Earth Science Chapter 1: The Birth of Astronomical Studies Astronomy - the study of all matter and energy in the

universe involving celestial bodies such as planets, stars, and gala ies! Earth - one of many places in the universe, the special point from "hich man#s voyage of e ploration started! The earth is uni$ue in our solar system since it is the only planet capable of suporting life! The universe - immense% as a "hole is an abstract concept but it consist of real physical places "here everything else e ist! 4.6 Billion years ago the planets, satellites, meteoric materials, and the sun did not e ist! Celestial navigation - the biggest benefit astronomy gives to man&ind! Most galaxies are made up of billions of stars! Theories About the 'rigin of the Solar System Nicolaus Copernicus ( described the planetary motion in 1)*+ before the modern heliocentic or suncentered system! ,e placed the planets in circular paths around the sun and placed the earth si th planets "ith its satellites, the moon! Ptolemaic System ( the most enduring arrangement of this geocentric earth-centered plan! mmanuel !ant, a -erman philosopher, in 1.)), and a /rench mathematician, "aplace, in 1.01, published closely related hypothesis called 2ebular! Ne#ular $ypothesis ( the solar system developed "ith observed regularities in its motion! Planetesmal Theory ( supposed that the planetary system "as formed from materials removed from the sun by great gravitational attraction! The large bodies attracted smaller ones and became planets! Carl %rie&rich von 'ei(sac)er, a -erman physicist and 3!S! Chemist $arol& C. *rey, called 4ust Cloud Theory in 10*)! +ust Clou& Theory ( the nebula "as assumed to have a composition mainly of hydrogen and helium! The mass of this 54ust Cloud6 "as originally 178 of the suns mass! ,eral& P. !uoper proposed 9rotoplanet ,ypothesis in 10*0! 9rotoplanet ,ypothesis ( a process that could have develop planetary system around many stars! The Sun Sun ( a star% some"hat smaller than most stars! The source of light and heat "hich ma&es life on earth possible! Sunspots - small blac& spots! These are temporary and cool region in the sun#s photosphere! Total Eclipse ( ma&es sunspots, the corona, the e treme upper part of the sun#s atmosphere very visible! The 9arts of the Sun "im# ( the main body is a sphere "ith a dar& edge!

Chromosphere -color.sphere/ - a brillant red ring, a layer of gas about :777 miles thic& on the surface, flashes! Photosphere -light.sphere/ ( under chromosphere% a very thin layer of brillantly glo"ing gas about 177 miles deep "hich is the source of sun#s light! Corona -cro0n/ ( is the hot, dense mass of gases "hich compose the interior of the sun! The ;oon The Moon ( the earth#s only natural satellite! <t has a diameter of +*)1 &m and travel around the earth at a speed of +11* &m=hr once every >. days or so! Elliptical or#it ( ho" the moon revolves around the earth! Neil Armstrong and E&0in Al&rin 1r. landed on the moon from Apollo 22 on 1uly 345 2666 at 7896 p.m 9hases of the ;oon and Eclipse Ne0 moon ( occurs "hen the side facing the earth is in shado" and "e cannot see the moon at all! Crescent moon ( happens after > or + days "hen the moon has mmoved some distance and "e can see the thin edge of the lighten side! %irst :uarter ( happens a "ee& after the ne" moon! ?e see half of the lighted side "hich means that the moon has traveled throught one $uarter of its orbit! ,i##ous moon ( happens "hen three $uarter side facing the earth lighten up and can be seen clearly! %ull moon ( "hen "e can see the "hole face of the lighted side clearly! After a day or t"o, the full moon begins to "ane orr shrin&! <t ta&es 36 ; days to change from ne" moon to full moon! Tides Ti&es ( are motions caused by the gravitational attraction bet"een the earth, moon and the sun! Spring ti&es ( "hen the sun and the moon are in line "ith the earth! 'ccurs t"ice each month during the full moon and the ne" moon! Neap ti&es -minimum ti&es/ ( occur "hen the sun and the moon are at the right angles to each other! The <nner 9lanets=Terrestrial 9lanets Mercury ( the planet nearesr to the sun, and the second smallest! 1=1 the si@e of the earth! <t is the fastest of the nine planets! <t "as named after the messenger of the Aoman gods "ho had "ings on his feet! <enus ( named after the Aoman goddess of love and beauty! <t is the brightest of all the planets! <t is about the same si@e as the earth! Starga@ers refers to Benus as earth#s t"in! Earth ( only planet &no"n to support life! Mars ( named after the Aoman god of "ar! <t is often called red planet! <t#s earth#s closest celestial neighbor beyong the solar orbit! The 'uter 9lanets=Covian 9lanets 1upiter ( named after the chief Aoman god! The giant member of the planetary system! <t has no real surface! *ranus ( third largest planet in the solar system! <t has a system of rings similar to those in Saturn! Saturn ( second largest planet in the solar system! <t has a magnificent system of rings!

Neptune ( similar in si@e in 3ranus, and they bothh appear as pale green due to methane in their atmosphere! Pluto ( the outermost planet in the solar system! <t has a moon named Charon, is almost half his si@e! Chapter >: 'ther Celestial Bodies Comets ( are bodies of small mass that revolve around the sun, usually in highly elliptical orbits and consisting of the dirty sno"ball model of small solid particle embedded in fro@en gases! Asterio& -minor planet/ ( onne of the several thousand very small members of solar system that revolve around the sun! Meteor -shooting star/ ( a bright strea& of light that occurs "hen a solid particle from space enters the earth#s atmosphere and heated by friction "ith atmospheric particles! Constellation ( an apparent arrangement of stars usually named after ancient gods, heroes, animal, or mythological beings! Ne#ula ( a cloud og gases or dust in space! ,alaxy ( big assembly of stars, gas, and dust that is held together by gravity! The <nstrument 3sed to Study Astronomical Bodies Stellar Spectroscope ( enables the astronomers to obtain more detaiiled info about various celestial bodies by measuring the displacement of the spectral lines! Chronograph ( an e cellent means of recording astronomical observations accurately and permanently! Spectograph ( an e ceedingly valuable instrument! =e>racting telescope -re>ractor/ ( a telescope "hich lenses to refract light! Pyranometer ( measures global solar radiation! Spectroheliograph ( produce a single "avelenght picture! Pyreheliometer ( used to measure the beam component of solar radiation!