I'd like to see what each planet's surface looks like, wouldn't you?
2007-09-11 05:28:45 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
We have sent probes to all the planets. The probe to Pluto is on its way right now, so it was *sent*.
Some planets have had probes pass by, while others have had probes orbit, or even land on the planet.
Mercury: A Mariner probe passed by. The Messenger orbiter is on-the-way.
Venus: A Soviet (Russian) probe landed. The Magellan probe orbited, other probes have orbited or passed by.
Mars: Many probes have passed by, many probes have orbited, many have landed. There are currently 3 working orbiters and 2 working rovers on the surface. More are on the way within a year.
Asteroids: Several probes have passed by several asteroids. Dawn will attempt to orbit 2 of the larger asteroids (launch scheduled later this month). A US probe orbited an asteroid and even landed on it. A Japanese probe orbited an asteroid and picked up a sample from the surface -- it is on its way back to Earth, now.
Jupiter: Many probes have passed by. Galileo orbited for many years (until they purposely crashed it into the planet). A smaller parachuted-probe from Galileo entered the outer atmosphere of Jupiter, also.
Saturn: Many probes have passed by. Cassini is orbiting right now. The Huygens probe (off of Cassini) landed on the moon Titan.
Uranus: A Voyager probe passed by
Neptune: A Voyager probe passed by
Pluto: no probes have yet passed by, but New Horizons is on the way.
Comets: Many probes have passed by several comets. One probe launched a 'penetrator' to knock some of the surface off into space.
The Sun: The Ulysses probe is still orbiting the sun (to get a look at the north and south pole. Recently it crossed over the south pole of the sun.
2007-09-11 05:59:15 · answer #1 · answered by tlbs101 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
We've had probes visit every planet in our solar system. Pluto, the non-planet is to be visited by New Horizons in about ten or so years then maybe onto Eris. We've only got surface views of Mars, Venus and Mercury as the other planets ( Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune ) don't have surfaces, they balls of gas that didn't turn into rock planets. Venus views are very few and far between.
2007-09-11 06:11:12 · answer #2 · answered by John_UG 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We have sent probes to all the planets and we have sent probes beyond our solar system as well as comets and meteors and the Orion Belt between Mars and Jupiter.
2007-09-11 06:09:30 · answer #3 · answered by Dave aka Spider Monkey 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We have sent probes to every planet in our Solar System, and one (now declassified planet, Pluto).
We've even sent probes out to several asteroids and comets.
2007-09-11 05:38:39 · answer #4 · answered by Bobby 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
All except Pluto, and there's one heading there right now.
2007-09-11 06:18:55 · answer #5 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All of them I think
2007-09-11 05:33:58 · answer #6 · answered by kano7_1985 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋