The “New” Solar System

Guess who has become the new dwarf!!!

What is a Planet? (IAU) International Astronomical Union A "planet" is an object that: (a) orbits the Sun, (b) has mass and gravity to form a sphere, and *(c) has “gravitational control of all nearby objects”

Our 3 dwarf planets Pluto Eris Ceres

PLUTO Moons: 3 (2 new)

Inner Planets O U T E R P L A N E T S Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune

Characteristics of terretrial and JOVIAN planets Go to your book Chapter 29 (p. 594) Do objectives 2.12 + 2.13

Terrestrial vs. JOVIAN Terrestrial: Any one of the four planets closest to the sun Mercury Venus Earth Mars With properties similar to those of earth. ROCKY with a metal core

Terrestrial vs. JOVIAN JOVIAN: Any one of the four outer planets Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune With properties including MASSIVE in size, low density, thick atmosphere made up mostly of H and He gases.

Pluto’s newest moons

Eris Very elliptical orbit (beyond Pluto) Revolution = 560 yrs One moon (Dysnomia)

How do we see these?? Keck Telescope, Hawaii The Largest Optical Telescope

Ceres Formerly an asteroid Located between Mars & Jupiter Smallest dwarf planet

Potential Dwarf Planets Mostly KBO’s (Kuiper Belt Objects) Sedna Quaoar 2005 FY9 2003 EL61

Size Comparison