Ask the Nirks

Answer: Hi Logan!  That is awesome that you want to be an astronomer when you grow up!  Math can be hard, but don't let that stop you!  I'm not the best at math either, but the more i worked at it the better I got.  And, did you know that there are lots of different types of math?  Some are really fun!  My favorites are Geometry and Trigonometry!  I gotta work a little harder at Algebra and Calculus, but it is so worth it!  

Answer: Hi Terry! Thanks for writing!  I love the platypus because of all of it's unique features!  It is an odd creature, just like me!  It has a duck-bill, fur, a beaver-like tail is both a water and land animal, it lays eggs even though it is a mammal!  But I mostly like it because it is so unique and doesn't care what any of the other animals think about it! (Perry is cool too, by the way!)

Answer: Hello Zachary!  It's Jupiter!  As you have probably heard, Saturn now has 274 moons and is very excited about it... rubbing it in actually... But we're all really excited too.  So, yes, we will probably do an update either later this year or early 2026.  The reason we are delaying a little is that astronomers are checking to see if there are more moons hiding around me too!  

Answer: Great question, Izzy!  Becoming an astronomer is an awesome job!  It is definitely very helpful to have a telescope.  But if you can't get your own right now, you can always visit local observatories or even ask your science teacher if they have a telescope you can look at the stars with.  I saved up my money for months to buy my first telescope and it was awesome!

Answer: Hi Jonathan!  Jupiter here!  That is an excellent question!  Earth, Mar, Pluto and all the dwarf planets manage pretty easily because they don't have very many.  But Saturn and I, we have to practice really hard everyday!  It's tricky though, because each moon has it's own unique orbit and sometimes I get dizzy trying to keep track!  Saturn has trouble because a lot of her moons hide in her rings.  But, in the end, we just keep practicing until we name them all correctly... It helps to list them in a way that they rhyme, like we do on the Name Your Moons Challenge!  

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Hi Laehn, Phobos here!  I'm made up of mostly rock.  Mars stole me and Deimos away from the asteroid belt, we're captured asteroids!  But we don't mind, we like Mars!

Hell Laehn, It's me Weywot!  Scientists think I have crystalline water ice and ammonia hydrate and methane on me, similar to my planet Quaoar!  

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Hi Elnathan! Uranus here!  I know, it's crazy!  I was in a collision with some sort of space debris like an asteroid long ago and it knocked me over.  I'm pretty comfortable, so I've just stayed this way.

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Hello! Vega here!  An object currently called Vega b has been spotted around me.  It is not confirmed yet, though.  Astronomers are looking to try to see it again to confirm that it is actually there!  Exciting!  

Answer: Hello Kingly!  I was discovered March 24, 1993.  I got pulled into Jupiter's gravity, which is very strong.  Jupiter's tidal forces pulled me apart! Ouch!  My orbital period was short because I was a short period comet and stayed towards the middle of the solar system.

Answer: Hello Aiman!  Sedna Here!  Thank you for your compliments and your support!  I really hope to become official soon!

Scientists believe my red color comes is caused by Tholins - complex carbon chains made when ultraviolet light strikes carbon-rich molecules like methane or ethane. The result is a reddish substance.  Cool huh!

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 The Goblin Says hi back!  I'll pass along your message to the rest of the candidates too!  Have a great day!

Answer: Hi Jonathan! Wow, there are so many stars and they are all so cool (and hot... hee hee!). But my favorite is for sure our Sun!  

Vega and Altair both say Hi back!  

Answer: Hi Carlos!  That is a terrific idea, so yes I will!  Thanks for looking out for me!

Answer: Hi Bella!  Wow, that's a lot of asteroids.  Did you know that there are millions of asteroids in the asteroid belt and most don't have names.  It would take me years to try to name them all.  But, the next time I take the challenge again, I'll try to name a few more of them for you!

Answer: Hello Euzanita!  Thank you for your question!  My favorite food is the Italian version of ice cream called Gelato!   I love gelato!  My favorite flavors are Menta (mint) and Stracciatella (chocolate chip)!  So Good!

Answer: Hello Zachary!  Pluto Here!  Yes!  We have several more Dwarf planet Candidates ready to introduce themselves to you in 2025!  New episodes will return in February.  

Answer: Thanks for asking, Henry!  We really hope so.  You are right, there are so many more fun musical instruments to meet.  We're working on trying to get funding for another season.  We'll keep you posted!

Answer: Hello Kaden!  You got it!  It sure is!  The planets all got together and decided to create the Ultimate Name Your Solar System Challenge to show the Sun exactly what it's like!  Hee Hee!  

Answer: Hello!  We are hand crafted out of foam, hand painted and controlled by hand.  A lot of hands!  We've passed along your request for a tutorial on puppet making and we'll let you know if/when our creators make it.

Answer: Thank you Kingly!  I used to be the 9th planet, but scientists later discovered that I'm actually orbiting the Sun in the Kuiper belt. So, since I don't have my own personal orbit and orbit within the Kuiper Belt, I'm classified as a dwarf planet.

Answer: Great Question, Laehn!  Scientists have a theory about this.  They think that Tabby's Star actually stole an exomoon from a planet that was nearby it long ago.  The planet does not exist anymore, but the exomoon might!  So cool!  

Answer: Hi Laehn!  Thanks for asking!  My whole solar system is full of my best friends!  I can't pick just one because they are all so awesome and unique!

Answer: Hello Laehn!  Thank you for your compliments!  Since uranium had been named after the planet Uranus and neptunium after the planet Neptune, scientists decided to keep naming elements after planets so element 94 was named after me, Pluto!  

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Charon Here!  Hi Laehn!  

Answer: Hello!  Uranus here!  Don't worry!  Umbriel isn't sad, just tired like me.  It's very dark and cold out here and that can make you very tried.  That's why I lay on my side!  

Answer: Hi Jonathan!  Pluto here!  Thanks for asking!  I feel so lucky to have so many moons!  We are one big, happy family, here!  I'm glad my other dwarf planet friends - Haumea, Eris and Makemake have moons too.  Ceres has her asteroid belt friends.  

Answer: Hello Hassan.  Quaoar here.  Weywot is very dim.  So dim that I can't even tell his color yet.  hopefully with new technology like the Webb telescope, we'll get a better look at Weywot soon!

Answer: Hi Kingly.  Thanks for writing to me.  My favorite food is Chocolate Pudding!  My favorite musical instrument is the Pipe Organ - It's used a lot in spooky Halloween music.  The Gobbling Goblins are always chasing me, because I'm their favorite food!  Luckily, I'm quick and they haven't caught me yet!   

Answer: Hi!  That's a wonderful idea.  Our schedule for 2025 is very busy, so probably not in the near future, but we'll pass the idea along to our creative team!

Answer: Hi!  I'm Egg-shaped because I spin really fast - one day on me is about 3.9 hours.  I was in a collision with some space debris long ago, and it caused me to spin really fast - and as I spin, I get stretched out.  A similar thing happened to Varuna - who you will meet in a few weeks in the first new "Meet the Dwarf Planet Candidates" episode.

Answer: Hello!  Thank you for the compliment!  I'm the only Nirk that can speak Wombly Language, so I can translate for everyone else.  My favorite food is flies and bugs and candycorn...yum!  My favorite instrument is the Violin.  I love making new webs.  Each one is like a new work of art.

Answer: Hi Kingly! Uranus here!  My rings were formed by collisions of moons that I had long ago.  They are made up of large boulders,  rocks, and ice and dust.  "Hi Kingly" - Cordelia and Ophelia

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Hi Kingly, It's me Neptune!  Scientists think that my winds are fast because I'm so cold, I have less friction so my wind speeds are faster.  That's one theory.  My great dark spot is thought to be a hole in my methane atmosphere or a very strong storm.  These are the most popular theories.  Hippocamp says "Hi" back!