Solar System Solar System Models of the solar

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Solar System

Solar System

Solar System

Solar System

Models of the solar system/universe n Geocentric: earth centered (Ptolemy) – Stars/planets moved around

Models of the solar system/universe n Geocentric: earth centered (Ptolemy) – Stars/planets moved around the earth n Heliocentric: sun centered (Copernicus) – Earth/planets orbit the sun Planetary motion (Kepler) Planets travel in elliptical orbits (sun at focus) n Equal area law (speed of orbit not constant) n Harmonic: Farther a planet is from the sun the longer it takes to revolve around. (due to a longer distance and slower speed) n

Planets n How do you recognize a planet from a star? n Stars stay

Planets n How do you recognize a planet from a star? n Stars stay in the same pattern compared to each other. Planets move and change position each night compared to the stars. n Planet – translation means to wander. They were originally called the wandering stars.

Venus – The evening/morning star

Venus – The evening/morning star

Venus in Transit across Sun

Venus in Transit across Sun

Inner (terrestrial) planets n Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars n Rocky crust n Dense n

Inner (terrestrial) planets n Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars n Rocky crust n Dense n Few or no moons n Much higher densities made of heavier elements that stayed closer to sun ***Asteroid Belt (former planet? )***

Outer (Jovian) planets n Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, (Pluto) n Much larger (gas giants)

Outer (Jovian) planets n Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, (Pluto) n Much larger (gas giants) n Not very dense n Have rings n Many moons n Much Lower Densities made of lighter elements pushed further from the sun

Comet n Solid ball of ice and dust which orbits the sun. Leaves a

Comet n Solid ball of ice and dust which orbits the sun. Leaves a tail of gas and dust as it travels. n Tail always points away from Sun. n Most famous is Haley’s comet. Return every 78 years.

Comet

Comet

Comets

Comets

Asteroids and Meteors n Asteroid - Pieces of rock and space debris which orbit

Asteroids and Meteors n Asteroid - Pieces of rock and space debris which orbit the sun n Meteors – a piece of rock fragment that reaches and burns up in our atmosphere n Meteorite – Meteor that reaches the earths surface. – Often leaves a crater when it hits and most times meteorite is broken into tiny pieces

Leonid Meteor shower n The Leonids are one of the best meteor showers skywatchers

Leonid Meteor shower n The Leonids are one of the best meteor showers skywatchers can catch. Every November, observers can expect peaks of 10 to 15 an hour. Every 33 years or so, there have been instances of the Leonids producing meteors at a rate of about 1, 000 – or more – in an hour. However, this won't happen again until 2034.

Leonid Meteor shower n The source of the meteor shower is Comet Tempel-Tuttle, which

Leonid Meteor shower n The source of the meteor shower is Comet Tempel-Tuttle, which is falling apart as it makes periodic runs around the sun and its ices melt from the heat. As Earth runs into the vast number of particles it leaves behind, meteors streak through the atmosphere. n This year November 16 th is the best date to watch.

Meteor shower

Meteor shower

Shooting Star n Meteor burning up in our atmoshpere

Shooting Star n Meteor burning up in our atmoshpere

Russian Meteor 2013 n http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=dpm. Xy Jrs 7 i. U

Russian Meteor 2013 n http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=dpm. Xy Jrs 7 i. U

Asteroid belt

Asteroid belt