GEO 1111 Lecture Notes - Titan (Moon), Cryovolcano, Kuiper Belt

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Geology
• Course: GEO 1111
• Professor: David Schneider

Document Summary

The solar system and the origins of earth. Consists of our stars, the sun, the planets, satellites and asteroids. Located on the arm of a very large spiral galaxy. Ptolemy (150 ce: proposed that planets also follow a small circular orbit, predicted periods of retrograde motion. Law of ellipses: the orbit of each planet is an ellipse with sun at one focus. Law of orbital harmony: for any planet, the square of the orbital period in years is proportional to the cube of the planet"s average distance from the sun. Law of equal areas: a line drawn from a planet to the sun sweeps out equal areas in equal time, the orbital velocity changes. 70% metallic and 30% silicate composition; internally layered. Larges temperature range (-170 to 425 degrees celsius) Thick (deadly) atmosphere which inhibits telescope observation. Impact theory of formation during initial spiraling of nebula. Moon evolution: formation of crust, lunar highlands, maria basins, rayed craters.