ASTRONOMY 3: Introductory Astronomy: The Solar System

Winter 2012

Minor planets, Asteroids, and meteorites

historical discoveries and present survey

Sizes and shape: gravity versus material strength

orbital distribution and dynamics

Near Earth Objects

Close encounters with asteroids <\B>

Near Landing and impacts

sample return

binary asteroids

Meteorites

meteoritic firefalls

close encounters: key holes

chondritz: primative material (not processed)

isotope information and structure

achondrite: heated and basalt

iron meteorite: differentiated in parent bodies

binding strength

information about early solar nebula

Mars meteorite

meteorite showers and comet tails

giant impacts

frequency of impacts

delivery of organic material