Scientists talked about measuring the size of planets using orbital periods.

Astronomers determine the characteristics of planets, including their sizes, masses, and compositions, using satellite orbital periods and spectroscopic data. This was announced on August 18 by Astronomy Magazine.

According to the publication, in the 18th century, astronomers were for the first time able to accurately measure the astronomical unit (AU), which allowed them to determine the distances to the planets in terrestrial units. This step was made possible by the transits of Venus, which allowed us to calculate the average distance from the Earth to the Sun.

Astronomers determine the mass of planets using a modified Kepler's third law, which is based on the orbits of satellites such as the Moon. The moons of Jupiter, Saturn and other planets help measure the masses of these celestial bodies by analyzing how long they have been orbiting the planet and at what distance they are.

In addition, astronomers study the composition of planets using spectroscopy. When light from a celestial body passes through a prism, it is divided into a spectrum, and the dark lines in this spectrum show what chemicals are in the atmosphere. These lines appear due to the fact that chemicals absorb certain parts of the light, which allows astronomers to determine the composition of the atmosphere of planets such as Jupiter and Saturn. Each substance has its own unique "barcode" in the form of a spectrum.

Thus, the combination of orbital observations and spectroscopy helps astronomers better understand the nature and composition of planets and their moons.

Scientists warn: the strongest magnetic storm in two months is coming.

Effects on well-being, satellites, and energy systems. Current forecast of solar activity

Earlier, on August 15, the Russian Academy of Sciences reported that a large coronal hole was forming on the Sun, which could cause an increase in the speed of the solar wind and lead to an aggravation of the geomagnetic situation. It was noted that due to the growth of the coronal hole, the speed of the solar wind will exceed the values by about 2-2.5 times.

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