ASTR-1010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Interstellar Cloud, Orion Nebula, Ecliptic

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

Document Summary

Chapter 8 formation of the solar system. Four major features of our solar system that a theory must explain: patterns of motion of large bodies. All orbit in same direction (counterclockwise) and plane (ecliptic plane: existence of the two types of planets. Terrestrial and jovian: existence of small bodies. Asteroids and comets: exceptions to usual patterns. Close encounter hypothesis: planets form from debris when two stars collide, fails to explain motion of planets and types of planets, close encounter between stars is unlikely, this theory has been discarded. 8. 2 explaining the major features of the solar system. Solar rotation believed that sun used to rotate much faster when it was younger friction between solar magnetic field and solar nebular slowed rotation. Asteroid and comets: leftovers from accretion process, asteroids inside frost line from rocky planetesimals, icy comets outside frost line from icy planetesimals. Earth"s water is probably from an icy planetesimal from outside the frost line.