Discussion
Laplace said:
Eric Mc said:
The animation posted above seems to show pictorially precisely that happening.
It does indeed and very nicely too, but it doesn't tell you why it takes this approach.Tying up the verbal explanation given above with the earlier movie demonstrates it all clearly.
It looks quite powdery to me.
Before we started soft landing probes on the moon, there was genuine fear that the surface might be so loose and powdery that a probe or a Lunar Module might sink into a sea of dust. That proved unfounded. But I think there may be surfaces like that on bodies such as comets.
Before we started soft landing probes on the moon, there was genuine fear that the surface might be so loose and powdery that a probe or a Lunar Module might sink into a sea of dust. That proved unfounded. But I think there may be surfaces like that on bodies such as comets.
There will be a number of forces acting on the matter that makes up the object keeping it together. Gravity is the obvious one. There will also be molecular bonds and friction between the particles which will allow the particles to "stick" together.
However, the density may be quite low as the material may not be too compacted together - which could lead to a "merengue" type surface.
However, the density may be quite low as the material may not be too compacted together - which could lead to a "merengue" type surface.
The explanations they were giving were what was assumed 20 plus years ago.
With the discovery of lots of new planets around other stars - especially Hot Jupiters (Jupiter style planets close to their parent star), the assumption that gas giants can only form beyond a certain distance from the star does seem to be not 0100% correct.
With the discovery of lots of new planets around other stars - especially Hot Jupiters (Jupiter style planets close to their parent star), the assumption that gas giants can only form beyond a certain distance from the star does seem to be not 0100% correct.
Mr Trophy said:
outnumbered said:
It doesn't come back - it analyses the samples on site.
Now that's impressive. We have had the ability to carry out soil sampling and analysis on other bodies in the solar system for almost 50 years and the technology available has improved immensely in that of time. Obviously, each target has its own separate challenges.
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