TEACHING THE SOLAR SYSTEM - Welcome! We will begin in a few minutes. August 26, 2020 - Dunlap Institute
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TEACHING THE SOLAR SYSTEM
Welcome!
We will begin in a few minutes.
August 26, 2020
DISCOVER THE UNIVERSE Our goal: to help teachers and educators by providing educational resources and training in astronomy. • free • online Offered by:
NEXT WORKSHOPS Webinar: Mars, the Workshop for Teachers Fascinating Planet Level 1 October 14, 2020 November 9-27, 2020
TEACHING THE SOLAR SYSTEM
THE SOLAR SYSTEM
The Solar System is
made up of all matter
which is gravitationally
bound to the Sun.
It includes much more
than the planets!
Image not to scale
Image credits: NASA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Solar_sys8.jpg
ACTIVITY Sorting the Solar System • 28 objects to categorize • Allows discovery of many unknown objects • Allows students to act like scientist and to classify these objects based on the provided data Download at : http://www.dunlap.utoronto.ca/~ du/Webinars/Activity- SortingSolarSystem.pdf
OBSERVE THE PLANETS! This fall will provide us with a beautiful view of the 4 brightest planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Venus!
JUPITER AND SATURN
- Visible in the south this fall,
right after sunset
- Jupiter is very bright and
the first « star » to appear in
that area of the sky
- Saturn is just to the left of
Jupiter, but less bright
Early September sky
around 8:15pm
MARS - Currently rises around 9:30pm, but will be visible right after sunset in a few weeks - Very bright with an orange hue - In opposition on October 13, 2020 (opposite to the Sun, best time to observe, alignment repeats every 26 months)
MARS, JUPITER AND SATURN
Mid-October sky around 8pmVENUS
- Visible early morning this
fall, before sunrise
- Very bright and easily
identified (brighter than
Sirius, the brightest star in
the night sky)
Early September sky
around 5:00amSTELLARIUM - Planetarium software showing the sky any time and anywhere Web version : https://stellarium-web.org/ • no setup required, English only, free Downloadable Version : http://stellarium.org/en_CA/ • multiple languages including English Canada, free Mobile app • some $$$, can show the sky in the direction where your device points
SOLAR SYSTEM Our Solar System is composed of : • 1 star – our Sun; • 8 planets; • 5++ dwarf planets; • Hundreds of natural satellites; • Millions/billions of small bodies (asteroids, comets, trans- Neptunian objects…); • Countless small debris (meteoroids) in orbit around the Sun.
THE SUN
At the centre of our
Solar System is a star,
our Sun.
Image credits: Solar Dynamics Observatory
http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.govTHE PLANETS
Neptune
The largest spherical Mercury Earth
Jupiter Uranus
objects in orbit around
the Sun are the 8 planets.
Mars
Venus
There are 2 types of
planets:
- Small rocky
- Gas giants
Saturn
Image credits: NASADWARF PLANETS
Small spherical objects in
orbit around the Sun located
either in the asteroid belt or
the Kuiper belt are called
dwarf planets.
We officially recognize 5 such
dwarf planets, but hundreds
more could fit in this
category.
Image credits: NASAKUIPER BELT
Region beyond Neptune’s orbit
with numerous « small » objects.
It can be visualized as a 2nd
asteroid belt, but much wider
and composed of icy bodies
(trans-Neptunian objects).
Pluto is one of the largest known
objects located in this region.
Watch video! → Image credits: © Alex Parker
https://vimeo.com/96874127ASTEROIDS
Rocky objects with
irregular shapes which
are smaller than dwarf
planets are called
Ida
asteroids.
There appear to be Itokawa
millions in our Solar
System, mostly located
in the asteroid belt.
Eros
Watch probe landing on an asteroid :
https://youtu.be/4xnInpqMiG4
Credits: Eros and Ida: NASA – Solar system exploration -
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Asteroids
Itokawa:© ISAS et JAXA - http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap051121.htmlCOMETS
Comets are small, icy objects. When
they approach the Sun, the ice turns
to gas and reflects sunlight: it gives
comets a tail!
Videos from the Rosetta
mission to comet Chury:
https://www.youtube.com/playli
st?list=PLbyvawxScNbui_Ncl9u
Q_fXLOjS4sNSd8 Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Comet NEOWISE C/2020 F3
Credits:
Comet NEOWISE : Jennifer West
Comet Churyi: ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/RosettaNATURAL SATELLITES
Many planets and dwarf planets
(and even some asteroids) have
natural satellites, also called
moons. We know of hundreds of
them in our Solar System.
Many are spherical and two are
larger than the planet Mercury.
Image credits: NASASOME OFTEN FORGOTTEN OBJECTS ARE
VERY INTERESTING…TITAN, SATURN’S MOON
• 2nd largest moon in the Solar
System (5150 km) and Saturn’s
largest moon.
• Only moon with a dense
atmosphere (composed mainly of
nitrogen)
• Only known object, other than
Earth, with liquid on the surface
(methane)
• Water ocean under the surface?
Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA14602TITAN
Titan’s surface,
photographed by the
Huygens probe
(Cassini) in 2005
Methane sea, radar image from
Cassini in 2016
Credits:
Surface : NASA/JPL/ESA/University of Arizona: https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA07232
Methane sea: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASI/Cornell: https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20021TITAN
Artist
representation of
Titan’s surface
3D view: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/TheSaturnSystemEbook/TitanLandscape/PLUTO
• Visited for the first time in
2015 by the New Horizons
probe
• More geologic diversity than
expected!
• Could possibly have a water
ocean under the surface
Credits: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI
https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/global-mosaic-of-pluto-in-true-colorPLUTO – VARIED TERRAIN
• Icy plain
• Darker region with many
craters
Credits: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI
https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/mosaic-of-high-resolution-images-of-plutoPLUTO – ICY MOUNTAINS
Water ice mountains, 3500 m high
Credits: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI
https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/the-icy-mountains-of-plutoPLUTO - PANORAMA
Credits: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI
http://www.nasa.gov/feature/pluto-wows-in-spectacular-new-backlit-panoramaENCELADUS, SATURN’S MOON
Geysers observed by the Cassini probe,
possible liquid ocean under the surface
Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/13020/the-moon-with-the-plume/JUPITER’S MOONS
Ganymede Callisto
All three moons seem to have a
liquid ocean under the surface.
Europa, with its icy surface Not to scale.
Credits: NASAIO, JUPITER’S MOON
The most geologically active
object in the Solar system
(400+ active volcanoes)!
Credits: NASATOPICS OF DISCUSSION • If you could send a probe anywhere in the Solar System, where would you send it and why? • Where is the best place to look for life in the Solar System, considering that life as we know it requires liquid water? • We often speak of the possibility of life on other planets, but could life exist on moons or dwarf planets?
LATEST IMAGES FROM SPACE PROBES List of active Solar system probes (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_active_Solar_System_probes
JUNO PROBE VISITS JUPITER
• In orbit around Jupiter since July 2016.
• Has a very elliptical orbit (elongated) and
passes near Jupiter every 53 days.
Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/juno/overview/index.html
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-re-plans-juno-s-jupiter-missionPERIJOVE VIDEO
• Perijove: Juno probe’s closest position from Jupiter in its
orbit.
• Jupiter like you’ve never seen before!
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190908.html
Image credits for the latest slides:
NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS with the help of
• David Marriott • Kevin M. Gill
• Gerald Eichstadt • Sean Doran
• Justin CowartMORE INFORMATION ON JUNO NASA pages: • https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/juno/overview/ • https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/juno/images/index.html (nice pictures) Wikipedia page: • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juno_(spacecraft) APOD, search for Juno or Jupiter: • https://apod.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
MARS PROBES
Many probes are actively studying Mars (NASA, ESA*, India) or on their
way there (NASA, China, United Arab Emirates).
Probes are sent every 26
months, when Mars and Earth
are closest to each other
(Mars is in opposition).
ESA: European Space Agency
Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech
https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/25156/perseverances-route-to-mars/CURIOSITY ROVER (NASA)
Has been exploring the
surface of Mars since
August 2012.
Spirit and
Opportunity (2004)
Curiosity (2012)
Pathfinder (1997)
Three generations of rovers A « selfie » from Curiosity on Mars
Image credits:: NASA/JPL-CALTECH
https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2154.htm
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/300/10-things-about-mars-curiosity/THE BEST PICTURE OF MARS
Check it out! → Image credits: NASA/JPL-CALTECH/MSSS
https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/24801/curiositys-18-billion-pixel-panorama/?site=mslINSIGHT PROBE (NASA)
Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/CAB
https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/weather/MORE INFORMATION ON CURIOSITY Curiosity site, from NASA: • https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/home/ Interactive tool: Experience Curiosity • https://eyes.nasa.gov/curiosity/ Follow our Webinar Mars, the fascinating planet, in October! • https://www.discovertheuniverse.ca/events/mars-the-fascinating- planet
CASSINI-HUYGENS PROBE AT SATURN Probe active between 2004 and 2017 Main probe from NASA, along with the small Huygens probe from the ESA to explore Titan
The moons Titan and Dione in front of Saturn and its rings.
Saturn’s rings are very thin (a few tens of meters), but some areas show vertical structure.
The small moon Daphnis (8 km) causing gravitational perturbations in the rings.
MORE INFORMATION ON CASSINI
NASA page
• https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/cassini/overview/
Best images:
• https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/cassini/galleries/hall-of-
fame/?page=0&per_page=25&order=created_at+desc&search=&tags=cassini&con
dition_1=1%3Ais_in_resource_list&category=252
Wikipedia:
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassini-Huygens
Image credits:
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science InstituteSCALE MODELS OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
Are these images accurate representations of the Solar
System?
Credits :
1. Cmglee / Wikimedia Commons :
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Solar_System_size_to_scale.svg
2. NASA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Solar_sys8.jpg
3. Image created with the Starry Night softwareIt is not possible to depict to scale the size of
planets and their orbits on a sheet of paper or a
slide.
We need to make models!
Go watch our webinar Model the Solar System in our Archives:
https://www.discovertheuniverse.ca/archivesSOLAR SYSTEM TO SCALE
Reproduce the main objects in the Solar System to scale with
respect to size and distances.
We can find objects of various sizes and place them at the right
distances (be prepared for a long walk!)
• Choose the size of the Sun and make your students calculate :
proportions, Excel spreadsheet…
• Use our calculator: https://www.discovertheuniverse.ca/scale-model
• Activity from Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium :
https://espacepourlavie.ca/en/complementary-activities/solar-system-
your-neighbourhoodACCURATE DISTANCES (AND DIRECTIONS)
Variations:
- Outside or on paper
- With the real directions on the
date of the activity, it’s possible
to know where and when the
planets will be visible on that
evening…
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/acti
vity/kinesthetic-radial-model-of-the-
solar-system/SIZE OF OBJECTS ONLY
Variations:
- Use various objects or
playdough
https://astronomy.sdsu.edu/projectas
tro/resources/WorldsInComparison.p
df
Image credits: Lsmpascal
http://www.lesud.com/lesud-astronomy_pageid81.htmlVARIOUS RESOURCES Video - Solar System to Scale: https://youtu.be/zR3Igc3Rhfg Astro at Home: many episodes about the Solar System: https://www.discovertheuniverse.ca/astro-home • Introduction to Stellarium (episode from March 18, 2020): https://youtu.be/2EFy8F_2SpU?t=116
IMPORTANT POINTS • The Solar System is bigger than you imagine! • The Solar System is much more than the Sun and the planets. • Some overlooked objects are the most interesting! • Solar System objects are beautiful and varied: diverse surfaces, icy worlds, extreme weather...
Contact Us! Contactez-nous!
www.discovertheuniverse.ca | www.decouvertedelunivers.ca
info@discovertheuniverse.ca | info@decouvertedelunivers.ca
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