The Solar System Beyond The Planets
... refract light from the occulted star away from the direction to the observer. In either case, the key uncertainty is the distance between the 1250 km reference radius probed by occultations and the surface, and this distance remains unknown. If we assume that the radius derived from mutual events is ...
... refract light from the occulted star away from the direction to the observer. In either case, the key uncertainty is the distance between the 1250 km reference radius probed by occultations and the surface, and this distance remains unknown. If we assume that the radius derived from mutual events is ...
The Time of Day
... (Unit 13). Although the Sun’s position determines the day–night cycle, it is not a stable reference for measuring Earth’s spin. We can avoid most of the variation in the day’s length if, instead of using the Sun, we use a star as our reference. For example, if we pick a star that crosses our meridia ...
... (Unit 13). Although the Sun’s position determines the day–night cycle, it is not a stable reference for measuring Earth’s spin. We can avoid most of the variation in the day’s length if, instead of using the Sun, we use a star as our reference. For example, if we pick a star that crosses our meridia ...
Measuring the Size of the Astronomical Unit (AU)
... accurately until the 18th century, and the first measurements that gave values close to today’s accepted value of 150,000,000 km were not made until the late 19th century. The distance of the astronomical unit (AU) has direct bearing on the scale of the solar system. Even though Kepler’s Laws can be ...
... accurately until the 18th century, and the first measurements that gave values close to today’s accepted value of 150,000,000 km were not made until the late 19th century. The distance of the astronomical unit (AU) has direct bearing on the scale of the solar system. Even though Kepler’s Laws can be ...
The Evolution of Coronal X
... flares, coronal mass ejections etc. interact(ed) with planetary systems. The properties of the early Sun in this regard may be responsible for the way the atmospheres of planets in the inner solar system have turned out (i.e. photoionisation/photodissociation can change chemistry, X-ray/EUV radiatio ...
... flares, coronal mass ejections etc. interact(ed) with planetary systems. The properties of the early Sun in this regard may be responsible for the way the atmospheres of planets in the inner solar system have turned out (i.e. photoionisation/photodissociation can change chemistry, X-ray/EUV radiatio ...
PLANETESIMALS TO BROWN DWARFS: What is a Planet?
... ideal definition would not depend on specific knowledge or examples that will change as we learn more, although the definition of planet has already changed multiple times over the centuries of usage. Any definition should differentiate planets from other objects they might be confused with, preferably ...
... ideal definition would not depend on specific knowledge or examples that will change as we learn more, although the definition of planet has already changed multiple times over the centuries of usage. Any definition should differentiate planets from other objects they might be confused with, preferably ...
Sun’s size vs. other stars some, smaller than others
... During the early years of the development of spectroscopy it was discovered that "invisible" rays were emanating from the Sun. In 1800 William Herschel investigated the heating power of rays in the solar spectrum. He found that the maximum heating effect was located just beyond the visible red end o ...
... During the early years of the development of spectroscopy it was discovered that "invisible" rays were emanating from the Sun. In 1800 William Herschel investigated the heating power of rays in the solar spectrum. He found that the maximum heating effect was located just beyond the visible red end o ...
SELF-TEST: True or False? 1. The Sun is a rather
... 1. The Sun is a rather normal star. HINT 2. The average density of the Sun is significantly greater than the density of the Earth. HINT 3. The Sun's diameter is about 10 times that of Earth. HINT 4. The Sun's differential rotation indicates that it is not solid. HINT 5. In the solar radiation zone, ...
... 1. The Sun is a rather normal star. HINT 2. The average density of the Sun is significantly greater than the density of the Earth. HINT 3. The Sun's diameter is about 10 times that of Earth. HINT 4. The Sun's differential rotation indicates that it is not solid. HINT 5. In the solar radiation zone, ...
02. Earth in space
... Although we were able to explain Earth's position in space, the unique nature of our planet was not driven home until we were able to look at our home from the outside. The astronauts aboard the Apollo 8 spacecraft were the first to glimpse our home planet from space (Fig. 2). While orbiting the Moo ...
... Although we were able to explain Earth's position in space, the unique nature of our planet was not driven home until we were able to look at our home from the outside. The astronauts aboard the Apollo 8 spacecraft were the first to glimpse our home planet from space (Fig. 2). While orbiting the Moo ...
Name
... Click and drag the white vertical position marker across the Electromagnetic spectrum simulation and determine where the large frequency waves are located. Which end of the Electromagnetic spectrum has the largest frequencies? __________________________. Is this the same end that has the largest wav ...
... Click and drag the white vertical position marker across the Electromagnetic spectrum simulation and determine where the large frequency waves are located. Which end of the Electromagnetic spectrum has the largest frequencies? __________________________. Is this the same end that has the largest wav ...
7. The Solar System
... revolve in the same direction as the major planets; comets, however, may move in the opposite direction. Cometary orbits can be very elongated, even hyperbolic. Most of the satellites circle their parent planets in the same direction as the planet moves around the Sun. Only the motions of the smalle ...
... revolve in the same direction as the major planets; comets, however, may move in the opposite direction. Cometary orbits can be very elongated, even hyperbolic. Most of the satellites circle their parent planets in the same direction as the planet moves around the Sun. Only the motions of the smalle ...
Understanding Precession of the Equinox
... would slowly change the seasons within the calendar. For example, in the Northern Hemisphere it would eventually become winter in July and August, and summer in January and February. This is because the seasons are indirectly caused by axial tilt (summer when that hemisphere leans closer to Earth, a ...
... would slowly change the seasons within the calendar. For example, in the Northern Hemisphere it would eventually become winter in July and August, and summer in January and February. This is because the seasons are indirectly caused by axial tilt (summer when that hemisphere leans closer to Earth, a ...
The Neptune Trojans: a window on the birth of the solar system
... even objects discovered in the past decade might revolutionize our understanding of the formation and evolution of the solar system, as well as provide answers to key questions about its current state. These seven objects comprise the known Neptune Trojans – first members of a population postulated ...
... even objects discovered in the past decade might revolutionize our understanding of the formation and evolution of the solar system, as well as provide answers to key questions about its current state. These seven objects comprise the known Neptune Trojans – first members of a population postulated ...
KS1 Education Guide - Immersive Theatres
... Gravity is the force that keeps planets in orbit around the Sun and governs the rest of the motion in the Solar System. (5 – 8 Standard) ...
... Gravity is the force that keeps planets in orbit around the Sun and governs the rest of the motion in the Solar System. (5 – 8 Standard) ...
Comets and the Age of the Solar System
... so far is that of Slusher1). The case is usually made as follows. The standard model of a comet is one in which all of the material observed is released by an icy nucleus only a few kilometres across. This model strongly suggests that comets are very fragile, losing much of their material during eac ...
... so far is that of Slusher1). The case is usually made as follows. The standard model of a comet is one in which all of the material observed is released by an icy nucleus only a few kilometres across. This model strongly suggests that comets are very fragile, losing much of their material during eac ...
Article PDF - IOPscience
... Neptune and other hypothetical massive planetary embryos or of its temporary capture in a resonance with one of the other planets, although these scenarios have never been quantitatively simulated. In this section we investigate the effects that an eccentric Neptune would have on the formation of th ...
... Neptune and other hypothetical massive planetary embryos or of its temporary capture in a resonance with one of the other planets, although these scenarios have never been quantitatively simulated. In this section we investigate the effects that an eccentric Neptune would have on the formation of th ...
Lecture notes 11
... Using ρ⊙ = 1410 kg m-3 (average solar density) and μi = 0.62, and the estimated value for the pressure (last slide) we have TC ≈ 1.44 x 107 K. For fun, you can calculate the radiation pressure, which is Prad = (1/3) a T4 = 1.53 x 1013 N m-2, or 0.065% that of the gas pressure. ...
... Using ρ⊙ = 1410 kg m-3 (average solar density) and μi = 0.62, and the estimated value for the pressure (last slide) we have TC ≈ 1.44 x 107 K. For fun, you can calculate the radiation pressure, which is Prad = (1/3) a T4 = 1.53 x 1013 N m-2, or 0.065% that of the gas pressure. ...
A Human-Powered Orrery: Connecting Learners with the Night Sky*
... long as 45 minutes to set up, similar to the one in the YouTube video. We have used this only when we have extra time such as an overnight with lots of help. However, this model could also be the basis for a more permanent model on a playground, for example. The scale for this model is 1 m = 100,000 ...
... long as 45 minutes to set up, similar to the one in the YouTube video. We have used this only when we have extra time such as an overnight with lots of help. However, this model could also be the basis for a more permanent model on a playground, for example. The scale for this model is 1 m = 100,000 ...
Galaxies, stars and planets
... replicated in laboratories on the Earth. Temperatures range from close to absolute zero (−273.15 ºC) in dense clouds of gas and dust from which stars form, up to many millions of degrees in the interiors of stars. Although interstellar space is not empty, its density is far lower than that found in ...
... replicated in laboratories on the Earth. Temperatures range from close to absolute zero (−273.15 ºC) in dense clouds of gas and dust from which stars form, up to many millions of degrees in the interiors of stars. Although interstellar space is not empty, its density is far lower than that found in ...
New Suns in the Cosmos?
... upsurge along the past 15 years, with the discovery of many extra-solar planetary systems, demonstrating that the Sun is not unique as a planet host star. In this context, the main question now is the extent to which the properties of the Sun and its planetary system can be considered as representat ...
... upsurge along the past 15 years, with the discovery of many extra-solar planetary systems, demonstrating that the Sun is not unique as a planet host star. In this context, the main question now is the extent to which the properties of the Sun and its planetary system can be considered as representat ...
Journey to the Stars Educator`s Guide
... period in the history of the universe. Stars now form at a rate one-tenth as high. • About 4.5 billion years ago, within the Milky Way Galaxy, our Sun was born from a dense cloud of gas and dust, along with hundreds to thousands of other stars in a star cluster. As happens with many young stars, our ...
... period in the history of the universe. Stars now form at a rate one-tenth as high. • About 4.5 billion years ago, within the Milky Way Galaxy, our Sun was born from a dense cloud of gas and dust, along with hundreds to thousands of other stars in a star cluster. As happens with many young stars, our ...
Life on Earth Came From Other Planets
... The origin of life is unknown, though speculation abounds. For thousands of years philosophers, scientists, and theologians have argued that Earthly life comes from non-life. This belief has been part of Catholic Church dogma since the 4th century (Augustine, 1957). Although known by many names (e.g ...
... The origin of life is unknown, though speculation abounds. For thousands of years philosophers, scientists, and theologians have argued that Earthly life comes from non-life. This belief has been part of Catholic Church dogma since the 4th century (Augustine, 1957). Although known by many names (e.g ...
Signatures of planets and of planet formation in debris disks Mark
... Several white dwarfs have near-IR emission from hot dust close to the ~1Rsun tidal destruction radius (von Hippel et al. 2007; Farihi et al. 2009), some also have CaII emission from circumstellar gas at same location (Gaensicke et al. 2009), while more have metal polluted atmospheres from accretion ...
... Several white dwarfs have near-IR emission from hot dust close to the ~1Rsun tidal destruction radius (von Hippel et al. 2007; Farihi et al. 2009), some also have CaII emission from circumstellar gas at same location (Gaensicke et al. 2009), while more have metal polluted atmospheres from accretion ...
THE SUN - OoCities
... The process of energy generation results from the enormous pressure and density at the centre of the Sun, which makes it possible for nuclei to overcome electrostatic repulsion. (Nuclei are positive and thus repel each other.) Once in some billions of years a given proton (1H, in which the superscri ...
... The process of energy generation results from the enormous pressure and density at the centre of the Sun, which makes it possible for nuclei to overcome electrostatic repulsion. (Nuclei are positive and thus repel each other.) Once in some billions of years a given proton (1H, in which the superscri ...
Solar System
The Solar System comprises the Sun and the planetary system that orbits it, either directly or indirectly. Of those objects that orbit the Sun directly, the largest eight are the planets, with the remainder being significantly smaller objects, such as dwarf planets and small Solar System bodies such as comets and asteroids. Of those that orbit the Sun indirectly, two are larger than the smallest planet.The Solar System formed 4.6 billion years ago from the gravitational collapse of a giant interstellar molecular cloud. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun, with most of the remaining mass contained in Jupiter. The four smaller inner planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, are terrestrial planets, being primarily composed of rock and metal. The four outer planets are giant planets, being substantially more massive than the terrestrials. The two largest, Jupiter and Saturn, are gas giants, being composed mainly of hydrogen and helium; the two outermost planets, Uranus and Neptune, are ice giants, being composed largely of substances with relatively high melting points compared with hydrogen and helium, called ices, such as water, ammonia and methane. All planets have almost circular orbits that lie within a nearly flat disc called the ecliptic.The Solar System also contains smaller objects. The asteroid belt, which lies between Mars and Jupiter, mostly contains objects composed, like the terrestrial planets, of rock and metal. Beyond Neptune's orbit lie the Kuiper belt and scattered disc, populations of trans-Neptunian objects composed mostly of ices, and beyond them a newly discovered population of sednoids. Within these populations are several dozen to possibly tens of thousands of objects large enough to have been rounded by their own gravity. Such objects are categorized as dwarf planets. Identified dwarf planets include the asteroid Ceres and the trans-Neptunian objects Pluto and Eris. In addition to these two regions, various other small-body populations, including comets, centaurs and interplanetary dust, freely travel between regions. Six of the planets, at least three of the dwarf planets, and many of the smaller bodies are orbited by natural satellites, usually termed ""moons"" after the Moon. Each of the outer planets is encircled by planetary rings of dust and other small objects.The solar wind, a stream of charged particles flowing outwards from the Sun, creates a bubble-like region in the interstellar medium known as the heliosphere. The heliopause is the point at which pressure from the solar wind is equal to the opposing pressure of interstellar wind; it extends out to the edge of the scattered disc. The Oort cloud, which is believed to be the source for long-period comets, may also exist at a distance roughly a thousand times further than the heliosphere. The Solar System is located in the Orion Arm, 26,000 light-years from the center of the Milky Way.