Sometimes the surface of the Sun is dotted with dark regions called sunspots. These areas look dark because they are cooler than the surrounding regions. Sunspots appear in eleven-year cycles. Halfway through each cycle, during a time called solar maximum, we see many sunspots. Then, they gradually reduce over five years until there are few … Continue reading Sunspots
Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Poland. His father a wealthy businessman, but Copernicus grew up to be a polymath— he was an astronomer, mathematician, and artist. In 1543, he published a book that shocked everyone. He said that the Earth didn’t stay still—it actually followed a path around the sun. So did the other planets. … Continue reading Sun At the Centre
Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. Being so close to the sun, you might think it should always be baking hot. It is but not always. Mercury’s temperatures range from extremely hot (430 degrees Celsius) during day to extremely cold (minus 180 degrees Celsius) during night. Thus it endures a temperature swing of … Continue reading Baking Hot Days But Freezing Cold Nights
Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system. It is also the closest to the sun. Mercury is named after the Roman messenger god also named Mercury. In Roman mythology, Mercury was the swift-footed messenger of the gods who wore winged sandals and a winged hat, allowing him to travel quickly. The reason planet … Continue reading The Planet Named Mercury