The cosmos is so overwhelmingly vast that the solar system can be compared to your backyard: it is familiar to us, close and there are few black holes in it.
However, the reality is not at all like that. There are many oddities in the orbit of our Sun that astronomers have not yet explained. Here are 10 of the strangest and most inexplicable phenomena in our solar system.
10. Storms on Jupiter resemble a hive
Cyclones exist on most planets that have atmosphere and moisture under the clouds - including our Earth. These storms are called by different names. Depending on where you live, you may be more familiar with hurricanes and typhoons. Generally speaking, terrestrial cyclones have a rounded shape with an “eye” located in the center.
But this is not the case for storms on some gas giants. Recently, something strange was discovered about cyclones on Jupiter: these storms often take on a hexagonal shape, forming honeycomb structures at both poles of the gas giant.
Jupiter is not the only gas giant whose storms typically take on a hexagonal angular shape. In 1988, scientists discovered a giant hexagonal cyclone at one of the poles of Saturn.
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However, the storms on Jupiter in a hive-like pattern are unique. Several theories have been put forward regarding the shape of these storms. But for the most part, this remains a mystery.
9. Saturn's moon Iapetus looks like a walnut
Imagine that instead of the tallest mountain peaks on Earth scattered across the surface, they form one long, unbroken chain across the equator. This is, in fact, what can be seen on Iapetus.
The peak height of this long ridge is 20 kilometers, more than double the height of Everest. This mountain range also gives the moon a distinct and mysterious "nut shape".
Scientists are still not sure why this ridge exists. Some believe that these are the remains of a ring (somewhat similar to the rings of Saturn) that eventually collapsed to the surface. Others believe that the ridge may have formed from debris from a former moon.
8. Moon "Frankenstein" named Miranda (Miranda)
One of the strangest moons in the solar system is the moon Miranda, orbiting Uranus. Miranda has a very bumpy surface, to put it mildly. It is full of craters and deep canyons, giving it the appearance of a patchwork moon.
There are several theories as to why Miranda looks like something that one might think was very quickly stitched together by some mad scientist. First, Miranda may have suffered a series of catastrophic blows that would change her forever. It seems that Uranus itself collided with its moon several times at the same point (resulting in the moon in a lateral orbit), so this theory seems to be quite valid.
Another theory is that the force of gravity of Uranus led to increased volcanic activity on Miranda, as a result of which the smooth surface of the moon acquired a strange bumpy shape.
7. Neptune emits more heat than it receives
If the planet is far enough from the Sun, it is logical to assume that on its surface you will be met by a hellish icy landscape. Take a look at Pluto: in the warmest place of Pluto, the temperature is - 223 degrees Celsius, and scientists believe that rivers of liquid nitrogen once flowed along the surface of the dwarf planet.
Neptune is officially the most distant planet from the Sun. While this is by no means a tropical paradise - surface temperatures usually don't rise above -200 degrees Celsius - astronomers believe Neptune must have been much colder. This is because Neptune somehow emits more than twice the heat it receives from the Sun.
Astronomers are still not sure why this is happening. The most interesting theory suggests that it may be due to diamond rainfall. The theory goes something like this: Neptune's atmospheric pressure causes the methane in its atmosphere to collapse into diamonds. These diamonds then rain down, and heat is generated by the friction from the fall in a heavy atmosphere. This, in turn, explains the unusual amount of energy emitted by this cold giant.
6. Pluto seems to have an almost endless supply of nitrogen
Pluto is so small that it barely has the gravity needed to hold its atmosphere.
As a result, Pluto is constantly losing hundreds of tons of its mostly nitrogenous atmosphere as it orbits the sun.
With this in mind, you might wonder why Pluto hasn't lost all of its nitrogen yet. Scientists are pondering the same thing. Their most successful theory is that there is probably some hidden geological process going on on the planet that releases all of the stored nitrogen, but the true nature of this process remains a mystery.
5. At the edge of the solar system may be the ninth planet
According to some astronomers, there may be a ninth planet in the solar system. Unfortunately, they don't talk about Pluto. Astronomers have noticed some strange gravitational patterns in objects in the Kuiper Belt (a large field of asteroids beyond the orbit of Neptune). These gravitational anomalies can be explained by the presence of a large planet.
At the moment it is called "Planet Nine". It will be difficult to obtain concrete proof of the existence of the ninth planet, since it is located in the outer regions of the solar system, where even our most advanced telescopes cannot reach. Astronomers have suggested that if this planet exists, then it is an ice world about three times the size of Earth.
4. Methane on Mars
Despite the fact that methane is found on many planets, astronomers still rejoice when they discover it. This is because methane is a common by-product of existing life. (You may have heard that methane is an important component of cow gases, for example). However, methane can also arise from non-biological processes, so it does not guarantee the existence of life.
The amount of methane on Mars cannot be compared to the amount on Earth. But the small amount of methane found on Mars is constantly changing, which is amazing. Moreover, these changes seem to depend on the seasons.
Scientists have several theories as to why this is happening. For example, depending on the season, methane can be absorbed and released by rocks on the planet's surface. Of course, the more exciting theory is that the change in the amount of methane is related to the existence of life. (If so, then most likely it will be bacteria that live below the surface of the planet.)
3. The upper atmosphere of the Sun is much hotter than its surface
The surface of the Sun (the visible part of the Sun that blinds you when you look at it without protection) is quite hot to say the least. Although the surface temperature is approximately 5,500 degrees Celsius, the temperature of the atmosphere above the surface (known as the corona) can reach 1 to 10 million degrees Celsius.
The Sun's crown is so dim that it can only be seen during a solar eclipse. Then why is it so much hotter than the bright surface of the Sun?
Scientists aren't sure. One theory suggests that heat could be generated by the millions of bursts of nanoparticles that appear on the sun's surface every second and transfer energy from the surface to the atmosphere above.
2. Our solar system may be stranger than most star systems
Our solar system can be something of a cosmic eccentric. Astronomers have found that in other star systems, the planets are usually roughly the same size and evenly spaced in their orbits. There is no unity in size in our solar system.
Just compare our largest and smallest planets: for example, Jupiter is 28 times the diameter of Mercury. In terms of volume, we could place over 24,000 Mercury in Jupiter.
In addition, the planets are not located at the same density as in other star systems. Astronomers aren't entirely sure what makes our solar system so unique. Some speculate that the spectacular gravitational pulls of Jupiter and Saturn are to blame.
1. Ashlight of Venus
First seen in 1643, the Ashlight of Venus is a phenomenon in which the dark side of a planet is illuminated, making it visible to observers looking through telescopes. Unlike other items on this list, the very existence of the Ashlight is a matter of scientific debate.
It has been described as similar to the "Ashlight of the Moon", which occurs when sunlight reflected from the Earth illuminates the dark parts of the Moon. This makes sense in the case of moons like ours. Because they are close enough to a large planet, light from the Sun can reach them at an angle, bouncing off the planet around which they revolve.
However, this explanation does not apply to Venus, since there is no large orbiting body next to it. Astronomers have tried to photograph Ashlight, but it has been observed so rarely and by accident that all attempts so far have not been successful.
Many have given up trying to prove that this phenomenon exists. However, there are hundreds of reports of Ashlight, from modern amateur astronomers to the 17th century astronomer Giovanni Battista Riccioli. This glow is so elusive and controversial that it is called the "Loch Ness Monster of Venus."
