"Why cannot we see solar flares off the sun? we can see the sun but not the flares or sun spots."
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Ask an Astrobiologist has received nearly a thousand questions about Nibiru and 2012, with more than 200 answers posted. Please read a summary of the answers that have already been posted, use the search feature and read the FAQ’s before submitting questions on these topics.
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Question
Do any of the planets have layers like the Earth? Can we tell?
All the planets in our solar system (except possibly Pluto, where we have never sent a spacecraft) have interiors that are layered according to density. The heaviest or densist materials sink toward the center, with lighter substances "floating" toward the top. This process is called differentiation. It can be verified when we send a spacecraft to fly near the planet or satellite, since the exact trajectory of the spacecraft depends on the distribution of mass and density in the interior of the planet or satellite.
David Morrison
NAI Senior Scientist
November 7, 2003
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