rings are composed of at least 20% dust with some of the rings containing as much as 70% dust; the rest of the material in the rings is small rocks. The planet’s rings are difficult to see because they are very dark. Astronomers think Neptune’s rings are young compared to the age of the planet. Pictures Resources .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Chapter Two: the Astronomers and Extraterrestrials
Warning Concerning Copyright Restrictions The Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials, Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction, One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research , If electronic transmission of reserve material is used for purposes in excess of what constitutes "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. • THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE DEBATE 1750-1900 The idea of a plurality of worlds from Kant to Lowell J MICHAEL]. CROWE University of Notre Dame TII~ right 0/ ,It, U,,;v"Jily 0/ Camb,idg4' to P'''''' a"d s,1I all MO""" of oooks WM grattlrd by H,rr,y Vlf(;ff I $J4. TM U,wNn;fyltas pritr"d and pu"fisllrd rOffti",.ously sincr J5U. Cambridge University Press Cambridge London New York New Rochelle Melbourne Sydney Published by the Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge In lovi ng The Pirr Building, Trumpingron Srreer, Cambridge CB2. I RP Claire H 32. Easr 57th Streer, New York, NY 1002.2., U SA J 0 Sramford Road, Oakleigh, Melbourne 3166, Australia and Mi ha © Cambridge Univ ersiry Press 1986 firsr published 1986 Prinred in rh e Unired Srares of America Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Crowe, Michael J. The exrrarerresrriallife debare '750-1900. Bibliography: p. Includes index. I. Pluraliry of worlds - Hisrory.
[Show full text]
Thinking Outside the Sphere Views of the Stars from Aristotle to Herschel Thinking Outside the Sphere
Thinking Outside the Sphere Views of the Stars from Aristotle to Herschel Thinking Outside the Sphere A Constellation of Rare Books from the History of Science Collection The exhibition was made possible by generous support from Mr. & Mrs. James B. Hebenstreit and Mrs. Lathrop M. Gates. CATALOG OF THE EXHIBITION Linda Hall Library Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering and Technology Cynthia J. Rogers, Curator 5109 Cherry Street Kansas City MO 64110 1 Thinking Outside the Sphere is held in copyright by the Linda Hall Library, 2010, and any reproduction of text or images requires permission. The Linda Hall Library is an independently funded library devoted to science, engineering and technology which is used extensively by The exhibition opened at the Linda Hall Library April 22 and closed companies, academic institutions and individuals throughout the world. September 18, 2010. The Library was established by the wills of Herbert and Linda Hall and opened in 1946. It is located on a 14 acre arboretum in Kansas City, Missouri, the site of the former home of Herbert and Linda Hall. Sources of images on preliminary pages: Page 1, cover left: Peter Apian. Cosmographia, 1550. We invite you to visit the Library or our website at www.lindahlll.org. Page 1, right: Camille Flammarion. L'atmosphère météorologie populaire, 1888. Page 3, Table of contents: Leonhard Euler. Theoria motuum planetarum et cometarum, 1744. 2 Table of Contents Introduction Section1 The Ancient Universe Section2 The Enduring Earth-Centered System Section3 The Sun Takes
[Show full text]
The History of Optical Astronomy, by Caroline Herschel and Lyman Spitzer
Online Modules from The University of Chicago Multiwavelength Astronomy: The History of Optical Astronomy, by Caroline Herschel and Lyman Spitzer http://ecuip.lib.uchicago.edu/multiwavelength-astronomy/optical/history/index.html Subject(s): Astronomy/Space Science Grade(s) Level: 9-12 Duration: One Class Period Objectives: As a result of reading The History of Optical Astronomy, students will be able to • Discriminate between reflecting and refracting telescope designs and describe the differences between them; • Explain how a telescope focuses light; • Articulate the limitations of ground-based telescopes and propose solutions to these limitations; • Identify important astronomical discoveries made and personages working in the optical regime; • Discuss examples of problem-solving and creativity in astronomy. Materials: Internet connection and browser for displaying the lesson. Pre-requisites: Students should be familiar with the Electromagnetic Spectrum. Before using the lesson, students should familiarize themselves with all vocabulary terms. Procedures: Students will read the lesson and answer assessment questions (listed under evaluation). Introduction: In reading this lesson, you will meet important individuals in the History of Optical Astronomy. They are: Caroline Lucretia Herschel was a German-born British astronomer and the sister of astronomer Sir William Herschel. She is the discoverer of several comets, in particular, the periodic comet 35P/Herschel-Rigollet, which bears her name. Lyman Strong Spitzer, Jr. was an American theoretical physicist, astronomer and mountaineer. He carried out research into star formation, plasma physics, and in 1946, conceived the idea of telescopes operating in outer space. Spitzer is the namesake of NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. 1 Online Modules from The University of Chicago William Herschel was an astronomer and composer.
[Show full text]
Sensing the Invisible: the Herschel Experiment
MESS E N G E R S ENSIN G THE I NVISIB L E Y R HE ERSCHEL XPERIMENT U T H E C R E M TO N M I S S I O L E S S O N O V E RV I E W GRADE LEVEL 5 - 8 L ESSON S UMMARY In this lesson, students find out that there is radiation other than visible light arriving from the Sun. The students reproduce a version of William DURATION 1-2 hours Herschel’s experiment of 800 that discovered the existence of infrared radiation. The process of conducting the experiment and placing it in the historical context illustrates how scientific discoveries are often made ESSENTIAL QUESTION via creative thinking, careful design of the experiment, and adaptation of Are there forms of light other than visible light the experiment to accommodate unexpected results. Students discuss emitted by the Sun? current uses of infrared radiation and learn that it is both very beneficial and a major concern for planetary explorations such as the MESSENGER mission to Mercury. Lesson 1 of Grades 5-8 Component of Staying Cool O BJECTIVES Students will be able to: ▼ Construct a device to measure the presence of infrared radiation in sunlight. ▼ Explain that visible light is only part of the electromagnetic spectrum of radiation emitted by the Sun. ▼ Follow the path taken by Herschel through scientific discovery. ▼ Explain why we would want to use infrared radiation to study Mercury and other planets. ▼ Explain how excess infrared radiation is a concern for the MESSENGER mission.
[Show full text]
Earth Science Teaching Curriculum
Earth Science for Secondary Schools Earth Science Teaching Curriculum By Chelsea DeVries Brent G. Hallock Advisor California Polytechnic State University Earth and Soil Sciences Department San Luis Obispo 2010 Approval Page TITLE: Earth Science for Secondary Schools AUTHOR: Chelsea D. DeVries DATE SUBMITTED: December 8, 2010 Brent G. Hallock Senior Project Advisor Signature Dr. Lynn Moody Department Chair Signature i Acknowledgments • I want to thank Dr. Moody and Dr. Hallock for being so kind, supportive, helpful, and PATIENT with me through my journey at Cal Poly. I may never have made it without them!!!! • I also want to thank my loving parents, for knowing exactly what to say every time I wanted to give up. • I want to thank my lovely husband-to-be, for being the rock I needed to stand on when I felt like I was in sinking sand. • Lastly, but DEFINETLY not least, I want to thank Katherine O’Clair and Debra Leopard for helping me with all the “computer stuff.” • I am very grateful the Internet, books, and journals that were used to complete this project. Please refer to the resources page when any picture, photograph, or chart is listed. ii Table of Contents Table of Contents Page Tile Page Approval Page i Acknowledgements ii Table of Contents iii Abstract 1 Introduction 2 Material and Methods 3 Results 7 Resources 82 Appendix 85 ***Power Point Presentations included on CD iii Abstract Creating this senior project, based on secondary Earth Science curriculum, will be directed toward teachers and will assist in lessons and instruction and reaching students at a deeper level.
[Show full text]
The Mystery and Majesty
The mystery and majesty Nearly 40 years after THE SPACE AGE BLASTED off when the Soviet Union launched the Voyager 2 visited Uranus world’s first artificial satellite in 1957. Since then, humanity has explored our cosmic and Neptune, scientists are backyard with vigor — and yet two planets have fallen to the planetary probe wayside. eager for new expeditions. In the 63 years since Sputnik, humanity has only visited Neptune and Uranus once BY JOEL DAVIS — when Voyager 2 flew past Uranus in January 1986 and Neptune in August 1989 40 ASTRONOMY • DECEMBER 2020 of the ICE GIANTS — and even that wasn’t entirely pre- interstellar mission, more than a dozen pro- In 1781, Uranus became the first planet planned. The unmitigated success of posals have been offered for return missions ever discovered using a telescope. Nearly 200 years later, Voyager 2 Voyager 1 and 2 on their original mission to one or both ice giants. So far, none have became the first spacecraft to visit to explore Jupiter and Saturn earned the made it past the proposal stage due to lack Uranus and Neptune, in 1986 and 1989 respectively. NASA/JPL twin spacecrafts further missions in our of substantial scientific interest. Effectively, solar system and beyond, with Neptune and the planetary research community has been Uranus acting as the last stops on a Grand giving the ice giants the cold shoulder. Tour of the outer solar system. But recently, exoplanet data began In the 31 years since Voyager 2 left the revealing the abundance of icy exoplanets Neptune system in 1989 and began its in our galaxy “and new questions about WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 41 With a rotation axis tilted more than 90 degrees compared to its orbital plane, Neptune likewise has a highly tilted rotation axis and tilted magnetic axis.
[Show full text]
The Herschels and Their Astronomy
The Herschels and their Astronomy Mary Kay Hemenway 24 March 2005 outline • William Herschel • Herschel telescopes • Caroline Herschel • Considerations of the Milky Way • William Herschel’s discoveries • John Herschel Wm. Herschel (1738-1822) • Born Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel in Hanover, Germany • A bandboy with the Hanoverian Guards, later served in the military; his father helped him to leave Germany for England in 1757 • Musician in Bath • He read Smith's Harmonies, and followed by reading Smith's Optics - it changed his life. Miniature portrait from 1764 Discovery of Uranus 1781 • William Herschel used a seven-foot Newtonian telescope • "in the quartile near zeta Tauri the lowest of the two is a curious either Nebulous Star or perhaps a Comet” • He called it “Georgium Sidus" after his new patron, George Ill. • Pension of 200 pounds a year and knighted, the "King's Astronomer” -- now astronomy full time. Sir William Herschel • Those who had received a classical education in astronomy agreed that their job was to study the sun, moon, planets, comets, individual stars. • Herschel acted like a naturalist, collecting specimens in great numbers, counting and classifying them, and later trying to organize some into life cycles. • Before his discovery of Uranus, Fellows of the Royal Society had contempt for his ignorance of basic procedures and conventions. Isaac Newton's reflecting telescope 1671 William Herschel's 20-foot, 1783 Account of some Observations tending to investigate the Construction of the Heavens Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1784) vol. 74, pp. 437-451 In a former paper I mentioned, that a more powerful instrument was preparing for continuing my reviews of the heavens.
[Show full text]
Introduction and Menus to Begin in English, Press 1 We at Cochlear
Introduction and Menus To begin in English, Press 1 We at Cochlear want to maximize your sound processor listening experience. We look forward to hearing your telephone success stories after using this program. To get started please chose from the following three options: For today’s word list, Press 1 For today’s short passage, Press 2 For today’s long passage, Press 3 To repeat these options, Press 4 Week 1 – Space Exploration Welcome to today’s word list. Word List Voice: Female, Accent 1. Axis 2. Stratosphere 3. Constellation 4. Equinox 5. Light Year That completes today’s word list. Call back tomorrow and listen to a new word list. To read what you have listened to please go to http://hope.cochlearamericas.com/listening-tools/telephone-training To go back to the main menu, Press 1 To repeat this word list, Press 2 Welcome to today’s short passage. Short Passage Voice: Female The very furthest galaxies are spreading away from us at more than 90% of the speed of light. That completes today’s short passage. Call back tomorrow and listen to a new short passage. To read what you have listened to please go to http://hope.cochlearamericas.com/listening-tools/telephone-training To go back to the main menu, Press 1 To repeat this passage, Press 2 Welcome to today’s long passage. Long Passage Voice: Male The ice giant Neptune was the first planet located through mathematical predictions rather than through regular observations of the sky. Galileo had recorded it as a fixed star during observations with his small telescope in 1612 and 1613.
[Show full text]
The Astronomy of Sir John Herschel
Introduction m m m m m m m m m m m Herschel’s Stars The Stars flourish, and in spite of all my attempts to thin them and . stuff them in my pockets, continue to afford a rich harvest. John Herschel to James Calder Stewart, July 17, 1834 n 2017, TRAPPIST-1, a red dwarf star forty light years from Earth, made headlines as the center of a system with not one or two but Iseven potentially habitable exoplanets.1 This dim, nearby star offers only the most recent example of verification of the sort of planetary system common in science fiction: multiple temperate, terrestrial worlds within a single star’s family of planets. Indeed, this discovery followed the an- nouncement only a few years earlier of the very first Earth-sized world orbiting within the habitable zone of its star, Kepler-186, five hundred light years from Earth.2 Along with other ongoing surveys and advanced instruments, the Kepler mission, which recently added an additional 715 worlds to a total of over five thousand exoplanet candidates, is re- vealing a universe in which exoplanets proliferate, Earth-like worlds are common, and planets within the habitable zone of their host star are far from rare.3 Exoplanetary astronomy has developed to the point that as- tronomers can not only detect these objects but also describe the phys- ical characteristics of many with a high degree of confidence and pre- cision, gaining information on their composition, atmospheric makeup, temperature, and even weather patterns. 3 © 2018 University of Pittsburgh Press. All rights reserved.
[Show full text]
Changing Concepts of Heat in the Early Nineteenth Century ROBERT JAMES MORRIS, JR., University of Oklahoma, Norma
SOCIAL SCIENCES 19~ Changing Concepts of Heat in the Early Nineteenth Century ROBERT JAMES MORRIS, JR., University of Oklahoma, Norma. Rival theories developed early in the nineteenth century, concerning the nature of heat, may be grouped into two opposing camps. Although perhaps differing in detail among themselves, the theories in one camp were unanimous in agreement on one fundamental point: heat phenomena were to be explained by a subtle, imponderable fluid called caloric. The other camp agreed that heat was due to vibrations of tbe particle. of matter. The caloric theory was orthodox and held by the great majority 196 PROC. OF THE OKLA. ACAD. OF SCI. FOR 1961 ot 1C1entists. This concept ot heat provided a simple, common·sense, easily vtsuaUzed explanation of most common heat phenomena. The exceptional case was that of frictional heat. In 1798, Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford), the American sclen· tist and soldier of fortune, pUblished an account of his experiments con· ducted in a cannon·boring factory in Bavaria.' The results of these experi ments showed that an apparently unlimited amount of heat could be pro duced by friction. Caloricists, caught unawares by the impressive results ot Thompson's experiment, could offer no immediate explanation of this phenomenon. These data led Thompson to reject the idea that heat was a material substance and to propound the theory that heat was nothing more than the vibrations of the particles ot matter. With these seemingly irrefutable data, Thompson converted a few persons to his vibratory theory. However, in applying the new theory to other heat phenomena, this minority group got into trouble.
[Show full text]
Torrens, Hugh
BSHS Monographs publishes work of lasting scholarly value that might not otherwise be made available, and aids the dissemination of innovative projects advancing scholarship or education in the field. 13. Chang, Hasok and Jackson, 06. Morris, PJT, and Russell, CA; Catherine (eds.). 2007. An Smith, JG (ed.). 1988. Archives of Element of Controversy: The Life the British Chemical Industry, of Chlorine in Science, Medicine, 1750‐1914: A Handlist. Technology and War. ISBN 0‐0906450‐06‐3. ISBN: 978‐0‐906450‐01‐7. 05. Rees, Graham. 1984. Francis 12. Thackray, John C. (ed.). 2003. Bacon's Natural Philosophy: A To See the Fellows Fight: Eye New Source. Witness Accounts of Meetings of ISBN 0‐906450‐04‐7. the Geological Society of London 04. Hunter, Michael. 1994. The and Its Club, 1822‐1868. 2003. Royal Society and Its Fellows, ISBN: 0‐906450‐14‐4. 1660‐1700. 2nd edition. 11. Field, JV and James, Frank ISBN 978‐0‐906450‐09‐3. AJL. 1997. Science in Art. 03. Wynne, Brian. 1982. ISBN 0‐906450‐13‐6. Rationality and Ritual: The 10. Lester, Joe and Bowler, Windscale Inquiry and Nuclear Peter. E. Ray Lankester and the Decisions in Britain. Making of Modern British ISBN 0‐906450‐02‐0 Biology. 1995. 02. Outram, Dorinda (ed.). 2009. ISBN 978‐0‐906450‐11‐6. The Letters of Georges Cuvier. 09. Crosland, Maurice. 1994. In reprint of 1980 edition. the Shadow of Lavoisier: ISBN 0‐906450‐05‐5. ISBN 0‐906450‐10‐1. 01. Jordanova, L. and Porter, Roy 08. Shortland, Michael (ed.). (eds.). 1997. Images of the Earth: 1993.
[Show full text]
The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds Chapter Sixteen ASTR 111 – 003 Fall 2006 Lecture 13 Nov. 27, 2006 Introduction To Modern Astronomy I Ch7: Comparative Planetology I Introducing Astronomy Ch8: Comparative Planetology II (chap. 1-6) Ch9: The Living Earth Ch10: Our Barren Moon Ch11: Sun-Scorched Mercury Ch12: Cloud-covered Venus Planets and Moons Ch13: Red Planet Mars (chap. 7-17) Ch14: Jupiter and Saturn Ch15: Satellites of Jup. & Saturn Ch16: Outer World Ch17: Vagabonds of Solar System Update to Textbook • International Astronomical Union (IAU) voted on the re- definition of planets in Prague on Aug. 24, 2006. • Pluto is no longer a planet – Pluto is now called “dwarf planet” • Ceres, the largest asteroid, is also now classified as “dwarf planet” • 2003 UB, once proposed as 10th planet, is also a “dward planet” Guiding Questions 1. How did Uranus and Neptune come to be discovered? 2. What gives Uranus its distinctive greenish-blue color? 3. Why are the clouds on Neptune so much more visible than those on Uranus? 4. Are Uranus and Neptune merely smaller versions of Jupiter and Saturn? 5. What is so unusual about the magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune? 6. Why are the rings of Uranus and Neptune so difficult to see? 7. Do the moons of Uranus show any signs of geologic activity? 8. What makes Neptune’s moon Triton unique in the solar system? 9. Are there other planets beyond Pluto? Uranus Data Neptune Data Pluto Data Discovery • Other than those planets seen by naked eyes, Uranus and Neptune were discovered by telescopes • Uranus was recognized as a planet
[Show full text]