The Sky AboveThe Sky Above

Audrey HyltonAudrey Hylton

CloudsClouds• High-Level CloudsHigh-Level Clouds

Cloud types include: cirrus and cirrostratus. Cloud types include: cirrus and cirrostratus. • Mid-Level CloudsMid-Level Clouds

Cloud types include: altocumulus, altostratus. Cloud types include: altocumulus, altostratus. • Low-Level CloudsLow-Level Clouds

Cloud types include: nimbostratus and Cloud types include: nimbostratus and stratocumulus. stratocumulus.

• Clouds with Vertical Development Clouds with Vertical Development Cloud types include: fair weather cumulus and Cloud types include: fair weather cumulus and

cumulonimbus.cumulonimbus.• Other Cloud TypesOther Cloud Types

Cloud types include: contrails, billow clouds, Cloud types include: contrails, billow clouds, mammatus, orographic and pileus clouds.mammatus, orographic and pileus clouds.

WeatherWeatherThere are many, many types of weather:There are many, many types of weather:

acid rain, aftershock, air pollution, arctic wind, atomic acid rain, aftershock, air pollution, arctic wind, atomic dust, avalanche, ball lightning, balmy, beastly, dust, avalanche, ball lightning, balmy, beastly,

bitter, brisk, black ice, blizzard, blue skies, bluster, bitter, brisk, black ice, blizzard, blue skies, bluster, bolt of lightning, breeze, brisk, calm, chill, wind, bolt of lightning, breeze, brisk, calm, chill, wind,

clear sky, cloud burst, cloudless, clouds, cold front, clear sky, cloud burst, cloudless, clouds, cold front, cold spell, cold wave, comet, continuous drizzle, cold spell, cold wave, comet, continuous drizzle,

continuous rain, continuous snow, cool, cycloned, continuous rain, continuous snow, cool, cycloned, down pour, draft, drizzled, dry dust devil dust, down pour, draft, drizzled, dry dust devil dust,

storm, earthquake, eclipse, electrical storm, erosion, storm, earthquake, eclipse, electrical storm, erosion, eruption, eye of hurricane, fair, fall, falling star, eruption, eye of hurricane, fair, fall, falling star, flash flood, fog, freeze, gust, hail, shower, haze, flash flood, fog, freeze, gust, hail, shower, haze,

heat wave, driving snow, thunderstorm, hot spell, heat wave, driving snow, thunderstorm, hot spell, howling wind, humid, hurricane, ice storm, Indian howling wind, humid, hurricane, ice storm, Indian

summer, lightning, shower, sleet, driving whiteout, summer, lightning, shower, sleet, driving whiteout, wind, windstorm, winter.wind, windstorm, winter.

The AtmosphereThe Atmosphere

• The earth's atmosphere is a very thin layer The earth's atmosphere is a very thin layer wrapped around a very large planet.wrapped around a very large planet.

• Two gases make up the bulk of the earth's Two gases make up the bulk of the earth's atmosphere: nitrogen, which comprises 78% atmosphere: nitrogen, which comprises 78% of the atmosphere, and oxygen, which of the atmosphere, and oxygen, which accounts for 21%. Various trace gases make accounts for 21%. Various trace gases make up the remainder.up the remainder.

• Based on temperature, the atmosphere is Based on temperature, the atmosphere is divided into four layers: the troposphere, divided into four layers: the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.thermosphere.

• Energy is transferred between the earth's Energy is transferred between the earth's surface and the atmosphere via conduction, surface and the atmosphere via conduction, convection, and radiation.convection, and radiation.

The MoonThe Moon

The Moon, of course, has been known The Moon, of course, has been known since prehistoric times. It is the since prehistoric times. It is the

second brightest object in the sky second brightest object in the sky after the Sun. As the Moon orbits after the Sun. As the Moon orbits

around the Earth once per month, the around the Earth once per month, the angle between the Earth, the Moon angle between the Earth, the Moon

and the Sun changes; we see this as and the Sun changes; we see this as the cycle of the Moon's phases. the cycle of the Moon's phases.

The SunThe SunThe Sun is the most prominent feature in The Sun is the most prominent feature in

our solar system. It is the largest object our solar system. It is the largest object and contains approximately 98% of the and contains approximately 98% of the total solar system mass. One hundred total solar system mass. One hundred

and nine Earths would be required to fit and nine Earths would be required to fit across the Sun's disk, and its interior across the Sun's disk, and its interior

could hold over 1.3 million Earths. The could hold over 1.3 million Earths. The Sun's outer visible layer is called the Sun's outer visible layer is called the

photosphere and has a temperature of photosphere and has a temperature of 6,000°C (11,000°F).6,000°C (11,000°F).

CometsCometsComets are sometimes called Comets are sometimes called dirty dirty

snowballssnowballs or "icy mud balls". They are or "icy mud balls". They are a mixture of ices (both water and a mixture of ices (both water and

frozen gases) and dust that for some frozen gases) and dust that for some reason didn't get incorporated into reason didn't get incorporated into planets when the solar system was planets when the solar system was

formed. This makes them very formed. This makes them very interesting as samples of the early interesting as samples of the early

history of the solar system. history of the solar system.

PlanetsPlanetsMercuryMercuryVenusVenusEarth Earth MarsMars

JupiterJupiterSaturn Saturn UranusUranus

NeptuneNeptunePlutoPluto

StarsStarsA star (such as the Sun)

is a ball of gas which has, at its heart, a nuclear fusion reactor.

http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/

http://www.maa.mhn.de/StarDate/starindex1.html