ASTRONOMY 3: Introductory Astronomy: The Solar System

Winter 2012

Pluto, Dwarf planets, and KBO

Pluto:

Discovery of Pluto

Moons of Pluto: orbital resonances?

Origin of Pluto, connection to Neptune

Kuiper Belt Objects:

Special orbits and families

Gravitational scattering and perturbation

Dwarf planets

Compositions

Comets

Historical observations of comets

Elliptical orbits of comets

close-up inspection of comets

structure of comets: dirty snow balls

deep impacts

piles of loose gravel

debris and zodi light

Star dust mission:

grains collection

Significance of the findings: crystals