Download Other Objects in the Solar System

Other Objects in the Solar
System (13.15)
Planetary Moons
Large natural objects that revolve around
planets are called satellites or moons.
Moons range in size, shape, terrain, and
geological activity just like planets.
Several planets have more than one moon.
Probably the most famous satellite of any
planet is Earth’s Moon.
The moon has no atmosphere, and its surface is
filled with fills and valleys, as well as craters
caused by the impact of large and small
objects from space.
Planetary Moon Count (2007)
Planet
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
# of known
moons
0
0
1
2
63
33
29
13
3
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets
Asteroids
There is an asteroid
belt between the
orbits of Mars and
Jupiter.
Thousands of small
rocky objects, high in
minerals, called
asteroids revolve
around the Sun
together.
Very small – 1000km
width max.
Meteoroids and Meteors, and
Meteorites
A meteoroid is any lump of rock or metal that is
being pulled to the Earth by Earth’s gravity.
As it falls, it rubs against the molecules of the
air. This rubbing, causes the rock to become
hot and vaporize, and the air to glow. This is
called a meteor, a bright streak of light
across the sky. (shooting star)
A meteorite is a rock which does not completely
burn up and hits the Earth and creates a
crater.
Where do meteoroids come from?
The largest are probably asteroids in orbits
that cross Earth’s orbit. The millions of tiny
meteoroids that produce spectacular displays
called meteor showers (shooting stars)
probably come from the debris left behind by
comets.
3 most active Meteor shower:
Aug. 12th Dec. 14th Jan. 3th or 4th
Comets
A comet is a chunk of frozen
matter that travels in a very
long orbit around the Sun.
Haley’s comet circles once every
76 years. (1986)
The glowing tail of a comet is
the melting of the comets
core which produces gases.
The gases always point away
from the Sun and the gaseous
tail only happens near the Sun.
The bright, glowing tail may be
over millions of kilometers
long.
http://www.standrews.ac.uk/~bds2/ltsn/ljm
/JAVA/COMETORB/COMET.
HTM
In Conclusion
In our Solar system, the planets and the
Sun are considered the major bodies
while comets, meteoroids, asteroids,
and moons are considered minor bodies.
Questions p. 433: 1,2,3,5
1.
a) What is an asteroid?
An asteroid is a fairly small, irregular, rocky object
that travels in an orbit around the Sun.
b) Where is the asteroid belt?
The asteroid belt is located between Mars and
Jupiter.
2. a) Explain the difference between a meteoroid and a
meteorite.
A meteoroid is a lump of rock or metal that is pulled
by Earth’s gravity through the atmosphere. A
meteorite is a meteoroid that was large enough to
land on Earth’s surface before it vapourized.
b) Why are meteorites less common than meteors?
Most meteors vapourize before they get to Earth.
3.Describe what causes the glowing tails
of the comets.
Comets’ tails are caused when the
comets get close to the Sun. The outer
layers of ice turn into gases that are
pushed away from the Sun by solar wind.
These gases glow brightly.
4.When will Haley’s comet next be close
enough to the Sun to be seen?
2062 (1986 + 76)
****Quiz Next day****
Quiz Review
• Pg. 434 Questions 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 12,