The Solar Systemby Paige Mertens

Formation of the Solar System

• The solar system is composed of:Stars (including the sun)8 planetsMoonsOther small bodies such has comets and asteroids

• All revolve around the sun• Is almost 5 billon years old, and took 10

million years to develop

Formation of the Solar System

• Young solar nebula collapsed due to the weight of it’s gravity

• Slowly the nebula rotates, flattens, and heats up in the center

• Baby planets called Planetesimals begin to form– The larger of the planetesimals begin to grow larger,

because of this the smaller ones collide with them• In the center of the solar system, a star formed

The Sun

• Is actually a star!• It is the largest part of the solar system• Made of hydrogen and helium held together

by gravity• Energy from the sun provides light and heat to

the Earth• Has been shining for more than 4.6 billion

years

Inner and Outer Planets

• Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars form the Inner Planets

• Outer planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

Comparing the Inner and Outer Planets

Inner Planets Outer PlanetsLocation to Sun Near FarSize Smaller LargerComposition Rock and dust Mostly gases

with water, and dust

Surface Dense, rocky May be slushyTemperature Warm ColdLight More Less

The Future

• Technology continues to allow us to learn more about the solar system

• Currently satellites and probes provide information to astronomers furthering our knowledge

• The International Space Station uses visual and radio telescopes to explore our universe

• We continue to use the Hubble space telescope to improve our understanding of the solar system

• Future exploration may focus on the Kuiper Belt; which was discovered about 20 years

The Future Exploration of the solar system is very expensive to theUnited States, as well as other countries. Some people feel we are spending too much money on this, so it has become controversial.

In my opinion we need to continue this work. I believe it is important for us to learn about the solar system. Technology is helping us track the path of asteroids. In the future, we may be able to see an asteroid heading for Earth. We might be able to change its path and prevent damage to Earth. We may even find there really is life on another planet.

Resources

• Dunbar, Brian. "mission_pages." 10 February 2011. nasa.gov. 10 February 2011 <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/index.html>

• kidsknowitnetwork. "solar_system." kidsastronomy. 10 February 2011 http://www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_system.htm

• Hemenway, Mary. Astronomy. Austin: Holts, science, and technology, 2007.