Astronomy 1021 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Interstellar Cloud, Nebular Hypothesis, Two Moons
22 Mar 2018
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Document Summary
Chapter 6: the formation of the solar system. Solar system and telescopes: all three techniques used in study of solar system: Timing: major focus in last year or so. Measuring distances: kepler gave us relative distances, transit of venus helped give absolute distances, today use spacecraft data and radar. Measuring sizes: telescopes: can measure the angular diameter of planets, with distance (from previous slide) and angular size we can know the actual size of planets. Measuring masses: observe moons going around planet, measure angular distances, orbits and periods, mass and radius ! average density. Telescopes: hampered by location, cheaper, can be used long- term and upgraded, lots of new objects still to nd, can study many objects. Spacecraft: can get closer, bring back samples, take a long time to build, launch, travel, very expensive. Flybys: a yby spacecraft mission comes close to a planet just once, cheaper than parking a spacecraft in orbit but don"t get as much data.
