THE BIRTH OF ASTRONOMICAL

STUDIES
ASTRONOMY
- study of all matter and energy in the
universe

Aim : better understanding of the

universe
Benefit: celestial navigation , a new
perspective of his environment, a view
of himself and his environment and
stimulation to his imagination brought
about by the adventure of exploring

The Solar System

MODELS OF THE SOLAR

SYSTEM
Heliocentric System (Nicolaus
Copernicus, 1543)
- the sun is the center of the solar
system and the sixth planets
( Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn & Earth as sixth planet with
the moon were believe in circular
paths around the sun.

 Ptolemaic System ( Geocentric

System)
- the earth is the center of the solar
system and the sun and other
planets are revolving on it.

THEORIES ABOUT THE ORIGIN

OF SOLAR SYSTEM
Nebular Hypothesis ( Immanuel Kant,
1796) - the solar system was derived
from the condensation of an
enormously dispersed gaseous
atmosphere surrounding the sun.
1. Beginning as a rotating cloud.
2. Most of the mass became
concentrated at the center to form the
sun, the remaining material condensed
and accumulated to form the planets.

 Planetisimal Theory
- planetary system was formed from the
materials removed from the sun by great
gravitational attraction.
1. Gaseous projection was pulled from the
sun by tidal action caused by a passing
star
2. the projection become masses , cooled
and contracted and became solid bodies.

3. the larger bodies attracted smaller

ones and became planets.
4. the smaller bodies become
asteroids, meteors, and satellites of
planets.

 Dust Cloud Theory ( Carl Friedrich von

Weizacken & Harold Urey, 1945)
- Nebula was flattened by its rotation ,
which was of the planetary type in that
the gas molecules moved faster as they
were closer to the to the sun. Interactions
of the gas molecules accelerated the
lighter ones so that they mostly escaped
from the nebula forming lumps in the
nebula and become planets.

 Protoplanet Hypothesis ( Gerald P.

Kuoper, 1949)
- the original nebula was so massive
that on further contraction and
flattening, it broke into separate
clouds or protoplanets.

The Sun

 It is a star
Source of light and heat which makes life
on earth possible
It appears as a yellowish disk, noticeably
darker near the edge than at the center.
1 complete rotation = 25 days (equator)
Points near the poles = 35 days (near the
pole)
Outer part of the sun is fluid.

 Temperature 6,000 degree Celsius.

At this temp, all known substances
are gaseous.

Parts of the Sun

 Corona- the extreme upper part of the

suns atmosphere.
Limb- a sphere with a dark edge (main
body)
Chromosphere ( color- sphere) a
brilliant red ring, a layer of gas about
8,000 miles thick on the surface, flashes.
Photosphere (light-sphere) a thin layer
of brilliantly glowing glass about 100 miles
deep which is the source of light.

 Prominences- near the edge of the

sun that appear reddish streamers
and clouds of glowing gases.

LIFE EXPECTANCY
Sufficient hydrogen remaining in the
sun allow to continue it to continue
to producing energy at the present
rate for the next 5- 10 billion years.

Moon

 Thats one small step for man, one giant

leap for mankind July 20, 1969 at
7:56PM
Apollo 11- Neil Armstrong and Edwin
Aldrin Jr.
Beginning of a new ear in the exploration
of space.
Origin: Unknown
Possible : original body of earth
independent planet travelling around the
sun

 Earths natural satellite

Diameter: 3, 456 km
Travel speed: 3, 664 km per hour
every 27 days or so.
At its closest to the earth: 356,000
km (perigee)
At its farthest: 406, 700 km (apogee)
There is a presence of lunar craters.

 Lunar craters- circular hollows, some

having high rims while others have
central peaks. In short, holes.
Diameter of holes : few centimeters to
over
200 km

PHASES OF THE MOON AND

ECLIPSE
New Moon occurs when the side
facing the earth is in shadow an we
cannot see the moon at all.
Crescent Moon happens after 2-3
days when the moon has moved
some distance and we can see the
thin edge of the lighted side

 First Quarter Moon happens a

week after the new moon.
Gibbous Moon happens when three
quarters of the side facing the earth is
lighted up and can be seen clearly.
Full Moon the whole face of the
lighted side clearly

KINDS OF ECLIPSES
Solar Eclipse when the moon is new ,
it cover the bright disk of a sun.
Annular Eclipse - when the moon
covers only the central part of the solar
disk.
Lunar Eclipse takes place when the
earth casts a shadow in space.

TIDES
Motions caused by the gravitational
attraction between the earth, moon
and the sun. Due to the moons
gravity field, a bulge of ocean water
always faces the moon. A second
bulge forms on the side of the earth
away from the moon. Water to fill the
bulges is drawn away form the area
of the ocean between the bulges.

TYPES OF TIDES
Spring Tides - when the sun and the
moon are in line with the earth.
These are highest tides.
Neap Tides occur when the sun and
the moon are at the right angles to
each other.

PLANETS
Revolve around the sun and rotate
their axes.
Undergo 2 motions:
1. revolution one motion of body
around another
2. rotation spinning on their
respective axes.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
PLANET

STAR

Revolves around the

sun
Gives off no light of its
own
Consists of non
exploding elements
Do not twinkle

Doesnt revolve
Gives off light
Mass of exploding
gases
Appears twinkling
because of the moving
layers of air that
scatter the light

CLASSIFICATION OF PLANETS
ACCORDING TO THEIR DISTANCE
FROM THE SUN
INNER PLANETS/
TERRESTIAL PLANETS

MERCURY
VENUS
EARTH
MARS

OUTER PLANETS

JUPITER
SATURN
URANUS
NEPTUNE
PLUTO

Mercury

 Planet nearest to the sun

Second smallest with a diameter of 4, 878
kilometers
1/16 size of the Earth
Magnetic field is 1% as strong as that of
Earth
Revolution: 87.97 days (fastest revolving
planet)
Rotation: 58 days, 15 hours and 28
minutes
Can be observed on Earth as the morning
and evening star

 In March and April, it grows brilliantly in

the western sky just after sunset.
In September and October, it can be
seen as morning star in the eastern sky.
Surface is filled with craters and
crossridge
Temp : 425 degree Celsius dayside
175 degree Celsius nightside
Atmosphere is made up of helium

Venus

 The brightest of all the planets

Can be seen as evening and morning
star
Evening star : during spring and
summer months in the western
skies
Morning star: during winter in the
eastern skies

Revolution: 225 days

Rotation: 243 days
Earths twin
Diameter: 12, 104 kilometers
Temp: -30 degree Celsius to 475
degree Celsius (hottest planet)
Atmosphere is made up of more than
90% carbon dioxide and almost no O2.

Features that make Venus a

peculiar planet
1. Spins clockwise or retrograde
2. Rotation is longer than revolution
3. A dense and cloudy atmosphere
which is an excellent reflector of
light.

Earth

 The only planet known to support and

have intelligent life
1 earth day = 24 hours
1 Revolution: 365 days
It is divided into 3 main layers:
1. crust atmosphere, lithosphere,
hydrosphere. It is not more than 30
miles thick
2. mantle layer of rocks with a depth
of 1,800 miles
3. core innermost layer, composed
of dense molten metal, while the
outer core is molten metal

Mars

 The earths closest celestial neighbor

beyond the solar orbit
The red planet
Two satelites : Phobos fear, Deimos
terror
Diameter: 6, 794 kilometers
Rotation: 24 hours and 37 minutes
Revolution: 687 earth days
Its atmosphere is made up chiefly of
carbon dioxide. Water vapor, oxygen
and nitrogen are scarce.

 Temperature: 30 degree Celsius on

hot day but when the sun sets, temp
drops rapidly to
-75 degree Celsius

Jupiter

 The giant member of the Planetary

system
Jovian is the adjective form used by
astronomers to describe the planet
318 times more mass than earth.
Diameter: 142, 796 km
Rotation: 9 hours and 55 minutes
(fastest rotating planet)
Atmosphere is made up of mostly
hydrogen and helium.

Satellites of Jupiter
The working Group on Planetary
System Nomenclature (WGPSN) has
assigned the names listed to 11
recently discovered satellites of
Jupiter. The satellites are listed in
order of increasing distance

ROMAN NUMBER

Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter

XVII
XVIII
XIX
XX
XXI
XXII
XIII
XXIV
XXV
XXVI
XXVII

NAME

Callirhoe
Themisto
Megaclite
Taygete
Chaldene
Harpalyke
Kalyke
Iocaste
Erinome
Isonoe
Praxidike

Galilean Moons

Saturn

Second largest planet

Diameter: 9 times that of earth
Rotation: 10 hours and 39 mins
It has a cloudy hydrogen atmosphere
mixed with some methane and ammonia
It has a magnificent system of rings that
is made up of countless ice-coated
satellites. They revolve around the
planet like tiny satellites

Uranus

 Discoved by William Herchel of

England in 1781
The third largest planet in the solar
system
Revolution : 84 Earth years
Rotation : 17 hours and 15 minutes
Color: Pale Green
Its atmosphere is made up of hydrogen
and methane
Temperature: -170 degree Celcius ,
ammonia gets frozen (iced)

 Its axis of rotation is only 8 degrees

since it is inclined almost 90 degree
Celsius the sun is nearly overhead at
one pole.
It has 11 rings barely composed of
ice and likely made of dark carbon
materials

Neptune

 The twin of Uranus

Its color is pale green due to methane
in their atmosphere.
According to US Space spacecraft
Voyager 2, it has a set of broad sheet
rings which extends inward from a
distance of 59,000km.
Atmospheric gases are hydrogen,
methane and ethane
Two major satellites: Triton and Neteid

Pluto

 The location of Pluto was first calculated

by Percival Lowell of United States.
In 1930, Clyde W. Tombough discovered
and named the planet Pluto.
Innermost planet in the solar system
James W. Christy, an American
astronomer discovered that Pluto has a
moon Charon.

 Diameter: 2, 290 kilometers

Its composition : 74% water ice, 21%
rock and 5% methane ice
It is an icy world with a methanemcoated surface

ASTEROIDS
found in the Asteroid Belt.
Ceres largest asteroid discovered.
(480 mi)
Apollo Asteroids asteroids crossing
the Earths orbit pose danger to
Earth.

TYPES OF ASTEROIDS
1. Athens lies near the orbit of Mars.
Orbits are highly elliptical in shape.

Ceres
Pallas
Juno
Vesta

2. Apollos lies near the orbit of

Jupiter. Orbits are highly eccentric.
Icarus
Geograpus
Eros

3. Trojans lies in the main asteroid

belt and most stable asteroids.
Hector
Diomedes

COMETS
Appear as bright objects or star-like bodies
with glowing tails.
Made up of frozen ice and gas carbon
dioxide, ammonia, methane with dust.
The tail can reach a length of 150 million
km.
Orbit : 3, 6 100 yrs.
Halleys Comet famous for its long glowing
tail takes about 76 yrs. Reappearance : 1986

METEORS
Meteoroids small chunks of matter bigger
than a dust grain but smaller than
asteroid.
Meteor falling stars
- the streak light seen when a space rock
enters the atmosphere and starts burning
Meteorite a remnant of meteor that
landed on the suface of the earth.