Download NOTES April 21, 2008 Earth Science – 6th Grade Mrs. Elliott

NOTES
April 21, 2008
Earth Science – 6th Grade Mrs. Elliott
Journey Through Our Solar System
1. The new criteria for planets state that a planet must have cleared
the neighborhood around its Orbit. This means that to be called a
planet, an object must have enough gravitational power to have
pulled all nearby objects into itself, made them satellites, or
repelled them away.
2. On August 24, 2006, the IAU or International Astronomical
Union classified Pluto as a “dwarf planet,” noting that its oblong
orbit overlaps with Neptune. Pluto has not cleared the
neighborhood around its orbit.”
3. A dwarf planet, as defined by the International Astronomical
Union (IAU), is a celestial body orbiting the Sun that is massive
enough to be rounded by its own gravity but which has not cleared
its neighbouring region of planetesimals and is not a satellite.[1][2]
More explicitly, it has to have sufficient mass for its self-gravity to
overcome rigid body forces in order to assume a hydrostatic
equilibrium and acquire a near-spherical shape.
4. A supernova (plural: supernovae or supernovas) is a stellar
explosion. They are extremely luminous and cause a burst of
radiation that may briefly outshine an entire galaxy before fading
from view over several weeks or months. During this short interval, a
supernova can radiate as much energy as the Sun could emit over its
life span.[1] The explosion expels much or all of a star's material[2] at
a velocity of up to a tenth the speed of light, driving a shock wave
into the surrounding interstellar medium. This shock wave sweeps
up an expanding shell of gas and dust called a supernova remnant.
5. Gravity holds planets in orbits around the Sun.
6. The solar system is made up of 8 planets and many smaller objects
that orbit the Sun.
7. The Sun contains 99.86 percent of the mass of solar system, its
gravity is immense.
8. The Sun’s gravity holds the planets and other objects in the solar
system in their orbits.
9. Systems of planets such as the solar system form in areas of space
called a Nebula.
10. What gives Neptune its bluish green color? Methane is in its
atmosphere.
11. A meteroid that burns up in Earth’s atmosphere is called a
meteor.
12. The great red spot is a giant strom on Jupiter.
13. Saturn is the 2nd largest planet.
14. The Viking landers tested for life on Mars.
15. The solar system includes the Sun, planets, moons, and other
objects.