|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
What Planet Reflects Best ??
I'm thinking light bouncing off their surface. The moon has a
white surface,and white is a good reflector. Little far away Pluto is made of ice water is a good reflector etc. Are gas planets good reflectors.? Are the cloud cover of Venus a good reflector? Have not found the answer to this in any books. Bert |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
What Planet Reflects Best ??
"G=EMC^2 Glazier" wrote in message ... I'm thinking light bouncing off their surface. The moon has a white surface,and white is a good reflector. Little far away Pluto is made of ice water is a good reflector etc. Are gas planets good reflectors.? Are the cloud cover of Venus a good reflector? Have not found the answer to this in any books. Bert First of all the moon is not a planet... so thats out! I would say that if given all planets being equal distance to the sun and the same size that the earth or pluto would reflect best due to their water based surfaces. Or perhaps mercury due to its silicate surface? I dont think that a gaseous planet would reflect better due to the absorbtion of light in the gases, however if you don't consider all planets being the same size I would guess that jupiter would be most luminous due to its size and gas composition but it wouldn't reflect better than a smaller silicate or water based planet? Luminousity and reflectivity are very different concepts. So my guess would be earth or pluto... anyone else have any other ideas on which would reflect better? |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
What Planet Reflects Best ??
In message , mumblin-joe
writes "G=EMC^2 Glazier" wrote in message ... I'm thinking light bouncing off their surface. The moon has a white surface,and white is a good reflector. Little far away Pluto is made of ice water is a good reflector etc. Are gas planets good reflectors.? Are the cloud cover of Venus a good reflector? Have not found the answer to this in any books. Bert First of all the moon is not a planet... so thats out! I would say that if given all planets being equal distance to the sun and the same size that the earth or pluto would reflect best due to their water based surfaces. Or perhaps mercury due to its silicate surface? I dont think that a gaseous planet would reflect better due to the absorbtion of light in the gases, however if you don't consider all planets being the same size I would guess that jupiter would be most luminous due to its size and gas composition but it wouldn't reflect better than a smaller silicate or water based planet? Luminousity and reflectivity are very different concepts. So my guess would be earth or pluto... Why not try doing some reading first? Mercury actually has the lowest albedo of any planet, and the gas giants such as Jupiter reflect more than the terrestrial planets. Earth and Pluto are in the middle of the range. -- "Roads in space for rockets to travel....four-dimensional roads, curving with relativity" Mail to jsilverlight AT merseia.fsnet.co.uk is welcome. Or visit Jonathan's Space Site http://www.merseia.fsnet.co.uk |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
What Planet Reflects Best ??
In message , David Knisely
writes Hi Bert. You posted: I'm thinking light bouncing off their surface. The moon has a white surface,and white is a good reflector. Little far away Pluto is made of ice water is a good reflector etc. Are gas planets good reflectors.? Are the cloud cover of Venus a good reflector? Have not found the answer to this in any books. Actually, the moon is more a grey color than white (it just looks nice and white when compared to the dark of the surrounding sky). We generally judge the reflectivity of a surface by a number known as the "albedo". An albedo of "1.00" would be like a perfect reflecting surface. The moon has an albedo of about 0.12, so its fairly dark as bodies go. The moon is "white" in the sense that it has no colour, surely? But older books quote an albedo of 0.07. When was the figure redefined? Albedo figures are _very_ easy to find - looks as though Bert's being lazy again. -- "Roads in space for rockets to travel....four-dimensional roads, curving with relativity" Mail to jsilverlight AT merseia.fsnet.co.uk is welcome. Or visit Jonathan's Space Site http://www.merseia.fsnet.co.uk |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
What Planet Reflects Best ??
"G=EMC^2 Glazier" wrote in message...
... I'm thinking light bouncing off their surface. The moon has a white surface,and white is a good reflector. Little far away Pluto is made of ice water is a good reflector etc. Are gas planets good reflectors.? Are the cloud cover of Venus a good reflector? Have not found the answer to this in any books. Bert You'll get lots of hits from http://www.google.com with... "planet albedo" typed in the search field. "Albedo" just means "reflectivity." hth happy days and... starry starry nights! -- a Secret of the Universe... so please don't breathe a word of this-- the Moon above will smile perverse whene'er it sees two lovers kiss; (breathe not a single word of this!) Paine Ellsworth |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
"The Moon is NOT a Planet" (was - What Planet Reflects Best ??)
"mumblin-joe" wrote...
in message ... "G=EMC^2 Glazier" wrote in message ... I'm thinking light bouncing off their surface. The moon has a white surface,and white is a good reflector. Little far away Pluto is made of ice water is a good reflector etc. Are gas planets good reflectors.? Are the cloud cover of Venus a good reflector? Have not found the answer to this in any books. Bert First of all the moon is not a planet . . . Yes, the Moon *is* most definitely a planet!!! 'Lo MJ -- While astronomy has not yet recognized this "officially," there is a growing base of astronomers (and astronomy lovers like myself) who see Earth's companion as a full-fledged planet. Even the well-known author, Isaac Asimov, believed that the Moon's qualities are more planet-like than moon-like. If you disagree, then if you like, you can list your reasons why you think the Moon is not a planet, but just a mere satellite... and i shall be glad to respond, hopefully with evidence that the Moon deserves the ranking of planet, just like Earth, Mars and the others. The Earth and Moon make up a "binary planet system" quite unique and unlike any other! happy days and... starry starry nights! -- Eclipse! Eclipse! Oh red and tawny Moon's mysterious glows, Watch! soon our Moon again embrace Earthshadow's ruddy flows. 'Tis Mars who sometimes ventures close and sparks a bloody war to end all wars and bring us peace, that we may kill no more. Paine Ellsworth |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
"The Moon is NOT a Planet" (was - What Planet Reflects Best ??)
During a perfect moment of peace at Sat, 12 Jul 2003 15:23:34 GMT,
"Painius" interrupted with: While astronomy has not yet recognized this "officially," there is a growing base of astronomers (and astronomy lovers like myself) who see Earth's companion as a full-fledged planet. Care to provide a list of pro-Astronomers who think this way. Or an official web page detailing this? Even the well-known author, Isaac Asimov, believed that the Moon's qualities are more planet-like than moon-like. If you disagree, then if you like, you can list your reasons why you think the Moon is not a planet, but just a mere satellite... What is mere about it. First off you have to define planet and satellite. Simple and crude definitions would be, 1. Planet (n) large object orbiting a star with enough self gravity to become spherical. 2. Satellite (n) A smaller body orbiting a Planet. Now starts the whole problem of The Moon being larger than some planets. Plus the problem that some Satellites are larger than some Planets. and i shall be glad to respond, hopefully with evidence that the Moon deserves the ranking of planet, just like Earth, Mars and the others. The big one (to me) is that it orbits us so it's a satellite. The Earth and Moon make up a "binary planet system" quite unique and unlike any other! Except Pluto/Charon. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
What Planet Reflects Best ??
Hi there. You posted:
The moon is "white" in the sense that it has no colour, surely? The moon is quite low in albedo. It has little color, but through the telescope, the Maria are dark grey, and the highlands light grey to a sort of off-white. If you look at a moon rock on display somewhere, its color is generally somewhat of a light grey to dark grey as well. There are areas which have a sort of reddish-brown coloration as well, but on the whole, the moon is pretty much grey in color and not pure white. But older books quote an albedo of 0.07. When was the figure redefined? Albedo figures are _very_ easy to find - looks as though Bert's being lazy again. There are several different types of albedo (the figure is probably the Geometric Albedo), but the 0.12 figure comes from the 2003 issue of the RASC Observer's Handbook. I went back and looked at an old 1987 issue of that same publication, and it also gave a 0.12 figure. Clear skies to you. -- David W. Knisely Prairie Astronomy Club: http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org Hyde Memorial Observatory: http://www.hydeobservatory.info/ ********************************************** * Attend the 10th Annual NEBRASKA STAR PARTY * * July 27-Aug. 1st, 2003, Merritt Reservoir * * http://www.NebraskaStarParty.org * ********************************************** |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
"The Moon is NOT a Planet" (was - What Planet Reflects Best ??)
Yes, the Moon *is* most definitely a planet!!!
Oh good grief, lets not start this thread again. No, the moon is not a planet, since it does not orbit the sun independent of another larger and more massive body. It is the natural satellite of the Earth. -- David W. Knisely Prairie Astronomy Club: http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org Hyde Memorial Observatory: http://www.hydeobservatory.info/ ********************************************** * Attend the 10th Annual NEBRASKA STAR PARTY * * July 27-Aug. 1st, 2003, Merritt Reservoir * * http://www.NebraskaStarParty.org * ********************************************** |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
What Planet Reflects Best ??
a question jonathan...
If you were to suspend a cotton ball and a black mirror in a blackened room with both objects illuminated equally which would be : Brightest? Most Luminous? and Reflect best? "Jonathan Silverlight" wrote in message ... In message , mumblin-joe writes "G=EMC^2 Glazier" wrote in message ... I'm thinking light bouncing off their surface. The moon has a white surface,and white is a good reflector. Little far away Pluto is made of ice water is a good reflector etc. Are gas planets good reflectors.? Are the cloud cover of Venus a good reflector? Have not found the answer to this in any books. Bert First of all the moon is not a planet... so thats out! I would say that if given all planets being equal distance to the sun and the same size that the earth or pluto would reflect best due to their water based surfaces. Or perhaps mercury due to its silicate surface? I dont think that a gaseous planet would reflect better due to the absorbtion of light in the gases, however if you don't consider all planets being the same size I would guess that jupiter would be most luminous due to its size and gas composition but it wouldn't reflect better than a smaller silicate or water based planet? Luminousity and reflectivity are very different concepts. So my guess would be earth or pluto... Why not try doing some reading first? Mercury actually has the lowest albedo of any planet, and the gas giants such as Jupiter reflect more than the terrestrial planets. Earth and Pluto are in the middle of the range. -- "Roads in space for rockets to travel....four-dimensional roads, curving with relativity" Mail to jsilverlight AT merseia.fsnet.co.uk is welcome. Or visit Jonathan's Space Site http://www.merseia.fsnet.co.uk |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Sedna, space probes?, colonies? what's next? | TKalbfus | Policy | 265 | July 13th 04 12:00 AM |
PDF (Planetary Distance Formula) explains DW 2004 / Quaoar and Kuiper Belt | hermesnines | Astronomy Misc | 10 | February 27th 04 02:14 AM |
Hubble Helps Confirm Oldest Known Planet | Ron Baalke | Misc | 8 | July 13th 03 08:34 PM |
Astronomers Find Jupiter-Like Planet 90 Light Years Away | Ron Baalke | Astronomy Misc | 2 | July 5th 03 04:19 AM |
Astronomers Find Jupiter-Like Planet 90 Light Years Away | Ron Baalke | Misc | 2 | July 5th 03 04:19 AM |