Our Solar System

1. Our Solar System An introduction to our planets

3. The Sun • At the Center (and we do go around it …..) • 99.85% mass of Solar System • 92% H / 8% He • Source of solar wind and space weather Image:http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03149

4. Inner Planets • “Terrestrial Planets” • Rocky • Dense • Metal cores (iron) Images: Lunar and Planetary Laboratory: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?IM_ID=178

5. Asteroids Ida • “Minor planets” or “planetoids” less than 1000 km across • Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter • Occasionally run into Earth and other planets (oops) Image: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?IM_ID=2093

6. Outer Planets • Large! • Gases and liquids • No solid surface • May have a small solid core • Tumultuous atmospheres - rapid winds, large storms • Rotate relatively quickly Image: Lunar and Planetary Laboratory: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?IM_ID=178

7. Kuiper Belt • Disk of debris at the edge of our Solar System • Pluto is a KB Object (sorry!) • Source of short-period comets

8. MERCURY • Closest planet to the Sun, but not the hottest due to lack of an atmosphere • Smallest planet in the Solar System • Surface covered in craters, just like Earth's Moon; solid iron core(3/4) surrounded by liquid iron and silicate mantle • Temperature (up to 350°c on its sunlit side and -170°c on its dark side) • One year lasts for only 88 Earth days • One day takes 59 Earth days

9. VENUS • For years, Venus was called Earth's Sister Planet or Twin • Named after the ancient Roman god of love • Very heavy atmosphere (97% CO2, sulfuric acid clouds) • 896OF….that’s HOT!

10. EARTH • Three layers: core, mantle, crust • Atmosphere has five layers, which together serve to block harmful rays and insulate/regulate temperature • Only planet that we know of that is capable of sustaining life

11. MARS • About half the size of Earth, but is most Earth-like • Thin atmosphere is being blown away by Sun’s wind • Is reddish in color due to the iron oxide - commonly known as rust - that is in the soil. • Could possibly be made habitable by man

12. Asteroid Belt • Asteroids are left over materials from the formation of the Solar System.  These materials were never incorporated into a planet because of their proximity to Jupiter's strong gravity.

13. JUPITER • Gas giant (huge atmosphere) • Liquid rock core, liquid mantle, liquid • nitrogen, hydrogen and helium gases • Largest planet (1320 Earths) • Great Red Spot (immense storm) • Most moons of all planets (63) • Named after Roman god of lightning (king of the gods)

14. SATURN • Gas planet (least dense planet) • Structure is very similar to Jupiter • Atmosphere is also mostly hydrogen and helium • Great white spot(?) • Magnificent rings likely caused by a collision between two of its satellites

15. URANUS • Gas giant • Liquid rock core surrounded by an “ocean” of hydrogen, helium, and water, with small amounts of ammonia and methane • Bland, almost featureless atmosphere made of hydrogen, helium, methane and ammonia • Only planet that rotates on its side! • Named after Greek god of the heavens

16. Neptune • “Twin” of Uranus, except that its atmosphere has much more detail • Unique Great Dark Spot (not much known) • Named after the ancient Roman god of the sea

18. Relationship between distance and speed

19. Relationship between distance and speed

22. Solar System Overview FYI … Distance Not To Scale … Image: Lunar and Planetary Laboratory: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?IM_ID=178