CAS AS 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Observable Universe, Cosmic Calendar, Interstellar Cloud
16 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
Chapter 1: a modern view of the universe. Star a large glowing ball of gas that generates heat & light through nuclear fusion. Planet a moderately large object that orbits a star. May be rocky, icy, or gaseous in composition. Dwarf planets have enough gravity to make themselves spherical but not enough gravity to clear out their own orbital path within their solar system. Moon an object that orbits a planet. If a moon has enough mass & gravity, it will be spherical. Asteroid a relatively small & rocky object that orbits a star. Comet a relatively small & icy object that orbits a star. Solar (star) system a star & all the material that orbits it, including its planets & moons. Nebula an interstellar cloud of gas and/or dust. Galaxy a great island of star in space, all held together by gravity & orbiting a common center. At the center is just a bunch of stars.
