What Do We Know About the Solar System?

Ian Graham

Description

How do we know Earth isn't flat? What are the benefits of space exploration, and is it good value? How and why do scientists study the Universe? This series answers questions like these, while tackling key curriculum topics relating to Earth, Space, and the Universe. The series encourages critical thinking to support the modern science curriculum and includes features on "space science in the home" and "what it means for us", showing the relevance of space science to our everyday lives.

Informations

• Publié par: Capstone Global Library
• Date de parution: 10 juin 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781406231960
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 7 Mo

Extrait

Wha ïs he Godïocks zone? Is space exporaon good vaue? Are sars and panes aways vïsïbe? The Earh, Space, and Beyond serïes answers hese and many oher hough-provokïng quesons. I descrïbes pas, curren, and fuure scïence mïssïons and shows how asronomers and engïneers are advancïng our knowedge of Earh, he soar sysem, and he wïder Unïverse.

Thïs book ooks a wha he soar sysem ïs made of, why panes ook so dïeren, and a bodïes such as comes, aseroïds, and dwarf panes.

About the author Ian Graham ïs an experïenced echnïca journaïs and wrïer of many popuar scïence and echnoogy books. He specïaïzes ïn mïïary echnoogy, avïaon, space exporaon, and ranspor.

About the consultant Professor George Fraser ïs Dïrecor of he Unïversïy of Leïceser Space Research Cenre. He has a specïa ïneres ïn how echnoogy deveoped for space asronomy and paneary scïence can be used ïn ieds such as he ïfe scïences and medïcïne.

Titles in the series: How Do Scïenss Expore Space? Wha Does Space Exporaon Do For Us? Why Is There Lïfe on Earh? Wha Do We Know Abou he Soar Sysem? Wha Do We Know Abou Sars and Gaaxïes?

www.raïnreepubïshers.co.uk

978-1-4062-2624-9 978-1-4062-2625-6 978-1-4062-2626-3 978-1-4062-2627-0 978-1-4062-2628-7

EARTH, SPACE, AND BEYOND

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE SOLAR SYSTEM?

EARTH, SPACE, AND BEYOND

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE SOLAR SYSTEM?

Ian Graham

Raïnree ïs an ïmprïn of Capsone Goba Lïbrary Lïmïed, a company ïncorporaed ïn Engand and Waes havïng ïs regïsered oîce a 7 Pïgrïm Sree, London, EC4V 6LB – Regïsered company number: 6695582

Tex © Capsone Goba Lïbrary Lïmïed 2011 Fïrs pubïshed ïn hardback ïn 2011 The mora rïghs of he proprïeor have been assered.

A rïghs reserved. No par of hïs pubïcaon may be reproduced ïn any form or by any means (ïncudïng phoocopyïng or sorïng ï ïn any medïum by eecronïc means and wheher or no ransïeny or ïncïdenay o some oher use of hïs pubïcaon) wïhou he wrïen permïssïon of he copyrïgh owner, excep ïn accordance wïh he provïsïons of he Copyrïgh, Desïgns and Paens Ac 1988 or under he erms of a ïcence ïssued by he Copyrïgh Lïcensïng Agency, Saron House, 6¬–10 Kïrby Sree, London EC1N 8TS (www.ca.co.uk). Appïcaons for he copyrïgh owner’s wrïen permïssïon shoud be addressed o he pubïsher.

Edïed by Andrew Farrow, Adam Mïer, and Adrïan Vïgïano Desïgned by Marcus Be Orïgïna ïusraons © Capsone Goba Lïbrary Ld (2011) Iusraed by KJA-arss.com Pïcure research by Hannah Tayor Orïgïnaed by Capsone Goba Lïbrary Ld Prïned ïn Chïna by Souh Chïna Prïnng Company Ld

ISBN 978 1 406 22627 0 (hardback) 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Briîsh Library Cataloguing in Publicaîon Data Graham, Ian Wha do we know abou he soar sysem?. – (Earh, space, and beyond) A fu caaogue record for hïs book ïs avaïabe from he Brïsh Lïbrary.

Acknowledgements We woud ïke o hank he foowïng for permïssïon o reproduce phoographs: Corbïs pp. 14 (©epa/Dennïs M. Sabangan), 19 (©NASA), 35 (©Roger Ressmeyer), 36 (©Mïke Agïoo), 38 (©Chares O’Rear); NASA pp. 9, 11 (ESA/ CXC, JPL-Caech, J. Heser and A. Lo (Arïzona Sae Unïv.), R. Gehrz (Unïv. Mïnn.), and STScI), 12, 13, 15 (Goddard Space Fïgh Cener Scïenic Vïsuaïzaon Sudïo), 16, 18 (ESA/ I. de Paer, and M. Wong [UC Berkeey]), 20, 21 (JPL/ Unïversïy of Arïzona), 24, 28 (JPL), 29 (PIRL / Unïversïy of Arïzona), 31 op, 31 bo, 33, 37 (JPL), 39 (JPL/Corne), 39 (JPL/Corne), 41; Scïence Phoo Lïbrary pp. 4-5 (©NASA/ JPL), 6 (©Lynee Cook), 7 (©Take 27 Ld), 8 (©Gavïn Kïngcome), 10 (©Mark Garïck), 23 (©Mark Garïck), 25 (©John Sanford), 27 (©Pau Wooon), 26 (©Pekka Parvïanïnen), 30, 32 (©NASA), 34 (©Waer Pachoka, Asropïcs), 40 (©John Chumack); shuersock p. 17 (©corepïcs).

Cover phoograph of Earh and he Moon orbïng he Sun reproduced wïh permïssïon of Scïence Phoo Lïbrary (© Seve Munsïnger).

We woud ïke o hank Professor George W. Fraser for hïs ïnvauabe hep ïn he preparaon of hïs book.

Every eor has been made o conac copyrïgh hoders of maerïa reproduced ïn hïs book. Any omïssïons wï be recied ïn subsequen prïnngs ïf noce ïs gïven o he pubïsher.

Disclaimer A he ïnerne addresses (URLs) gïven ïn hïs book were vaïd a he me of goïng o press. However, due o he dynamïc naure of he ïnerne, some addresses may have changed, or sïes may have changed or ceased o exïs sïnce pubïcaon. Whïe he auhor and pubïsher regre any ïnconvenïence hïs may cause readers, no responsïbïïy for any such changes can be acceped by eïher he auhor or he pubïsher.

EARTH, SPACE, AND BEYOND WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE SOLAR SYSTEM?

Contents

Caption

Our solar system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Where did the solar system start? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Some words are shown The family of planets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 in bold,like Orbit, spin, and tilt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 this.You can înd out what Moons and their effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 they mean by Discovering the solar system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 looking in the glossary.You Space rocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 can also look Looking into the future. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . n .. t 4 h 0 e New o s ut for them in the "Word Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Timeline of space exploration missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Station" box at Planets – the vital statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 the bottom of each page. Find out more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

WORD STATION mIcroscopIcso sma ï can ony be seen usïng a mïcroscope somehïng

3

Our solar system

We can see the stars in the night sky, and everyone knows something about Earth, the Sun, and Earth’s onlymoon(“the Moon”). But how much do we really know about the solar system?

The basics The solar system is the Sun, the planets, their Sun moons, and everything else that travels through space with them. We live on planet Earth, one of eight planets that orbits the Sun. Everything in the solar system is constantly in motion. The planets spin and orbit the Sun Sun. Moons spin The Sun is a star like and orbit most of many other stars the planets. in the sky. It looks Numerous pieces bigger and brighter of rock and ice of than the others because it is much all sizes y around closer to us. the Sun, too.

4

Mercury

Mercury Mercury is the smallest of the solar system’s planets. It is just over one-third of the size of Earth and just a little bigger than the Moon.

Venus

Moon

Earth

Venus Venus is almost the same size as Earth, but its surface is permanently hidden under thick clouds.

Mars