Identify the planets of the solar system and their features Identify the planets of the solar system and their features Describe the formation of the solar system Describe the formation of the solar system Explain eclipses and the phases of the moon Explain eclipses and the phases of the moon

Planet Planet Solar system Solar system Asteroid Asteroid Nebular model Nebular model Phases Phases Eclipse Eclipse

Early astronomers have known about “stars” that didn’t move like other stars Early astronomers have known about “stars” that didn’t move like other stars These are the planets These are the planets Early models had the earth as the center of the universe – they were incorrect Early models had the earth as the center of the universe – they were incorrect

There are 8 planets, planets reflect light There are 8 planets, planets reflect light Pluto is now considered a dwarf planet Pluto is now considered a dwarf planet Planets reflect light Planets reflect light

Rocky and small Rocky and small A few have moons A few have moons

Small Small Mercury spins slowly – 3 spins every 2 orbits Mercury spins slowly – 3 spins every 2 orbits Side currently facing the sun reaches 397 C Side currently facing the sun reaches 397 C Dark side reaches -170 C Dark side reaches -170 C No atmosphere, no water No atmosphere, no water

Thick greenhouse cloudy atmosphere Thick greenhouse cloudy atmosphere Mostly carbon dioxide Mostly carbon dioxide High amounts of Sulfuric acid High amounts of Sulfuric acid 90 times atmospheric pressure of earth 90 times atmospheric pressure of earth Surface temperature over 425 C Surface temperature over 425 C

Ideal for life Ideal for life Large amounts of water, found in all three forms Large amounts of water, found in all three forms Atmosphere moderates temperatures Atmosphere moderates temperatures

We have had several robotic missions to mars We have had several robotic missions to mars Mars has mountains larger than Mt Everest Mars has mountains larger than Mt Everest It has ice in the polar icecaps It has ice in the polar icecaps There are many features that suggest mars used to have flowing water There are many features that suggest mars used to have flowing water Thin, carbon dioxide atmosphere Thin, carbon dioxide atmosphere

There is an asteroid belt separating the inner and outer planets There is an asteroid belt separating the inner and outer planets Thousands of small rocky pieces Thousands of small rocky pieces

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune Called Gas Giants Called Gas Giants Do not have a solid surface Do not have a solid surface All have rings and moons All have rings and moons

Largest planet in solar system Largest planet in solar system Larger than 1300 earths Larger than 1300 earths Atmosphere is hydrogen, helium, methane, ammonia Atmosphere is hydrogen, helium, methane, ammonia Bands are jet streams Bands are jet streams Red spot is a hurricane twice the size of the Earth – it has been there for hundreds of years Red spot is a hurricane twice the size of the Earth – it has been there for hundreds of years

Planet with most pronounced rings Planet with most pronounced rings

Blue Giants Blue Giants Thick gas atmospheres, mostly methane (makes them blue) Thick gas atmospheres, mostly methane (makes them blue) Both have lots of moons Both have lots of moons

Orbit the sun Orbit the sun Have enough gravity to be spherical Have enough gravity to be spherical Have cleared other objects from their orbital path Have cleared other objects from their orbital path Pluto orbits in the Kuiper belt Pluto orbits in the Kuiper belt So it’s not a planet So it’s not a planet

It was either make more planets or demote Pluto It was either make more planets or demote Pluto There are currently 5 There are currently 5 Ceres is in the asteroid belt – between Mars and Jupiter Ceres is in the asteroid belt – between Mars and Jupiter Eris, Makemake, and Haumea are at the edge of the solar system – like Pluto Eris, Makemake, and Haumea are at the edge of the solar system – like Pluto Eris is the so-called 10 th planet – it was briefly called Xena after the TV show character Eris is the so-called 10 th planet – it was briefly called Xena after the TV show character

Pluto, Ceres, and Eris are Dwarf Planets Pluto, Ceres, and Eris are Dwarf Planets

Most accepted explanation is the Nebular Model – it formed from a cloud of stardust Most accepted explanation is the Nebular Model – it formed from a cloud of stardust A rotating disk of stardust A rotating disk of stardust Planets form from accretion – stuff slammed into each other and stuck Planets form from accretion – stuff slammed into each other and stuck When the sun started glowing – lighter material was pushed out to the outer planets When the sun started glowing – lighter material was pushed out to the outer planets

The moon orbits the earth The moon orbits the earth Sunlight reflects off of the moon Sunlight reflects off of the moon The moon appears in phases because we can only see the side that faces the sun The moon appears in phases because we can only see the side that faces the sun

Phases of the moon

There is a difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse There is a difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse They are named based on what gets blocked out They are named based on what gets blocked out Solar eclipse blocks the sun Solar eclipse blocks the sun Lunar eclipse blocks the moon Lunar eclipse blocks the moon

The earth’s shadow crosses the moon The earth’s shadow crosses the moon 3 types 3 types – Penumbral – can’t be seen by eye – Partial – Total

The light that does reach the moon goes thru the earth’s atmosphere filtering the blue light out The light that does reach the moon goes thru the earth’s atmosphere filtering the blue light out Without the earth’s atmosphere the moon would be black

There are fewer than 70 total solar eclipses in a century There are fewer than 70 total solar eclipses in a century You must be in the right place to see a total solar eclipse – the next total solar eclipse visible in the US will be in August 2017 You must be in the right place to see a total solar eclipse – the next total solar eclipse visible in the US will be in August 2017 They are worth the road trip! They are worth the road trip!

The moon is slowly moving away from us – The moon is slowly moving away from us – If the moon’s diameter were 140 miles smaller – we would not have solar eclipses If the moon’s diameter were 140 miles smaller – we would not have solar eclipses

Looking at earth during solar eclipse Looking at earth during solar eclipse You can see the corona during a solar eclipse You can see the corona during a solar eclipse