AST 2002 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Oort Cloud, Gamma Ray, Asteroid Belt
Document Summary
Large bodies in the solar system have orderly motions. All planets have nearly circular orbits going in the same direction in nearly the same plane. Most large moons orbit their planets in this same plane. Most large moons orbit their planets in this same direction, which so also the same direction as the sun"s rotation. Small, rocky terrestrial planets and large, hydrogen- rich jovian planets. Swarms of asteroids and comets populate the solar system. Vast number of rocky asteroids and icy comets are found throughout the solar system, but are concentrated in three distinct regions. Several notable exceptions to these trends stand out. Some planets have unusual axis tilts, unusually large moons, or moons with unusual orbits. Sun over 99. 8% of the total mass of the solar system is in the sun. Converts 4 million tons of mass into energy each second. Made of metal and rock; large iron core.
