Term
|
Definition
1.5 x 10⁸ km – 93 million miles
(distance to sun) |
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Term
light year
our galaxy is about 100 light years across |
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Definition
| the distance light travels in one year (63,200 AU) – light travels 186,000 miles per second or 300,000 km/s |
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Term
| Steps of the Scientific Method |
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Definition
Step 1- make an observation, pose a question or problem
Step 2 – make a hypothesis (an educated guess) – should lead to new details about step 1
Step 3 – experiment – hypothesis must be testable and reproducible
Step 4 – Conclusion - Results – Theory |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| similar to latitude - north or south of celestial equator (+90° to -90°) |
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Term
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Definition
| similar to longitude – eastward from position of Sun at vernal equinox (0 hr – 24 hr) |
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Term
| changes in the north star |
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Definition
| Five thousand years ago, Thuban was the North Star. Five thousand years from now, the North Star will be Alpha Cephei. Seven thousand years after that, it will be Vega. Nine thousand years after that, Thuban will be the North Star again. |
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Term
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Definition
| full circle contains 360 deg. 1 degree= 60' arc minutes and 1 arc minute' contains 60 arc seconds'' |
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Term
| the same angular diameter (0.5°) |
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Definition
| The Sun and the Moon have |
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Term
Angle is related to time by rotation:
most important are 1 hour and 4 minutes |
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Definition
24 hrs = 360°
1 hr = 15°
4 min = 1°
1 min = 15΄
1 sec = 15˝ |
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Term
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Definition
| Earth’s true rotation period)—the time taken for our planet to return to the same orientation in space relative to the distant stars. (the time between successive risings of a given star) |
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Term
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Definition
| They are equal only once a year on Sept. 21. After that a solar day increases by 1° or 4 min everyday from a sidereal day. (so a star rises 4 minutes earlier everyday according to solar time) |
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Term
| the moon takes ____ days to cycle through its phases, and it makes the full 360 deg in ____ days |
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Definition
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Term
crescent – close to new
gibbous – close to full |
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Definition
waxing – getting larger
waning – getting smaller |
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Term
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Definition
lunar: full moon
solar: new moon |
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Term
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Definition
| the outer region of the shadow. (Partial eclipse – part of the Sun is blocked) |
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Term
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Definition
| the central region of the shadow. (total eclipse – all of Sun is blocked) |
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Term
| Why don’t eclipses happen every month |
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Definition
| Eclipses don’t occur every month because Earth’s and Moon’s orbits are not in the same plane. 3-dimensional |
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Term
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Definition
Change in an object’s apparent position when viewed from two vantage points.
Limit - 150 pc – 200 pc |
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Term
| The Measurement of Distance |
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Definition
Units
Parallax – arc seconds
Distance – parsecs
p= 1/d |
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Term
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Definition
| Temple at Caracol, in Mexico, has many windows that are aligned with astronomical events |
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Term
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Definition
(visible to naked eye) Hermes, Aphrodite, Ares, Zeus, Cronus
We know them by the Roman names: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn |
|
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Term
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Definition
| Term planet comes from___ which means wanderer in Greek |
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Term
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Definition
Complicated model – Introducted epicycles which accounted for retrograde motion
Model lasted until 16th century |
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Term
| This is called heliocentric (Sun centered). |
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Definition
| Sun is at center of solar system. Only Moon orbits around Earth; planets orbit around Sun |
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Term
heliocentric model of the solar system
(copernicus) |
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Definition
Much simpler – still had some epicycles
Earth spins on axis – explained seasons
Accounted for retrograde |
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Term
|
Definition
| caused when Earth passes a planet on the same side of the Sun. |
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Term
| Began with Copernicus and the heliocentric view |
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Definition
| The Birth of Modern Astronomy |
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Term
|
Definition
did not invent telescope
built his own telescope and improved on it
believed in Copernicus's work
first to make observations of the sky using the telescope |
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Term
|
Definition
| He observed and collected data on Mars motion and used these results to form his own model of the solar system. |
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Term
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Definition
| His model was hybrid of Copernican and his own work. The Moon and Sun revolved about the Earth and the shell of the fixed stars was centered on the Earth. But Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn revolved about the Sun. |
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Term
| Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion |
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Definition
| consisted of three laws summarizing the motions of the planets |
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Term
|
Definition
| The orbital path of the planets are elliptical with the Sun at one focus. |
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Term
| The Laws of Planetary Motion |
|
Definition
Ellipses have different eccentricities.
Eccentricity (e) – measure of the flatness of an ellipse.
An eccentricity a circle is 0.
Earth’s orbit has an eccentricity of 0.017. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An imaginary line connecting Sun to any planet sweeps out equal areas in equal intervals of time. |
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Term
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Definition
| point closest to Sun and fastest speed |
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Term
|
Definition
| point farthest from Sun and slowest speed |
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Term
|
Definition
| The square of a planet’s period (P)is proportional to cube of semimajor axis (a) |
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Term
|
Definition
Newton is most known for his three laws of motion.
We will be looking only at his law of gravity.
Newton’s law of gravity showed how two objects interacted with each other gravitationally. |
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Term
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Definition
For two massive objects, gravitational force is proportional to the product of their masses divided by the square of the distance between them.
Gravity is an inverse square law |
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Term
|
Definition
If the mass are equal the center of mass is in the center; if the masses are not equal the center of mass changes.
Kepler did not account for this in his orbits. |
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Term
| Newton’s Modification of Kepler’s First Law |
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Definition
| The orbit of a planet around the Sun is an ellipse, with the center of mass (of the planet–Sun system) at one focus. |
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Term
| Newton’s Modification of Kepler’s Third Law: |
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Definition
| Combines the law of gravity with Kepler’s Third law to give the masses of the objects. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Earth orbits the Sun therefore the Earth should move. The measurement of parallax should prove this. Was not detected because of lack of technology at the time. |
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Term
| orbits closer to Sun than Earth’s : Mercury, Venus |
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Definition
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Term
|
Definition
: 2 conjunctions (appears close to Sun)
Inferior Conjunction – closest to Earth (same side of the Sun)
Superior Conjunction– farthest from Earth (opposite side) |
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Term
|
Definition
orbits are farther away: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
Conjunction –farthest from Earth(on opposite of the Sun from Earth)
Opposition – closest to Earth (same side of the Sun) |
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Term
|
Definition
Never too far from Sun
Brightest near inferior conjunction
Retrograde at inferior conjunction |
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Term
|
Definition
Not tied to Sun
Exhibit retrograde motion at opposition
Brightest at opposition |
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Term
| Electromagnetic radiation |
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Definition
| Transmission of energy through space as a wave with varying electric and magnetic fields without physical connection. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Propagation of a disturbance or energy (without the physical transport of material) |
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Term
|
Definition
| Distance between successive crests (units in m) |
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Term
|
Definition
| Distance between equilibrium and crest (units in m) |
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Term
|
Definition
| Number of wave crests that pass a given point per second (units in Hz) |
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Term
|
Definition
| Time between passage of successive crests (unit in s) |
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|
Term
| Electromagnetic waves (light waves): |
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Definition
| Oscillating electric and magnetic fields. Changing electric field creates magnetic field, and vice versa. Electromagnetic waves need no medium. |
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Term
|
Definition
: Speed at which wave moves (unit is m/s)
v = λ f |
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Term
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Definition
| The spread of the intensity of radiation emitted by any object over all possible frequencies. Radiation emitted depends only on its temperature. (the blue line is ideal, the dotted line is actual) |
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Term
|
Definition
| amount of strength of radiation |
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Term
|
Definition
changes with temperature; as object heats up, curve peaks at different frequency or wavelength.
That is why your stove top heats up (radiates in infrared) then turns red (now radiates in the visible-red). |
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Term
|
Definition
| Peak wavelength is inversely proportional to temperature |
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Term
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Definition
| Sun’s max (peak) wavelength |
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Term
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Definition
| Total energy emitted is proportional to fourth power of temperature |
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Term
|
Definition
| waves move out in all directions. λ and f are the same. |
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Term
Moving source
(the doppler effect) |
|
Definition
waves become “bunched up” in front of the wave causing higher frequency and lower, smaller wavelength
Behind the wave – longer wavelength and smaller frequency |
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|
Term
For sound
(doppler effect) |
|
Definition
| waves moving toward an observer, higher f – away, lower f |
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|
Term
For light
(the doppler effect) |
|
Definition
| waves moving toward an observer, shorter λ- away, larger λ |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| shifted toward blue part of spectrum - blue shifted |
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Term
|
Definition
| moving away - shifted toward red part of spectrum - red shifted |
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Term
|
Definition
Unshifted – stationary object (in lab)
Redshifted – moving away from us
Blueshifted – moving toward us |
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Term
|
Definition
| – (rainbow) looking at visible light only |
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Term
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Definition
| Splits incoming radiation into separate wavelengths |
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Term
| Spectrograph or spectrometer |
|
Definition
| complex instrument that gathers light, splits it, and has a detector. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
History:
William Wollaston – First noticed solar absorption lines – 1802
Joseph von Fraunhofer – studied lines 10 years later – cataloged over 600
Gustav Kirchhoff – 1859 – laws governing the formation of spectra |
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Term
|
Definition
| - Continuous spectrum - Luminous solid, liquid, or dense gas produces continuous spectrum – emit light of all wavelengths (blackbody) |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| - Emission spectrum – glowing low-density hot gas – emits specific wavelengths that are characteristic of the chemical composition. (bright lines) |
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Term
|
Definition
| Absorption spectrum - cool, thin gas comes between emitting object (blackbody). Atoms of the gas will absorb the same wavelengths they emit. (dark lines – negative of emission lines) |
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Term
|
Definition
| Emission spectrum can be used to identify elements. Lines are unique to each element. (like a fingerprint) |
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Term
|
Definition
| An absorption spectrum can also be used to identify elements. These are the emission and absorption spectra of sodium. Emission and absorption spectra are the negative of each other. |
|
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Term
| 1912 – Bohr’s model of the electron (classical model) |
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Definition
| Emission energies correspond to energy differences between allowed integer levels |
|
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Term
| Einstein - photoelectric effect – Nobel Prize 1919 |
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Definition
| Can only be understood if light behaves like particles – a photon with a quantized amount of energy due to the frequency. |
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Term
|
Definition
Increased frequency—more energetic electrons
Increased intensity—more electrons, same energy |
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Term
Chemical composition
Temperature
Rotation
Magnetic field
Radial velocity (shown below) |
|
Definition
| Information that can be gleaned from spectral lines: |
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Term
|
Definition
Spectral lines can be broadened and have a width. This is called equivalent width. This is a result of the environment not energy levels.
Line broadening can be due to a variety of causes:
Thermal Broadening
Doppler Effect
Rotational Broadening |
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Term
|
Definition
| split of spectral lines due to a magnetic field. |
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Term
Refractor
Uses lenses
Reflector
Uses mirrors |
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Definition
|
|
Term
A lens needs two optically acceptable surfaces; mirror needs only one
Some light traveling through lens is absorbed
Large lens can be very heavy, and can only be supported at edge |
|
Definition
| Modern telescopes are all reflectors. Why? |
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Term
|
Definition
| If you want to buy and optical telescope: |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| a modern research telescope: 10 m scope in Hawaii |
|
|
Term
| The Hubble Space Telescope |
|
Definition
| The Hubble Space Telescope’s main mirror is 2.4 m in diameter and is designed for visible, infrared, and ultraviolet radiation |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| distinguishing objects that are close together in the sky |
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Term
|
Definition
| an intrinsic property of waves, and limits telescope resolution |
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Term
|
Definition
| proportional to wavelength and inversely proportional to telescope size |
|
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Term
|
Definition
measures the total amount of light received in all or part of the field of view.
Light is focused on a device rather than eye.
No image is usually produced, but information about intensity and how it changes over time is obtained. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| describes the effects of turbulence of atmosphere (how well can good telescopic observations be made) |
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Term
Active Optics – due to effects of mirror distortion because of movement, temperature fluctuations, and some atmospheric turbulence.
Adaptive Optics - due to effects of the atmosphere. |
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Definition
| Techniques used to increase resolution |
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Term
|
Definition
Precise control of the mirror temperature
Use of pistons behind mirror or make minute modifications as its orientation changes. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
– technique used to increase resolution by deforming the mirror to correct for the effects of the atmosphere. (mirror is not the primary, but a smaller one inserted in the light path)
Tracks atmospheric changes with laser; adjust mirrors in real time. |
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Term
|
Definition
1931 – discovered static interference from specific direction in the sky – peak correlated with sideral day – not terrestrial
Later found to be the center of the galaxy |
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Term
|
Definition
father of Radio Astronomy
Jansky (Jy) is the unit of intensity in radio astronomy |
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Term
|
Definition
Similar to optical reflecting telescopes
Prime focus
Detector
Less sensitive to imperfections (due to longer wavelength); can be made of rough material |
|
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Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Longer wavelength means poor angular resolution |
|
Definition
| Disadvantages to radio astronomy: |
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Term
Clouds, rain, and snow don’t interfere – λ larger than rain and snow
Can observe 24 hours a day
Observations at an entirely different wavelengths in radio; get totally different information |
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Definition
| Advantages of radio astronomy: |
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Term
|
Definition
| Combine information from several widely spread radio telescopes as if they came from a single dish |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| technique used to improve radio telescope resolution by combining several telescopes at the same time at the same λ |
|
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Term
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Definition
| must be done in space, as the atmosphere absorbs almost all ultraviolet rays. |
|
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Term
| one star (our Sun), moons, and planets. It also includes the Kuiper belt and Oort cloud objects, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids. About 70,000 objects in the S.S. have diameters larger than 100 km (60 miles |
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Definition
| The solar system contains |
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Term
Orbital period can be observed
Distance from Sun known by Kepler’s laws
Radius known from angular size
Masses from Newton’s laws
Rotation period from observations
Density can be calculated knowing radius and mass |
|
Definition
| Properties of the planets can be found using techniques we have already studied |
|
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Term
| Because the planet’s orbits are close to being in a plane, it is possible for them to appear in a straight line as viewed from Earth. This photograph was taken in April 2002. |
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Definition
| The Overall Layout of the Solar System |
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Term
Is in orbit around the Sun
Has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape
Has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit. |
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Definition
| The IAU said in a statement that the definition for a planet is now officially known as a celestial body that: |
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|
Term
Orbits the Sun.
Has enough mass to assume a nearly round shape.
Has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit.
Is not a moon. |
|
Definition
| According to the International Astronomical Union, which sets definitions for planetary science, a dwarf planet is a celestial body that: |
|
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Term
| Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars |
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Definition
|
|
Term
| Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Only Earth has oxygen in its atmosphere and liquid water on its surface
Earth and Mars spin at about the same rate and have the same tilt; Mercury is much slower and no tilt, Venus is slow and retrograde
Only Earth and Mars have moons
Only Earth and Mercury have magnetic fields |
|
Definition
| Differences among the terrestrial planets: |
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Term
|
Definition
are icy, with some rocky parts
Found in Kuiper Belt and Oort cloud |
|
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Term
| the Magellan orbiter, 1990–1994 |
|
Definition
| The most recent Venus expedition from the United States was |
|
|
Term
Spirit and Opportunity
Spirit: Landed, Jan 3, 2004
Opportunity: Landed, Jan 24, 2004 |
|
Definition
Twin rovers on opposite sides of Mars
Were built to last 92 days, but are still gathering info today. |
|
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Term
| The Huygens probe landed on Saturn’s moon, Titan. Cassini is still in orbit in the Saturn system gathering information. |
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Definition
| Cassini –Huygens mission arrived at Saturn in 2004 |
|
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Term
| Giant Molecular Cloud (Nebula) |
|
Definition
slowly rotating collapses
Angular momentum is conserved – physics principle – states that product of radius and rotation rate must be constant. |
|
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Term
| Conservation of angular momentum: |
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Definition
| If a rotating object gets smaller, it will speed up. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| flattens into disk shape with the matter in the plane of the disk (ecliptic) |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| – ices dominate due to temp – light elements – condensation better (low temp) – larger mass and radius – lower density |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| only metals, silicates (rock), and heavy elements could exist - poor condensation (heat) – small mass – rocky (high density) – small radius (size) |
|
|
Term
Orbital semi major axis (a) – 1 AU – 150 million km
Orbital eccentricity (e) – 0.017
Perihelion – 0.98 AU
Aphelion – 1.02 AU
Mean (average) orbital speed – speed it moves around the Sun - 30 km/sOrbital inclination – 0.01°
Mass – 5.98 x 10²⁴ kg
Radius – 6378 km
Density – 5520 kg/m² (highest of all the planets)
ρ = M/VAxial tilt – 23.5°
Magnetic tilt – 11.5°
Albedo (fraction of light reflected from the Sun) – 0.37
Surface Temp – 290 K – 62° F
Moons – 1Surface gravity – 9.8 m/s²
Escape speed – 11.2 km/s
Rotation period – 23.9 hours (approx. 24 hours) |
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Definition
|
|
Term
Core - nickel and iron – high density
A. Inner core – solid (1300 km thick)
B. Outer core – liquid (2200 km thickMantle – silicates - Largest (2900 km thick)
Thin crust – silicates (5 to 50 km thick) |
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Definition
| Overall Structure of Planet Earth |
|
|
Term
A. Lithosphere – crust and upper mantle
B. Asthenosphere – mantle |
|
Definition
| The upper part of the mantle and the crust consists of two parts: |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| where convection takes place—responsible for weather |
|
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Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| lies in the stratosphere (25 km); absorbs ultraviolet radiation |
|
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Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| top of atmosphere; named because particles are ionized by Sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays |
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|
Term
Primary atmosphere was hydrogen, helium; also trace amounts of methane, ammonia, and water vapor; this escaped Earth’s gravity
Secondary atmosphere, from volcanic activity, contained water vapor, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen compounds
UV light from Sun split compounds into components (sulfur, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen)
Carbon and sulfur (rocks) - nitrogen and oxygen (atmosphere) – water vapor condensed
Life appeared, creating most of atmospheric oxygen and ozone |
|
Definition
| History of Earth’s atmosphere |
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|
Term
Nitrogen (N2) – 78%
Oxygen (O2) – 21%
Traces of: Argon (Ar) – 0.9%
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) – 0.03%
Water vapor (H2O) – varies 0.1% to 3%
The large amount of oxygen in our atmosphere is unique in the solar system. |
|
Definition
Composition - Today
(earth's) |
|
|
Term
Pressure waves (P waves) are longitudinal and will travel through both liquids and solids.
Shear waves (S waves) are transverse and will not travel through liquid, as liquids do not resist shear forces. |
|
Definition
| two types of seismic waves |
|
|
Term
Earth’s Magnetosphere
The magnetopause is the boundary of the magnetosphere |
|
Definition
| the region around the Earth where charged particles from the solar wind are trapped. Extends out 10 times the radius of the Earth |
|
|
Term
| James Van Allen (1914 – 2006) – American Physicist |
|
Definition
| These charged particles are trapped in areas called the Van Allen belts, where they spiral around the magnetic field lines |
|
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Term
|
Definition
Aurora borealis (Northern lights)
Aurora australis (Southern lights) |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| (Moon is full and new) the highest tides occur here |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| (Moon is first or third quarter) the lowest tides occur here |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| maximum point at which object is furthest from the Sun |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| Phases of Mercury can be seen best when Mercury is at its maximum elongation |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| rotation rate for the moon and mercury |
|
|
Term
| its rotation rate is the same as the time it takes to make one revolution, so the same side of the Moon always faces Earth |
|
Definition
| Moon is tidally locked to Earth |
|
|
Term
| Rather, Mercury’s day and year are in a 3:2 resonance; Mercury rotates three times while going around the Sun twice. Will never be 1:1 because of eccentricity. |
|
Definition
| Mercury was long thought to be tidally locked to the Sun; measurements in 1965 showed this to be false. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
Called Luna by the Romans (Latin) Moon is name – capitalized
Distance known by radar – parallax before
Brightest and largest object in the sky (besides Sun)
Orbits Earth
Semi major axis – 384,000 km
Eccentricity – 0.055
Mean Orbital Speed – 1.02 km/ |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| has an extremely thin atmosphere and is essentially a vacuum. It can be considered as having no atmosphere. |
|
|
Term
First spacecraft to fly past Moon: January 1959
First spacecraft to (crash) land on Moon: September 1959
First pictures of far side of Moon: October 1959 |
|
Definition
| Soviets had first contact with Moon: |
|
|
Term
First person on Moon: July 1969
Last person on Moon: December 1972 |
|
Definition
| The United States is (so far) the only country to send people to the Moon: |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| which means seas) - dark flat areas, due to lava flow. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| Thick layer of dust left by meteorite impacts |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| very large impact feature; weird terrain on opposite side of planet (mercury) |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| Mercury is much denser –than the Moon (large metal core) and has a weak magnetic field—not well understood! |
|
|
Term
| Glancing impact of Mars-sized body on the still-liquid Earth caused enough material, mostly from the mantle, to be ejected to form the Moon |
|
Definition
| Current theory of Moon’s origin |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| Formation of Moon; heavy bombardment liquefies surface |
|
|
Term
Venus is much brighter than Mercury, and is farther from the Sun
Called morning or evening star, as it is still “tied” to Sun
Brightest object in the sky, after Sun and Moon |
|
Definition
| orbital properties of venus |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| Earth’s sister planet – similar in size |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| has a magnetic field too small to be considered |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Rotation period (Sidereal): -243 days (negative means retrograde)
Orbital period: 225 days |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| Dense atmosphere and thick clouds make surface impossible to see and make the planet the hottest in the solar system. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
Surface is relatively smooth
No plate tectonics
Mountains, a few craters, many volcanoes and large lava flows
(planet) |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| volcanos in venus are mostly shield volcanos and they are active today |
|
|
Term
Carbon dioxide 96.5%
Nitrogen 3.5%
Trace of sulfur dioxide, water vapor, and carbon monoxide
Earth – 90% of atmosphere lies within 10 km
Venus – 90% of atmosphere lies within 50 km
90 times more massive of an atmosphere than earth |
|
Definition
| Atmosphere Composition: of venus |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| is the victim of a runaway greenhouse effect—just kept getting hotter and hotter as infrared radiation is reabsorbed |
|
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Term
|
Definition
No magnetic field, because rotation is so slow
Probably has similar core
No evidence for plate tectonics |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| orbit is fairly eccentric which affects amount of sunlight reaching it |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| bulge the size of north america on mars |
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Northern hemisphere (left) is rolling volcanic terrain
Southern hemisphere (right) is heavily cratered highlands; average altitude 5 km above northern |
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| Huge canyon, created by crustal forces mars |
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| Mars has largest volcano in solar system: |
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| Much of northern hemisphere may have been ocean |
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| Two ______ meteorites found in Antarctica show possible signs of microbial life, but evidence is disputed |
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| atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide (95.3%), and very thin (low pressure) |
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As water ice froze, Mars became more and more reflective and its atmosphere thinner and thinner, freezing more and more water and eventually carbon dioxide as well.
As a result, Mars may have had a thicker atmosphere and liquid water in the past, but they are now gone |
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| Mars may be victim of runaway greenhouse effect in the opposite sense of Venus’s: |
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Phobos - Fear -(left, 28 km x 20 km)
Deimos – Panic - (right, 16 km x 10 km)
Named for the son’s of Ares (Mars)
Captured from the asteroid belt: Both have 1:1 resonance |
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Surface gravity: 2.5 times the Earth
Escape speed: 5.3 times the Earth |
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| Fastest rate of all planets-causing rotational flattening |
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| Magnetic field – highest of all planets (14 times the Earth (surface)) |
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| planet with the most moons |
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Great Red Spot has existed for at least 300 years, possibly much longer
Color and energy source still not understood |
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Composition of Atmosphere
H – 86.1%
He – 13.8 %
Methane, ammonia, water vapor – 1% |
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| Most of its heat is from gravitational energy slowly released from the planet’s formation. |
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| Jupiter radiates more energy than it receives from the Sun, Why? |
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Central core
ice and rock
10,000 km thick - 2 times size of Earth
Highest density of planet |
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Rotation of planet causes magnetic field – Similar to Sun
Intrinsic field strength is 20,000 times that of Earth
Magnetosphere can extend beyond the orbit of Saturn |
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| Aurora are seen on Jupiter just as they are on Earth |
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| Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto (from closest to furthest from Jupiter) |
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| the four largest moons of jupiter (galilean) |
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| have similarities to terrestrial planets – solid, density decreases as distance from Jupiter increases |
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Largest moon in solar system – larger than the planet Mercury
Early plate tectonics – stopped 3 billion years ago – shown by grooves and ridges
Darker regions – older – original icy surface (similar to highlands on the Moon)
Lighter regions – younger – not as heavily cratered (similar to maria on Moon) |
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| First moon discovered to have magnetic field (1996) |
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| Ganymede, Callisto, Io, Europa |
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| Galilean moons From largest to smallest moons |
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| largest planet in solar system |
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Surface gravity: 2.5 times the Earth
Escape speed: 5.3 times the Earth |
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| Fastest rate of all planets-causing rotational flattening |
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| Magnetic field – highest of all planets (14 times the Earth (surface)) |
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| planet with the most moons |
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Great Red Spot has existed for at least 300 years, possibly much longer
Color and energy source still not understood |
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Term
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Definition
Composition of Atmosphere
H – 86.1%
He – 13.8 %
Methane, ammonia, water vapor – 1% |
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| Most of its heat is from gravitational energy slowly released from the planet’s formation. |
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Definition
| Jupiter radiates more energy than it receives from the Sun, Why? |
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Definition
Central core
ice and rock
10,000 km thick - 2 times size of Earth
Highest density of planet |
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Definition
Rotation of planet causes magnetic field – Similar to Sun
Intrinsic field strength is 20,000 times that of Earth
Magnetosphere can extend beyond the orbit of Saturn |
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Definition
| Aurora are seen on Jupiter just as they are on Earth |
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| Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto (from closest to furthest from Jupiter) |
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| the four largest moons of jupiter (galilean) |
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| have similarities to terrestrial planets – solid, density decreases as distance from Jupiter increases |
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Largest moon in solar system – larger than the planet Mercury
Early plate tectonics – stopped 3 billion years ago – shown by grooves and ridges
Darker regions – older – original icy surface (similar to highlands on the Moon)
Lighter regions – younger – not as heavily cratered (similar to maria on Moon) |
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| First moon discovered to have magnetic field (1996) |
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| Ganymede, Callisto, Io, Europa |
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| Galilean moons From largest to smallest moons |
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| largest planet in solar system |
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Mass: 5.7 × 1026 kg (95 times Earth)
Radius: 60,000 km (9.5 times Earth)
Density: 700 kg/m3 (lowest of the planets) - less than water! |
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Furthest planet known to Greeks
Named for Kronos - god of agriculture
Also was the Titan ruler and father of Jupiter |
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H – 92.4%
He – 7.4%
Methane – 0.2%
Ammonia – 0.2% |
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Details of formation are unknown:
Too active to have lasted since birth of solar system
Either must be continually replenished, or are the result of a catastrophic event |
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| critical distance from a gravitational body inside of which objects are pulled apart due to tidal forces. |
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Six medium-sized moons (Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, Rhea, and Iapetus)
One large moon (Titan) which is almost as large as Ganymede |
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Discovered by Christian Huygens in 1655.
Saturn’s largest moon – 2nd largest in S.S – half the size of Earth (larger than Moon and Mercury)
Titan’s atmosphere thicker and denser than Earth’s |
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90% - Nitrogen, 10% - Argon, traces of hydrocarbons, ethane, methane, carbon dioxide, and propane
trace chemicals in titan's atmosphere make it chemically complex |
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| Atmosphere composition: of titan |
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Active geysers
Strongest evidence for liquid ocean under surface –increases odds of life in S.S
May contain organic chemicals – ingredients for life
How is it heated? (liquid water) Mostly radioactivity and tidal forces |
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| The brightest object in the sky is the sun; next comes the moon. The third brightest object is a planet. Name that planet. |
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| Planets shine by reflecting the sun's light. |
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Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
c. My Very Energetic Mom Just Sliced Up Nectarines |
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| Name the eight planets which go around the sun in their correct order. |
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| Mercury has the shortest year (88 Earth days), and Neptune has the longest year (165 Earth years). |
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| Name the planet with the shortest year and the planet with the longest year. |
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| Venus is the hottest, while Neptune is the coldest. |
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| In the solar system, which planet would be the hottest one to live on, and which planet would be the coldest one to live on? |
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| Which planet rotates the fastest? |
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| Jupiter (5 rings), Saturn (7 major ring systems, totaling in excess of 100,000 individual rings and at least a half dozen minor rings), Uranus (12 rings), Neptune (6 rings) |
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| Name the four planets that astronomers are positive have rings around them. |
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| Which planet has the shortest day? |
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| Which planets in our solar system have volcanoes on their surfaces? |
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| Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars |
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| Name the four hard and rocky planets in the solar system. Astronauts, if they landed on them, would be able to walk on their hard surfaces. |
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| Name the two planets that have no moons. |
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| Give the name of the spacecraft that is currently headed towards Pluto. |
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| Which planet was the first one to be discovered with a telescope? |
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| Please give the name of the American who discovered Pluto. |
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| Name two dwarf planets in our solar system. |
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| What makes a comet look like a comet? |
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| Name the only planet in the solar system to have ever experienced a major comet crash that was seen from the Earth. |
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| Hans Lippershey (1570-1619), a Dutch optician invented the telescope in 1608. |
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| State the name of the person who invented the telescope |
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| What is the closest planet to the Sun? |
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| What is the name of the 2nd biggest planet in our solar system? |
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| 3. What is the hottest planet in our solar system? |
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| What is the name of the first satellite sent into space? |
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| Ganymede is a moon of which planet? |
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| What is the name of Saturn’s largest moon? |
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| Olympus Mons is a large volcanic mountain on which planet? |
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| all the planets in the solar system are estimated to be |
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| the ____ galaxy is both the nearest barred spiral galaxy and the most distant object that can be seen with the naked eye |
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