THE FINAL FROINTERIER

THE FINAL FRONTIERNICK BOWDEN

9/8/139/8/13The Solar System

Hi, Im Nick and I am going to tell you about our Solar System.

Our Solar System began around 4.6 billion years ago when a molecular cloud of interstellar gas collapsed. These clouds collapsed and turned into a star. Most of the cloud formed the Sun. Other material from the cloud flattened around the Sun forming planetary discssome formed solid objects which grew larger and stuck together.These balls then form the cores of the planets9/8/13

The Solar SystemMercuryClosest planet to the Sun and 8th largestNo known satellites or ringsVisible with binoculars or even the unaided eyeSurface is heavily cratered, very old-GrayVenus2nd planet from the Sun and the 6th largestMost circular orbit of that of any planetVery few craters-smooth surfaceNo satellites or ringsVisible with the unaided eye, very bright--YellowEarth3rd planet from the Sun and the 5th largest70% water 30% landsurface appears smoothOne moon-no ringsBlue and WhiteMars (The Red Planet)4th planet from the Sun and the 7th largest2 satellites-Phobos & Deimos, but no ringsRed, rocky surface--similar land forms to earth (volcanoes, water-erosion marks, polar caps)Jupiter-The Gas Giant5th planet from the Sun LARGEST 4th brightest in the skyBrightly colored bands wrap the surface are clouds and gases but with a rocky coreThe Great Red Spot big enough to hold two Earths63 satellites & 3 rings (dark and hard to see)Red with white bandsSaturn6th planet from the Sun and the 2nd largest Bright in the sky; visibly flattened and surface looks smoothlooks pale yellowLarge visible ring structure (bright) & 53 satellites (moons)Uranus7th planet from the Sun and the 3rd largest27 moons and 11 rings (dark and hard to see )Blue & smooth surface-rocky and icy surfaceNeptune8th planet from the Sun and the 4th largestBlue & smooth-in the southern hemisphere Great Dark Spot 13 moons & 4 rings (dark and some with twisted structure)

9/8/13Inner PlanetsThe 4 inner planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. The inner planets are composed mostly of rock while the outer planets are gas giants. Inner planets are both smaller and denser than outer planets.They also have few or no moons and no rings circling them.

9/8/13Outer PlanetsOuter planets include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.The outer planets are much larger, are more gaseous, have lower densities, and all have some sort of rings.All outer planets are larger in size and have increased gravity which can hold onto lighter elements like gases.The inner and outer planets are separated by the asteroid belt.

9/8/13Earths surface-Terra

Earth is a terrestrial planet--it is a rocky body, rather than a gas giant like Jupiter. It is the largest of the four terrestrial planets in size and mass.This crust is broken into many large plates(tectonic plates) that move slowly relative to each other. 70% water (undersea mountains, mid-ocean ridge system, undersea volcanoes, oceanic trenches, submarine canyons, oceanic plateaus )Atlantic OceanPacific Ocean (largest)Arctic Ocean (smallest)Indian OceanSouthern Ocean

9/8/13Earths surface 30% land including 7 continents consists of mountains, deserts, plains, plateaus, and other types of landAfricaAsiaAntarcticaAustraliaEuropeNorth AmericaSouth America

9/8/13Large Canyon Systems

Running Water ErosionChannels that appear to have been cut by running water similar to those found on the Earth.

Large canyon system appears to have been formed mostly by local tectonic activity (local motion of surface) rather than by erosion.Huge Shield Volcanoes

Volcanoes on Mars are now extinct, volcanoes are called shield volcanoes, because they look like shields.

Polar CapsThese polar caps appear to be partially composed of dry ice and frozen water.Mars Surface(many similarities to Earth)9/8/13Mars surfaceDry, barren wasteland marked by old volcanoes and impact cratersMars lacks the wind, rain, and plate tectonics that cause erosion here on EarthThe northern hemisphere craters and appear far less eroded indicating they are much younger than those of the southern hemisphere.Mars is a small world--Its radius is half of the Earths surfaceCovered by a fine layer of iron oxide dust that has the consistency of talcum powder--gives the planet its characteristic red hue (Red Planet)

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Curiosity We are celebrating the mars rover its 1 year on the red planet.Curiosity is a car-sized robotic rover exploring Gale Crater on Mars as part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission (MSL).Curiosity was launched November 26, 2011, and successfully landed on Mars on August 6, 2012, Curiosity's design will serve as the basis for a planned Mars 2020 rover mission. In December 2012, Curiosity's two-year mission was extended indefinitely.9/8/13How Planets are AlikePlanets in our solar system formed from the same cloud of dust that circled the early Sun. Most planets have moons. and they are round but some of them are different circles like ovals.While there's a group of planets that are made of gas, there are four planets in our solar system that are made of hard rock.So, some planets are alike by what they're made of. Another way they're alike is the conditions of weather on the planets.Jupiter and Neptune. Jupiter has the Great Red Spot, while Neptune has the Big Blue Spot. 9/8/13How Planets are DifferentPlanets have the colors that they have because of what they are made of and how their surfaces or atmospheres reflect and absorb sunlight. Mercury has a dark gray, rocky surface which is covered with a thick layer of dust. The surface is thought to be made up of igneous silicate rocks and dust. Venus is entirely covered with a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere and sulfuric acid clouds which give it a light yellowish appearance. Earth shows its blue oceans and white clouds as well as its green and brownish land.9/8/13ConclusionThe Solar System started out the same way.The planets have different characteristics.The planets are alike in some ways.There is only one planet that can sustain life.Do we know this for a fact, or do we need to keep exploring?There is no Final Frontier

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