our solar system and its planets place in the universe our solar system and its ... below atmosphere...

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Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Our Solar System and Its Our Solar System and Its

Place in the UniversePlace in the Universe



The Formation of the Solar The Formation of the Solar

SystemSystem

�� Our Solar System includes:Our Solar System includes:

�� PlanetsPlanets

�� Dwarf PlanetsDwarf Planets

�� MoonsMoons

�� Small Solar System bodiesSmall Solar System bodies

�� SunSun



�� Outer portion createdOuter portion created

�� Planets and their moons Planets and their moons

�� Other interplanetary materialOther interplanetary material

�� Eight major planetsEight major planets and and three dwarf planetsthree dwarf planets

�� Planets are divided into three groupsPlanets are divided into three groups

�� Terrestrial planetsTerrestrial planets

�� Outer gaseous planets (known as gas giants)Outer gaseous planets (known as gas giants)

�� Dwarf planetsDwarf planets



The PlanetsThe Planets

�� Relatively close to the SunRelatively close to the Sun —— mainly rockmainly rock

�� MercuryMercury –– VenusVenus

�� EarthEarth –– MarsMars

�� Outer gaseous planetsOuter gaseous planets (gas giants)(gas giants)

�� JupiterJupiter –– SaturnSaturn

�� UranusUranus –– NeptuneNeptune

�� Dwarf plantsDwarf plants

�� Ceres, Pluto, and ErisCeres, Pluto, and Eris



�� MercuryMercury -- closest to the Sun closest to the Sun —— 36 million miles36 million miles

�� No atmosphereNo atmosphere

�� FastesFastest planett planet

�� Extreme TemperaturesExtreme Temperatures::

�� Night temperature (Night temperature (–– 300300°°F)F)

�� Day temperature (700Day temperature (700°°F)F)

�� Surface covered with craters like our moonSurface covered with craters like our moon

�� Rotates in 59 days, orbits the Sun in 87 daysRotates in 59 days, orbits the Sun in 87 days

(short year!)(short year!)



http://www.ottawa.rasc.ca/kid_space/activities/young_observers/2000_february/mercury.jpg

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http://kilby.sac.on.ca/faculty/gshields/9science/astronomy%20web%20pages/Shields/01/mercury/mercury_earth_moon.jpg



�� VenusVenus —— 67 million miles from the Sun67 million miles from the Sun

�� Same size as EarthSame size as Earth

�� AtmosphereAtmosphere of of COCO22 and sulfuric acid cloudsand sulfuric acid clouds

-- from from volcanic eruptionsvolcanic eruptions

�� Brightest planet in the skyBrightest planet in the sky

�� Temperature in clouds 70Temperature in clouds 70°°FF

�� Temperature below clouds is 800Temperature below clouds is 800°°FF

(What a Greenhouse Effect!)(What a Greenhouse Effect!)


ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA00271.jpg


ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.http://www.arcadiastreet.com/cgvistas/images/venus_and_earth_800x533.jpg



�� Surface pressure 90 times that of EarthSurface pressure 90 times that of Earth (ouch!)(ouch!)

�� Extreme temperaturesExtreme temperatures because of greenhouse effectbecause of greenhouse effect

�� 224 days to orbit the Sun224 days to orbit the Sun (still a short year)(still a short year)

�� Rotation takes 243 daysRotation takes 243 days

�� Sun rises in west and sets in eastSun rises in west and sets in east (weird)(weird)



�� EarthEarth —— 93 million miles from the Sun93 million miles from the Sun

�� Only planet in solar system withOnly planet in solar system with::

�� Liquid waterLiquid water

�� Ability to support lifeAbility to support life

�� 365 days to orbit the Sun365 days to orbit the Sun

�� 24 hours to rotate on its axis24 hours to rotate on its axis

�� Atmosphere of nitrogen and oxygenAtmosphere of nitrogen and oxygen

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http://www.funtoosh.com/wall/space/earth_a_3.jpg



Terrestrial Planets Terrestrial Planets ((continuedcontinued))

�� MarsMars——141.5 million miles from the Sun141.5 million miles from the Sun

�� Half the size of EarthHalf the size of Earth

�� Thin atmosphere of COThin atmosphere of CO22

�� Day time temperature of Day time temperature of ––2727°°FF

�� Night time temperature of Night time temperature of ––117117°°F (F (cold,coldcold,cold, ,

cold)cold)

�� Clouds of frozen water or dry iceClouds of frozen water or dry ice

�� Orbit 686 days (long year), rotation takes 1 Orbit 686 days (long year), rotation takes 1

dayday





The Gaseous PlanetsThe Gaseous Planets

�� JupiterJupiter——483 million miles from the Sun483 million miles from the Sun

�� Largest planet in solar systemLargest planet in solar system

�� Composed hydrogen, helium, ammonia and Composed hydrogen, helium, ammonia and

methane gasmethane gas

�� Cloudy surface composed of ammoniaCloudy surface composed of ammonia

�� Great red spotGreat red spot——storm 300+ years oldstorm 300+ years old

�� Below atmosphere layers of liquid hydrogenBelow atmosphere layers of liquid hydrogen



The Gaseous Planets The Gaseous Planets ((continuedcontinued))

�� Jupiter (Jupiter (continuedcontinued))

�� Has three ringsHas three rings

�� Surrounded by at least 39 moonsSurrounded by at least 39 moons

�� First moons discovered were:First moons discovered were:

�� IoIo •• EuropaEuropa

��GanymedeGanymede •• CallistoCallisto

�� EuropaEuropa may contain liquid water and lifemay contain liquid water and life

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/jupiter/images/earth_vs_jupiter.gif



http://filer.case.edu/~sjr16/media/jupiter.jpg

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�� SaturnSaturn——886.2 million miles from the Sun886.2 million miles from the Sun

�� Composed of hydrogen and helium gasComposed of hydrogen and helium gas

�� Clouds of ammonia and methaneClouds of ammonia and methane

�� Has unique ringsHas unique rings——77

�� Composed of billions of ice particlesComposed of billions of ice particles

�� Orbited by at least 20 moonsOrbited by at least 20 moons

�� Largest is TitanLargest is Titan

http://www.arcadiastreet.com/cgvistas/images/saturn_and_earth.jpg


ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.http://adk.astronet.pl/images/saturn5.jpg




�� Saturn Saturn ((continuedcontinued))

�� 2005 Cassini spacecraft launched a probe2005 Cassini spacecraft launched a probe

�� Penetrated TitanPenetrated Titan’’s atmospheres atmosphere

�� Discovered hydrocarbon rivers flowing into methane seaDiscovered hydrocarbon rivers flowing into methane sea

�� Flew by Flew by EnceladusEnceladus (another moon) in 2006(another moon) in 2006

�� Revealed surface covered in water iceRevealed surface covered in water ice

�� Periodic eruptions of liquid waterPeriodic eruptions of liquid water

�� Both may contain liquid water below iceBoth may contain liquid water below ice




�� UranusUranus——1.783 billion miles from the Sun1.783 billion miles from the Sun

�� Gaseous planet four times larger than EarthGaseous planet four times larger than Earth

�� 84 years to orbit the Sun, 17 hours to rotate84 years to orbit the Sun, 17 hours to rotate

�� Axis of rotation tilted 90 degreesAxis of rotation tilted 90 degrees

�� Composed of ammonia and methaneComposed of ammonia and methane

�� Atmosphere of hydrogen and heliumAtmosphere of hydrogen and helium

�� Ring system with at least 18 moonsRing system with at least 18 moons

http://www.astro.keele.ac.uk/~rdj/planets/images/Planet%20comparisons/600px-Uranus,_Earth_size_comparison.jpg


ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.http://uranus.it.swin.edu.au/images/uranus.jpg




�� NeptuneNeptune——2.794 billion miles from the Sun2.794 billion miles from the Sun

�� Composed of hydrogen, helium, and methaneComposed of hydrogen, helium, and methane

�� Methane causes blue colorMethane causes blue color

�� Orbit 168 years, rotates in 19 hoursOrbit 168 years, rotates in 19 hours

�� Has a small ring and eight moonsHas a small ring and eight moons

�� Triton moon Triton moon

�� ––390390°°FF——coldest object in spacecoldest object in space

�� Believe will collide with Neptune in 10 to 100 Believe will collide with Neptune in 10 to 100

million yearsmillion years�� http://www.flickr.com/photos/qnr/95099830/http://www.flickr.com/photos/qnr/95099830/

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http://schoolhousevideo.org/media/neptune_big3.jpeg



The Dwarf PlanetsThe Dwarf Planets

�� A nonA non--luminous object that orbits around a luminous object that orbits around a

starstar

�� Has sufficient gravity to form a spherical Has sufficient gravity to form a spherical

shapeshape

�� Orbit has not cleared the path of other Orbit has not cleared the path of other

celestial objectscelestial objects

�� Three named so far: Three named so far:

�� Ceres, Pluto, and Eris (2003 UBCeres, Pluto, and Eris (2003 UB313313))



CeresCeres

�� Dwarf planet located closest to the SunDwarf planet located closest to the Sun

�� Italian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi discovered in 1801Italian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi discovered in 1801

�� Once regarded as the largest asteroidOnce regarded as the largest asteroid

http://media.skytonight.com/images/Ceres_layers_f.jpg Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.


PlutoPluto�� PlutoPluto——3.666 billion miles from the Sun3.666 billion miles from the Sun

�� Previously thought to be our ninth planet but in Previously thought to be our ninth planet but in

August 2006 changed its designation to dwarf planetAugust 2006 changed its designation to dwarf planet

�� Composed frozen methane, nitrogen, and carbon Composed frozen methane, nitrogen, and carbon

monoxidemonoxide

�� One moon called One moon called CharonCharon

�� Composed of mostly frozen waterComposed of mostly frozen water

http://www.arcadiastreet.com/cgvistas/images/pluto_earth_compared_600.jpg



Small Solar System BodiesSmall Solar System Bodies

�� A small solar system body is a category of A small solar system body is a category of

celestial objects orbiting the Sun that are celestial objects orbiting the Sun that are

not classified as planets, dwarf planets, or not classified as planets, dwarf planets, or

moonsmoons

�� They include objects known as asteroids, They include objects known as asteroids,

meteors, comets, and some transmeteors, comets, and some trans--

Neptunian objectsNeptunian objects



GalaxiesGalaxies�� Grouping of millions or billions of starsGrouping of millions or billions of stars

�� Located millions of lightLocated millions of light--years from Earthyears from Earth

�� Three main types:Three main types:

�� SpiralsSpirals——like a rotating pinwheellike a rotating pinwheel

��Milky Way is a spiral galaxyMilky Way is a spiral galaxy

�� Solar system is in one of the spiral armsSolar system is in one of the spiral arms

�� Is about halfway from the galactic centerIs about halfway from the galactic center

http://yastro.narod.ru/1pic/86/milkyway_galaxy.jpg

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CosmologyCosmology

�� Universe Universe

�� Total volume in which all energy/matter existsTotal volume in which all energy/matter exists

�� Big Bang TheoryBig Bang Theory�� Formed universe from a colossal explosion. Current Formed universe from a colossal explosion. Current evidence shows that the universe is expanding (like evidence shows that the universe is expanding (like diffusion) and at increasing velocities. This suggests diffusion) and at increasing velocities. This suggests that at one point there must have been and origin that at one point there must have been and origin from which there might have been a from which there might have been a ““big bangbig bang””

�� ProtoplanetProtoplanet Theory: describes how planets were Theory: describes how planets were created.created.�� Small moonSmall moon--sized sized ““planetesimalsplanetesimals”” collide via attractive collide via attractive gravitational pulls to create larger planets.gravitational pulls to create larger planets.



http://ttt.astro.su.se/~claes/big_bang_cern9108002.jpeg



Cosmology Cosmology ((continuedcontinued))

�� Three possible fates of the universe:Three possible fates of the universe:

�� Closed universe modelClosed universe model——will collapse on itself will collapse on itself

�� Also called the Big CrunchAlso called the Big Crunch

�� Open modelOpen model

��Will expand and contract indefinitelyWill expand and contract indefinitely

�� Flat universe model Flat universe model

�� Expansion will slow down and level outExpansion will slow down and level out

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