Wybe.us

Every two years (779.94 days to be exact), Earth passes fairly close to Mars, if you consider 61.72 million miles (99.33 million km) as being fairly close. Closest approach will occur on 27 January 2010. Opposition, when the Earth is directly between the Sun and Mars, will occur on 29 January 2010. The next opposition won’t occur until 3 March 2012 with closest approach occurring on 5 March 2012.

Mars will rise in the east after sunset. You can’t miss it. Just look for a bright, red “star.” It’s amazing that there are two rovers running around on the surface of that point of light. Well, one rover, Spirit, has been stuck since May 2009. The other rover, Opportunity, is still running around.

I really enjoyed this week’s theme. Probably more than I should have. I mean, I even included pictures! Nevertheless, since I enjoyed it so much, here are some more Satchian words relating to this week’s theme…

Ceresu, Ceres
Erisu, Eris
Haumu, Haumea
Makemaku, Makemake

Besides Pluto, the IAU recognizes four additional dwarf planets. Ceres is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. When Ceres was discovered in 1801 by Giuseppe Piazzi, it was called a planet. Some 50 years later, its status was changed to asteroid when other objects were discovered between Mars and Jupiter. Today, it is classified as a dwarf planet.

Eris, Haumea, and Makemake, along with Pluto, are located in the Kuiper Belt beyond the orbit of Neptune. Eris is actually larger than Pluto, and that fact prompted the IAU to formally define the term planet. Before 2006, there was no official definition of what makes a planet a planet.

Makemake is named after the Rapanui (the native people of Easter Island) creator of humanity and god of fertility. Yeah, it’s a funny name, but don’t pronounce it like make-make; it’s more like ma-ke-ma-ke.

Plutonu, Pluto

Plutonu nyzzar yn hnettir zos Fromnemun iravir. Śur 2006, Plutonu nu Yśofrozaiþuśaicamnai yn þriripomoźai sønæjiśir yn nyzzælai., Pluto was the 9th planet of the Solar System. In 2006, Pluto was reclassified by the International Astronomical Union as a dwarf planet.

Nepitunu, Neptune

Nepitunu nyzzar yn nir je, je yn nøplissar neurai rizo cleihar syśai deutiśavir, iravir., Neptune was the first planet to be discovered by mathematical prediction rather than empirical observation.

Uranu, Uranus

Þrir nyzzaidis zos Fromnemun, Uranu irir yn samri, nai þina maucissai æwun źøþir yn summi., Uranus is unique among the planets of the Solar System because its axis of rotation is tilted sideways.

Saturinu, Saturn

Saturinu e wizaidir yn wøþai æwun śemriśir., Saturn is known for its beautiful rings.

Jupitru, Jupiter

Jupitru nyzzar yn onnaidir petir Fromnemus., Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System.

Speaking of the Solar System, the word for the Solar System is Fromnemu, which comes from the word Fromnu, the Sun plus the suffix -em-. The suffix -em- is used to form a place for the idea expressed by the root. Another example is śyddema, senate from śydda, senator.

Hello from Houston, Texas!

Mrisu, Mars

Mrisu śemriśir yn nyzzai yn mresai., Mars is known as the red planet.

There are actually two words for Mars in Satchian: Mrasu and Mrisu. Mrasu is used to describe the object seen in the night sky from Earth. Mrisu is the planet itself. For the most part, these two words can be used interchangeably.

Śur jullir hlyzan hus zos Drezzus, se Mrasur faze ceźas yn zæþai gis bomiśe., This winter, you can see Mars in the night sky from Earth.

By the way, the fact that the word for red, mresa, is similar to the words for Mars is a coincidence. I swear!

Note that in the night sky is translated as faze ceźas yn zæþai, which literally means on the night sky. With the case of an airplane or bird, however, you would say mno ceźas, in the sky as such objects are actually located in Earth’s atmosphere.

Drezzu [drɛʃ.ʃu], Earth

Drezzu nyzzar mlonynai yn donnir zos Fromnus petir. [drɛʃ.ʃu nʏʃ.ʃɑr mlo.ny.nɑɪ ʏn don.nɪr ʃos fro.mnʊs pe.tɪr], Earth is the third terrestrial planet from the Sun.

Venu [we.nu], Venus

Venu zos æffynei yn romejai zos ottan hus lazajun deþavir yn øzaiśin. [we.nu ʃos æf.fy.neɪ ʏn ro.me.jɑɪ ʃos ot.tɑn hʊs lɑ.ʃɑ.jʊn de.θɑ.wɪr ʏn ə.ʃɑɪ.tsɪn], Venus is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty.