Lecture Slides on The Solar System | AST 191, Study notes of Astronomy

Download Lecture Slides on The Solar System | AST 191 and more Study notes Astronomy in PDF only on Docsity! 1 Page 1 The solar system masses in solar system – terrestrial, Jovian planets scale model Bode - Titius Rule regularities of orbital motion – nearly circular, in same plane, counter- clockwise viewed from north – rotation axis perpendicular to plane of orbit Gravity holds solar system together – responsible for shapes of planets force depends on mass, and separation – gives us our weight mass, weight forces – using gravity to measure a planet’s mass motion with no forces Shapes of astronomical planets, asteroids Kepler’s laws first law, shapes are ellipses – but most planets are close to circle second law, speed of planet along orbit – falls fastest when closest to sun – application to comets third law, bigger the orbital radius, the longer the period – radius and period are related to mass of central body – measure mass of anything with satellites orbiting it Orbits moon “falls” around Earth orbital velocity, escape velocity why orbits last for billions of years velocity of spacecraft approaching a planet Seasons relationship to distance to sun true cause of seasons solstice, equinox Time-keeping day, week, month, year precession – its affects on calendar seasons – cause of, and change with precession