Astronomy 1021 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Coronal Mass Ejection, Solar Wind, Ecliptic
15 May 2020
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Document Summary
Our solar system is 4. 6 billion years old! The sun: 98% hydrogen, 2% other elements, largest and brightest object in our solar system, the surface is speckled in sunspots that appear dark in photos only because they are slightly cooler than their surroundings. Innermost planet in our solar system and the smallest: composition: rocks and metals, no active volcanoes, no wind, no rain, no life, extreme hot and cold temperatures extreme temperature changes: 425 c (day) to. 170 c (night: tidal forces from the sun have forced mercury into an unusual rotation pattern 58. 6- day rotation period, rotates 3x/87. 9-day orbits of the sun, mercury days/nights = 3 earth months. Earth: composition: rocks and metal, only known oasis of life in our solar system, ozone layer to shield from deadly solar radiation/abundant surface water, first planet in our solar system we found to have a moon orbiting it.
