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Planets - Information on Planets in Our Solar System
Planets, besides the sun itself, are what make our solar system. Though we may debate whether there are 9 planets or 10 or more; or with the IAU's decision are we down to 8 planets and some dwarfs planets; but we are still fascinated by these planets. Learn more about the planets of our solar system.
What is a Planet?
What is a planet? It is one of the questions that I get most often in my astronomy class, and its a question that is at the source of great controversy. In 2006 the International Astronomical Union decided to answer that question and in doing so stripped Pluto of its planet-hood. The resulting fallout has caused rifts within the scientific...
How Many Habitable Planets are in the Milky Way Galaxy?
There are a vast number of stars in the Milky Way galaxy, and recent data suggests that many of them have planets orbiting around them. But how many of these would we expect to be fit for life, and how many of these will actually contain life? The answers are not so simple.