Abstract This paper examines recent discoveries in the search for extrasolarplanets. The author also discusses how this has become a viable area of research in astronomy. This study is divided into six sections. They include: definition of planets, how planets form, methods of detection, properties of extrasolarplanets, and future implications of detection. The paper concludes acknowledging how extrasolar planetary research has opened up avenues of thought and possibilities that were seen as impossible just a few decades ago.
Outline:
Introduction and History
Definition of Planets and ExtrasolarPlanets How ExtrasolarPlanets Form
Methods of Detection
Properties of ExtrasolarPlanets Future Implications of Detection
Conclusion
From the Paper "The search for extrasolar planets has a long history. The notion that there might be other worlds existing in the heavens can be demonstrated as far back as ancient Greece. In more modern times, a Catholic monk was condemned for heresy in 1584 for suggesting that the sky was populated by countless suns and countless other Earths ("From Intuition" par. 1). The purpose of this essay is to describe and analyze the current search for extrasolar planets that has produced significant results within the last decade. What was once a fanciful possibility in astronomy has become a viable avenue of research, with new extrasolar planets being discovered every year. The remainder of this study will be divided into six sections. They include: definition of planets, how planets form, methods of detection, properties of extrasolar planets, future implications of detection, and conclusions."
Abstract This paper discusses the consensus reached by the International Astronomical Union in 2006 on the official definition of a planet, and the consequent reclassification of Pluto as a "dwarf planet." The writer explains what is known about Pluto today and describes the background to the controversy and the discoveries that led to the challenging of Pluto's status as a planet. Many scientists today still believe that Pluto is in fact a planet, and support a more expansive definition of what are called planets. The paper concludes that, as our knowledge of what constitutes planets continues to expand, Pluto may once again be considered a planet.
From the Paper "The recent controversy over Pluto's status as a planet reveals the fact that quite often, what seems like a scientific certainty is still quite contentious within the scientific community, when new discoveries are made through improved technology. In 1995, discoveries of large planets around other stars, plus new objects that are neither planet nor star, and free-floating objects in space that look like planets but do not orbit stars forced astronomers to reformulate definitions of what constituted a planet (Britt 2000). Extrasolar planets may originate as brown dwarf stars, lack light, and are even in some cases as large as Jupiter, yet they orbit stars like planets (Britt 2000). In defining whether these burnt-out brown dwarfs were planets in the early 90s were planets, the issue of Pluto's planetary status again came to the forefront of scientific debate."
Tags: comet, solar system, trans-Neptunian extrasolar, Kuiper Belt, asteroid universe orbit satellite
Abstract This paper examines the success of the Hard Rock Cafe, and compares that to the failure of Planet Hollywood in eight key areas. It compares the background of each of these themed restaurants and examines key factors that contributed to success and failure.
From the Paper "Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood both began as themed restaurants catering to a specific niche market..."
Tags: hard rock cafe, planet hollywood, management
Abstract This paper examines why Earth is the only planet in our solar system capable of sustaining life and how it is the only planet that has plentiful liquid water and an atmosphere that can protect the planet from the harmful ultra-violet rays of the Sun. The paper attempts to determine what makes Earth so special by using comparative planetology to understand what makes Earth a habitat for life and what makes it so different from the other planets in our solar system.
From the Paper "If we were to look at Earth as a starting point to compare the other eight planets in our solar system, the first thing we notice from space is the magnificent blue color and swirls of clouds. This is an inviting sight and is the first hint at why life is found on our planet. Earth has many features that the other planets do not have. Earth has many features that make it unique. Earth is made of rock and metal. It is one of the four terrestrial planets and has the largest Moon in the solar system. Earth has abundant volcanic activity because of its size in comparison to the other terrestrial planets. With the abundance of water and oxygen, Earth's atmosphere stays in balance and is able to continue supporting life. The liquid oceans help to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the presence of a stratosphere helps protect the surface from the deadly ultra-violet rays of the Sun. Another unique feature of Earth is plate tectonics. Plate tectonics acts as giant conveyor belt that moves the mantle of Earth around, which constantly changes the look of our planet. Although Earth's interior needs much more exploration, scientists can tell about the composition of the deepest regions of Earth by using seismic waves following an earthquake. By reading this seismic data carefully, scientists get a better understanding of interior Earth."
Abstract This paper explores man's interest in the planet Mars. The paper begins by taking a historical look at observation and exploration of the planet. Next, the author describes conditions on the planet, and how they are unsuitable for life. Finally, the author concludes that Mars is a beautiful planet, and gives a description of the planet as well as including actual pictures.
Introduction
Analysis
Conclusion
From the Paper "Though there are no live forms, yet there is a meteorite present on Earth which had come down some 13,000 years ago in the Antarctic which is raising a lot of questions. This contains a magnetic compound called magnetite or Fe3O4 and that compound is found easily on earth. It is also used in many products like video and audio tapes which are regularly used in most houses. At the same time, there are only very few bacteria on earth which can produce magnetite in the crystalline form as they are able to assemble magnetite structures which are chemically pure and free from any defects. This type of magnetite crystals were found in the Allan Hills meteorite and that is a 4 billion year old rock which had come down from Mars as described earlier. The crystals of magnetite were present deep inside the rock. There is a belief in the scientists that these crystals had traveled all the way from Mars and were not produced on Earth through contamination by bacteria from the Earth after its arrival. (Life on Mars? The Allan Hills meteorite from Mars is peppered with tiny magnetic crystals that on our planet are made only by bacteria) "
Tags: space, exploration, aliens, planets, solar, system
Abstract This paper examines three planets namely Venus, Saturn and Jupiter and provides some factual information about them and their motion relative to earth. For each planet in turn, it provides information on the history of its name, examines its atmosphere and composition, missions to the particular planet as well as providing a comparison of the chemical and physical makeup of the planets with Earth.
From the Paper "It takes Saturn 29.5 years to complete one revolution around the Sun. As it circles the Sun, the angle of the Saturn's rings relative to the Sun varies by 27.3 degrees. During this motion a very peculiar phenomenon is observed. Twice during the 29.5 years, the rings are edge-on to the Sun. Since, as seen from Saturn, the Earth appears not more then 6 degrees from the Sun, it too crosses the ring plane at around the same time. Since Saturn's rings are so thin, when they are edge-on to the Earth, they appear to disappear when viewed with a small telescope."
Abstract The paper relates that, in 1930, the Lowell Observatory announced the discovery of the ninth planet, Pluto, but then, in 2006, the scientific community decided that Pluto would lose its status as a planet. The paper then explains that this decision was based on the scientific community's discovery that Pluto is more akin to the making of an asteroid than it is to a planet. The paper also looks at the opinion of people who think Pluto should still be a planet and posits that the many questions about Pluto will be answered when the New Horizons space satellite arrives at Pluto in 2015.
From the Paper "In 1930, the Lowell Observatory announced the discovery of a small planetary body beyond the planet Neptune (Gingerich, 2007, 137). It was named Pluto, following the suggestion of a young girl who thought that name was right because the first two letters incorporated the initials of the scientist for whom the Lowell Observatory was named for (Gingerich, 137). In hindsight, the rush to bestow planetary status on the tiny heavenly body was perhaps more a need for the Lowell Observatory to have a role in the discovery of something scientifically significant than in something that met the standards of scientific theory and research."
Abstract This paper focuses on the history and the discovery of the nineth planet in the Solar System, Pluto, and its lone moon, Charon. The paper discusses various theories about what originally propelled astronomers to search for this mysterious planet, known as Planet X, and how its name Pluto finally came about after its discovery.
From the Paper "John Murray, an astronomer from Open University in the U.K. proposes a theory in which two large objects may gravitationally affect the orbits of long period comets. These two objects would have to be about 32,000 AU from the Sun and extremely massive, about the size of Jupiter. John J. Matese of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette proposes a similar theory. His involves two to three Jupiter sized objects orbiting at about 2.3 trillion miles from the Sun. He says that their gravity is responsible for the deflection of roughly 25% of the known 82 Oort Cloud comets into the inner solar system. Matese says that these massive objects do not necessarily have to be planets; they may be undetected brown dwarfs ? undetected because the IRAS (Infrared Astronomical Satellite) of the 1980s was not sensitive enough to distinguish an individual brown dwarf against the galactic plane."
Abstract This paper begins with a definition and description of the planets within our solar system and then goes on to discuss extra-solar planets and the ongoing search for them. The paper describes some of the technology and techniques employed in this search, a discovery of an extra-solar planet by scientists at the Geneva Observatory in Switzerland, and recent advances in locating extra-solar planetary objects.
From the Paper "The word planet means "wanderer" in Greek. It derives from the fact that planets within our solar system seem generally to wander eastward about the so-called ?fixed stars across the zodiac constellations (Kolb). There is no clear consensus precisely defining what constitutes a planet, as distinguished from brown dwarfs, which are the material remnants of burned out ancient stars whose masses where too small to form white dwarfs or collapse completely, forming black holes in the manner that stars much larger than ten solar masses, or ten times the mass of our sun (Hawking)."
Abstract This paper discusses The Red Planet, Mars. The author examines the conditions, life, and gives detailed information about the planet's atmosphere and its two moons. The paper also looks at the possibility of life surviving on Mars' desert-like environment.
From the Paper "Mars, it is the fourth planet from the sun. It is closet planet to the planet that we live on. Mars is the planet with more solar exploration than any other planet in our universe. Mars is the one planet that has an atmosphere similar to ours. Mercury, Venus, and Pluto have had all of their atmospheres burned off and Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all have atmospheres that are hundreds of time more violent than the calm atmospheres of Earth and Mars. Mars is also the only planet in which we have identified that there was once water on the surface of the planet. We have discovered huge canyons that resemble the ones on Earth. This is also the reason why we believe that the Red Planet might have once had or still does have life on it."
Abstract This paper reviews the success of the "Lonely Planet" company and explores the changes or adjustments needed to ensure the future success of the company. The writer aims to assess the present business and industry situation with respect to "Lonely Planet Publications", a highly successful organization that has successfully grown and developed in a niche market. The paper offers a number of suggested options for the company and ways in which it can grow.
Contents:
Executive Summary
Introduction/Opportunity Statement
Situation Analysis
SWOT Analysis
Industry and Competition Analysis
Company Analysis
Stakeholder Analysis
Problems Identified
Alternative Options
Reasons for Rejecting Other Options
Recommended Option
References
From the Paper "A number of issues have been identified which need to be addressed in order to sustain the long-term viability of Lonely Planet as a company. The company has recently been approached by a well known large software company looking to expand its dominance in the media space. While the prospects of acquisition can sometimes be very promising, the ownership of Lonely Planet appears to prefer its independence and creative freedom and as such has, so far, been able to hold of acquisition by larger entities."
Abstract This paper states that Lonely Planet Publications is a highly successful organization that has successfully grown and developed in a niche market providing high quality and highly factual travel information on a global basis. The author believes that the company has a very solid reputation and wishes to continue its growth without sacrificing the internal culture that has been a cornerstone of its success. The author underscores that both the Five Forces and Strategic Group Models de-emphasize the role of innovation and the significance of individual company differences while overemphasizing the importance of industry and strategic group structure as determinants of company profit rates; therefore, in analyzing Lonely Planet specifically, this can lead to dangerously erroneous conclusions.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Introduction/Opportunity Statement
Opportunity
Situation Analysis
SWOT Analysis
Threats
Industry and Competition Analysis
Competition
Approach
Potential Competitors
Rivalry Among Established Companies
Bargaining Power of Buyers
Bargaining Power of Suppliers
Threat of Substitute Products
Role of the Macro environment
Strategic Groups within Industries Model
Limitations of the Five Forces and Strategic Group Models
Company Analysis
Mission
Business Operations
Business Level Strategy
Structure
Leadership
Stakeholder Analysis
Problems Identified
Alternative Options
Reasons for Rejecting Other Options
Recommended Option
RE: Maintaining Growth
RE: Sales and Inventory Control System and Better Information
RE: Lots of Things Happening
From the Paper "Lonely Planet, for the most part, was protected against these industry trends and really leveraged the travel market niche by providing readers with highly factual (and highly accurate) information. They did not try to compete on an entertainment level, nor did they go out of their way to endorse outside products, go overboard on advertising, or any other approach that would de-focus the message they were trying to convey?Lonely Planet is about providing factual and highly accurate information to the traveler. Many readers were know to tear out pages perceived to be of little value, to "skin down" the book and make it lighter, smaller, more easily packable. By catering to this market niche, they were able also to make themselves more resilient to the effects of recession."
Abstract The paper discusses how Pluto recently came under fire regarding the legitimacy of its status as a planet of the solar system. The paper examines the controversy that began when the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1999, was implicated with the decision of reconsidering Pluto's planetary status. The paper concludes that the issue was finally set to rest when the IAU duly rejected the status change as a rumour or misinformation and Pluto's status remained safe.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Pluto Statistics
Pluto Planet or comet (A Discussion)
Pluto (A Misfit?)
Conclusion
Bibliography
From the Paper "First and foremost comes the fact of size. As mentioned earlier, Pluto is the smallest planet and in terms of its size is even smaller than seven of the moons of other planets including earth's moon. Comparatively, mercury the next smallest planet is more than twice the size of Pluto. However, most astronomers brush aside this argument stating that Pluto is too big to be classified as a minor planet. For example, Ceres the largest minor planet that exists in the asteroid belt between Jupiter and mars is only 580 miles."
Abstract This paper takes a look at Uranus, the third largest planet in the solar system. According to the paper, Uranus is approximately 15 times as massive as the Earth. The paper reports that it is believed that Uranus was discovered in 1781 by William Herschel, but actually, John Flamsteed first recorded it in 1690. Flamsteed called the planet 34 Tauri.
From the Paper "There are 11 known rings, all very faint; the brightest is known as the Epsilon ring." (Arnett, 2004). By far the largest ring is 1986U2R, which is 2,500 kilometers wide, and approximately 38,000 kilometers from Uranus' center. Ring 6 is 1-3 kilometers wide and approximately 41,840 kilometers from the center of Uranus. Ring 5 is 2-3 kilometers wide and is approximately 42,230 kilometers from the center. Ring 4 is also 2-3 kilometers wide, and is located just past ring 5. Alpha is 7-12 kilometers wide and is 44,720 kilometers from the center. Beta is 7-12 kilometers wide and is 45,670 kilometers from the center. Eta is 0-2 kilometers wide and is 47,190 kilometers from the center. Gamma is 1-4 kilometers wide and is 47,630 kilometers from the center. Delta is 1-4 kilometers wide and is located 48,290 kilometers from the center. 1986U1R is 1-2 kilometers wide and is located 48,290 kilometers from the center. Epsilon, the most visible of the rings from the surface of the Earth, is 20-100 kilometers wide and is located approximately 51,140 kilometers from the center of Uranus. Epsilon is the probably the most visible because it is the outer ring and is much larger than most of the other rings."
Abstract The paper discusses the Red Planet which has fascinated astronomers from early days. The paper states that as we began more missions to Mars we gained a greater understanding of our solar system. President George W. Bush has announced plans to send humans to Mars. The paper discusses the various missions to the planet and the possibility of living on Mars. The paper states that if we look into the future, we will see that soon we will run out of resources, and will be forced to stray from earth in order to survive. The paper further suggests that the best way to do this would be to colonize Mars as an important aspect of our survival, and we should now start to take steps toward a new frontier of life, off into the vast extreme of space.
From the Paper "The cost to send manned missions will be much higher than any ever before perceived, but we will soon find out that these missions will become necessary parts of the survival of our species. If we really want to get our money's worth, we must send humans to Mars instead of just robots. Robots can only do so much. For example, a robot must collect data, send it back to Earth, be analyzed by a team of scientists twenty minutes later, then receive the information regarding the path it should take for the next five feet another twenty minutes later. Thankfully, we do not need to be so meticulous in navigating the humans we send to Mars. These people can find their own way around, without the help or need of a computer, or a team of expert scientists twenty light minutes away. With a working system of spacecraft, we would be able to ferry people from planet to planet, always keeping a group of people on Mars. This way we could always be working there, not just a chunk of three months every two years. In this manner, manned missions to Mars would prove to be much more effective than the alternative of robotic missions conducting experiments for limited amounts of time. We shouldn't necessarily be concerned with the effects of ourselves on the planet, but with the effects of ourselves on our own species."
