ASTRON 103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Observable Universe, Kuiper Belt, Local Group
13 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
The earth: spinning sphere of rock & metal with a thin surface layer of liquid & gas, home to humanity, radius of 6,371 km. Radius = center of earth/core to the surface: mass of 5. 972 x 10 24 kg, surface features shaped by geological processes & erosion. Non-natural satellites = satellites used for tv, radio, internet, Gps, etc: the farthest limit of direct human exploration, distance 400,000 km (about 10x circumference of earth, radius: 0. 27 r+ (as compared to earth"s, mass: 0. 012 m, heavily-cratered surface. No internal heat (due to size) to create erosion. No atmosphere (due to size) to protect against objects that crash. The four inner planets into it: mercury, venus. Similar ( twin ) to earth because: only slightly smaller, has an atmosphere. Different: can"t support life (sulfuric acid rain & intense pressure: earth, mars. Thin atmosphere - therefore, cold with no liquid water.
