Can scientific observation and theory prove if are there any other planets in the solar system which have moons that would allow us to observe the exact same effect as our perfect solar eclipse here on Earth? If not, why not?
2006-08-01 21:15:38 · 9 answers · asked by George D 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Not possible on Mercury or Venus as they don't have any moons. Phobos and Diemos, the two Martian moons, are quite tiny (less than 50 kilometres in diameter) and it seems unlikely that solar eclipses could occur on Mars,
The thing to realise is the sun will look a lot smaller from the outer planets than it does from here. Jupiter is 5 AU from the Sun, Saturn is 10 AU, Uranus is 15 AU, Neptune is 20 AU and Pluto 38 AU.
Therefore smaller moons than ours could obliterate the face of the Sun, and the other big six moons (Io, Callisto, Europa and Ganymede (around Jupiter), Titan (around Saturn) and Triton (around Neptune) are capable of obliterating it for several hours at a time,
Jupiter has 63 moons, Saturn 56, Uranus 27, Neptune 13 and Pluto 3 at the latest census. 165 moons around 7 planets in all, Plus there are at least 80 moons around asteroids and minor planets, The asteroid 87 Sylvia has two moons.
Table of Moons by diameter in kilometres
5000-6000 Ganymede (J) Titan (S)
4000-5000 Callisto (J)
3000-4000 Moon (E) Io (J) Europa (J)
2000-3000 Triton (N)
1000-2000 Rhea (S) Iapetus (S) Dione (S) Tethys (S) Titania (U) Oberon (U) Umbriel (U) Ariel (U) Charon (P)
500-1000 Enceladus (S)
250-500 Mimas (S) Hyperion (S) Miranda (U) Proteus (N) Nereid (N)
100-250 Amalthea (J) Himalia (J) Thebe (J) Phoebe (S) Janus (S) Epimetheus (S) Sycorax (U) Puck (U) Portia (U) Larissa (N) Galatea (N) Despina (N)
50-100 Elara (J) Pasiphaë (J) Prometheus (S) Pandora (S) Caliban (U) Juliet (U) Belinda (U) Cressida (U) Rosalind (U) Desdemona (U) Bianca (U) Thalassa (N) S/2002 N 1 (N) S/2002 N 4 (N) Naiad (N) Nix (P) Hydra (P)
2006-08-02 09:48:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 52⤊ 7⤋
Because the distance and size of the moon between the Earth & The Sun is about perfect for a total eclipse with the 'diamond ring' effect at the end of it.
2016-03-27 13:59:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Earth's solar eciplses are not unique in one way, but ARE unique in another.
Not unique: The moon passes in front of the sun. All the planets with moon will experience solar eclipses at some point, as viewed from the planet's surface.
Unique: In a total solar eclipse, the moon covers the sun with an exact match, giving the amazing sites that we see. That is because the moon is 400 times smaller than the sun, but the sun is 400 times further away, so they have the same apparent size in the sky. As far as I know, there is nowhere else in the Solar System where this occurs. (please correct me of I am wrong here)
2006-08-02 00:52:51 · answer #3 · answered by Mike W 2 · 12⤊ 2⤋
An eclipse itself is not unique (especially where the planet eclipese the moon-lunar eclipses), however, what makes earth's solar eclipses special is the size of our moon relative to us, and its relative closeness.
Only Pluto is similar-Charon is actually thought to be about half the size of Pluto, so it is capable of a good total solar eclipse.
Read more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipses_on_Pluto
2006-08-01 21:42:30 · answer #4 · answered by eyebum 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Although other planets have moons that will sometimes get between them and the Sun, they won't experience eclipses quite as we do. By coincidence (as far as we can tell), the apparent diameter of the Moon, about 400,000km away, is very similar to that of the Sun, which is vastly bigger but 150 million km away. Both occupy about half a degree of sky.
Therefore, on occasion, the disc of the Moon exactly covers that of the Sun, leaving the Sun's fringing corona visible. This happens nowhere else in the Solar System.
2006-08-01 23:57:43 · answer #5 · answered by Paul FB 3 · 8⤊ 2⤋
Earth's is not the only one unique, others too in other planets like Jupiter and Saturn, they have more moons will have the same effects as the earth. So, no.
2006-08-01 21:24:24 · answer #6 · answered by Eve W 3 · 7⤊ 0⤋
All planets that have moons can have solar eclipses, sometimes multiple eclipses at the same time(like Jupiter).
2006-08-01 23:53:12 · answer #7 · answered by angyansheng65537 2 · 3⤊ 5⤋
Solar eclipse is common in other planets having their moons, but eclipses there are partly, The earth is unique only in the case that there occurs full eclipses.
2006-08-01 21:30:07 · answer #8 · answered by Lutfor 3 · 2⤊ 10⤋
any planet with a moon can have an eclipse
2006-08-01 21:41:07 · answer #9 · answered by Blah 2 · 1⤊ 6⤋