Overview of the Solar System (Introduction)

Question 1

***Order of the Planets (from Sun outwards) –> see basic layout slide

Answer 1

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupitar, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

Question 2

Star

Answer 2

Large self-luminous object, generates energy by nuclear fusion

Question 3

Planet

Answer 3

A relatively cold object that orbits around a central star

Question 4

Planetary Body

Answer 4

General term for any body which orbits around a star
- Planets, a planet’s moons/satellites, asteroids, comets

Question 5

***Astronomical Unit (AU)

Answer 5

The average distance between a planet and sun (varies throughout year due to location in orbit)
- 1AU = just under 150 million km

Question 6

Terrestrial Planet

Answer 6

Small, rocky bodies closest to the sun
- Includes Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
- Often includes Earth’s moon

Question 7

Asteroid

Answer 7

Small, rocky/metal rich planetary body orbiting the sun

Question 8

Asteroid Belt

Answer 8

Main belt between Mars and Jupiter where most asteroids are found
- Range in 1-1000km in diameter
- Source of many of Earth’s meteorites

Question 9

Gas Giants (Outer Planets)

Answer 9

Large planets with deep atmospheres and no solid surfaces; have rings of particles around them and many icy/rocky satellites
- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

Question 10

Comets (“dirty snowballs”)

Answer 10

Small, ice-rich bodies formed on the outer edge of the solar system (beyond Neptune)
- Sources = Kuiper Belt, Oort Cloud
- Orbits may cross those of the inner planets (become visible)

Question 11

Layout of the Solar System

Answer 11

Planets orbit the sun in:
- Same plane
- Same direction

Question 12

Notes on Relative Distance of Planets from Sun

Answer 12

• Sun –> Jupitar = approximately 1/4 the distance of the Sun –> Neptune
• If we divided the distance between the Sun and Neptune in half, the halfway mark would lie just ahead of Uranus