The Solar SystemThe Solar System

General Characteristics of Solar SystemGeneral Characteristics of Solar System

All planets revolve around Sun All planets revolve around Sun counterclockwise counterclockwise

All planets except Venus rotate on axis All planets except Venus rotate on axis counterclockwise counterclockwise

All planets orbits lie in plane of ecliptic All planets orbits lie in plane of ecliptic

Axes of planets except Uranus perpendicular Axes of planets except Uranus perpendicular to ecliptic to ecliptic

Compositional variation (Inner planets - Compositional variation (Inner planets - Terrestrial; Outer planets - Gaseous) Terrestrial; Outer planets - Gaseous)

Solar System FormationSolar System Formation

Planetary Planetary Composition:Composition:

Terrestrial vs JovianTerrestrial vs Jovian

Age of the Solar SystemAge of the Solar System

Age of EarthAge of Earth

Oldes

t Roc

k

Oldest Rock: 4.28 Billion YearsOldest Rock: 4.28 Billion Years

The Nuvvuagittuq Belton the coast of theHudson Bay in Northern Quebec

Oldest Mineral: 4.4 Billion YearsOldest Mineral: 4.4 Billion Years

The Jack Hills of Western Australia

Radiogenic Radiogenic Heating of EarthHeating of Earth

DifferentiationDifferentiation

Origin of the MoonOrigin of the Moon

The Solar SystemThe Solar System

The SunThe Sun

Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 332,830332,830

Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 109109

Mean DensityMean Density 1.411.41

Mean SurfaceMean SurfaceTemperatureTemperature

6,000°C6,000°C

Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)

25-3625-36

CompositionComposition Hydrogen Hydrogen 92.1%92.1%

Helium 7.8%Helium 7.8%

Structure of the SunStructure of the Sun

InteriorInterior• Core: Core: Fusion of H to HeFusion of H to He

• Radiative ZoneRadiative ZoneEnergy Transported by Energy Transported by PhotonsPhotons

• Convection ZoneConvection ZoneEnergy Transported by Energy Transported by ConvectionConvection

AtmosphereAtmosphere• Photosphere: Photosphere: Visual Visual

SurfaceSurface

• Chromosphere: Chromosphere: Lower Lower Atmosphere; Faint Red GlowAtmosphere; Faint Red Glow

• Corona: Corona: Outer Atmosphere; Outer Atmosphere; Plasma Cloud; Over 1,000,000°CPlasma Cloud; Over 1,000,000°C

Chromosphere and CoronaChromosphere and Coronaduring Eclipseduring Eclipse

MercuryMercury

Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 0.050.05

Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 0.380.38

Mean DensityMean Density 5.425.42

Mean SurfaceMean SurfaceTemperatureTemperature

179°C179°C

Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)

0.390.39

Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)

58.658.6

Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 88.088.0

Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 0.00.0

MercuryMercury

VenusVenus

Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 0.810.81Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 0.950.95Mean DensityMean Density 5.255.25Mean SurfaceMean SurfaceTemperatureTemperature

482°C482°C

Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)

0.720.72

Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)

243243

Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 225225Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 177177

VenusVenus

VenusVenus

EarthEarth

Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 11

Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 11

Mean DensityMean Density 5.525.52

Mean SurfaceMean SurfaceTemperatureTemperature

15°C15°C

Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)

11

Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)

11

Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 365365

Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 2323

MarsMars

Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 1.071.07

Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 0.530.53

Mean DensityMean Density 3.943.94

Mean SurfaceMean SurfaceTemperatureTemperature

-63°C-63°C

Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)

1.521.52

Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)

1.021.02

Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 687687

Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 2525

MarsMars

Planetary Cores and Magnetic FieldsPlanetary Cores and Magnetic Fields

MarsMars

JupiterJupiter

Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 318318

Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 11.211.2

Mean DensityMean Density 1.331.33

Mean Cloud Mean Cloud TemperatureTemperature

-121°C-121°C

Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)

5.25.2

Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)

0.410.41

Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 43334333

Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 33

JupiterJupiter

IoIo

EuropaEuropa

SaturnSaturn

Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 95.295.2

Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 9.459.45

Mean DensityMean Density 1.291.29

Mean Cloud Mean Cloud TemperatureTemperature

-125°C-125°C

Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)

9.549.54

Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)

0.430.43

Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 10,75310,753

Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 2525

SaturnSaturn

EnceladusEnceladus

UranusUranus

Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 1.451.45

Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 4.014.01

Mean DensityMean Density 1.291.29

Mean Cloud Mean Cloud TemperatureTemperature

-193°C-193°C

Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)

19.219.2

Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)

0.750.75

Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 30,66430,664

Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 9898

NeptuneNeptune

Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 1.711.71

Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 3.883.88

Mean DensityMean Density 1.641.64

Mean Cloud Mean Cloud TemperatureTemperature

-193°C-193°C

Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)

30.130.1

Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)

0.670.67

Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 60,15260,152

Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 3030

PlutoPluto

Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 0.0220.022

Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 0.180.18

Mean DensityMean Density 2.052.05

Mean Cloud Mean Cloud TemperatureTemperature

Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)

39.539.5

Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)

6.46.4

Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 90,71790,717

Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 123123

Pluto and CharonPluto and Charon

Definition of a PlanetDefinition of a Planet Set in Set in 20062006 by the by the

International Astronomical UnionInternational Astronomical Union (IAU) (IAU) states that in the states that in the Solar SystemSolar System a a planetplanet is is a a celestial bodycelestial body that: that:

• is in is in orbitorbit around the around the SunSun, ,

• has sufficient mass to assume has sufficient mass to assume hydrostatic equilibriumhydrostatic equilibrium (a nearly round shape), (a nearly round shape), and and

• has "has "cleared the cleared the neighbourhoodneighbourhood" around its " around its orbit. orbit.

Kuiper Belt and Oort CloudKuiper Belt and Oort Cloud