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Our Solar System

Our Solar System. An introduction to our planets. http:// photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov /. The Sun. At the Center (and we do go around it …..) 99.85% mass of Solar System 92% H / 8% He Source of solar wind and space weather. Image:http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03149.

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Our Solar System

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  1. Our Solar System An introduction to our planets

  2. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/

  3. The Sun • At the Center (and we do go around it …..) • 99.85% mass of Solar System • 92% H / 8% He • Source of solar wind and space weather Image:http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03149

  4. Inner Planets • “Terrestrial Planets” • Rocky • Dense • Metal cores (iron) Images: Lunar and Planetary Laboratory: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?IM_ID=178

  5. Asteroids Ida • “Minor planets” or “planetoids” less than 1000 km across • Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter • Occasionally run into Earth and other planets (oops) Image: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?IM_ID=2093

  6. Outer Planets • Large! • Gases and liquids • No solid surface • May have a small solid core • Tumultuous atmospheres - rapid winds, large storms • Rotate relatively quickly Image: Lunar and Planetary Laboratory: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?IM_ID=178

  7. Kuiper Belt • Disk of debris at the edge of our Solar System • Pluto is a KB Object (sorry!) • Source of short-period comets

  8. MERCURY • Closest planet to the Sun • Second smallest in the Solar System • Surface covered in craters, just like Earth's Moon • Temperature (up to 350°c on its sunlit side and -170°c on its dark side) • One year lasts for only 88 Earth days • One day takes 59 Earth days • No atmosphere, so the sky appears dark all the time.

  9. VENUS • For years, Venus was called Earth's Sister Planet • Named after the ancient Roman god of love • Very heavy atmosphere (97% CO2, sulfuric acid clouds) • 896OF….that’s HOT!

  10. EARTH • Three layers: core, mantle, crust • Atmosphere has five layers, which together serve to block harmful rays and insulate/regulate temperature • Only planet that we know of that is capable of sustaining life

  11. MARS • About half the size of Earth, but is most Earth-like • Thin atmosphere is being blown away by Sun’s wind • Is reddish in color due to the iron oxide - commonly known as rust - that is in the soil. • Could possibly be made habitable by man

  12. JUPITER • Gas giant (huge atmosphere) • Liquid rock core, liquid mantle, liquid • nitrogen, hydrogen and helium gases • Largest planet (1320 Earths) • Great Red Spot (immense storm) • Most moons of all planets (63) • Named after Roman god of lightning (king of the gods)

  13. SATURN • Gas planet (least dense planet) • Structure is very similar to Jupiter • Atmosphere is also mostly hydrogen and helium • Great white spot(?) • Magnificent rings likely caused by a collision between two of its satellites

  14. URANUS • Gas giant • Liquid rock core surrounded by an “ocean” of hydrogen, helium, and water, with small amounts of ammonia and methane • Bland, almost featureless atmosphere made of hydrogen, helium, methane and ammonia • Only planet that rotates on its side! • Named after Greek god of the heavens

  15. Neptune • “Twin” of Uranus, except that its atmosphere has much more detail • Unique Great Dark Spot (not much known) • Named after the ancient Roman god of the sea

  16. Relationship between distance and speed

  17. Relationship between distance and speed

  18. Solar System Overview FYI … Distance Not To Scale … Image: Lunar and Planetary Laboratory: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?IM_ID=178

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