Introduction to the Solar System

BY: The Black River Astronomical Society

http://www.BlackRiverAstro.org

Do You Know?

• Do other solar systems exist???

Do You Know?

• Do other solar systems exist???

In the last few years Scientists have discovered over 500 separate Solar Systems in Space.

GOAL

• To be able to describe the bodies found in our solar system and the way in which they move

Become a planet expert………

• 1. Numbered position from sun

• 2. Inner or outer planet?

• 3. Describe surface? What is it made of?

• 4. Number of moons? Rings?

• 5. Temperature

• 6. Any other interesting info

The planets

• Mercury• Venus• Earth• Mars• Jupiter• Saturn• Uranus• Neptune

Planetary Distances

• Distances between planets measured in Astronomical Units (AU)

• 1 AU= distance from Earth to the Sun (150 million km)

Planetary Orbits

• Planets revolve around the sun in elliptical orbits (oval)

• http://www.amastro.org/at/pl/plo.html

Formation of the Solar System

• The solar system formed from a huge swirling cloud of gases and dust specks. The mass fell to the center and became a star (SUN)

• Some of the dust and frozen gases stuck together in clumps (large clumps became planets)

MERCURY- The god of commerce and thievery

• Closest to sun• Hot days, cold nights• Rocky surface• Revolves quick• No rings or moons• Slow rotation• Iron/metal core

VENUS- God of Love and Beauty

• 2nd from sun• Slow rotation- backwards• Solid rock• Clouds- greenhouse effect• No rings or moons• Metal core

EARTH

• 3rd from sun• Moderate temps• Metal core, rocky surface• One moon, no rings• Life, liquid water

MARS- God of War

• 4th from sun• Rust color w/ pink sky• Icecaps• Metal core, rocky surface• No rings, 2 moons

JUPITER- King of Gods

• 5th from sun• Largest• Gas surface, rock core• Colored clouds, storms• Thin ring, 12 moons• Great red spot• Shortest day - 10 hrs

SATURN- Father of Jupiter

• 6th from Sun• Least dense, made of gas• Large, spins quick• High winds• 7 rings, 18 moons

URANUS- God of the Heavens

• 7th from Sun• Large, gaseous• Blue, thick clouds• Rock & ice• 15 moons, 11 rings• Spins sideways

NEPTUNE- God of the Sea

• 8th from sun• Large, gaseous• Windiest, scooter cloud• Great dark spot• 8 moons, 4 rings• Rock core

Inner vs. Outer Planets

• INNER PLANETS– Hard, rocky surface

– Atmosphere

– Metal core

– Warm temps

– No/few moons

– No rings

– Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

• OUTER PLANETS– Gaseous surface– Giant size– Colorful clouds– Many moons– Many rings– Cold/icy temps– Exception: Pluto– Jupiter, Saturn,

Uranus, Neptune

PLUTO- God of the Underworld

• 9th from Sun• Cold, ice and rock surface• Eccentric orbit• No longer a planet• Moon-Charon

Assessment

• Which planet is the largest?• Which planet is fourth from the sun?• Which planet is known as the double planet and

why?• Name the four inner planets• What is one characteristic of all/most outer planets• What is one characteristic of all/most inner planets