Maharashtra Public Service Commission - The Constitution (Amedment) acts - The Constitution (Eighth Amendment) act, 1959

Title of Article :	The Constitution (Eighth Amendment) act, 1959
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/cms/mpsc/mpsc_2635.htm

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - The Constitution (Amedment) acts - The Constitution (Seventh Amendment) act, 1956

Title of Article :	The Constitution (Seventh Amendment) act, 1956
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/cms/mpsc/mpsc_2634.htm

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - The Constitution (Amedment) acts - The Constitution (Sixth Amendment) act, 1956

Title of Article :	The Constitution (Sixth Amendment) act, 1956
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/cms/mpsc/mpsc_2633.htm

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - The Constitution (Amedment) acts -

Title of Article :
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/cms/mpsc/mpsc_2632.htm

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - The Constitution (Amedment) acts - The Constitutdion (Fourtrh Amendment) act, 1955

Title of Article :	The Constitutdion (Fourtrh Amendment) act, 1955
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/cms/mpsc/mpsc_2631.htm

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - The Constitution (Amedment) acts - The Constitution (Third Amendment) act, 1954.

Title of Article :	The Constitution (Third Amendment) act, 1954.
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/cms/mpsc/mpsc_2630.htm

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - The Constitution (Amedment) acts - The Constditution (Second Amendment) act, 1952

Title of Article :	The Constditution (Second Amendment) act, 1952
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/cms/mpsc/mpsc_2629.htm

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - The Constitution (Amedment) acts - The Constitution (First Amendment) act, 1951

Title of Article :	The Constitution (First Amendment) act, 1951
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/cms/mpsc/mpsc_2628.htm

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - MPSC Notes - Constitution of India

Title of Article :	Constitution of India
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/cms/mpsc/mpsc_2627.htm

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - New Recruitments - MPSC - Senior Lecturer, Maharashtra Education Service, Group-A in the District Edu. & Training Institute

Title of Article :	MPSC - Senior Lecturer, Maharashtra Education Service, Group-A in the District Edu. & Training Institute
Synopsis :	Advt. No- 49-2011
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/redirect/strred.asp?docId=2585

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - New Recruitments - MPSC - Lecturer, Maharashtra Education Service, Group-A in the District Education & Training Institute

Title of Article :	MPSC - Lecturer, Maharashtra Education Service, Group-A in the District Education & Training Institute
Synopsis :	Advt. No- 50-2011
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/redirect/strred.asp?docId=2584

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - New Recruitments - MPSC - Taluka Sports Officer, Group-B in the Directorate of Sports & Youth Services

Title of Article :	MPSC - Taluka Sports Officer, Group-B in the Directorate of Sports & Youth Services
Synopsis :	Advt. No- 51-2011
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/redirect/strred.asp?docId=2583

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - New Recruitments - MPSC - District Sports Officers, Assistant Director of Sports and Youth Services, Gr-A

Title of Article :	MPSC - District Sports Officers, Assistant Director of Sports and Youth Services, Gr-A
Synopsis :	Advt. No- 52-2011
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/redirect/strred.asp?docId=2582

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - New Recruitments - MPSC - Deputy Director of Insurance, General State Service ,Group-A in the Finance Dept.

Title of Article :	MPSC - Deputy Director of Insurance, General State Service ,Group-A in the Finance Dept.
Synopsis :	Advt. No- 53-2011
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/redirect/strred.asp?docId=2581

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - New Recruitments - MPSC - Assistant Director of Insurance, General State Service ,Group-A in the Finance Dept.

Title of Article :	MPSC - Assistant Director of Insurance, General State Service ,Group-A in the Finance Dept.
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/redirect/strred.asp?docId=2580

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - New Recruitments - MPSC - Metron, Gr-B, Grade-III, Mah. Medical Education & Research Service

Title of Article :	MPSC - Metron, Gr-B, Grade-III, Mah. Medical Education & Research Service
Synopsis :	Advt. No 55-2011
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/redirect/strred.asp?docId=2579

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - New Recruitments - MPSC- State Services Main Examination - Home Science & Management

Title of Article :	MPSC- State Services Main Examination - Home Science & Management
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/redirect/strred.asp?docId=2578

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - Exam Papers - Testing by Admin

Title of Article :	Testing by Admin
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/cms/mpsc/mpsc_2524.htm

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - Results - MPSC - Police Sub Inspector (MAIN) EXAM-2010-Recommended Candidates

Title of Article :	MPSC - Police Sub Inspector (MAIN) EXAM-2010-Recommended Candidates
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Maharashtra Public Service Commission - Results - Result MPSC Assistant Engineering (Electrical) Services Pre Exam 2010

Title of Article :	Result MPSC Assistant Engineering (Electrical) Services Pre Exam 2010
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Maharashtra Public Service Commission - Answer Key - MPSC Answer key - State Services Prel.Exam.2011

Title of Article :	MPSC Answer key - State Services Prel.Exam.2011
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/redirect/strred.asp?docId=2503

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - Results - (Hall Ticket) Maharashtra PSC State Services Preliminary Examination, 2011

Title of Article :	(Hall Ticket) Maharashtra PSC State Services Preliminary Examination, 2011
Synopsis :	Click here For Examination Center
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Maharashtra Public Service Commission - New Recruitments - MPSC - State Services Prelimininery Examination- 2011- Provisional Admission

Title of Article :	MPSC - State Services Prelimininery Examination- 2011- Provisional Admission
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/redirect/strred.asp?docId=2397

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - Exam Papers - testing by admin

Title of Article :	testing by admin
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/cms/mpsc/mpsc_2396.htm

General Knowledge Quiz Questions with Answers

No.	Question	Answer
01	The first Prime minister of Bangladesh was	Mujibur Rehman
02	The longest river in the world is the	Nile
03	The longest highway in the world is the	Trans-Canada
04	The longest highway in the world has a length of	About 8000 km
05	The highest mountain in the world is the	Everest
06	The country that accounts for nearly one third of the total teak production of the world is	Myanmar
07	The biggest desert in the world is the	Sahara desert
08	The largest coffee growing country in the world is	Brazil
09	The country also known as "country of Copper" is	Zambia
10	The name given to the border which separates Pakistan and Afghanistan is	Durand line
11	The river Volga flows out into the	Capsian sea
12	The coldest place on the earth is	Verkoyansk in Siberia
13	The country which ranks second in terms of land area is	Canada
14	The largest Island in the Mediterranean sea is	Sicily
15	The river Jordan flows out into the	Dead sea
16	The biggest delta in the world is the	Sunderbans
17	The capital city that stands on the river Danube is	Belgrade
18	The Japanese call their country as	Nippon
19	The length of the English channel is	564 kilometres
20	The world's oldest known city is	Damascus
21	The city which is also known as the City of Canals is	Venice
22	The country in which river Wangchu flows is	Myanmar
23	The biggest island of the world is	Greenland
24	The city which is the biggest centre for manufacture of automobiles in the world is	Detroit, USA
25	The country which is the largest producer of manganese in the world is	USA
26	The country which is the largest producer of rubber in the world is	Malaysia
27	The country which is the largest producer of tin in the world is	Malaysia
28	The river which carries maximum quantity of water into the sea is the	Mississippi
29	The city which was once called the `Forbidden City' was	Peking
30	The country called the Land of Rising Sun is	Japan
31	Mount Everest was named after	Sir George Everest
32	The volcano Vesuvius is located in	Italy
33	The country known as the Sugar Bowl of the world is	Cuba
34	The length of the Suez Canal is	162.5 kilometers
35	The lowest point on earth is	The coastal area of Dead sea
36	The Gurkhas are the original inhabitants of	Nepal
37	The largest ocean of the world is the	Pacific ocean
38	The largest bell in the world is the	Tsar Kolkol at Kremlin, Moscow
39	The biggest stadium in the world is the	Strahov Stadium, Prague
40	The world's largest diamond producing country is	South Africa
41	Australia was discovered by	James Cook
42	The first Governor General of Pakistan is	Mohammed Ali Jinnah
43	Dublin is situated at the mouth of river	Liffey
44	The earlier name of New York city was	New Amsterdam
45	The Eifel tower was built by	Alexander Eiffel
46	The Red Cross was founded by	Jean Henri Durant
47	The country which has the greatest population density is	Monaco
48	The national flower of Britain is	Rose
49	Niagara Falls was discovered by	Louis Hennepin
50	The national flower of Italy is	Lily
51	The national flower of China is	Narcissus
52	The permanent secretariat of the SAARC is located at	Kathmandu
53	The gateway to the Gulf of Iran is	Strait of Hormuz
54	The first Industrial Revolution took place in	England
55	World Environment Day is observed on	5th June
56	The first Republican President of America was	Abraham Lincoln
57	The country famous for Samba dance is	Brazil
58	The name of Alexander's horse was	Beucephalus
59	Singapore was founded by	Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles
60	The famous British one-eyed Admiral was	Nelson
61	The earlier name of Sri Lanka was	Ceylon
62	The UNO was formed in the year	1945
63	UNO stands for	United Nations Organization
64	The independence day of South Korea is celebrated on	15th August
65	`Last Judgement' was the first painting of an Italian painter named	Michelangelo
66	Paradise Regained was written by	John Milton
67	The first President of Egypt was	Mohammed Nequib
68	The first man to reach North Pole was	Rear Peary
69	The most famous painting of Pablo Picasso was	Guermica
70	The primary producer of newsprint in the world is	Canada
71	The first explorer to reach the South Pole was	Cap. Ronald Amundson
72	The person who is called the father of modern Italy is	G.Garibaldi
73	World literacy day is celebrated on	8th September
74	The founder of modern Germany is	Bismarck
75	The country known as the land of the midnight sun is	Norway
76	The place known as the Roof of the world is	Tibet
77	The founder of the Chinese Republic was	San Yat Sen
78	The first Pakistani to receive the Nobel Prize was	Abdul Salam
79	The first woman Prime Minister of Britain was	Margaret Thatcher
80	The first Secretary General of the UNO was	Trygve Lie
81	The sculptor of the statue of Liberty was	Frederick Auguste Bartholdi
82	The port of Banku is situated in	Azerbaijan
83	John F Kennedy was assassinated by	Lee Harry Oswald
84	The largest river in France is	Lore
85	The Queen of England who married her brother-in-law was	Catherine of Aragon
86	The first negro to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize was	Ralph Johnson Bunche
87	The first British University to admit women for degree courses was	London University
88	The principal export of Jamaica is	Sugar
89	New York is popularly known as the city of	Skyscrapers
90	Madagascar is popularly known as the Island of	Cloves
91	The country known as the Land of White Elephant is	Thailand
92	The country known as the Land of Morning Calm is	Korea
93	The country known as the Land of Thunderbolts is	Bhutan
94	The highest waterfalls in the world is the	Salto Angel Falls, Venezuela
95	The largest library in the world is the	United States Library of Congress, Washington DC

 

National Days Around the World

January ::

January  1 -- Camaroon-Independence Day
January  1 -- Haiti-Independence Day
January  1 -- Western Samoa-Independence Day
January  1 -- Sudan-National Day
January  1 -- Burma-Independence Day
January  1 -- Chad-Independence Day
January  1 -- Australia-Australia Day
January  1 -- Nauru-Independence Day
January  1 -- Cuba - Liberation Day
January  4 -- Myanmar-Independence Day
January  9 -- Northern Mariana Islands- National Day
January 13 -- Togo - Togolais Day
January 26 -- Australia - Australia Day
January 31 -- Nauru - National Day

February ::

February  4 -- Ceylon/Sri Lanka-Independence Day
February  6 -- New Zealand-Waitangi Day
February  7 -- Grenada-Independence Day
February 11 -- Iran-Victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran
February 16 -- Lithuania - Independence Day
February 18 -- Gambia-Independence Day
February 22 -- St Lucia-National Day
February 23 -- Guyana-National Day
February 23 -- Brunei Darussalam-Independence Day
February 24 -- Estonia-Independence Day
February 25 -- Kuwait-National Day
February 27 -- Dominican Republic-Independence Day

March ::

March 1 -- Wales-National Day-St. David's Day
March 1 -- Bosnia & Herzegovina-National Day
March 3 -- Morocco-National Day
March 3 -- Bulgaria-National Day
March 6 -- Ghana-Independence Day
March 12 -- Mauritius-Independence Day
March 17 -- Ireland-St. Patrick's Day
March 19 -- Liechtenstein-St.Joseph's Day
March 20 -- Tunisia-Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Tunisia
March 21 -- Namibia-Independence Day
March 23 -- Pakistan-Pakistan Day
March 25 -- Greece-Independence Day
March 26 -- Bangladesh-Independence Day

April ::

April 4 -- Hungary-Liberation Day
April 4 -- Senegal-Independence Day
April 16 -- Denmark-Queen's Birthday
April 17 -- Syria-Independence Day
April 18 -- Zimbabwe/Rhodesia-Independence Day
April 19 -- Sierra Leone-Republic Day
April 26 -- Tanzania-Independence Day
April 26 -- Yugoslavia-Constitution Day (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)
April 27 -- Austria-Founding of the Second Republic
April 27 -- South Africa-Freedom Day
April 27 -- Sierra Leone-Independence Day
April 27 -- Togo-Independence Day
April 28 -- Afghanistan-Victory of the Afghan Jehad
April 29 -- Japan-Emporer's Birthday
April 30 -- The Netherlands/Holland-Queen's Birthday

May ::

May 1 -- Marshall Islands-National Day
May 3 -- Poland-National Day
May 9 -- European Union-European Day
May 9 -- Czechoslovakia-Anniversary of Liberation
May 11 -- Laos-Constitution or National Day
May 12 -- Israel-Independence Day
May 14 -- Paraguay-Independence Day
May 15 -- Israel-Independence Day
May 17 -- Norway-Constitution Day
May 20 -- Cuba-Independence Day
May 20 -- Cameroon-National Day
May 22 -- Yemen-National Day
May 24 -- Eritrea-Independence Day
May 25 -- Argentina-National Day
May 25 -- Jordan-Independence Day
May 26 -- Guyana-Independence Day
May 26 -- Georgia-National Day
May 28 -- Azerbaijan-National Day
May 28 -- Ethiopia-National Day
May 30 -- Croatia-Statehood Day
May 31 -- South Africa-Republic Day

June ::

June 1 -- Tunisia-National Day
June 1 -- Western Samoa-Independence Day
June 2 -- West Germany-Republic Day
June 2 -- Italy-Republic or Constitution Day
June 4 -- Tonga-Emancipation Day
June 5 -- Seychelles-Independence Day
June 6 -- Sweden-National Day
June 10 -- Portugal-Portugal Day, Camoes Day & Day of Portuguese Communities
June 12 -- The Philippines-Independence Day
June 12 -- Russia-National Day
June 17 -- Iceland-Republic Day
June 18 -- Seychelles-National Day
June 19 -- Kuwait-National Day
June 23 -- Luxembourg-National Day & Official Birthday of HRH the Grand Duke
June 25 -- Croatia-Independence Day
June 25 -- Slovenia-National Day
June 25 -- Mozambique-Independence Day
June 26 -- Malagasy Republic/Madagascar-Independence Day
June 27 -- Djibouti-Independence Day
June 30 -- Republic of Congo/Kinshasa-Independence Day
June 30 -- Zaire-Independence Day

July ::

July 1 -- Burundi-Independence Day
July 1 -- Canada-Canada Day
July 1 -- Ghana-Republic Day
July 1 -- Rwanda-Independence Day
July 1 -- Somalia-Independence Day
3 Belarus: National Day
July 4 -- United States of American-Independence Day
July 5 -- Venezuela-Independence Day
July 6 -- Malawi-Independence Day
July 9 -- Argentina-Independence Day
July 10 -- Bahamas-Independence Day
July 11 -- Mongolia-Revolution Day
July 12 -- Sao Tome and Principe-Independence Day
July 14 -- France-Bastille Day
July 14 -- Iraq-Republic Day
July 17 -- South Korea-Constitution Day
July 20 -- Colombia-Independence Day
July 21 -- Belgium-Independence Day
July 22 -- Poland-Liberation Day
July 23 -- Egypt-National Day
July 23 -- Ethiopia-Emperor's Birthday
July 26 -- Liberia-Independence Day
July 26 -- Maldive Islands-Independence Day
July 28 -- Peru-Independence Day




4 United States of America: Independence Day 5 Cape Verde: National Day
5 Rwanda: Independence Day
5 Venezuela: National Day 6 Comoros: National Day
6 Malawi: National Day
7 Solomon Islands: National Day
10 Bahamas: Independence Day
11 Mongolia: Anniversary of the Mongolian People's Revolution
12 Kiribati: National Day
12 Sao Tome & Principe: National Day
14 France: Bastille Day
17 Iraq: National Day
20 Colombia: National Day
21 Belgium: Accession of King Leopold I (1831)
23 Egypt: Anniversary of the Revolution of 23rd July
26 Liberia: National Day
26 Maldives: National Day
28 Peru: Independence Day
30 Vanuatu: Independence Day

August ::

August 1 -- Dahomey-Independence Day
August 1 -- Switzerland-Confederation Day
August 5 -- Upper Volta-Independence Day
August 6 -- Bolivia-Independence Day
First Monday in August -- Jamaica-Independence Day
August 7 -- Ivory Coast-Independence Day
August 9 -- Singapore-National Day
August 10 -- Ecuador-Independence Day
August 14 -- Pakistan-Independence Day
August 15 -- Republic of Congo/Brazzaville-Independence Day
August 15 -- India-Independence Day
August 16 -- Cyprus-Independence Day
August 17 -- Gabon-Independence Day
August 17 -- Indonesia-Independence Day
August 18 -- Afghanistan-Independence Day
August 23 -- Rumania-Liberation Day
August 25 -- Uruguay-Independence Day
August 31 -- Trinidad and Tobago-Independence Day
August 31 -- Malaysia-Merdeka Day (Freedom Day)

September ::

September 1 -- Libya-Revolution Day
September 2 -- Vietnam-National Day
September 3 -- Qatar-Independence Day
September 3 -- San Marino-Anniversary of Founding
September 6 -- Swaziland-Independence Day
September 7 -- Brazil-Independence Day
September 8 -- Andorra-National Festival
September 9 -- North Korea-Founding Day
September 9 -- Bulgaria-Liberation Day
September 15 -- Costa Rica-Independence Day
September 15 -- El Salvador-Independence Day
September 15 -- Guatemala-Independence Day
September 15 -- Honduras-Independence Day
September 15 -- Nicaragua-Independence Day
September 16 -- Mexico-Independence Day
September 16 -- Papua-New Guinea-Independence Day
September 18 -- Chile-Independence Day
September 21 -- Belize-Independence Day
September 21 -- Malta-Independence Day
September 22 -- Mali-Republic Day
September 23 -- Saudi Arabia-National Day
September 26 -- Yemen-National Day
September 30 -- Botswana-Independence Day

October ::

October 1-2 -- People's Republic of China-National Day
October 1 -- Nigeria-Independence Day
October 2 -- Guinea-Independence Day
October 4 -- Lesotho (Basutoland) Independence Day
October 7 -- Fiji-Cession Day around
October 7 -- East Germany-Constitution Day
October 9 -- Uganda-Wasteland Day
October 10 -- Republic of China/Taiwan-National Day
October 12 -- Spain-National Day
October 24 -- Zambia-Independence Day
October 26 -- Iran-Birthday of the Shah
October 26 -- South Vietnam-Republic Day
October 27 -- Saint Vincent and Grenadines-Independence Day
October 29 -- Turkey-Republic Day

November ::

November 1 -- Algeria-Revolution Day
November 3 -- Panama-Independence Day
November 3 -- Dominica-Independence Day
November 7 -- Soviet Union-Revolution Day
November 9 -- Cambodia-Independence Day
November 11 -- Angola-Wasteland Day
November 11 -- Rhodesia-Independence Day
November 12 -- Saudi Arabia-The King's Coronation
November 12 -- Comoros-Independence Day
November 19 -- Monaco-National Fete
November 22 -- Lebanon-Independence Day
November 25 -- Suriname-Independence Day
November 28 -- Albania-Coors Day
November 28 -- Mauritania-Independence Day
November 29 -- Southern Yemen-Coors Day
November 29-30 -- Yugoslavia-Republic Days
November 30 -- Barbados-Independence Day

December ::

December 1 -- Central African Republic-National Day
December 5 -- Thailand-His Majesty's Birthday
December 6 -- Finland-Independence Day
December 9 -- Tanzania-Independence Day
December 11 -- Upper Volta-Republic Day
December 12 -- Kenya-Independence Day
December 18 -- Niger-Independence Day
December 21 -- Nepal-Independence Day

Census 2011 will begin on February 9

Census 2011, billed as the largest peacetime mobilisation in the world, will see the massive exercise of population enumeration across the country simultaneously, between February 9 and 28.
Registrar-General and Census Commissioner C. Chandramouli said on February 3, that the biggest-ever census attempted in the history of mankind to enumerate the country's 1.2-billion population would be conducted across 35 States and Union Territories.
While a column on the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes would be there in Census 2011, the government decided to hold caste-based enumeration as a separate exercise from June to September 2011.
In the first phase of house-listing done from April to September last year, some villages in the Maoist-affected districts of West Bengal and Chhattisgarh were left out, so efforts would be made during the enumeration to reach out to them, he said.
All citizens would be counted, according to their gender, religion, occupation and education. For the first time, enumerators would collect such information as ownership of mobile phones, computers and the Internet, having treated or untreated drinking water facility and banking services. They would also seek additional information for the creation of the National Population Register (NPR).
The Rs.2,200-crore exercise would cover all citizens living in 7,742 towns and six lakh villages in 640 districts. With the expenditure of a mere Rs.18.33 for each person, this census is also being considered the most cost-effective.

Six small planets orbiting a star found

NASA's Kepler mission has discovered a remarkable planetary system which has six planets around a Sun-like star, including five small planets in tightly packed orbits. Astronomers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and their coauthors analyzed the orbital dynamics of the system, determined the sizes and masses of the planets, and figured out their likely compositions — all based on Kepler's measurements of the changing brightness of the host star (called Kepler-11) as the planets passed in front of it.

“Not only is this an amazing planetary system, it also validates a powerful new method to measure the masses of planets,” said Daniel Fabrycky, a Hubble postdoctoral fellow at UC Santa Cruz, who led the orbital dynamics analysis. Fabrycky and Jack Lissauer, a scientist at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, are the lead authors of a paper on Kepler-11 published today (February 3) in Nature.

Mass, orbital periods

The five inner planets in the Kepler-11 system range in size from 2.3 to 13.5 times the mass of the Earth. Their orbital periods are all less than 50 days, so they orbit within a region that would fit inside the orbit of Mercury in our solar system. The sixth planet is larger and farther out, with an orbital period of 118 days and an undetermined mass.

“Of the six planets, the most massive are potentially like Neptune and Uranus, but the three lowest mass planets are unlike anything we have in our solar system,” said Jonathan Fortney, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UCSC, who led the work on understanding the structure and composition of the planets, along with UCSC graduate students Eric Lopez and Neil Miller.

The Kepler space telescope detects planets that “transit” or pass in front of their host star, causing periodic dips in the brightness of the star as measured by the telescope. The amount of the brightness reduction tells scientists how big the planet is in terms of its radius. The time between transits tells them its orbital period. To determine the planets' masses, Fabrycky analyzed slight variations in the orbital periods caused by gravitational interactions among the planets.

Using powerful ground-based telescopes to confirm the planet and determine its mass using Doppler spectroscopy is not possible with Kepler-11 as the planets are too small and the star far away — 2,000 light-years away.

The Kepler-11 system is remarkable in terms of the number of planets, their small sizes, and their closely packed orbits. Before this, astronomers had determined both size and mass for only three exoplanets smaller than Neptune. Now, a single planetary system has added five more. The sixth planet in Kepler-11 is separated enough from the others that the orbital perturbation method can't be used to determine its mass, Fabrycky said.

In the same plane

As is the case in our solar system, all of the Kepler-11 planets orbit in more or less the same plane. This finding reinforces the idea that planets form in flattened disks of gas and dust spinning around a star, and the disk pattern is conserved after the planets have formed, Fabrycky said. “The coplanar orbits in our solar system inspired this theory in the first place, and now we have another good example. But that and the Sun-like star are the only parts of Kepler-11 that are like the solar system,” he said.

Planets' composition

The densities of the planets (derived from mass and radius) provide clues to their compositions. All six planets have densities lower than Earth's. “It looks like the inner two could be mostly water, with possibly a thin skin of hydrogen-helium gas on top, like mini-Neptunes,” Fortney said. “The ones farther out have densities less than water, which seems to indicate significant hydrogen-helium atmospheres.”

That's surprising, because a small, hot planet should have a hard time holding onto a lightweight atmosphere. “These planets are pretty hot because of their close orbits, and the hotter it is the more gravity you need to keep the atmosphere,” Fortney said. “My students and I are still working on this, but our thoughts are that all these planets probably started with more massive hydrogen-helium atmospheres, and we see the remnants of those atmospheres on the ones farther out. The ones closer in have probably lost most of it.”

Better understanding

One reason a six-planet system is so exciting is that it allows scientists to make these kinds of comparisons among planets within the same system. Comparative planetary science allows in understanding our solar system better. For example, the presence of small planets with hydrogen-helium atmospheres suggests that this system formed relatively quickly, he said. Studies indicate that stellar disks lose their hydrogen and helium gas within about 5 million years. “So it tells us how quickly planets can form,” Fortney said.

The inner planets are so close together that it seems unlikely they formed where they are now, he added. At least some must have formed farther out and migrated inward.

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - Generales Knowledge - First in the World

Title of Article :	First in the World
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/cms/mpsc/mpsc_2379.htm

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - Generales Knowledge - Heads of Important Indian Government Offices

Title of Article :	Heads of Important Indian Government Offices
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/cms/mpsc/mpsc_2378.htm

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - Current Affairs - Important Days

Title of Article :	Important Days
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/cms/mpsc/mpsc_2377.htm

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - Generales Knowledge - Heads of International Organizations

Title of Article :	Heads of International Organizations
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/cms/mpsc/mpsc_2376.htm

Maharashtra Public Service Commission - Indian History - Indian National Movement

Title of Article :	Indian National Movement
Article Link :	http://www.Allexampapers.com/cms/mpsc/mpsc_2375.htm