ASTR-1010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Galilean Moons, Terrestrial Planet, Giant Planet

• School: Clemson University
• Department: Astronomy
• Course: ASTR-1010
• Professor: Lih- Sin The

Document Summary

Comparative planetology approach will be used to study the solar system: compares relative patterns between planets. 8 major planets that orbit the sun with circular orbits in the same direction (counterclockwise) and are in nearly the same plane. Terrestrial planet (rocky planet, smaller) and jovian planet (gas planet, big and heavy) Neptune: 8th planet from sun: 30. 1 au, radius: 24,764 km = 3. 9r earth, mass: 17. 1m earth, density: 1. 64 g/cm cubed, composition: h/he, temperature: 60 k, moons: at least 14 (triton orbits neptune backwards ) Part of kuiper belt (30 au from sun: small in size and icy (comet-like) Pluto: moons: 5, 39. 5 au from sun, 0. 19r earth, 0. 0022m earth, density:1. 86 g/cm cubed, composition: icy and rocky, temperature: 40 k. All planets orbit in same direction (counterclockwise) and on almost the same plane (ecliptic plane) Most rotate counterclockwise with exception of venus and uranus. Terrestrial planets rocky, small, close to sun. Jovian planets gaseous, large, further from sun.