Solar System Solar System

By: Nina By: Nina

2/12/09 2/12/09

Period 3Period 3

Sun is a star Sun is a star 1.1. A Source of Light and heat, the sun is a giant ball of glowing A Source of Light and heat, the sun is a giant ball of glowing

gas. The picture at left shows the sun with a huge solar gas. The picture at left shows the sun with a huge solar prominence. Do not ever view the sun without special eye prominence. Do not ever view the sun without special eye protection or filters.protection or filters.

2.2. Staring at the sun can permanently blind your eyes!The sun is Staring at the sun can permanently blind your eyes!The sun is mostly hydrogen with about 10% helium and other elements. mostly hydrogen with about 10% helium and other elements.

3.3. The nuclear reaction in the core changes the hydrogen to The nuclear reaction in the core changes the hydrogen to helium and releases tremendous amounts of energy as light, helium and releases tremendous amounts of energy as light, heat, x-rays, and high speed particles. As this happens the heat, x-rays, and high speed particles. As this happens the constant churning of the gases causes an intense magnetic field constant churning of the gases causes an intense magnetic field and other effects. Sunspots, solar winds, prominences and flares and other effects. Sunspots, solar winds, prominences and flares

are some of these effects.are some of these effects.

Mercury Mercury 4.4. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun.

5.5. Mercury is a battered and baked planet just larger than Earth's Mercury is a battered and baked planet just larger than Earth's moon. Evidence of heavy bombardment from the chaos of the moon. Evidence of heavy bombardment from the chaos of the formation of the solar system is left in the hundreds of craters and formation of the solar system is left in the hundreds of craters and resulting lava flows on this small, barren planet. resulting lava flows on this small, barren planet.

6.6. The largest crater is Beethoven at 643 km in diameter and is the The largest crater is Beethoven at 643 km in diameter and is the largest in the solar system. largest in the solar system.

7.7. The largest feature, Caloris Basin, is 1300 km in diameter and was The largest feature, Caloris Basin, is 1300 km in diameter and was probably caused by an impact from an object larger than 100 km in probably caused by an impact from an object larger than 100 km in diameter.diameter.

8.8. Some craters have ice in them even though the planet is so hot Some craters have ice in them even though the planet is so hot because the sun never reaches into the shadows due to the planet's because the sun never reaches into the shadows due to the planet's tilt and orbit. tilt and orbit.

9.9. With no atmosphere, there is a temperature difference of about 600 With no atmosphere, there is a temperature difference of about 600 degrees between the coldest spots and hottest spots on the planet.degrees between the coldest spots and hottest spots on the planet.

10.10. Mercury orbits the sun in about 88 Earth days but takes 58 Earth Mercury orbits the sun in about 88 Earth days but takes 58 Earth days to rotate once. On this planet a year takes a (Mercury) day and days to rotate once. On this planet a year takes a (Mercury) day and a halfa half!!

Venus Venus

11.11. The brightest of all planets, Venus, is also known as the The brightest of all planets, Venus, is also known as the Morning Star and the Evening Star. Morning Star and the Evening Star.

12.12. This planet is about the same size as Earth but is covered This planet is about the same size as Earth but is covered with impenetrable clouds of carbon dioxide and sulfur with impenetrable clouds of carbon dioxide and sulfur compounds. compounds.

13.13. Radar mapping of the planet shows lots of craters and Radar mapping of the planet shows lots of craters and that 90% of the landforms are volcanic. that 90% of the landforms are volcanic.

14.14. Venus spins slowly retrograde (backwards west to east) in Venus spins slowly retrograde (backwards west to east) in 243 days and takes about 225 days to orbit the sun. This 243 days and takes about 225 days to orbit the sun. This makes the daytime about 115 days which can raise makes the daytime about 115 days which can raise surface temperatures up to 464° C., it is the hottest plant surface temperatures up to 464° C., it is the hottest plant of the solar system.of the solar system.

Earth Earth

15. 15. Earth, our home planet is teeming with life and wonderous Earth, our home planet is teeming with life and wonderous

things.things.

Mars Mars

16.16. Mars has a very thin atmosphere, mostly carbon Mars has a very thin atmosphere, mostly carbon dioxide, but dust storms can cover the whole planet for dioxide, but dust storms can cover the whole planet for months at a time. About every two years the Earth and months at a time. About every two years the Earth and Mars come close together. The planet has two moons, Mars come close together. The planet has two moons, Diemos and Phobos.Diemos and Phobos.

Jupiter Jupiter 17.17. Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system.Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. 18.18. Jupiter takes about 12 years to orbit the sun and rotates in Jupiter takes about 12 years to orbit the sun and rotates in

about 10 hours. about 10 hours.

19.19. This short Jupiter "day" is amazing since the planet is roughly 11 This short Jupiter "day" is amazing since the planet is roughly 11 Earth diameters wide. Earth diameters wide.

20.20. Unlike the rocky planets, Jupiter is a ball of dense hydrogen, Unlike the rocky planets, Jupiter is a ball of dense hydrogen, helium, water, nitrogen and other gases over a tiny rocky core. helium, water, nitrogen and other gases over a tiny rocky core.

21.21. Powerful winds dominate the atmosphere with criss-crossing jet Powerful winds dominate the atmosphere with criss-crossing jet streams, lightning and huge hurricane-like storms like the Great streams, lightning and huge hurricane-like storms like the Great Red Spot. This storm has been raging for over 300 years and is Red Spot. This storm has been raging for over 300 years and is about 2 Earth diameters wide. The Great Red Spot can be seen about 2 Earth diameters wide. The Great Red Spot can be seen on Jupiter along with four moons: Io (smallest), Europa, Callisto on Jupiter along with four moons: Io (smallest), Europa, Callisto

and Ganymede in this NASA image.and Ganymede in this NASA image.

Saturn Saturn 22.22. Saturn and some of its moons can be seen in the composite image Saturn and some of its moons can be seen in the composite image

at left. at left. 23.23. Four more moons were found in late 2000 and 9 more were Four more moons were found in late 2000 and 9 more were

discovered recently for a total of 31.discovered recently for a total of 31.24.24. Scientists are tracking more objects that may be additional moons.Scientists are tracking more objects that may be additional moons.25.25. The Voyager missions found winds, magnetic field, auroras and The Voyager missions found winds, magnetic field, auroras and

lightning on the planet similar to Jupiter. lightning on the planet similar to Jupiter. 26.26. Also, the planet has light colored cloud bands (zones) and darker Also, the planet has light colored cloud bands (zones) and darker

bands (belts) like the larger gas giant.The facinating ring system bands (belts) like the larger gas giant.The facinating ring system observed by Galileo in 1610 is only begining to be understood.observed by Galileo in 1610 is only begining to be understood.

27.27. At first thought to be a solid ring it is now known to be thousands of At first thought to be a solid ring it is now known to be thousands of water ice particles with some chunks as big as a small car.water ice particles with some chunks as big as a small car.

28.28. The rings are held in place by moons that "shephard" the particles The rings are held in place by moons that "shephard" the particles and keep them in a series of ringlets. Some gaps like the Casinni and keep them in a series of ringlets. Some gaps like the Casinni Division separate the ringlets called the "A Ring", "B Ring" and so Division separate the ringlets called the "A Ring", "B Ring" and so on. The Cassini/Huygens spacecraft will pass through between the on. The Cassini/Huygens spacecraft will pass through between the "F" and "G" rings on its way to orbit Saturn (see below)."F" and "G" rings on its way to orbit Saturn (see below).

Uranus Uranus 29.29. The icy planet Uranus is a smaller version of Jupiter and The icy planet Uranus is a smaller version of Jupiter and

not the small rocky bodies like Earth. not the small rocky bodies like Earth. 30.30. It have faint rings and a number of moons. Uranus takes It have faint rings and a number of moons. Uranus takes

some 84 years to orbit the sun. some 84 years to orbit the sun. 31.31. It rotates on its side and so half the time one pole is It rotates on its side and so half the time one pole is

toward the sun and then the other making each of the toward the sun and then the other making each of the four seasons last about 20 years. four seasons last about 20 years.

32.32. The faint bluish color of the planet is because the The faint bluish color of the planet is because the methane gas in the atmosphere absorbs red light and methane gas in the atmosphere absorbs red light and reflects blue light.reflects blue light.

Neptune Neptune 33.33. Blue Neptune is one of the solar system's gas giants. Blue Neptune is one of the solar system's gas giants. 34.34. Unlike Earth, gas giants are mostly hydrogen, helium, and Unlike Earth, gas giants are mostly hydrogen, helium, and

methane gases. methane gases. 35.35. The methane gas on Neptune gives the planet its blue color The methane gas on Neptune gives the planet its blue color

because the gas absorbs red light and reflects the blue back because the gas absorbs red light and reflects the blue back into space. into space.

36.36. Although not seen in the image the planet has a set of very faint Although not seen in the image the planet has a set of very faint rings.The Great Dark Spot, the dark oval on the planet, was a rings.The Great Dark Spot, the dark oval on the planet, was a storm like the Great Red Spot on Jupiter. storm like the Great Red Spot on Jupiter.

37.37. The storm has disappeared since this image was taken by The storm has disappeared since this image was taken by Voyager 2 according to Hubble Space Telescope data but Voyager 2 according to Hubble Space Telescope data but another spot was found in a different place. another spot was found in a different place.

38.38. The atmosphere shows lots of activity including the white clouds The atmosphere shows lots of activity including the white clouds of methane ice crystals seen in the image at left.of methane ice crystals seen in the image at left.

39.39. The unusual texture of one of Neptune's moons, Triton, reminds The unusual texture of one of Neptune's moons, Triton, reminds some people of a cantaloupe. some people of a cantaloupe.

40.40. It is the largest moon to orbit retrograde (backwards) around a It is the largest moon to orbit retrograde (backwards) around a planet.planet.

Pluto Pluto 41.41. Pluto is a small rocky object that lies at the very edge of Pluto is a small rocky object that lies at the very edge of

the solar system. the solar system. 42.42. The planet is so far out it takes light from the sun about 5 The planet is so far out it takes light from the sun about 5

and one half hours to reach Pluto in contrast to the 8 and one half hours to reach Pluto in contrast to the 8 minutes it takes to reach Earth. minutes it takes to reach Earth.

43.43. Its orbit of about 248 years sometimes takes it inside Its orbit of about 248 years sometimes takes it inside Neptune’s orbit. Neptune’s orbit.

44.44. Pluto is so cold that nitrogen and oxygen, which we Pluto is so cold that nitrogen and oxygen, which we breathe so easily on Earth, become frozen solid. Tbreathe so easily on Earth, become frozen solid. T

45.45. he planet is only about two-thirds the size of our moon he planet is only about two-thirds the size of our moon and up until recently was the biggest known object in the and up until recently was the biggest known object in the Kuiper Belt.Kuiper Belt.

Moon Moon

46.46. The Moon is our only natural satellite. The Moon is our only natural satellite.

THE ENDTHE END