|
The Solar System consists of the Sun and those celestial objects bound to it by gravity, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The Sun's retinue of objects circle it in a nearly flat disc called the ecliptic plane, most of the mass of which is contained within eight relatively solitary planets whose orbits are almost circular. The four smaller inner planets; Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, also called the terrestrial planets, are primarily composed of rock and metal. The four outer planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, also called the gas giants, are composed largely of hydrogen and helium and are far more massive than the terrestrials. The Solar System is also home to two main belts of small bodies. The asteroid belt, which lies between Mars and Jupiter, is similar to the terrestrial planets as it is composed mainly of rock and metal. The Kuiper belt (and its subpopulation, the scattered disc), which lies beyond Neptune's orbit, is composed mostly of ices such as water, ammonia and methane. Within these belts, five individual objects, Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake and Eris, are recognised to be large enough to have been rounded by their own gravity, and are thus termed dwarf planets. The hypothetical Oort cloud, which acts as the source for long-period comets, may also exist at a distance roughly a thousand times beyond these regions. Within the Solar System, various populations of small bodies, such as comets, centaurs and interplanetary dust, freely travel between these regions, while the solar wind, a flow of plasma from the Sun, creates a bubble in the interstellar medium known as the heliosphere, which extends out to the edge of the scattered disc. Six of the planets and three of the dwarf planets are orbited by natural satellites, usually termed "moons" after Earth's Moon. Each of the outer planets is encircled by planetary rings of dust and other particles. From Wikipedia under the
GNU Free Documentation License How to build a Solar System model? Q. I am writing a lesson plan on the solar system and need help on how to build a solar system out of styrofoam balls and clothes hangers, or however that works. Help! Asked by silverstar624 - Tue Dec 16 23:26:14 2008 - - 5 Answers - 0 Comments A. you can make one on your computer by getting an application free here: or do this for a real one: Materials: (All of these materials can be found at a local craft store) 1 big styrofoam ball for the sun (about 8 inches in diameter). 9 smaller styrofoam balls of different sizes to match the planets. 10 wooden dowels (read the instructions below to determine what size). 1 box (about 3 x 3 x 3 feet). black thread. pins. clay (a small amount). glue. paint (black for the dowels and box; yellow for the sun & stars; other colors for the planets). construction paper (red, white, or yellow for rings around planets). 1 cork. 1. First, find a good box. It should be big enough inside to hold 9 planets revolving around the sun. 2. Tape the box… [cont.] Answered by Andrew - Wed Dec 17 01:06:06 2008 What are the names of the 20 planets in the early solar system? Q. I watched a show on Discovery channel on or around 03/28/2009 that described the formation of the solar system. One event was the collision of the earth with another planet. The result of that collision was the formation of the moon. Just prior to the formation of the moon, there were 20 planets in our solar system. What were there names? Asked by RD - Tue Mar 31 10:32:31 2009 - - 5 Answers - 0 Comments A. The hypothetical planet that collided and essentially merged with proto-Earth, releasing debris that eventually formed the moon is called Theia. The other possible planets that merged with those now existing are unnamed. There may have been twenty planets, perhaps more, but maybe less. All we know is from computer simulations. And since the new definition of planet implies that it must rule its orbit, then Theia would not be a true planet, even if it was as big as Mars, as it was sharing an orbit with proto-Earth. Answered by Vincent G - Tue Mar 31 10:49:21 2009 What are technically the boundaries of our solar system?
Q. Is it just the area beyond our 9 planets? or is it really 8 now? so past Neptune would be out of our solar system? What do you think? Asked by n_maritz - Thu Feb 14 14:16:58 2008 - - 10 Answers - 0 Comments A. There are officially 8 plants now since Pluto was reclassified. There appear to be several significant planetoids in the Pluto region. Beyond that starts the Kuiper Belt with comet material and then comes the Oort Cloud which extends halfway to the next star. The last planet is considered the be the end of the solar system and that would be Neptune. Answered by Michael H - Thu Feb 14 14:28:57 2008 From Yahoo Answer Search: "Solar System"
See also:
 news.google.com New York Times However, there is no reason that the solar installation professional should not also consider aesthetic aspects when designing a system . ... and more » news.google.com Montana's News Station "We did make changes to our preferred alternative and incorporated solar panels and solar power system into the plan and that was a direct result of some of ... and more » news.google.com Monterey County Herald Homeowners who install a solar system this year can get a federal tax credit of up to 30 percent of the cost. This used to be capped at $2000; ... From Google News Search: "Solar System"  astro.cf.ac.uk 226px x 216px | 11.00kB [source page] cd rom jpg 29 Jul 2003 09 53 15K schooltalks html 30 Jul 2003 12 34 14K solar system jpg 29 Jul 2003 09 53 11K planets jpg 29 Jul 2003 09 53 9 7K  coolthings.com.au 200px x 200px | 10.30kB [source page] Remote Control Solar System Mobile  japaninc.com 503px x 640px | 52.40kB [source page] Catching some sun The rooftop photovoltaic solar generation systems of the Matsushita Electric Works Tokyo Headquarter Building generate enough energy 10 5kW to power an entire office floor From Yahoo Image Search: "Solar System"  blog.allmusicimport.com Allmusic Import Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:30:03 GM Solar System. Vol. 3-. solar System. (cd) Artist: . solar system. Title: VOL. 3-. solar system. UPC#: 068381712226 Category: SOUL/R & b collections release Date: 05/15/2006 Label: unidisc media Format: cd import-CAN Track List: ...  tvnz.co.nz unknown Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:01:00 GM He said there was a chance the probe might eventually swing close enough to one of Jupiter's moons to alter its course and place it on a path that will take it out of . solar system. and into interstellar space. ...  ok4me2.net Kent Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:43:04 GM Haumea is one of the strangest known objects in the . solar system. . It is as big across as Pluto but shaped like a cigar or perhaps an American football. These two images show the two extremes of its appearance as it spins. ... From Google Blog Search: "Solar System" |
Nova Celestia
The Planetary Society: Our Solar System
Endless Boundaries