planets

[Gnisy]

how exactly do we know if there are as many planets as they say there are? not to be skeptical but textbooks are written based on what these scientists say and then the "commoners" read and learn what these scientists say through these books. so... how do we know if it's all for real, IF we don't get the chance to see these planets ourselves.

[KebabMeister]

How do you know the world is round?

You can see some of the planets with the naked eye. Others can be seen with a good telescope if you know where to look.

Why are you so suspicious? I'd suggest going to an astronomy club and having a look yourself :)

[Loosehead]

Scientists are the most sceptical people on Earth. You can bet that when anyone declares a theory or observation the whole scientific world sets out to repeat the experiment or observation and it is repeated ad infinitum by places of education. Scientists like nothing more than to prove each other wrong. Essentially all scientific findings are repeatedly verified so for that reason you can believe. Remember the experiments you did at school? You are just repeating what someone originally discovered or theorised about. In the case of the planets you can easily observe most of them with binoculars if not the naked eye, you can traack and verify their motion yourself all you need is basic geometry and patience.

[LazyGun]

Curses! Foiled again! Us scientists have been found out! Our conspiracy to mislead all those commoners has been exposed!
(Goes off to conquer the world again)

[Gnisy]

just asking. no harm in being suspicious. Teachers told us to question everything in science anyways. Don't you ever have questions?

[KebabMeister]

Very true Gnisy. My personal quote is: The world is full of answers; you just have to ask the questions! :)

One a good clear night if you look up and locate the brightest star the chances are that it's a planet (probably Jupiter). Watch it over the week and it should have moved against the star field background which will mean it is a planet and not a star.

[mibn2cweus]

start here

[Gnisy]

ah tonyted, we are on the same wavelength. Many thanks for the:
"We all believe what the experts say because we don't know any better."

Certainly delivers more of an impact than my question on planets.

I can't find a clear image of Uranus, Neptune or Pluto in any source I can find. They're either drawn, speculated or just plain guessed artwork. How do we know for sure that they are there? Just take it as it is?

Notice that I didn't say anything about Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. I've seen Venus, Mars and Jupiter with the naked eye (or at least that's what my astronomer friend told me they were) but those in the outskirts of the solar system.. you can't blame me for practicising the "seeing is believing" concept.

And now they say there are 12 ( or maybe more planets ) in the solar system... based on man-made definitions.

[KebabMeister]

The Voyager probes went to Uranus and Neptune. You can see Uranus easily with a telescope. Of course it could all be a conspiricy though I don't know why they'd put so much effort into something that really doesn't affect us. What would they be hoping to achieve?

Tonyted, DNA and the CPS is something completely different. The problem lies in that someone is holding computer data that is open to manipulation or corruption. With all the added biometric data being held there will come a time when someone will be able to change evidence to someone else. I don't trust that either because people make mistakes as well as scientists do (though I accept the scientists data, I just don't trust the people looking after it or criminals wanting to change it).