Our Solar System
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Zoom Astronomy Our Solar System |
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| All About the Solar System | Origins | The Ecliptic | Where is our Solar System? | Exploring the Solar System | Kuiper Belt | Extremes | Learning Activities |
From Earth, five other planets are visible using only your eyes: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The other planets (Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) are visible with the use of a telescope.
NASA's Apollo missions sent people to the moon for the first time. Apollo 11's LEM (Lunar Excursion Module) landed on the moon on July 20, 1969 with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin (Michael Collins was in the orbiter). Apollo 12-17 continued lunar exploration.
Pioneer 11 launched in 1973, travelling to Jupiter, heading toward the constellation of Aquila. The last transmission from Pioneer 11 was received in 1995.
Viking Missions
NASA had two Viking missions, Viking 1 and Viking 2, ( both were launched 1975 and were equipped with an orbiter and a lander). They transmitted images of Mars and its moons back to Earth.
Voyager Missions
NASA launched the two Voyager missions in 1977 to explore the solar system. They transmitted images of the outer planets and their moons back to Earth.
Stardust Mission
NASA's Stardust Mission was designed to learn about comets. It will take a sample of comet particles and return them to Earth. The small spacecraft (about 770 pounds = 350 kg) was launched February 7, 1999 and will rendezvous with comet Wild 2 in January, 2004. It will return to Earth on January 15, 2006, and land in western Utah, USA.
Mariner
| Mariner Mission | Planet Explored | Date of Launch |
|---|---|---|
| Mariner 1 | None (attempted Venus flyby) | 1962 |
| Mariner 2 | Venus | 1962 |
| Mariner 3 | None (attempted Mars flyby) | 1964 |
| Mariner 4 | Mars flyby | November 28, 1964 |
| Mariner 5 | Venus flyby | 1969 |
| Mariner 6 | Mars | February 24, 1969 |
| Mariner 7 | Mars | March 27, 1969 |
| Mariner 8 | None (attempted Mars orbiter) | 1971 |
| Mariner 9 | Mars orbiter | May 30, 1971 |
| Mariner 10 | Venus/Mercury flyby | 1973 |
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