- Branche: Astronomy
- Number of terms: 6727
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Planetary Science Research Discoveries (PSRD) is an educational site sharing the latest research by NASA-sponsored scientists on meteorites, asteroids, planets, moons, and other materials in our Solar System. The website is supported by the Cosmochemistry Program of NASA's Science Mission ...
An explanation for the shift in an asteroid's orbit around the Sun due to a thermal thrust caused by the body's uneven heating by sunlight. The illuminated side of an asteroid absorbs the sunlight and heats up. After a short delay produced by thermal inertia, the asteroid re-radiates the thermal energy and this causes a recoil spin that pushes the asteroid away from its current orbital path. In 2003, scientists used radar data from the Arecibo Observatory of Asteroid 6489 "Golevka" to obtain the first-ever measurements of the Yarkovsky Effect. (Named for the Russian engineer who came up with the idea around the year 1900. )
Industry:Astronomy
U. S. Mission to Mars, composed of two spacecraft, launched in 1975. Viking 1 and Viking 2 both consisted of an orbiter and a lander. Primary mission objectives were to obtain high resolution images of the Martian surface, characterize the structure and composition of the atmosphere and surface, and search for evidence of life. Viking Mission website from the National Space Science Data Center.
Industry:Astronomy
The fourth in NASA's Discovery program of low-cost spacecraft with highly focused science goals, Stardust was comprised of a spacecraft and capsule that completed a seven-year, 3-billion-mile journey to a comet in 2006. The capsule returned to Earth, carrying an aerogel collector that captured particles from comet Wild 2 as well as interplanetary dust. The Stardust capsule is now on display at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.
Industry:Astronomy
A project of international collaboration between ESA and NASA to study the Sun from its deep core to the outer corona and the solar wind. SOHO was launched in December, 1995. SOHO website.
Industry:Astronomy
Two or more varieties of the same chemical element. Isotopes have different masses because they have different numbers of neutrons (for example <sup>18</sup>O and <sup>16</sup>O), thus they have different physical and chemical properties. Unstable isotopes undergo radioactive decay.
Industry:Astronomy
The forceful striking of one body, such as a meteorite, against another body such as a moon or planet.
Industry:Astronomy
The standard unit of pressure is the pascal, abbreviated Pa, which is equivalent to 1 kg/m<sup>2</sup>. The pressure at the surface of the Earth is 100,000 Pa. Pressures inside planets are very large numbers, usually expressed as GPa (giga means billion).
Industry:Astronomy
Element järjenumbriga 12; sümbol: Mg. magneesiumi sisaldub mineraalide oliviini ja pürokseen ja on väga rikkalik inner planeedid elektrilised soojenduskatted.
Industry:Astronomy
