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A Closer Look at the Planets of our Solar System. Describe origin of planets. Name the planets. Know some facts about each planet. KEY WORDS Gas giants Terrestrial M V E Mo J S U N P. Planets are smaller than stars and do not emit light. Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) – 1983
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Describe origin of planets. • Name the planets. • Know some facts about each planet. • KEY WORDS • Gas giants Terrestrial • M V E Mo J S U N P
Planets are smaller than stars and do not emit light. • Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) – 1983 • found large cloud of particles around star Vega. • first evidence of solid matter around a star • (other than the Sun) • Astronomers think clouds of matter are first stage in formation of planets. • Hubble Space Telescope has obtained images of planetary systems being formed.
Formation of the Solar System • Nebula made mostly of hydrogen and helium. • Iron, rock and ice made up about 1%. • Matter from explosions of nearby supernova. • Outer region • Gases cooled and condensed • Attracted by gravity, clustered together. • Formed the Gas giants planets. • Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are mainly composed of these materials.
Nebula • hydrogen and helium. • Iron, rock and ice Attracted by gravity, clustered together.
Inner region • Gases in the inner region too hot to condense. • Chunks of iron and rock collide and stick together. • Forming Terrestrial planets. • Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are composed of rock and iron, with little helium and hydrogen.
Mercury • Closest to the Sun • Receives sunlight 10x brighter than Earth • Day temperatures over 400°C • No atmosphere - so night temp fall to -180°C • Many craters suggests collisions. • Seen few times a year, before sunrise/after sunset • Day – 59 Earth days • Year – 88 Earth days • It rotates so slowly that it’s year is • not even 2 days long.
Venus • 3rd brightest object in the sky (Sun/Moon brighter). • Thick CO2 atmosphere reflects sunlight. • CO2traps Sun’s heat (greenhouse). • Hot surface seems to glow in the dark - + 465°C. • Many volcanoes eject tonnes of sulphur. • Clouds of sulphuric acid makes – acid rain. • Day – 243 Earth days • Year – 225 Earth days • It’s year is shorter than it’s day.
Earth • Ideally suited for life as we know it. • Atmosphere is mostly nitrogen, oxygen, water. • Ozone filters some damaging radiation from Sun. • Atmosphere stabilizes temperatures. • Ranges from -85°C (poles), to +65°C (equator). • Water covers about 70% of Earth’s surface. • Generally stable surface – some volcanoes, earth quakes. • Day – 1 Earth days • Year – 365 1/4 Earth days
Mars • Bright - iron oxide dirt makes it look reddish. • Very dry and barren (now). • May have had glaciers and water. • Most studied planet – no signs of life… yet. • Olympus Mons - biggest volcano/mountain in • our Solar System • Of all planets, Mars is most like Earth. • Surface temp ranges from -120°C to +30°C • Day – 1 Earth days • Year – 687 Earth days
The Outer Planets • Asteroid Belt separates the inner and outer planets • These planets appear to lack solid surfaces, but theses gases may become liquid or solid deeper inside the atmosphere. • Cores may contain metals (as do the inner planets).
Jupiter • Largest of the planets (11x bigger than Earth). • Greater mass than all other planets combined. • Coloured bands - streams of gas clouds moving • at different speeds. • Great Red Spot is a continuing hurricane storm. • Has 63 moons (2006) • Temp around -160°C • Has ring of rocks cannot be seen from Earth. • Day – 10 Earth hours • Year – 11.9 Earth years
Saturn • 2nd largest of the planets. • Least dense – very light for size – may not even have a solid core. • Very windy – rotates very fast. • Temp around -180°C • Rings stretch from Earth to Moon. • Has over 1000 rings – could be crushed moon. • Has at least 60 moons (2006) • Day – 11 Earth hours • Year – 29.5 Earth years
Uranus • Rotates on its side. • Atmosphere much like other gas giants. • Extremely cold -210°C • Has several narrow, dark rings. • Has 27 moons • Day – 17 Earth hours • Year – 84 Earth years
Neptune • Only discovered because its gravity “tugs” on Uranus’s orbit causing changes. • Looked for another planet – found Neptune. • Blue and white – methane in atmosphere. • The Great Dark Spot is a gigantic storm. • Extremely cold -220°C • Has some thin rings. • Has 13 moons • Day – 16 Earth hours • Year – 165 Earth years
Pluto • Reclassed as a dwarf planet in 2006. • (International Astronomical Union) • Orbit is squished – it crosses Neptune and is sometimes closer to Sun (1979 – 1999) • No atmosphere – not a Gas giant. • Extremely cold -220°C • Has 3 moons! • Day – 6 Earth days • Year – 248 Earth years • Scientists have found other • dwarf planets – some bigger.