+10 votes
in Astronomy by
edited by

Your answer

Your name to display (optional):
Privacy: Your email address will only be used for sending these notifications.
+9 votes
by

If it were possible to travel 20 million miles from Earth, we would still be well within our solar system. At that distance, we would be just a fraction of the distance to the nearest planet, Mars, which has an average distance of about 140 million miles from Earth.

Within our solar system, there are several known planets, including Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These planets have been extensively studied and explored by various space missions. While there may be ongoing discoveries and scientific advancements regarding these planets, it is unlikely that traveling 20 million miles from Earth within the solar system would reveal entirely new planets.

However, it's important to note that beyond our solar system, there is a vast and diverse expanse of space with countless stars and planetary systems. These exoplanetary systems have been the focus of significant research and have led to the discovery of thousands of exoplanets orbiting distant stars. Many of these exoplanets are indeed strange and different from those within our solar system. They come in various sizes, compositions, and orbital configurations.

To explore and discover these exoplanets, scientists employ various methods such as transit observations, radial velocity measurements, and direct imaging. Missions like NASA's Kepler and TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) have made remarkable contributions to our understanding of exoplanets.

So, while traveling 20 million miles from Earth within our solar system may not lead to the discovery of new planets, venturing beyond our solar system could certainly unveil a plethora of strange and exciting exoplanets that continue to expand our knowledge of the universe.

Welcome to Physicsgurus Q&A, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of the community.
...