A study published Today in the prestigious journal Science reveals the discovery of an exoplanet that could have an atmosphere and, ultimately, present traces of life. The ultimate goal is to find biological markers, biosignatures, in the atmospheres of exoplanets, that is, signs of life on habitable planets similar to Earth. About 4,000 exoplanets have been discovered over the past 25 years, and a few have been shown to have an atmosphere. However, these are large gaseous or icy planets... The name of this exoplanet? Gliese 486 b. It is about 30% larger than the Earth, but is 2.8 times heavier and is found in what is called the habitable zone around a star. It is "only" 26 light years away, which places it third among the closest known exoplanets in transit, that is, on a path where they are seen passing in front of their star. But the proximity of this exoplanet to its star also makes it very hot [at least 800° F]. Gliese 486 b is dotted with volcanoes and rivers of lava; thus, it is not habitable. However, if this planet has an atmosphere, all planets further away [from the star] with similar characteristics will have an atmosphere, and more likely to be habitable. Every amateur astronomer eagerly awaits the deployment of the highly anticipated James Webb Space Telescope, due for launch this year. Thanks to him, it would be possible, in at best about three years, to say whether or not this exoplanet has an atmosphere, and to give its composition. So to celebrate this discovery, I'd like to see your coins related to planets. The choice is quite wide : Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn or Neptune ! A few not shown lately: Agrippa Neptune Tetricus Mars Numerian Mars Licinius II Jupiter Macrinus Venus
How about Venus and Mars in one coin? Faustina II, AD 147-175. Roman Æ as, 11.96 g, 25 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 170-175. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: VENERI VICTRICI S C, Venus standing right, placing both hands on the arm of Mars, standing facing, head left, holding round shield in left hand. Refs: RIC 1680; BMCRE 999-1001; Cohen 241; RCV 5305; MIR 42-7/10c. And Venus and Mars in one song?
Here's Venus! And an unusual one, Mercury! How about Juno, which was originally considered a planet from 1804 to 1850!
Thanks, @Ocatarinetabellatchitchix ... sounds like we found EARTH 2 series Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn or Neptune MERCURY RImp Octavian 32-31 BCE AR Den Rome mint Bare CAESAR DIVI F Mercury lyre RIC 257 Sear 1550 VENUS RR Faustus Cornelius Sulla 56 BCE AR Den Venus Signet Pompey S 386 Cr426-3 MARS RR L Rustius 76 BCE AR Den 19mm 3.6g Mars SC Rome - Ram L RVSTI Cr 389-1 Sear 320 JUPITER RR AR Quinarius 16mm 1.77g P Sabinus Rome 99 BCE Jupiter r E 3 pellets - P SABINE Q in ex Victory trophy E 3 pellets Cr 331-1 SATURN RR Anon AE Quartuncia 217-215 BC Saturn Prow BRN Cr 38-8 S 624
How about an actual guy with a planet named after him? The reverse of the coin below shows Aratus of Soloi, a poet-astronomer who spent alot of time looking at the skies. The minor planet 12152 Aratus, which was discovered in 1971, was named after him. CILICIA, Soloi-Pompeiopolis AE26. 12.98g, 25.8mm. CILICIA, Soloi-Pompeiopolis, CY 229 (AD 163/4). Pseudo-autonomous issue, time of Marcus Aurelius. SNG von Aulock 8712; RPC Online IV.3 temp 5840. O: Draped bust of Chrysippos right, touching beard with hand; ΘΚϹ behind. R: ΠΟΜΠΗΙΟΠΟΛƐΙΤΩΝ, draped bust of Aratos right, looking upward.
Mercury is missing! Always leaving out the small ones, you bullies! Edit: someone posted Mercury before. I just didn't see it. My bad!
Saturn - Aes Grave semis of RR. Jupiter - denarius of Civil War of AD 68-69. Mercury - Aes Grave sextans of RR.
There is an omission... The planet VULCAN Vulcan Samnium Aesernia 263-240 BCE AE 20 Vulcan, wearing Pilos, Tongs Jupiter Biga Left
On yours, the figure is Venus Victrix and those two figures at her feet are prisoners of war. This is rather unconventional iconography for Venus. While the figure on Q's Plautilla is also Venus Victrix, she is portrayed more conventionally with her son, Cupid, a little naked boy with wings. My guess is that the martial imagery adopted by Caracalla was thought to be inappropriate for his wife because it wasn't womanly.