The Solar SystemAdvanced Space AcademyAdvanced Space Academy

U.S. Space & Rocket CenterU.S. Space & Rocket Center

Formation of the System

-Solar nebula-Solar nebula-Collapse-Collapse-Increasing -Increasing

temperature and temperature and pressurepressure

-Formation of solar -Formation of solar system bodiessystem bodies

SOLAR SYSTEM PROFILE

Life-scale…………………………...4.5 billion yearsLife-scale…………………………...4.5 billion yearsDiameter……………………………..…3 light yearsDiameter……………………………..…3 light yearsDiameter of planetary zone………...7.4 billion milesDiameter of planetary zone………...7.4 billion milesKnown planets…………………….………..………9Known planets…………………….………..………9Satellites…………………………………..at least 63Satellites…………………………………..at least 63Known life-bearing planets……………...…………1Known life-bearing planets……………...…………1Largest planet……………………………..….JupiterLargest planet……………………………..….JupiterSmallest planet…………………….……..…….PlutoSmallest planet…………………….……..…….PlutoPlanet with the fastest spin…….Jupiter (9:55.05 hrs) Planet with the fastest spin…….Jupiter (9:55.05 hrs)

MERCURY

Eccentric Mercury

-Mercury’s orbit around -Mercury’s orbit around the sun forms a wide the sun forms a wide ellipse partly due to ellipse partly due to the gravitational pull the gravitational pull on it by the other on it by the other planetsplanets

-Mercury rotates on its -Mercury rotates on its axis three times while axis three times while going around the sun going around the sun twicetwice

Missions to Mercury

Mariner 10 Mariner 10

-Launched Nov. 3, 1973-Launched Nov. 3, 1973

-Fly-bys on Mar. 29, 1974; Sep. -Fly-bys on Mar. 29, 1974; Sep. 21, 1974; and Mar. 16, 197521, 1974; and Mar. 16, 1975

MESSENGERMESSENGER

-Launch windows are Mar 3. – -Launch windows are Mar 3. – Apr. 6 and Aug. 2 – Aug. 16, Apr. 6 and Aug. 2 – Aug. 16, 20042004

-Fly-bys during July 2007 and -Fly-bys during July 2007 and April 2008April 2008

-Insert into Mercury orbit in -Insert into Mercury orbit in April 2009April 2009

VENUS

Backwards Venus

-Relative to the other planets in the solar system, -Relative to the other planets in the solar system, Venus spins backwards on its axis. Early on, Venus spins backwards on its axis. Early on, when the planets were forming, Venus may have when the planets were forming, Venus may have been hit by a massive object that reversed its spin. been hit by a massive object that reversed its spin. Venus spins east to west, so the Sun rises there in Venus spins east to west, so the Sun rises there in the west and sets in the east.the west and sets in the east.

-Venus takes 243 days to turn once on its axis and -Venus takes 243 days to turn once on its axis and 225 days to go around the Sun. It is the only 225 days to go around the Sun. It is the only planet that takes longer to turn than to orbit.planet that takes longer to turn than to orbit.

Missions to Venus

Mariner 2 –Mariner 2 –

Launched: Aug. 27, 1962Launched: Aug. 27, 1962

Arrived: Dec. 14, 1962Arrived: Dec. 14, 1962

Mariner 5 –Mariner 5 –

Launched: June 14, 1967Launched: June 14, 1967

Arrived: Oct. 19, 1967Arrived: Oct. 19, 1967

Mariner 10 –Mariner 10 –

Launched: Nov. 3, 1973Launched: Nov. 3, 1973

Arrived: Feb. 5, 1974Arrived: Feb. 5, 1974

Pioneer Venus – Pioneer Venus – Orbiter -Orbiter - Launched: May 20, 1978Launched: May 20, 1978Arrived: Dec. 4, 1978Arrived: Dec. 4, 1978Multiprobes –Multiprobes – Launched: Aug. 8, 1978Launched: Aug. 8, 1978Arrived: Dec. 9, 1978Arrived: Dec. 9, 1978Magellan –Magellan – Launched: May 4, 1989Launched: May 4, 1989Arrived: Aug. 10, 1990Arrived: Aug. 10, 1990

EARTH

The Moon

Diameter: 2,160 miles (3,476 Diameter: 2,160 miles (3,476 kilometers)kilometers)

Time to Orbit Earth: 27.3 Time to Orbit Earth: 27.3 Earth daysEarth days

Surface Temperature: 253Surface Temperature: 253°F °F to -387°F (123°C to -to -387°F (123°C to -233°C)233°C)

Distance from Earth: 238,850 Distance from Earth: 238,850 miles (384,392 km)miles (384,392 km)

The Moon’s name: LunaThe Moon’s name: Luna

Missions to the Moon

-Pioneer-Pioneer

-Ranger-Ranger

-Surveyor-Surveyor

-Lunar Orbiter-Lunar Orbiter

-Apollo-Apollo

-Clementine-Clementine

-Lunar Prospector-Lunar Prospector

Mars

Mars

Mars is similar to Earth Mars is similar to Earth in it’s axial tilt – so it in it’s axial tilt – so it has days and seasons.has days and seasons.

It even has a thin It even has a thin atmosphere and atmosphere and clouds.clouds.

Water on Mars?Water on Mars?

Is there evidence?Is there evidence?

Mars

There are currently thirty-There are currently thirty-three known Martian three known Martian meteorites.meteorites.

They have been found on all They have been found on all continents except continents except Australia.Australia.

Four of them were actually Four of them were actually observed to fall to the observed to fall to the Earth between 1815 and Earth between 1815 and 1962.1962.

Mars Meteorite Homepage:Mars Meteorite Homepage:http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/snc/index.htmlhttp://www.jpl.nasa.gov/snc/index.html

Present Missions to Mars

Mars 2001 OdysseyMars 2001 Odyssey Mars Global Surveyor Mars Global Surveyor-Launched 4-7-01-Launched 4-7-01 -Launched 11-7-96-Launched 11-7-96-Arrived 10-24-01-Arrived 10-24-01 -Arrived 9-11-97-Arrived 9-11-97

The goal of both missions is to do a complete mapping The goal of both missions is to do a complete mapping of Mars and analyze its atmosphere and of Mars and analyze its atmosphere and composition.composition.

The Asteroid Belt

-located between Mars and -located between Mars and JupiterJupiter

-rocky fragments left over from -rocky fragments left over from the formation of the solar the formation of the solar system or a planet that was system or a planet that was unable to form due to unable to form due to Jupiter’s gravitational pullJupiter’s gravitational pull

-In 1802 astronomer William -In 1802 astronomer William Herschel first used the word Herschel first used the word “asteroid”, which means “asteroid”, which means “starlike” in Greek, to “starlike” in Greek, to describe these celestial describe these celestial bodiesbodies

Jupiter

Jupiter’s Moons

Galileo discovered Galileo discovered Jupiter’s first moons in Jupiter’s first moons in 16101610-Europa-Europa-Io-Io-Callisto-Callisto-Ganymede-Ganymede

-As of Jan. 3, 2003, 40 -As of Jan. 3, 2003, 40 moons have been moons have been spottedspotted

Jupiter’s Moons

-Outer moons are -Outer moons are most likely most likely asteroids that asteroids that Jupiter has caughtJupiter has caught

-Some of them even -Some of them even orbit backwards orbit backwards which is called which is called retrograde rotationretrograde rotation

Missions to Jupiter

Past Missions to Past Missions to Jupiter:Jupiter:

Pioneer 10Pioneer 10

Pioneer 11Pioneer 11

Voyager 1Voyager 1

Voyager 2Voyager 2

UlyssesUlysses

Present Missions to Present Missions to Jupiter:Jupiter:

GalileoGalileo

Future Missions to Future Missions to Jupiter:Jupiter:

Europa OrbiterEuropa Orbiter

Saturn

Weird Saturn

- Saturn is the only planet in the solar Saturn is the only planet in the solar system that is less dense than watersystem that is less dense than water

- Saturn is the most flattened planet in Saturn is the most flattened planet in our solar systemour solar system

- There is nowhere on Saturn that - There is nowhere on Saturn that could be described as a planetary could be described as a planetary surfacesurface

Saturn’s rings

The Cassini spacecraft was launched October 15, The Cassini spacecraft was launched October 15, 1997 and will insert into Saturn’s orbit on July 1, 1997 and will insert into Saturn’s orbit on July 1, 2004.2004.

-The Cassini spacecraft is designed to do a detailed -The Cassini spacecraft is designed to do a detailed study of Saturn, its rings, its magnetosphere, and study of Saturn, its rings, its magnetosphere, and its icy satellites.its icy satellites.

-The Huygens probe, supplied by ESA, will -The Huygens probe, supplied by ESA, will scrutinize the clouds, atmosphere, and surface of scrutinize the clouds, atmosphere, and surface of Saturn’s moon Titan.Saturn’s moon Titan.

Uranus

Oddball Uranus Sideways tilt - Uranus currently Sideways tilt - Uranus currently

moves around the Sun with its moves around the Sun with its rotation axis nearly horizontal rotation axis nearly horizontal with respect to the ecliptic plane. with respect to the ecliptic plane. This unusual orientation may be This unusual orientation may be the result of a collision with a the result of a collision with a planet-sized body early in the planet-sized body early in the planet’s history, which apparently planet’s history, which apparently changed Uranus’s rotation changed Uranus’s rotation radically. Uranus’s magnetic field radically. Uranus’s magnetic field is unusual in that the magnetic is unusual in that the magnetic axis is tilted 60 degrees from the axis is tilted 60 degrees from the planet’s axis of rotation and is planet’s axis of rotation and is offset from the center of the planet offset from the center of the planet by one-third of the planet’s radius.by one-third of the planet’s radius.

Rings & Moons of Uranus

Mission to Uranus

Voyager 2Voyager 2 -Launched: 8-20-77-Launched: 8-20-77-Uranus Encounter: 1-24-86-Uranus Encounter: 1-24-86

-flew by Uranus at a distance -flew by Uranus at a distance of 107,000 kilometers of 107,000 kilometers (66,500 miles) from the (66,500 miles) from the planet's center, threading planet's center, threading through a broad ring system through a broad ring system of dust- to boulder-sized of dust- to boulder-sized particles. Ten new moons particles. Ten new moons were imaged, in addition to were imaged, in addition to the five moons already the five moons already known.known.

Neptune

Hot Neptune

Neptune has yet to give up its greatest secret: the source of Neptune has yet to give up its greatest secret: the source of the heat that rises from the planet’s center to drive storms the heat that rises from the planet’s center to drive storms in its atmosphere.in its atmosphere.

The young planets were very hot, and have been cooling The young planets were very hot, and have been cooling since their formation. As Neptune cools, it contracts and since their formation. As Neptune cools, it contracts and grows denser: This process releases heat. The warmth of grows denser: This process releases heat. The warmth of the blue planet is actually a relic of the newborn solar the blue planet is actually a relic of the newborn solar system.system.

Also materials within the interior have yet to fully separate Also materials within the interior have yet to fully separate out – the planet’s gravity is still dragging heavier matter out – the planet’s gravity is still dragging heavier matter toward the core, creating friction that in turn generates toward the core, creating friction that in turn generates heat.heat.

Rings & Moons of Neptune

Mission to Neptune

Voyager 2 –Voyager 2 –

Launched: Aug. 20, 1977Launched: Aug. 20, 1977

Neptune Encounter: Neptune Encounter:

Aug. 24 & 25, 1989Aug. 24 & 25, 1989

Pluto

Mission to Pluto

New Horizons – A New Horizons – A Pluto-Kuiper Belt Pluto-Kuiper Belt Mission StudyMission Study

The Pluto-Kuiper Belt The Pluto-Kuiper Belt Mission will launch in Mission will launch in 2006, fly by Pluto and 2006, fly by Pluto and Charon between 2016 and Charon between 2016 and 2018, and pass the Kuiper 2018, and pass the Kuiper Belt Objects by 2026.Belt Objects by 2026.

Comets

““I came in with Halley’s Comet in I came in with Halley’s Comet in 1835. It is coming again next 1835. It is coming again next year [1910], and I expect to go year [1910], and I expect to go out with it.” out with it.”

– – Mark Twain (1835 – 1910)Mark Twain (1835 – 1910)

-Comets are dirty-ice leftovers -Comets are dirty-ice leftovers from the formation of our from the formation of our solar system over 4.6 billion solar system over 4.6 billion years agoyears ago

-Comets are the least unchanged -Comets are the least unchanged bodies in the solar systembodies in the solar system

-Missions-Missions-Deep Space 1-Deep Space 1-Stardust-Stardust-Deep Impact-Deep Impact-CONTOUR-CONTOUR

Meteoroids

-Meteors or “shooting stars” are bits of material -Meteors or “shooting stars” are bits of material falling through Earth’s atmosphere; they are falling through Earth’s atmosphere; they are heated to incandescence by the friction of the air heated to incandescence by the friction of the air and will vaporize before reaching Earth’s surfaceand will vaporize before reaching Earth’s surface

-Meteoroids are the bits material hurtling through -Meteoroids are the bits material hurtling through spacespace

-Meteorites are large pieces that do not completely -Meteorites are large pieces that do not completely vaporize and reach the surface of the Earthvaporize and reach the surface of the Earth

The Future of the Solar System

The Sun will swell into a red giant engulfing The Sun will swell into a red giant engulfing Mercury and burning at least the surfaces of Mercury and burning at least the surfaces of Venus and the Earth. The Sun will then Venus and the Earth. The Sun will then cool and shrink into a dim white dwarf. cool and shrink into a dim white dwarf. Shifted into new orbits, the fiercely altered Shifted into new orbits, the fiercely altered planets will still revolve around the dying planets will still revolve around the dying Sun. Possibly, on a few favored moons, Sun. Possibly, on a few favored moons, there is a chance that life could spring forth there is a chance that life could spring forth anew.anew.

Credits

-Secrets of the Universe card collection-Secrets of the Universe card collection

-Images and information:-Images and information:

http://http://ssesse..jpljpl..nasanasa..govgov/index.html/index.html

http://www.http://www.solarviewssolarviews.com/eng/homepage..com/eng/homepage.htmhtm

http://http://pdspds..jpljpl..nasanasa..govgov/planets/welcome./planets/welcome.htmhtm

http://www.http://www.sedsseds.org/.org/nineplanetsnineplanets//nineplanetsnineplanets//