The Sun
The largest star in our solar system is one we are all aware of, the Sun. Not only is it the largest star, but by far the largest object in the Solar System. It contains more than 99.8% of the total mass of the Solar System. The sun has 6 layers, the first being the Core, the center of the sun. Nuclear (hydrogen) fusion occurs here. The temperature is 17.5 million K. The next layer, the radiative zone's temperature is 2-7 million K. The convective zone is the layer that produces magnetic north and south poles of the sun. The temperature is 5,700 K. The visible surface of the sun, the Photosphere, is about 6,000 K. Just above the photosphere is where you will find solar flares and loops of hot gases shooting up thousands of miles. This takes place in the Chromosphere, where the temperature is 28,000 K. The final layer, the Corona, can only be seen during a total solar eclipse. The temperature is 2.2 million K. Some sun definitions you may want to be familier with are these. A prominence is a large, bright feature extending outward from the sun's surface, often in a loop shape. A flare is a sudden bright light observed over the suns surface the solar limb, which is interpreted as a large energy release. Sunspots are temperorary phenomena on the surface of the sun that appear as dark spots compared to surronding regions. They are caused by intense magnetic activity forming areas of reduced surface temperature. The sun is composed of hydrogen (71%), helium (27%),oxygen (1%), other elements (1%). The sun is 4.6 billion years old and half way through its main sequence phase. A solstice happens twice a year, the summer solstice is the longest day of the year (about 14 hours), between June 20-22. The winter solstice is the shortes day of the year (about 8 hours), between December 21-22. A exquinox also happens twice a year, the spring equinox is when the day and night are equal (12 hours each) on March 20. The fall equinox is the same except on September 22.
Moons
There are multiple moons in our Solar system, but the one that belongs to us is what we simply call the moon. Like the formation of the universe, there are multiple theories on how our moon came to be, but the most common is the Impact theory. It states about 4.5 billion years ago, a nearby body with a similar mass of Mars collided with Earth. This collision caused material from both objects to be ejected into Earth's orbit to form the moon. The moon itself does not have any light. What we refer to as moonlight is actually reflected light from the sun. The moon goes through monthly faces:
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The moon also has two types of eclipses, solar and lunar. An eclipse occurs when the shadow of one body falls on another. During a solar eclipse, the moon's shadow falls on the earth, either patrially or totally blocking out the sun. The line up is sun-moon-Earth. Because the moon's shadow is small, it covers a small portion of the much larger Earth. In a lunar eclipse, the earth's shadow falls on the moon. You can see it through the earth's atmosphere, giving the moon a reddish color. The moon is also the cause of tides, because the moons gravity pulls on earth's water, causing a tidal bulge. Since the Earth spins, there is a tidal bulge on both sides, so we have 2 tide cycles per day.
Not only does Earth have a moon, but every other planet besides Venus and Mercury have moons of their own.
Not only does Earth have a moon, but every other planet besides Venus and Mercury have moons of their own.
Planets
Along with the sun, our solar system also consist of 8 other planets. The terrestrial planets (the four close to the sun), and the gas giants, the four farthest from the sun. The asteroid belt is between Mars and Jupiter, therefore creating a separation.
The planet closest to the sun is mercury. Mercury is the smallest planet with a solid cratered surface, much like Earth's moon. Venus, the second planet farthest from the sun, is a world of intense heat and volcanic activity. It is similar in structure and size to Earth. Venus has a greenhouse effect which traps heat. This planet has temperatures hot enough to melt lead. Venus, along with Uranus, is the only planet to have a retrograde rotation, meaning it spins clockwise. Therefore, the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. Earth, our home planet, is the only planet in our solar system known to allow life. All the things we need to survive exist under a thin layer of atmosphere that separates us from the vast unexplored. Mars is a cold desert world. It is half the diameter of Earth and has the same amount of dry land. Like Earth, Mars has seasons, polar ice caps, volcanoes, canyons and weather, but its atmosphere is too thin for liquid water to exist for long on the surface. Mars is one of our planets that we have discovered most. An unsponsored organization is voyaging to Mars. But, here's the catch, it's a one way ticket. A group of unexperienced candidates will be chosen to start a civilization on this planet. To learn more click the link below.
The planet closest to the sun is mercury. Mercury is the smallest planet with a solid cratered surface, much like Earth's moon. Venus, the second planet farthest from the sun, is a world of intense heat and volcanic activity. It is similar in structure and size to Earth. Venus has a greenhouse effect which traps heat. This planet has temperatures hot enough to melt lead. Venus, along with Uranus, is the only planet to have a retrograde rotation, meaning it spins clockwise. Therefore, the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. Earth, our home planet, is the only planet in our solar system known to allow life. All the things we need to survive exist under a thin layer of atmosphere that separates us from the vast unexplored. Mars is a cold desert world. It is half the diameter of Earth and has the same amount of dry land. Like Earth, Mars has seasons, polar ice caps, volcanoes, canyons and weather, but its atmosphere is too thin for liquid water to exist for long on the surface. Mars is one of our planets that we have discovered most. An unsponsored organization is voyaging to Mars. But, here's the catch, it's a one way ticket. A group of unexperienced candidates will be chosen to start a civilization on this planet. To learn more click the link below.
The most massive planet in our solar system is Jupiter, with dozens of moons and an enormous magnetic field. This planet includes many storms, the most famous being known as the Great Red Spot, which has raged on for hundreds of years. Saturn is one of the most unique planets, surrounded with beautiful rings made of ice, water, and dust. All the gas giants have rings like Saturn, but none are as marvelous as Saturn's. Like most of the other gas giants, Saturn is mostly made of hydrogen and helium. Uranus is unique because it is nearly tilted all the way on its side. It is believed a Earth sized object collided with it, explaining the tilt. It consists of mostly hydrogen and helium, along with methane, which explains its pretty blue color. The farthest planet from the sun, Neptune, has rapid winds, and large storms. Its most prominent feature is its Great Dark Spot. The true nature of this spot remains a mystery.
Although we do not consider Pluto as a planet, it's just important to be educated on this dwarf planet as well. The reason Pluto is not considered a planet is because of the new definition of a planet. While Pluto did not fit the requirements to be a regular planet, a new classification was made. The definition of a dwarf planet is an object orbiting around the sun that is large enough to be rounded by its own gravity, but is not gravitationally dominant in its area and is not a moon. Pluto is mainly made of ice and rock, and has a thin atmosphere.
Beyond Pluto is a region called the Kuiper belt where objects have been found. It is a place where a large population of large bodies orbit around the Sun.
Asteroids & Comets
Asteroids are small, airless rocks revolving around the sun that are too small to be called planets. Asteroids can be very dangerous. Many have hit Earth in the past, and more will crash into our planet in the future. Most asteroids lie in a vast ring between Mars and Jupiter. This is called the asteroid belt. Although, many asteroids lie outside the asteroid belt, and those are the asteroids which crash into Earth. An asteroid was responsible for the extinction of dinosaurs.
A comet is an icy body that releases gas or dust. Astronomers think comets are leftovers from the gas, ice, dust, and rocks from the formation of the universe. Some researchers believe comets might have brought some of the water that formed the Earth. Comets orbit the sun, but most inhabit an area called the Oort cloud far beyond Pluto.
A comet is an icy body that releases gas or dust. Astronomers think comets are leftovers from the gas, ice, dust, and rocks from the formation of the universe. Some researchers believe comets might have brought some of the water that formed the Earth. Comets orbit the sun, but most inhabit an area called the Oort cloud far beyond Pluto.