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The importance of latest discoveries in the solar system
Adv. Space Res. © COSPAR, 1981.
Vol. 1, pp. 7582. Printed in Great Britain.
02731177/81/0301—0075
$05.00I0
THE IMPORTANCE OF LATEST DISCOVERIES IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM S.K. Vsekhsvyatsky Department of Physics, Chair of Astronomy, Kiev State University, Kiev, USSR
ABSTRACT The discoveries of recent years in the solar system made with the help of cosmic probes are discussed which completely confirmed the author’s predictions and conclusions on the existence of rings around giant planets and powerful volcanic processes on them and on their satellites. These ~eat discoveries contributed to comprehension of the true cosmogony of the solar system and eruptive evolution of planetary bodies, in this connection the solar system astronomy faces urgent problems of revealing all the peculiarities of eruptive activity of planets like the ~arth and Venus.
In March, 1977 a system of rings around Uranus haa been discovered at flying observatory during observations of SÃO 158 687 star occultation by the planet. The event was observed at some ground— based observatories as well. In the planet’s equatorial plane the existence of at least 8 narrow rings spaced nearly vertical to the plane of the planet’s orbit has been stated. Later the rings were discovered and studied at some terrestrial observatories with the help of special means. JASA 1:7
-
=
Ii] 75
76
S.K. Vsekhsvyatsky
Simultaneous to the description of the discovery itself the journal gave a note stating that as long ago as 1960, i.e. 17 years before the registration of rings, Otto Struve’s paper was published con— cei’ning the results of Kiev astronomers on the inevitable existence of rings around all giant planets, and the signs were found of the existence of a shadow of such ring around Jupiter. Only 1.5—2 years passed since, and the new events fully confirmed the fact of a high eruptive activity of planetary bodies. In 1978 Soviet probes “Venera—il” and “Venera—12” and the American interplanetary station “Pioneer—Venus” discovered a 1,500 km long and 300 kin deep “hollow” on the planet’s surface like the ocean’s bed in case all the water evaporated. But the most important of these historical events was the discovery by “Voyager 1 and 2” of a powerful eruptive activity on Jupiter’s satellite 10 and of the peculiarities of surface structure on Zuropa, Ganimed and Kollisto and, first of all, the ring around Jupiter (March, 1979). The latter has been a complete and amazing confirmation of the conclusions obtained in Kiev (1954—1960) which proved the existence of rings appearing constantly from the ice fragments (comets) of asteroidal and meteoritic bodies, meteoric dust and. gaseous masses ejected from the surface of giant planets’ satellites. This prediction resulted from the fact of the existence of groups of short—period comets near Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. [2] No less prominent have been the results of the American probe “Pioneer—li” (“pioneer—Saturn”) passage through the Saturn system and its ring. Meteoritic fragments and meteoric masses (ashy
Importance of Latest Discoveries in the Solar System
77
particles) were discovered in the ring, as wélla8 a high thermal flow coming from the planet’s surface and considerably exceeding the amount of heat emitted from the Sun. All this became a convincing confirmation of the eruptive activity on satellites and the planets themselves, i.e. of all the conclusions made long ago in Kiev as the result of a thorough investigation of the problem of comets and, in particular, of short—period comets characteristic by their short
life_time.[31
We have succeeded in showing that all long—period and nearly parabolic comets were also the consequence of eruptive evolution of planetary bodies. These comets characterize the activity in the solar system which took place thousands and millions years ago. It appeared possible to evaluate the peculiarity of the eruptive activity of planets and satellites by the present mean density of their material,
~5]
All these new discoveries which will be replenished in the process of interpreting and studying the photos and instrument indications characterize a new era in the developing of astronomy and physics of near and far apace. A complete agreement between the new facts and the conclusions on a high—level activity in the solar s7stem [6] made from the studies of comets and other events postulated by Kiev scIentists long ago enabled us to infer the following: 1. The processes of development in the solar system are determined
primarily by the peculiarities of the eruptive evolution of planetary bodies. Assuming the initial “solar” mean density of planetary bodies to be 1.0—1.3 Worn3 one can evaluate a general amount of ejected material for 5 milliard years (satellites and planets); and
78
S.K. Vsekhsvyatsky
for planets a general amount of the lost energy comes to 1o40_1041 erg. High eruptive activity of planets observed up to the present convincingly proves that all planetary bodies began their existence as the objects from stellar material. Independent confirmation has been obtained at the comparison between minor bodies born in the solar system and the losses of material by planets. [4,7]Thus, the first and most important conclusion of the solar system astronomy has been the evidence of the failure of both classical and numerous present—day condensational cosmogonies. The study of minor bodies and the conclusions on the eruptive evolution of planets enable us to reveal a real history of the solar system. 2. Detailed consideration of all the peculiarities of ejection of the eruptive products from satellite surfaces through their sphere of activity and the planet’s sphere of activity becomes an important problem. This allows to obtain a more explicit picture of the formation of short—period, long—period and hyperbolic comets in the system of Jupiter and that of other giant planets.[8]
3. Not a less important task of new cometary astronomy is the study of structure and evolution of rings in Jupiter, Saturn, IJranue and Neptune system. It appears possible to state the periods of cata— clysms on either of satellites and all the peculiarities of ejecting the rings’ material and falling it on planets. Of a particular significance is the problem of giant planets whose stellar nature may be proved both by their great activity and by the peculiarity of systems of satellites formed, apparently, later than the planets themselves. A thorough comparison between giant planets and their systems of satellites will undoubtedly help to reveal many characteristic features of their stellar nature.
Importance of Latest Discoveries in the Solar System
79
4. Detailed comparison and interjprétatlOn of all Venus’ and the Earth’s peculiarities is of a great significance as well. The hot Venisuan surface (cooling lava seas), a powerful atmosphere and slow rotation indicate recent tremendous cataclysms undergone by the planet; ancient documents of the peoples’ history keep the notes of an unusual activity on Venus in the far past (30—10 thousand years ago). On the other hand, the Earth, according to the geology data has undergone not less than 20 gigantic cataclysms having changed its surface. Beyond all question, not less than three fourth of its original continental masses had been ejected into the space, and other powerful processes occured on its surface. Interpretation of the peculiarities of ice—coating undergone by the Earth allows, apparently, to imagine the succession of grandiose events on Venus. [9]The suggestion that inner asteroids of Amor— and Appolo—type could be the products of relatively recent ejections from the Venisuan surface requires a thorough consideration. Prom the investigation of probabilities of the Earth’s and Venus’ encounters with asteroids of this type one may state when they could have formed and whether this corresponded to the periods of the Venisuan activity.
5. A special attention should be drawn to the problems of Mars. It has long ago been mentioned in the works of Kiev scientists that so—called “dust storms” are in fact colossal ejections of ashy particles characteristic for the present—day state of Mars. The periods of great oppositions themselves indicate this. The very process of developing the events on Mars beginning with the ejecttion~of “white” clouds (water va~ours)in the volcanic regions of the planet indicates against “the storms”, in favour of the volcanic
80
S.K. Vsekhsvyatsky
nature of the events. It is urgent now to consider Mars’ problems from the new points of view. 6. The problem of asteroids ought to be revised as well. Apart from the relics of “Phaeton” assumed to group at a distance of about 2.8 a,u. there should undoubtedly exist some fragmentary remnants of Marsian crust and the objects which left the Jupiter system (besides Trojans) and also the remnants of possible minor planets having burst at the initial stages of the solar system existence. A very interesting problem for distinquishing “older” and “younger” asteroids is the consideration of the stability of their orbits, A discussion of cases when the atmosphere baa been observed around asteroid.s should take place as well. Furthermore, attempts should be made toward the searches of asteroidal bodies between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn and in the farther regions of the solar system. 7. A large amount of comets (asteroidal and meteoritic fragments with masses of ices), meteoritic fragments (without ices), meteoric material (volcanic ashes, the products of comet disintegration) has been ejected from the solar system for the period 5 6 x 1O9 years. —
General amount of this material since the existence of the solar system could come to or even exceed 1031 g.[9] A considerable amount of this material should have left and is leaving now the solar system for the interstellar space. If on the average every star of the Galaxy supplies the interstellar space with. the same amount of comets, dust and gas one may calculate some mean density of particles in the interstellar space and, at the existing relat~e velocities of stare, to estimate the amount of sharp hyperbolic interstellar particles that could be detected from the Earth. The
Importance of Latest Discoveries in the Solar System
81
estimation shows that at one observational point during a day and a night one could catch a single “interstellar” meteor (brightness is
8m), The revision of catalogues of photographic and radar observations allowed to find about 80 meteors with the eccentricities e>2, Thus, the possibility arises to study eruptive processes in the near regions of the Galaxy as well. A completely new opportunity
opens for detecting the meteoric activity of planets surrounding neighbouring stars. The appearance of Interstellar comets in our sky is possible, however, far more seldom, on the average, once in
500—1,000 years. Unfortunately, thousand years ago the exact observations of comets were absent, and therefore it is impossible
to state now whether there were interstellar objects among the comets appeared in the sky. Even the very enumeration of problems concerning the outstanding tasks of present—day astronomy (eruptive evolution of planetary bodtes) indicates the beginning of a true revolution in science which may be compared only to the revolution of 16—17 centuries. Among problems mentioned here the most important is, certainly, the problem of the Earth. Here, the old notions that have taken root in the course of centuries should be replaced by new knowledge, and this concerns, first of all, such sciences as geophysics and geology where a biological theory of oil and gas should be rejected, and the notions of the inner structure of planets and the Earth completely revised in the nearest future. Astronomy, as the moat important practical science, ought to be introduced in the teaching programs of physical, mechanical—and— mathematical, geographical, geological faculties. It should take an appropriate place in the programs of secondary school.
82
S.K. Vsekhsvyatsky
REFERENCES 1. S.K.Veekhsvyataky, Rue, Astr. Zhurnal 39, N 2, 292 (1962). 2. V.A.Ambartaumyan et al., Probleme der ModernenKoemogonie, Akademie Verlag, Berlin, 1976. 3. S.K.Vsekhsvyatsky, Astr. Nach. Bd.240, 273 (1930). 4. S.K.Vsekhavyatsky, Priroda i Proiskhozhdenije Komet I Meteornogo Veehchestva, “Prosveshchenije”, Moscow, 1967. (English translation: NASA TT P-608). 5. S.K.Vsekhsvyatsky, In: Nature at Origine des Cometes, ed. P.Swinge, Liege University, Liege, 1966, p. 495. 6. S.K.Vsekhavyatsky, in: Problemy- Kosmicheskoj~Piziki, Kiev, N 6, 1971, p. 73. 7. S.K.Vsekhevyatsky, in: Kosmicheskije isaledovaniya na U~aine, Kiev, N 5, 1974, p. 3. 8. A.A.Demenko, S.K.Veekhsvyateky, in: Problerny Kosmicheekoj Fiziki, Kiev, N 15, 1980, 9. S.K.Veekhavyatsky, in: Problemy Kosmicheskoj Piziki, Kiev, 1972, p. 74.
Vol. 1, pp. 7582. Printed in Great Britain.
02731177/81/0301—0075
$05.00I0
THE IMPORTANCE OF LATEST DISCOVERIES IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM S.K. Vsekhsvyatsky Department of Physics, Chair of Astronomy, Kiev State University, Kiev, USSR
ABSTRACT The discoveries of recent years in the solar system made with the help of cosmic probes are discussed which completely confirmed the author’s predictions and conclusions on the existence of rings around giant planets and powerful volcanic processes on them and on their satellites. These ~eat discoveries contributed to comprehension of the true cosmogony of the solar system and eruptive evolution of planetary bodies, in this connection the solar system astronomy faces urgent problems of revealing all the peculiarities of eruptive activity of planets like the ~arth and Venus.
In March, 1977 a system of rings around Uranus haa been discovered at flying observatory during observations of SÃO 158 687 star occultation by the planet. The event was observed at some ground— based observatories as well. In the planet’s equatorial plane the existence of at least 8 narrow rings spaced nearly vertical to the plane of the planet’s orbit has been stated. Later the rings were discovered and studied at some terrestrial observatories with the help of special means. JASA 1:7
-
=
Ii] 75
76
S.K. Vsekhsvyatsky
Simultaneous to the description of the discovery itself the journal gave a note stating that as long ago as 1960, i.e. 17 years before the registration of rings, Otto Struve’s paper was published con— cei’ning the results of Kiev astronomers on the inevitable existence of rings around all giant planets, and the signs were found of the existence of a shadow of such ring around Jupiter. Only 1.5—2 years passed since, and the new events fully confirmed the fact of a high eruptive activity of planetary bodies. In 1978 Soviet probes “Venera—il” and “Venera—12” and the American interplanetary station “Pioneer—Venus” discovered a 1,500 km long and 300 kin deep “hollow” on the planet’s surface like the ocean’s bed in case all the water evaporated. But the most important of these historical events was the discovery by “Voyager 1 and 2” of a powerful eruptive activity on Jupiter’s satellite 10 and of the peculiarities of surface structure on Zuropa, Ganimed and Kollisto and, first of all, the ring around Jupiter (March, 1979). The latter has been a complete and amazing confirmation of the conclusions obtained in Kiev (1954—1960) which proved the existence of rings appearing constantly from the ice fragments (comets) of asteroidal and meteoritic bodies, meteoric dust and. gaseous masses ejected from the surface of giant planets’ satellites. This prediction resulted from the fact of the existence of groups of short—period comets near Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. [2] No less prominent have been the results of the American probe “Pioneer—li” (“pioneer—Saturn”) passage through the Saturn system and its ring. Meteoritic fragments and meteoric masses (ashy
Importance of Latest Discoveries in the Solar System
77
particles) were discovered in the ring, as wélla8 a high thermal flow coming from the planet’s surface and considerably exceeding the amount of heat emitted from the Sun. All this became a convincing confirmation of the eruptive activity on satellites and the planets themselves, i.e. of all the conclusions made long ago in Kiev as the result of a thorough investigation of the problem of comets and, in particular, of short—period comets characteristic by their short
life_time.[31
We have succeeded in showing that all long—period and nearly parabolic comets were also the consequence of eruptive evolution of planetary bodies. These comets characterize the activity in the solar system which took place thousands and millions years ago. It appeared possible to evaluate the peculiarity of the eruptive activity of planets and satellites by the present mean density of their material,
~5]
All these new discoveries which will be replenished in the process of interpreting and studying the photos and instrument indications characterize a new era in the developing of astronomy and physics of near and far apace. A complete agreement between the new facts and the conclusions on a high—level activity in the solar s7stem [6] made from the studies of comets and other events postulated by Kiev scIentists long ago enabled us to infer the following: 1. The processes of development in the solar system are determined
primarily by the peculiarities of the eruptive evolution of planetary bodies. Assuming the initial “solar” mean density of planetary bodies to be 1.0—1.3 Worn3 one can evaluate a general amount of ejected material for 5 milliard years (satellites and planets); and
78
S.K. Vsekhsvyatsky
for planets a general amount of the lost energy comes to 1o40_1041 erg. High eruptive activity of planets observed up to the present convincingly proves that all planetary bodies began their existence as the objects from stellar material. Independent confirmation has been obtained at the comparison between minor bodies born in the solar system and the losses of material by planets. [4,7]Thus, the first and most important conclusion of the solar system astronomy has been the evidence of the failure of both classical and numerous present—day condensational cosmogonies. The study of minor bodies and the conclusions on the eruptive evolution of planets enable us to reveal a real history of the solar system. 2. Detailed consideration of all the peculiarities of ejection of the eruptive products from satellite surfaces through their sphere of activity and the planet’s sphere of activity becomes an important problem. This allows to obtain a more explicit picture of the formation of short—period, long—period and hyperbolic comets in the system of Jupiter and that of other giant planets.[8]
3. Not a less important task of new cometary astronomy is the study of structure and evolution of rings in Jupiter, Saturn, IJranue and Neptune system. It appears possible to state the periods of cata— clysms on either of satellites and all the peculiarities of ejecting the rings’ material and falling it on planets. Of a particular significance is the problem of giant planets whose stellar nature may be proved both by their great activity and by the peculiarity of systems of satellites formed, apparently, later than the planets themselves. A thorough comparison between giant planets and their systems of satellites will undoubtedly help to reveal many characteristic features of their stellar nature.
Importance of Latest Discoveries in the Solar System
79
4. Detailed comparison and interjprétatlOn of all Venus’ and the Earth’s peculiarities is of a great significance as well. The hot Venisuan surface (cooling lava seas), a powerful atmosphere and slow rotation indicate recent tremendous cataclysms undergone by the planet; ancient documents of the peoples’ history keep the notes of an unusual activity on Venus in the far past (30—10 thousand years ago). On the other hand, the Earth, according to the geology data has undergone not less than 20 gigantic cataclysms having changed its surface. Beyond all question, not less than three fourth of its original continental masses had been ejected into the space, and other powerful processes occured on its surface. Interpretation of the peculiarities of ice—coating undergone by the Earth allows, apparently, to imagine the succession of grandiose events on Venus. [9]The suggestion that inner asteroids of Amor— and Appolo—type could be the products of relatively recent ejections from the Venisuan surface requires a thorough consideration. Prom the investigation of probabilities of the Earth’s and Venus’ encounters with asteroids of this type one may state when they could have formed and whether this corresponded to the periods of the Venisuan activity.
5. A special attention should be drawn to the problems of Mars. It has long ago been mentioned in the works of Kiev scientists that so—called “dust storms” are in fact colossal ejections of ashy particles characteristic for the present—day state of Mars. The periods of great oppositions themselves indicate this. The very process of developing the events on Mars beginning with the ejecttion~of “white” clouds (water va~ours)in the volcanic regions of the planet indicates against “the storms”, in favour of the volcanic
80
S.K. Vsekhsvyatsky
nature of the events. It is urgent now to consider Mars’ problems from the new points of view. 6. The problem of asteroids ought to be revised as well. Apart from the relics of “Phaeton” assumed to group at a distance of about 2.8 a,u. there should undoubtedly exist some fragmentary remnants of Marsian crust and the objects which left the Jupiter system (besides Trojans) and also the remnants of possible minor planets having burst at the initial stages of the solar system existence. A very interesting problem for distinquishing “older” and “younger” asteroids is the consideration of the stability of their orbits, A discussion of cases when the atmosphere baa been observed around asteroid.s should take place as well. Furthermore, attempts should be made toward the searches of asteroidal bodies between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn and in the farther regions of the solar system. 7. A large amount of comets (asteroidal and meteoritic fragments with masses of ices), meteoritic fragments (without ices), meteoric material (volcanic ashes, the products of comet disintegration) has been ejected from the solar system for the period 5 6 x 1O9 years. —
General amount of this material since the existence of the solar system could come to or even exceed 1031 g.[9] A considerable amount of this material should have left and is leaving now the solar system for the interstellar space. If on the average every star of the Galaxy supplies the interstellar space with. the same amount of comets, dust and gas one may calculate some mean density of particles in the interstellar space and, at the existing relat~e velocities of stare, to estimate the amount of sharp hyperbolic interstellar particles that could be detected from the Earth. The
Importance of Latest Discoveries in the Solar System
81
estimation shows that at one observational point during a day and a night one could catch a single “interstellar” meteor (brightness is
8m), The revision of catalogues of photographic and radar observations allowed to find about 80 meteors with the eccentricities e>2, Thus, the possibility arises to study eruptive processes in the near regions of the Galaxy as well. A completely new opportunity
opens for detecting the meteoric activity of planets surrounding neighbouring stars. The appearance of Interstellar comets in our sky is possible, however, far more seldom, on the average, once in
500—1,000 years. Unfortunately, thousand years ago the exact observations of comets were absent, and therefore it is impossible
to state now whether there were interstellar objects among the comets appeared in the sky. Even the very enumeration of problems concerning the outstanding tasks of present—day astronomy (eruptive evolution of planetary bodtes) indicates the beginning of a true revolution in science which may be compared only to the revolution of 16—17 centuries. Among problems mentioned here the most important is, certainly, the problem of the Earth. Here, the old notions that have taken root in the course of centuries should be replaced by new knowledge, and this concerns, first of all, such sciences as geophysics and geology where a biological theory of oil and gas should be rejected, and the notions of the inner structure of planets and the Earth completely revised in the nearest future. Astronomy, as the moat important practical science, ought to be introduced in the teaching programs of physical, mechanical—and— mathematical, geographical, geological faculties. It should take an appropriate place in the programs of secondary school.
82
S.K. Vsekhsvyatsky
REFERENCES 1. S.K.Veekhsvyataky, Rue, Astr. Zhurnal 39, N 2, 292 (1962). 2. V.A.Ambartaumyan et al., Probleme der ModernenKoemogonie, Akademie Verlag, Berlin, 1976. 3. S.K.Vsekhsvyatsky, Astr. Nach. Bd.240, 273 (1930). 4. S.K.Vsekhavyatsky, Priroda i Proiskhozhdenije Komet I Meteornogo Veehchestva, “Prosveshchenije”, Moscow, 1967. (English translation: NASA TT P-608). 5. S.K.Vsekhsvyatsky, In: Nature at Origine des Cometes, ed. P.Swinge, Liege University, Liege, 1966, p. 495. 6. S.K.Vsekhavyatsky, in: Problemy- Kosmicheskoj~Piziki, Kiev, N 6, 1971, p. 73. 7. S.K.Vsekhevyatsky, in: Kosmicheskije isaledovaniya na U~aine, Kiev, N 5, 1974, p. 3. 8. A.A.Demenko, S.K.Veekhsvyateky, in: Problerny Kosmicheekoj Fiziki, Kiev, N 15, 1980, 9. S.K.Veekhavyatsky, in: Problemy Kosmicheskoj Piziki, Kiev, 1972, p. 74.