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The Solar System

The Solar System. ASTR 1010 Tu/Th 12:30-1:45PM, Room 202 by Inseok Song Lecture #1. Physics / Astronomy “majors”… go out and see Mr. Tom Barnello (Room 310) to be enrolled in ASTR1110 instead!. I am an exo -planet hunter!. 1 st Imaged Exo -planetary system !.

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The Solar System

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  1. The Solar System ASTR 1010 Tu/Th 12:30-1:45PM, Room 202 by Inseok Song Lecture #1

  2. Physics / Astronomy “majors”… go out and see Mr. Tom Barnello (Room 310) to be enrolled in ASTR1110 instead!

  3. I am an exo-planet hunter! 1st Imaged Exo-planetary system !

  4. … trying to understand the origin of planetary systems • In Pleiades, collision between two planets!

  5. Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) • The largest scale exoplanet imaging project in the world. • 1000 hrs of “clear” observing time with the 8m telescope • 34 million USD for manufacturing  highly specific instrument for exoplanet imaging • will observe about 1,000 nearby stars to image orbiting planets • about $34,000 / star • Need to prepare the best set of targets • I am the leader of the target selection group for GPI

  6. First Day of the Class • Professor: Inseok Song • Office : Physics Building, Room 240   Office Telephone Number: 706-542-7518 • E-Mail Address: song@uga.edu • Course Webpage: http://cosmos.physast.uga.edu/iSong/ASTR1010 • Office Hours: Tue/Thu after the class or by appointment • Check the course webpage frequently! • http://www.physast.uga.edu “courseschedule”  ASTR1010

  7. Why Astronomy? “… it is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied” - John Stuart Mill, 19th century British philosopher beautiful extreme curiosity past future

  8. Vast Universe

  9. Vast Universe Hubble Ultra Deep Field: in a very small region of the sky (similar to the angular extent of a penny at the end of a football field), ~10,000 galaxies were found.

  10. Vast Universe : Hubble Ultra Deep Field In the Universe, there are about 10 billions galaxies! And, each galaxy has about the same number of stars as in the Milky Way So, there have to be Earth-like planets somewhere out there… Yet, we are barely reaching out the boundary of Solar System with our technology It is very difficult to explore distant space, let’s first know the details of our Backyard!

  11. Astronomy • To understand the Universe, astronomers are using scientific methods. Characteristics of Science • Collection of facts (or observations) • Create/test a model to explain observations • Make a testable prediction • After successful predictions, it becomes a theory models  should be as simple as possible. Occum’s razor examples: a model of the atom, a model of the solar system… Through numerous tests/verifications, theory becomes law.

  12. Pseudo-Science Pseudo-science : handling the nature appearing as a true science, but it involves a non-scientific handling of evidence or method. (Ex) Biorythm: every human being has three distinct cycles (physical: 23 days, emotional: 28 days, intellectual: 33 days) which determine the fate of an individual.

  13. Scientific… in your daily life Say that you are looking for a used car, and you are offered a lovely, 1-year old Porsche for just $500. ?Why should the price so low? ?Does the car run? ?Has it been wrecked and poorly rebuilt? • Ask your friend • Take a test drive • Get examined by a mechanic you trust being scientific : skeptical and looking for greater confidence in a drawing conclusion. fact  skepticism  test  draw a new conclusion 

  14. Tentativeness : Being “Scientific” is not absolute! • 200 years ago, French Academy of Science declared that the notion of stones falling from the sky (e.g., meteorites) by Chladniis not scientific; a complete nonsense. • why? Scientific evidence for this hypothesis (claim) is lacking… • Then, the claim by Ernst Chladni received a spectacular confirmation by a prominent meteor shower near L’Aigle, France in 1803.

  15. Scientific or not? • Thanks to Isaiah Crowell, UGA will win the season opening game against Boise State on Sep 3, 2011. • Terrestrial bacteria can survive on Mars. • A huge fleet of alien ships will land on Earth and introduce an era of peace and prosperity on January 1, 2020. • There is no liquid water on the surface of Venus today. • My house is haunted by ghosts, who makes the creaking noises I hear each night. • God created the Universe with all Laws of Nature (e.g., Law of Motion, evolution, etc) Logic and clarity are the most important! Does not matter if it is right or wrong!

  16. Laws of Physics • Proven physical theories that survived numerous tests over time are referred to as “Laws of Physics” • these can have profound effect on civilization. “Newtonian Theory of Gravity” or “Newtonian Mechanics”  immediate practical application in the construction of machines, buildings, bridges, etc. Theoretical and mathematical advances triggered by Astronomy led to the Industrial Revolution.

  17. Formation of the solar system • By exploring the planets in our solar system, we can uncover the clues to the origin of the Solar System. • Solar System = the Sun and all celestial objects orbiting the Sun (planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and more) • From accumulated knowledge from various space missions in addition to the Moon rocks brought back by Apollo mission, we now know that our Solar System has been shaped by numerous collision among its constituents. • Age of the Solar System: How do we know? • the oldest rocks on the Earth  3.9 billion years old (3.9 Gyr) • oldest object found on Earth  4.56 Gyr meteorites • deduced the age of Solar System to be ~4.56Gyr

  18. Stars are born, age, and die • By studying stars, astronomers discover how stars are born, age, and die. What powers stars?

  19. Forming Stars (massive star formation site) Orion Nebula (about 400 parsecs or 1300 Lyrs away)

  20. Exploded star Crab nebula (supernova seen in 1054 AD) about 6000 Ly away

  21. From galaxies to the Universe • By observing galaxies, astronomers learn about the origin and fate of the universe • all galaxies are moving away from us and from each other  expanding Universe • Big Bang (Right) Image of a star and a quasar that are drastically different in nature. star : ~100 Ly away quasar : 9 billion Lyr away

  22. In summary… Important Concepts Important Terms Occum’s razor Laws of Physics Nebula Nuclear burning (or H-burning) quasar • Science • observables • hypothesis • testable prediction • theory • Chapter/sections covered in this lecture : sections 1.1-1.4

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