the solar system. objectives 1.describe how the solar system formed. 2.summarize the main...
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The Solar System
Objectives
1. Describe how the solar system formed.
2. Summarize the main characteristics of each of the 8 planets as well as other objects in our solar system.
3. Explain the laws that govern the motion of the planets (Kepler’s Laws).
Formation of the Solar System
• 4.6 billion years ago, the same nebula that formed the sun also lead to the formation of the planets.
• This material is what’s left over after an ancient star went supernova.
Formation of the Solar System• Gravity pulled this nebular material together into
a rotating flat disc.• Debris collects into ‘planetesimal’ bodies.
Kepler Space Telescope
• Launched in March 2009, the Kepler Space Telescope is searching for planets in orbit of other stars.
• Thanks to Kepler scientists, we now have direct evidence of many extra-solar planets.
Launch video
Our Solar System
The Sun
Facts about the Sun• Almost 1 million miles in
diameter
• Temperature: Surface = 5500 C Core = 15.7 million C
• Rotates every 25 hrs.
• Mostly hydrogen (73.5%) and helium (24.9%)
•
Mercury
Facts about Mercury• 4878 km in diameter
• Temperature: Surface = 175 C
• 1 day = 58.7 Earth days 1 year = 88.96 days
• No moons, no rings•
Venus
Facts about Venus• 12,104 km in diameter
• Temperature: Surface = 450 C
• 1 day = 243 Earth days 1 year = 224.7 days
• No moons, no rings•
Earth
Facts about Earth• 12,756 km in diameter• Temperature: Surface = 15 C• 1 day = 24 hours 1 year = 365.25 days• 1 moon, no rings•
MarsV
ideo
of M
ars
Facts about Mars• 6787 km in diameter
• Temperature: Surface = -40 C
• 1 day = 24.6 hours 1 year = 687 days
• 2 moons (Phobos & Deimos), no rings
•
More Mars Photos
Phobos Deimos
Landing of rover ‘Opportunity’
Water on Mars?
Life on Mars?
Jupiter
Facts about Jupiter• 142,796 km in diameter
• Temperature: • Cloud top = -150 C
• 1 day = 9.8 hours 1 year = 11.86 Earth years
• 63 moons, 1 faint ring•
Jupiter and Comets
Saturn
Facts about Saturn• 120,660 km in diameter
• Temperature: Surface = -185 C
• 1 day = 10.2 hours 1 year = 29.46 years
• 61 moons, >30 rings•
Saturn and the Earth
More about Saturn• Currently, the
Cassini-Huygens mission is investigating the Saturn system.
• Jan. 2005, Huygens landed on Titan.
• Cassini Landing on Titan
Uranus
Facts about Uranus• 51,118 km in diameter
• Temperature: Surface = -214 C
• 1 day = 17.9 hours 1 year = 84.1 years
• 27 moons, 13 rings•
Uranus Video
Neptune
Facts about Neptune• 48,600 km in diameter
• Temperature: Surface = -225 C
• 1 day = 19.1 hours 1 year = 164.8 years
• 13 moons, 5 rings•
Neptune Video
Why isn’t Pluto a planet??Pluto Video
Other Objects in our Solar System
• Asteroids- small rocky body orbiting the sun.
• Comets- icy body, orbiting the sun (has a visible tail).
• Dwarf Planets- small ‘planet-like’ objects orbiting the sun.
• Meteoroid- tiny rocky object in space• Meteor- a meteoroid that has entered the atmosphere• Meteorite- a meteor that has hit the ground
•
Solar System Summarized
NASA Images Set to Music