Our Solar System.. Astronomical unit is the distance between the Earth and the Sun 1.496 X 10.

Our Solar Our Solar SystemSystem. .

Astronomical unit is the distance between Astronomical unit is the distance between the Earth and the Sun 1.496 X 10the Earth and the Sun 1.496 X 10

The planets are not at a constant distance away The planets are not at a constant distance away from the sunfrom the sun

Perihelion is when a planet is closest to the sunPerihelion is when a planet is closest to the sun

Aphelion is when a planet is furthest away from Aphelion is when a planet is furthest away from the sun the sun June 6June 6thth

Jan 6thJan 6th

The Sun: Our Special StarThe Sun: Our Special Star

The Sun: ActivityThe Sun: Activity

Sunspot cycle 11.2 yearsSunspot cycle 11.2 years

The PlanetsThe Planets

MMy y MMercuryercuryVVeryery VVenus enus EEducatedducated EEartharthMMother other MMarsarsJJustust JJupiter upiter SServed erved SSaturnaturnUUss UUranusranusNNachosachos NNeptuneeptune

Inner or rocky planetsInner or rocky planetsWhich ones are inner Which ones are inner planets?planets?

MercuryMercuryVenus Venus EarthEarthMarsMarsHave solid, rocky surfacesHave solid, rocky surfacesCloser to the sunCloser to the sun

MercuryMercury

Period of revolution= 88 daysPeriod of rotation= 58 days

Diameter= 4880 km

“Faster than a speeding bullet”

More about…More about…

MercuryMercuryClosest planet to the sunClosest planet to the sunNo moonsNo moonsEssentially it has no atmosphere, what little Essentially it has no atmosphere, what little atmosphere that does exist is oxygen and sodiumatmosphere that does exist is oxygen and sodiumDaytime temperature is about 427Daytime temperature is about 427ooC, C, night time temperatures are about -173night time temperatures are about -173ooCC it has the greatest day-night temperature difference it has the greatest day-night temperature difference of all planetsof all planetsSurface is rocky and cratered, there is evidence that Surface is rocky and cratered, there is evidence that lava once flowed on the surfacelava once flowed on the surface

VenusVenus

Diameter= 12,104 kmPeriod of revolution= 225 daysPeriod of rotation= 243 days

“Greenhouse in the Sky”

VenusVenus continuedcontinued 22ndnd planet from the sun planet from the sun It is the brightest planet in Earth’s It is the brightest planet in Earth’s

nighttime skynighttime sky No moonsNo moons Atmosphere is COAtmosphere is CO2 2

Has a thick cloud cover which prevents Has a thick cloud cover which prevents observers from seeing the surfaceobservers from seeing the surface

greenhouse effectgreenhouse effect Daytime temperatures are 480Daytime temperatures are 480ooC (hot C (hot

enough to melt lead!) Night-time enough to melt lead!) Night-time temperatures are -33temperatures are -33ooCC

Venus has similarities to Earth like Venus has similarities to Earth like diameter, mass, and densitydiameter, mass, and density

No magnetic fieldNo magnetic field

EarthEarthDiameter= 12,756 kmDiameter= 12,756 km

Period of revolution= 365 daysPeriod of revolution= 365 days

Period of rotation= 24 hoursPeriod of rotation= 24 hours

EarthEarth33rdrd “rock” from the sun “rock” from the sunHas 1 natural satellite, the moonHas 1 natural satellite, the moonContains lots of life-supporting waterContains lots of life-supporting waterWater occurs as gas, liquid, and solidWater occurs as gas, liquid, and solidOxygen-rich atmosphereOxygen-rich atmosphere

Atmosphere is made of oxygen and nitrogen

MarsMarsDiameter= 6974 kmPeriod of revolution= 1.88 yearsPeriod of rotation= 24.5 hours

“The Rusty Planet”

More about…More about… MarsMars 44thth planet from the sun planet from the sun High iron content in the soil is responsible High iron content in the soil is responsible

for its reddish surface colorfor its reddish surface color 2 irregularly shaped moons, Phobos and 2 irregularly shaped moons, Phobos and

DeimosDeimos thin atmospherethin atmosphere largest mountain which is a volcano, largest mountain which is a volcano,

Olympus MonsOlympus Mons Surface has dried river and lake beds which Surface has dried river and lake beds which

suggest that liquid water once existed on suggest that liquid water once existed on MarsMars

““dry ice” COdry ice” CO22 exists at each pole, which exists at each pole, which covers “water” icecovers “water” ice

Low temps= -130 Low temps= -130 ooC, high temps= -31C, high temps= -31ooCC No magnetic fieldNo magnetic field

The outer planets The outer planets are…are…

JupiterJupiterSaturnSaturnUranusUranusNeptuneNeptuneLarger in sizeLarger in sizeMade of gases or liquidsMade of gases or liquidsAll gas giants have ringsAll gas giants have ringsAlso known as “gas giants”Also known as “gas giants”

JupiterJupiter

Diameter=142,700 kmPeriod of revolution= 11.86 yearsPeriod of rotation= 10 hours

“The planet that was almost a star”

JupiterJupiter continuedcontinued55thth from the sun from the sunLargest planetLargest planetHydrogen and Helium make up most of the atmospheric Hydrogen and Helium make up most of the atmospheric gasesgasesHas the shortest “day” in the solar systemHas the shortest “day” in the solar system““The Great Red Spot”, a storm, has been rotating around The Great Red Spot”, a storm, has been rotating around Jupiter for more than 300 yearsJupiter for more than 300 years16 satellites: 16 satellites:

4 major moons 4 major moons Io (has volcanic activity), Europa, Ganymede, and Io (has volcanic activity), Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto Callisto

Scientists believe if Jupiter would have grown larger Scientists believe if Jupiter would have grown larger during the formation of the solar system it could have during the formation of the solar system it could have been a starbeen a star

High temps= 29,700C, low temps= -95CHigh temps= 29,700C, low temps= -95C

SaturnSaturnDiameter= 120,000 kmDiameter= 120,000 km

Period of revolution= 29.46 yearsPeriod of revolution= 29.46 years

Period of rotation= 10.5 hoursPeriod of rotation= 10.5 hours

“A world of many rings”

More aboutMore about … …SaturnSaturn

66thth planet from the sun planet from the sun Atmosphere is mainly Hydrogen and Atmosphere is mainly Hydrogen and

HeliumHelium 18 known satellites= Titan is a major moon18 known satellites= Titan is a major moon Broader and brighter ring system than the Broader and brighter ring system than the

other gas giantsother gas giantsRings are made of pieces of rock and ice Rings are made of pieces of rock and ice (size (size

ranges from microscopic to the size of a house)ranges from microscopic to the size of a house)

UranusUranusDiameter= 50,800 kmDiameter= 50,800 km

Period of revolution= 84.01 Period of revolution= 84.01 yearsyears

Period of rotation= 16.8 Period of rotation= 16.8 hourshours

“A Planet on its Side”

Uranus… Uranus… continuedcontinued

Atmosphere of hydrogen, helium, Atmosphere of hydrogen, helium, and methaneand methane

The planet seems tipped because its The planet seems tipped because its axis is tiltedaxis is tilted

Its rings appear to circle the planet Its rings appear to circle the planet from top to bottomfrom top to bottom

15 moons, 2 are geologically active= 15 moons, 2 are geologically active= Miranda and ArielMiranda and Ariel

NeptuneNeptuneDiameter= 48,600 kmDiameter= 48,600 km

Period of revolution= 164.8 Period of revolution= 164.8 yearsyears

Period of rotation= 16 hoursPeriod of rotation= 16 hours

“The Mathematician’s

Planet”

more about…more about… NeptuneNeptuneDue to Uranus’ unusual orbit, Due to Uranus’ unusual orbit,

scientists calculated that there must scientists calculated that there must be another planet beyond Uranus, be another planet beyond Uranus, Neptune was discovered exactly Neptune was discovered exactly where it had been calculated to bewhere it had been calculated to be

Huge clouds of methane float in an Huge clouds of methane float in an atmosphere of hydrogen and heliumatmosphere of hydrogen and helium

8 moons, Triton is 48 moons, Triton is 4thth largest moon in largest moon in the solar systemthe solar system

Dwarf PlanetsDwarf PlanetsPluto Pluto hit the headlines in 2006 when it was demoted from a planet hit the headlines in 2006 when it was demoted from a planet to a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union. While to a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union. While most astronomers agreed with the new classifications, some most astronomers agreed with the new classifications, some disagreed and still refer to Pluto as the ninth planet.disagreed and still refer to Pluto as the ninth planet.

CeresCeres is located in the asteroid belt between the orbits of  is located in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and  and Jupiter. It was discovered in 1801, well before Pluto and 45 years . It was discovered in 1801, well before Pluto and 45 years before before Neptune. Ceres was considered a planet for around 50 years . Ceres was considered a planet for around 50 years before being reclassified as an asteroid and once again in 2006 as a before being reclassified as an asteroid and once again in 2006 as a dwarf planet.dwarf planet.

ErisEris was discovered in 2005 and was referred to as the tenth planet was discovered in 2005 and was referred to as the tenth planet until it was reclassified in 2006. It is the largest of the dwarf planets.until it was reclassified in 2006. It is the largest of the dwarf planets.

Makemake Makemake was discovered in 2005 and the third largest dwarf was discovered in 2005 and the third largest dwarf planet behind Eris and Pluto.planet behind Eris and Pluto.

HaumeaHaumea was discovered in 2004 and named was discovered in 2004 and named

a dwarf planet in 2008.a dwarf planet in 2008.

Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud:Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud:Home of CometsHome of Comets

AsteroidsAsteroids

Fragments of rock that Fragments of rock that orbit the sunorbit the sun

Millions are found in the Millions are found in the asteroid belt between asteroid belt between Mars and JupiterMars and Jupiter

CometsCometsSmall icy bodies that Small icy bodies that orbit the sunorbit the sun

Comets can come Comets can come from the Kuiper Belt from the Kuiper Belt that is 30-50 AU away that is 30-50 AU away or the Oort Cloud that or the Oort Cloud that is more than 100 AU is more than 100 AU awayaway

Meteoroids, Meteors, and Meteoroids, Meteors, and MeteoritesMeteorites

Is there more to Is there more to be discovered?be discovered?