ASTRONOMY 3: Introductory Astronomy: The Solar System

Winter 2012

Comparative planetology

Two classes of planets and their period distribution

Terrestrial planets: size, mass, density, composition

Jovian planets: atmosphere, size, mass, density, composition, moons

Statistical properties of planets

orbital properties: eccentricity, spin, and inclination

minor planets: asteroids, Kuiper Belt objects, and comets

Diversity and special properties of individual planets:

heavily cratered surface of mercury, cloud-top of Venus, large volcanos on Mars

belts and spots on Jupiter, rings around Saturn

Tilted spin of Uranus, and dark spots of Neptune

Dwarf planets: Pluto and its moon Charon

nucleus of comets: dirty snow balls

scred craters on asteroids.

Space system exploration: remote sensing and human presence