Solar System Formation  Interstellar Cloud Collapses This cloud is called a nebula This cloud is called a nebula Contains Hydrogen (92%), Helium (7%) and less than one percent other materials Contains Hydrogen (92%), Helium (7%) and less than one percent other materials Why? Why? Not knownNot known Heat and Pressure Drop and Loses Against GravityHeat and Pressure Drop and Loses Against Gravity

Solar System Formation  Center of Mass Forms a Star, Additional Mass is attracted towards the center and form a nebula Rotational Speed of the Cloud Increases Rotational Speed of the Cloud Increases Think Figure Skater Think Figure Skater

Star and Planet Formation  The Spinning Nebula Flattens in a Disk Think Pizza Dough Think Pizza Dough  Planets Form from the Disk of Gas and Dust Planetesimals Planetesimals Small irregular shape bodiesSmall irregular shape bodies

Formation of Planets Inner  High Temps  Only Metals (Fe and Silicates) Solidified  Small, because of the sun’s gravitational pull Outer  Cold Temps  Ices of Ammonia, Methane, Carbon Dioxide and Water where able to solidify  Became large enough to capture the remaining He and Hydrogen

Orion Nebula

Eagle Nebula

Lagoon Nebula

Horse Head Nebula

Asteroids  Large Rocks Orbiting the Sun  Most are Found in the Asteroid Belt Between Mars and Jupiter  Why do we have a Asteroid Belt? Most Scientist Believe that the Asteroid Belt is made up of remnants of a planet that would of formed had it not been for Jupiter Most Scientist Believe that the Asteroid Belt is made up of remnants of a planet that would of formed had it not been for Jupiter

Solar System Debris  Meteors and Asteroids Meteor: Bright Streak of Lights in the Sky Meteor: Bright Streak of Lights in the Sky Meteoroid: the Particles that Bring About the Light Meteoroid: the Particles that Bring About the Light Meteorites: Are the Remnants of a Meteoroid found on Earth Meteorites: Are the Remnants of a Meteoroid found on Earth

Properties and Stats  Frequency 300 tons of Extraterrestrial Rock and Dust Fall on Earth Each Day 300 tons of Extraterrestrial Rock and Dust Fall on Earth Each Day Usually you Can See a Meteor once Every Several Minutes on any Given Night Usually you Can See a Meteor once Every Several Minutes on any Given Night  3 Types Stony 94% Stony 94% Irons 5% Irons 5% Stony Irons 1% Stony Irons 1%

Comets  Dirty Snowballs  1-10 km in Diameter  Orbit the Sun, Produce a “Tail” When they get within 3 AU of the Sun  Tail Points Away from the Sun  Two Types of Comets Short Period (Orbital Period < 200yrs) Short Period (Orbital Period < 200yrs) Long Period (Orbital Period > 200yrs) Long Period (Orbital Period > 200yrs)

Anatomy of a Comet

Typical Comet Orbit

Comet Hale Bopp 1997

Comet Hale Bopp Comets Stats  Eccentricity  Orbital Period 2537 Years 2537 Years  Next Visit

Haley’s Comet 1986 Comets Stats  Eccentricity  Period 76 Years 76 Years

Comets  Oort Cloud 100,000 AU from the Solar System 100,000 AU from the Solar System Long Period Comets Long Period Comets Orbital Periods Greater than a Million Years Orbital Periods Greater than a Million Years

Oort Cloud

Comets  Kupier Belt AU AU 35,000 objects with Diameters Greater than 100km 35,000 objects with Diameters Greater than 100km Short Period Comets Originate From Here Short Period Comets Originate From Here Haley’s Comet Haley’s Comet

Kupier Belt

Fate of Comets  Each Time a Comet Passes about 1% of the nucleus is burned off  Dust Particles Break Off, if Earth’s Orbit intersects comets orbit, We Experience Meteor Showers  If Pass Very Shortly After the Comet Passes, We Experience a Meteor Storm

Famous Meteor Showers ShowerDatesComet Lyrids April Comet 1861 I Eta May 3 – 5 Halley’s Perseids Aug. 12 Comet 1862 III Orionids Oct 20 Halley’s Comet Taurids Nov. 3 – 13 Comet Encke Leonids Nov. 18 Comet 1866 I

Shoemaker Levy 9 Jul/Aug 94

SL9 Cont’d

Meteor Shower