Solar System Flashcards
star at the center of the solar system
primary energy of the solar system
99.8% of the mass in the solar system
formed 4.5 billion years ago in the milky way
sun
our galaxy
orion spur
layers of the sun
core - solar envelope - chromosphere - photosphere - corona
where nuclear fusion (energy production) happens
heat is then transported outward by convection
core
located just outside the core
2 heat transferring zones: radiation zone and convectional zone
solar envelope
located outside the solar envelope
red in color due to an abundance of oxyen
chromosphere
where visible light is emitted
photosphere
diffuse region located around the chromosphere;
seen as halo during a full solar eclipse
corona
releases energy in the form of:
radiation
electricity
solar wind
life-giving heat
nuclear fusion
sun is composed of:
91% hydrogen, 8.9% heium and 0.1 heavier elements that of which is a plasma
solar activities
sun spots - solar winds - solar flares
dark spots observed on the sun’s surface
difference in color is manifested by a cooler temperature
sun spots
streams of plasma released from the sun’s atmosphere
particles behave under the influence of the sun’s magnetic field
particles escape from the sun’s gravity die to their immense energy
solar winds
when these particles ejected by the sun reach the earth, they affect earth’s magnetic field - the solar winds stream back towards the planet’s magnetic poles causing _______
aurora borealis
flashes of sudden brightness over the sun’s surface
these flares eject clouds of particles through the corona of the sun into outer space
solar flares
8 planets
mercury - venus - earth - mars - jupiter - saturn - uranus - neptune
small, dense, light consists of rocky and metallic substances (with very little gas and ice)
shorter revolutions
higher surface temp.
fewer moons
terrestrial planets
large temperature difference between day and night
no atmosphere, no water and surface is similar to that of earth’s moon
lack of geologic activities (such as active volcanoes) indicate that ______’s core is cooler than that of earth
mercury
thick atmosphere
3rd brightest celestial body observable from earth
hottest planet
venus
only planet that supports life
earth
moon of earth
luna
thin atmosphere
red planet because of its abundance in iron
mars
biggest volcano in the solar system
mons olympus
moons of mars
phobos and deimos
much bigger but less dense, heavier and longer revolutions
lower surface temp.
more moons
contain large amounts of gases (hydrogen and helium) and ice (mostly water, ammonia and methane)
jovian planets
atmosphere composed of mainly H and He
biggest planet
has confirmed 67 natural satellites (bigger than mercury (some))
jupiter
giant storm that persisted in jupiter for centuries; seen in its surface
great red spot
moons of jupiter
europa io ganymede callisto amalthea thebe metis and more
known for its complex rings (though JUPITER, URANUS AND NEPTUNE ALSO HAVE RINGS)
rings made up of rocks, dust particles and colliding moons
has at least 30 natural satellites (one bigger than mercury)
saturn
how many moons does jupiter have
67
how many moons does saturn have
62
moons of saturn
famous: titan
twin gas giants
uranus and neptune
sidewards planets
its axis of rotation is nearly parallel with the plane of orbit
has 15 natural satellites
uranus
has a windy and dynamic atmosphere (similar to jupiter and saturn)
neptune
massive rotating storm in neptune
great dark spot
microplanets; smaller bodies consisting of rocks and metals
asteroid belt: between Mars and Jupiter
asteroids
icy small body that heats up ad begins to outgas when passing near the sun
has a brighter outer sheath called coma and long tail
comets
only comet that can be seen with the naked eye from the earth; seen every 75-76 years
halley’s comet
planetary masses which are neither planets nor satellites
celestial bodies in direct orbit to the sun
minor/dwarf planet
made up of ice rocks and has 5 known natural satellites
doesnt have its own orbit thus cannot be a planet
thought to be a satellite of neptune that pulled out of its orbit
pluto
similar to the asteroid belt but situated beyond the planets
home to at least 3 dwarf planets: pluto, haumea and makemake
kuiper belt
collection of icy debris
edge of the solar system
oort cloud
