THE

SOLAR SYSTEM
AND
THE UNIVERSE

TEACHER INFORMATION SHEETS

MERCURY

Composition:

Mass (Earth =1):

0.055

Temp (min / max):

Min -170C (-280F) Max 430C (800F)

Distance from Sun:

0.39 AU

Mean Distance to Earth:

0.61 AU

Length of Day:

59 days (just under 2 months)

Length of Year:

88 days

Surface Gravity (Earth=1):

0.38

Diameter:

4,879km (3,032 miles)

Volume (Earth=1):

0.056

No. of moons:

None

Current Missions:

Mercury Messenger Orbiter (2004)

Gigantic iron core (70% of interior);

perhaps partially molten
Thin silicate mantle (25%)
Thin crust perhaps <100km (60miles) thick

Special Features:


Closest planet to Sun.

Highly cratered in appearance, similar to Earths moon.

Slightly larger than the Moon (diameter X 1.4)

Highly elliptical orbit and slow rotation = extreme temp variation.

Hot enough to melt lead/cold enough to freeze person.

Armagh Planetarium 2007

VENUS
Composition:

Large nickel-iron (solid) core (50% of interior)
Thick silicate mantle
Thin rocky crust perhaps 50km (30 miles) thick
Dense CO2 atmosphere

Mass (Earth =1):

0.82

Temp (min / max):

464C (867F); little variation

Distance from Sun:

0.72 AU

Mean Distance to Earth:

0.28 AU (closest planet to Earth)

Length of Day:

243 days

Length of Year:

225 days

Surface Gravity (Earth=1):

0.91

Diameter:

12,104 km (7,521 miles)

Volume (Earth=1):

0.86

No. of moons:

None

Current Missions:

Venus Express Orbiter (2005)

Special Features:

Spins in opposite direction to the other terrestrial planets.

Volcano-covered surface; most craters erased by volcanic activity.
Dense CO2 atmosphere causing greenhouse effect on planet.
Hot enough to melt lead; clouds of sulphuric acid.
Atmospheric Pressure is x 92 that of Earth.
Can be seen from Earth as bright evening/morning star.
Armagh Planetarium 2007

EARTH
Composition:
Only planet with 2 part core:
Solid inner core at very high temperature;
Outer liquid core is half radius of planet.
Both iron-nickel
Thick mantle of solid silicate rock
Thin outer crust of volcanic rocks
Atmosphere:
78% nitrogen; 21% oxygen; 1% argon
Water vapour also present

Mass:

5.974 x 1024 kg

Temp (min / max):

Distance from Sun:

Min -88C (-126F) Max 58C (136F)

Length of Day:

23.93 hrs

Length of Year:

365.25 days

Surface Gravity:

1(g)

Diameter:

Volume:

12,756 km (7,926 miles)

No. of moons:

One

149.6 million km (92.9 million miles); 1AU

1.08 trillion km

Special Features:


Earth is the only planet we know of that has life.

The area in which life occurs is called the biosphere.

71% of Earth is covered by water.

Earths crust is split into 7 large plates which float on the



semi-molten mantle below.

Where these plates meet are tectonic features such as deep

sea trenches, oceanic ridges, high mountain ranges and volcanoes.
Armagh Planetarium 2007

THE MOON
Composition:

Small metallic core (<4% total mass) partially
molten?
Rocky mantle
Thick rocky crust (thicker than Earths as it
cooled and solidified much faster)

Mass (Earth =1):

0.012

Temp (min / max):

Mean Distance to Earth:

Min -233C (-387F) Max 123C (253F)

Length of Day:

27.32 days

Surface Gravity (Earth=1):

0.165

Diameter:

3,476 km (2,160 miles)

Volume (Earth=1):

Current Missions:

0.02

384,400 km

None

Special Features:

The Moon is thought to have been formed from material ejected

from the Earth during an asteroid collision about 4.5 billion years ago.
It is covered in craters caused by heavy meteorite bombardment.
The Moon is moving away from us at around 4cm every year.
The same side of the Moon (the near side) always faces the Earth.
In 1968, Apollo 8 was first manned spacecraft to leave Earth orbit,
carrying 3 men around the Moon.
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first men on the moon
on July 20 1969, with Michael Collins in the Apollo 11 command module.
Twelve people have walked on the Moon, all American male astronauts.

Armagh Planetarium 2007

MARS
Composition:
Iron & iron sulphide (solid) core
(30-40% of interior)
Mantle of silicate rock
Crust thicker than Earths; 120km (75 miles)
Thin atmosphere (95% CO2)

Mass (Earth =1):

Temp (min / max):

0.11

Distance from Sun:

1.52 AU

Mean Distance to Earth:

0.52 AU

Length of Day:

24.62 hrs (v. similar to Earth)

Length of Year:

687 days

Surface Gravity (Earth=1):

0.38

Diameter:

6,794 km (4,222 miles)

Volume (Earth=1):

0.15

No. of moons:

2 (Phobos & Deimos)

Current Missions:

Mars Odyssey Orbiter (2001)

Mars Express Orbiter (2003)
Spirit & Opportunity Rovers (2003)
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (2005)
Phoenix Lander (2007)

Min -133C (-207F) Max 27C (80F)

Special Features:

Called Red Planet due to rusty rocks of iron oxide.

Surface similar to Earth, with mountains, valleys and polar ice caps.

Largest mountain in Solar System - Olympus Mons 27 km (17miles) high.

Largest canyon in Solar System Valles Marineris 7km (4.5 miles) deep

and 3,800 km (2,400 miles) long.

Evidence that Mars once had lakes, seas and oceans in distant past;

perhaps water still remains in lowest areas?

Sandstorms can last for months.
Armagh Planetarium 2007

JUPITER
Composition:

Possibly has small solid core of ice and rock
Inner mantle (>66% of interior) of
dense liquid metallic hydrogen
Outer mantle of liquid hydrogen and helium
Thin atmosphere 90% hydrogen, 10% helium

Mass (Earth =1):

Temp:

317.8

Distance from Sun:

Mean Distance to Earth:

5.2 AU

Length of Day:

Length of Year:

10 hrs

Surface Gravity (Earth=1):

2.64 (at cloud tops)

Diameter:

142,984 km (88,846 miles)

Volume (Earth=1):


No. of moons:

1,321 (over 1000 Earths could fit inside)

63 known at present

Current Missions:

None

-110C (-160F) at cloud tops

4.2 AU

12 years

Special Features:

Largest planet in Solar System.

Rapid rotation causes banding - bright zones and darker belts.
Great Red Spot giant storm system over 400 years old.
Could fit three Earths inside it.
Thin, dark ring system, invisible to even powerful telescopes.
Four Galilean Moons: Ganymede (largest moon in Solar System);
Callisto (most cratered moon in Solar System); Io (most volcanic moon);
Europa (may have ocean beneath its icy surface).
Armagh Planetarium 2007

SATURN
Composition:

Small core of rock and ice
Inner mantle of liquid metallic hydrogen
Outer mantle of liquid hydrogen
(50% of planet)
Thicker atmosphere than Jupiter;
96% hydrogen 4% helium

Mass (Earth =1):

95.2

Temp:
-140C (-220F) at cloud tops
Distance from Sun:
9.6 AU

Mean Distance to Earth:
8.6 AU

Length of Day:
11 hrs

Length of Year:
29 yrs
Surface Gravity (Earth=1):

0.92 (at cloud tops)

Diameter:

Volume (Earth=1):

No. of moons:

120,536 km (74,898 miles)

Current Missions:

Cassini Orbiter (1997)

763.6
60 known at present

Special Features:


Extensive ring system composed of dirty water ice ranging in size from

dust grains to boulders several metres across.

Rapid rotation causes visible flattening at poles and banding

similar to Jupiter.

Least dense of all the planets it would float in water.

Saturns moon Titan is the second largest moon in the Solar System,

and is also the only known moon to have a substantial atmosphere.
Armagh Planetarium 2007

URANUS
Composition:

Small core of rock and ice
Slushy inner mantle of ice compounds of water,
methane and ammonia
Outer mantle of liquid hydrogen and
other elements
Atmosphere of 83% hydrogen, 15% helium
and 2% methane
Discovered by:

William Herschel in 1781

Mass (Earth =1):

14.5

Temp:
-214C (353F) at cloud tops
Distance from Sun:
19.2 AU

Mean Distance to Earth:
18.2 AU

Length of Day:
17 hrs

Length of Year:
84 yrs
Surface Gravity (Earth=1):

0.86 (at cloud tops)

Diameter:
51,118 km (31,763 miles)

Volume (Earth=1):
63.1

No. of moons:
27 known at present
Current Missions:

None (Only mission- Voyager 2 flyby in 1986)

Special Features:

Methane in atmosphere absorbs red light giving the planet a

blue-green colour.
Uranus orbits on its side, possibly due to a massive collision
in the distant past.
It has a ring system of eleven dark rings thought to be ice particles
covered in sooty organic compounds.
All moons named after characters by William Shakespeare &
Alexander Pope (e.g. Titania, Oberon are from a Midsummer Nights Dream)
Armagh Planetarium 2007

NEPTUNE
Composition:

Small core of rock and ice
Slushy inner mantle of water, methane
and ammonia (similar to Uranus)
Outer mantle of hydrogen and other
compounds in icy liquid (similar to Uranus)
Atmosphere of 79% hydrogen; 18% helium;
3% methane

Discovered by:

Johann Galle in 1846

Mass (Earth =1):

17.1

Temp:
-200C (-320F)
Distance from Sun:
30 AU

Mean Distance to Earth:
29 AU

Length of Day:
16 hrs

Length of Year:
165 yrs
Surface Gravity (Earth=1):

1.2 (at cloud tops)

Diameter:
49,528 km (30,775 miles)

Volume (Earth=1):
57.7

No. of moons:
13 known at present
Current Missions:

None (Only mission - Voyager 2 flyby in 1989)

Special Features:

Dark ring system similar to that of Uranus.

Due to Plutos eccentric orbit, Neptune is sometimes the
furthest planet from the Sun.
Cloud belts, zones and turbulent storms similar to Jupiter.
Storms have fastest winds in Solar System at 670 m per second.
Great Dark Spot observed by Voyager 2 in 1989, disappeared by 1994.
Triton is Neptunes only large satellite and is bigger than Pluto. It is the
coldest known object in the Solar System at -235C (-391F)
Armagh Planetarium 2007

PLUTO
Composition:

Giant rocky core makes up most of planet
Mantle rich in water ice
Thin icy crust
Thin atmosphere 98% nitrogen;
2% methane and CO2

Discovered by:

Clyde Tombaugh in 1930

Mass (Earth =1):

0.002

Temp:
-223C (369F)
Distance from Sun:
39.5 AU

Mean Distance to Earth:
29.5AU

Length of Day:
6.4 days (almost a week)

Length of Year:
248 years
Surface Gravity (Earth=1):

0.06

Diameter:
2,390 km (1,485 miles)

Volume (Earth=1):
0.006

No. of moons:
3 Charon, Nix and Hydra
Current Missions:

New Horizons (2006) due to reach

Pluto in 2015

Special Features:

Charons mass is 15% of Plutos, making it the largest moon

in relation to its parent body in Solar System.

Pluto and Charon rotate at same speed, so always keep the same

face to each other.

Nix and Hydra are tiny satellites of Pluto discovered in 2005.

They are thought to be between 48-165 km wide.

In 2006, the IAU re-classed Pluto as a dwarf planet.
Armagh Planetarium 2007

THE SUN
The Sun is 71% hydrogen; 27% helium and 2% other elements like carbon,
nitrogen and iron.
Core nuclear reactions (hydrogen nuclei smashing together to form helium)
produce heat and light.
Radiation zone energy from core transported outwards.
Convection zone energy carried to
surface by convection.
Photosphere visible surface of Sun
where e.g. sunspots are observed.
Chromosphere irregular lower
atmosphere.
Corona outermost layer of
atmosphere extending millions of km
into space. Can be seen during a
solar eclipse.

Temp:
Core: 15,500,000C (28 millionF)

Surface (photosphere): 5,500C (9,900F)

Mean Distance to Earth:
149.6 million km (92.9 million miles); 1 AU

Axial Rotation Period:
25.38 days
Surface Gravity (Earth=1):

28

Diameter:
1,392,000 km (865,000 miles)

Volume (Earth=1):
1,304,000
Current Missions:

Several missions including:

STEREO (2006); Hinode (2006); SOHO (1995)

Sunspots are cooler regions which appear as dark patches in the

photosphere and can be 80,500 km (50,000 miles) in diameter.
They occur in regions where the Suns magnetic field is
concentrated, inhibiting energy flow.

The Suns magnetic field also causes solar flares (huge eruptions);

coronal loops (streamers of gas joining two points on the Suns
surface); and prominences (huge strands of cool gas).
Armagh Planetarium 2007

ASTEROIDS
Asteroids are minor planets, most ( but not all )
of which are located in the Asteroid Belt
between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
The Asteroid Belt is 2.1 3.3 AU from the Sun.
There are millions of asteroids here, but their
combined mass is only 1/20th the mass
of the Moon.

Asteroids range in size in the following approximate amounts:

100 asteroids >200km (125 miles) across
100,000 asteroids >20km (12.5 miles) across
1 billion asteroids >2km (1.25 miles) across

They were originally divided into three different classes,

although there are now many more classes and sub-classes
C-type asteroids : carbonaceous; 75% of known asteroids;
outer region of belt
S-type asteroids : silicaceous (stony); 17% of known asteroids;
inner region of belt
M-type asteroids : metallic (nickel and iron); 5% of known asteroids;
middle of belt

Ceres was by far the largest asteroid bigger than

Pluto and containing approx 25% of the combined mass of all
the other asteroids in the belt. It has now been re-classified as
a dwarf planet the only one in the Asteroid Belt.

Some asteroids have tiny moons

e.g. Ida (above) has a moon
called Dactyl.
Others comprise two similar-sized
asteroids orbiting a
common centre of mass.
These are called double asteroids.

Near Earth Asteroids (NEAs) orbit

within 1.3 AU of the Sun and come
close to Earths orbit. Only a few
thousand have been found, but over
100,000 which are >100m are
estimated to exist. In 2001, the NEAR
Shoemaker probe landed on Eros,
an NEA. Before landing, the probe
orbited and photographed the asteroid.

Armagh Planetarium 2007

KUIPER BELT
& OORT CLOUD

The Kuiper Belt is a region beyond the orbit of Neptune, from 30-55 AU
from the Sun, which contains many small icy bodies left over from the formation
of the Solar System. There are an estimated 10 million 1 billion deep-frozen
Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs) of which >1000 are known.

The belt is named after Gerrard Kuiper, a Dutch American astronomer who
had such good eyesight he was able to see stars four times fainter than those
visible to normal eyes.

The dwarf planet Pluto is the largest known object in the Kuiper Belt.
Another dwarf planet, Eris, is found beyond the belt. Neptunes moon Triton is
thought to be a captured KBO.

KBOs are sometimes disturbed by the gravitational influence of the outer
planets. They enter the inner solar system in highly elliptical orbits and become
short-period comets (orbit <200yrs) e.g. Halleys Comet which orbits every 75-76
years.

A comet is a body of ice, rock and

dust (a dirty snowball). When it
enters the inner solar system its
nucleus becomes surrounded by a
bright cloud of gas called a coma.
Large comets also produce a long
glowing tail of gas and dust as they
come close to the Sun.

Long-period comets (orbit >200 yrs) are

thought to originate in the Oort Cloud,
named after Dutch astronomer
Jan H. Oort. This is a cloud of
trillions of icy fragments orbiting from
the edge of the Kuiper Belt
(50 AU) 50,000 AU.
Comet Hale-Bopp, which orbits every
2,320 years is a long-period comet.

Armagh Planetarium 2007

MILKY WAY
A galaxy is a giant rotating island of stars. The Milky Way Galaxy is a spiral galaxy
with a central bar of stars - a barred spiral galaxy. It is the second biggest galaxy
in our local group of around 30 galaxies, after the Andromeda galaxy.

The Milky Way contains about 200

billion stars. The stars at the centre of the
galaxy are the oldest and coolest stars
and appear yellow/orange in
colour. The stars in the outer arms of the
galaxy are the younger, hotter stars and
appear blue/white in colour.

The galaxy is about 100,000

light years in diameter.
Our Solar System is found
about 26,000 LY from the
centre in the Orion Arm. It
takes the Sun 225 million
years to complete one
circuit of the galaxy.

In 2004, astronomers
in Chile determined
that the galaxy was
13.6 billion years old,
making it nearly as
old as the Universe
itself.

The main disk of the galaxy is about 1000 LY thick. The central core of the galaxy
contains a bulge of stars around 15,000 LY thick. We think that a supermassive
black hole may lie here.

The Milky Way is named after the faint milky

band of light which can be seen stretching
across a dark sky. Dark rifts on the band
appear to contain no stars, but the starlight
here is simply blocked out by interstellar
dust.

Armagh Planetarium 2007

EXOPLANETS
An extra solar planet or exoplanet is a planet
existing outside our Solar System. To date, over
250 exoplanets have been discovered.

In 1995, the first exoplanet was discovered

orbiting a star called 51 Pegasi. Unexpectedly, the
planet appeared to be a gas giant like Jupiter.
Astronomers were amazed to discover the planet
orbiting so closely to its star that one orbit took only
four days (Jupiters orbit takes twelve years!)
This illustrated that exoplanets are quite different to
those in our Solar System, and prompted much more
research into finding these strange worlds.

In April 2007, Gliese 581c was reported in the press as being a potential New
Earth. This planet may be located within its host stars habitable zone, meaning
that water could exist in liquid form on the planet. Gliese 581c is thought to be
50% larger than Earth and almost 5 times its mass.

We have no images of exoplanets as

they are too distant, but astronomers
can detect their presence by various
means e.g. the wobbling effect the
planet has on its parent star; and
also by the transit of the exoplanet
across the star, causing its light to
dim slightly.

These micro-eclipses will be

observed by telescope on the
COROT mission, launched in
2006, as it searches for rocky
planets beyond our
Solar System.

Armagh Planetarium 2007