Solar Science Chapter Summary

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Chapter 1 • Review the components of our solar system – sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets and their definitions o Star – a large, glowing ball of gas that generates heat and light through nuclear fusion o Planet – a moderately large object that orbits a star; it shines by reflected light. Planets may be rocky, icy, or gaseous in composition o Moon (Satellite) – an object that orbits a planet o Asteroid – a relatively small and rocky object that orbits a star o Comet – a relatively small and icy object that orbits a star o Solar System – a star and all the material that orbits it, including its planets and their moons o Nebula – an interstellar cloud of gas and/or dust o Galaxy – a great island of stars in space, all held together…show more content…
Physical size = angular size x 2  x distance / 360 • Understand that constellations are groups of stars as seen from the Earth – the stars may not be close to each other at all • Our view of the celestial sphere is determined by where we stand on the Earth o Study the diagrams that show the path of stars as they rise and set and how those paths appear to differ depending on your location on the Earth • Know what causes the seasons (tilt of the Earth’s axis to it’s orbital plane) o Depend on how Earth’s axis affects the directness of sunlight o Sun’s altitude is also higher in Summer and Lower in Winter  Summer solstice – highest path  Winter solstice – lowest path  Equinoxes – sun rises at exactly due east and sets exactly due west • Review the Moon’s phases • New Moon • Waxing (Right side of moon visible) o Waxing…show more content…
Also observed a supernova and proved that comets are outside the Earth’s atmosphere o Kepler – Used Tycho’s observations, derived the three laws of planetary motion  Orbits of planets are

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