What is Earth Science? A.EARTH SCIENCE: the study of Earth and its history B. Earth science is divided into 4 main branches: 1. Geology: study of the lithosphere 2. Oceanography: study of oceans 3. Meteorology: study of weather and climate 4. Astronomy: study of space
What is astronomy? A.ASTRONOMY: the study of stars, planets, and other objects in space B. Astronomers want to understand the universe and our planet s part in the universe. 1. Space exploration started with its study from earth using telescopes. 2. Our study of space now takes place in space using a great deal of technology.
How space is explored? A.NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration 1. A federal agency responsible for exploring space. 2. NASA works with private companies to aid in their work of space exploration. B. Rocketry is one of NASA s major focuses in order to get off earth s surface. 1. ESCAPE VELOCITY: the speed and direction required to escape Earth s gravitational pull. 2. They must travel at 25,000 mph to fight earth s pull, which is 32 times faster than the speed of sound at 768 mph.
How space is explored? C. Satellites, probes, landers & rovers are all other means of exploration 1. JPL: Jet Propulsion Laboratory 2. A number of NASA s engineers work for and through JPL to design, build and test vehicles for exploration. D. NASA is developing & testing new vehicles for exploration. 1. CSTS: Constellation Space Transportation System 2. NASA s focus is to use ISS to test equipment designed for a permanent base on the moon and eventually Mars
How space is explored? E. HUBBLE TELESCOPE 1. First large space telescope launched in 1990 2. Tasked to view and document the observable universe from above the Earth s atmosphere F. KEPLER TELESCOPE 1. Space observatory launched in 2009 2. Tasked to discover Earthsized planets in the Goldilocks Zone of other stars
How space is explored? G. CURIOSITY ROVER 1. Mars Science Laboratory launched 2011 and landed 2012 2. Tasked to robotically explore the surface of Mars and determine its past habitability for for microbes H. VOYAGER 1 PROBE 1. Interplanetary space probe launched in 1977 2. Primary task was to explore the outer planets and beyond 3. Secondary task is to explore interstellar space beyond the influence of the Sun
How space is explored? I. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS) 1. Orbiting Space Habitat launched in 1998 2. Tasked as a international, zero-g laboratory, astronomy platform and testing ground for astronauts and equipment headed to the Moon and Mars.
What is the universe? A. UNIVERSE: the whole of space and everything in it 1. It is believed to be infinite in volume 2. The observable universe is a sphere around earth with a radius of 46 billion light years. B. The universe is getting larger. 1. There are galaxies moving out and away from earth in every direction. 2. This is evidence of how the universe may have started. a. BIG BANG THEORY: the universe started as a very dense point known as the SINGULARITY that exploded outward
What are some major features of the universe? A. GALAXY: a large collection of stars, dust, and gas that travel through space as one body. 1. Most galaxies are grouped together close to one another 2. There are three categories of galaxies: a. SPIRAL GALAXIES: galaxies shaped like flattened disks b. ELLIPTICAL GALAXIES: galaxies shaped like spheres c. IRREGULAR GALAXIES: galaxies with no definite shape 3. Galaxies are held together by gravity a. Many galaxies are held by the gravity of black holes
What are some major features of the universe? B. STARS: spheres of gases that give off a lot of energy 1. Most stars are composed of hydrogen and helium 2. Stars form from a cloud of gas and dust called NEBULA a. Gravity causes a nebula to contract and spin b. The nebula flattens and becomes a disk c. A bulge in the center forms a PROTOSTAR d. Contraction, temperature, and pressure increase causing nuclear reactions. A new star is born. 3. Most stars move through space in large groups called STAR CLUSTERS. 4. Stars are classified by its surface temperature and brightness. a. The H-R diagram is used by astronomers to classify stars b. Most stars fall into a group called the main sequence stars.
Where is Earth located in the Universe? A. The Earth is a planet in the Solar System located in the Milky Way Galaxy. 1. The Milky Way is a part of a group of galaxies called the Local Group. 2. The Solar System is located on a branch known as Orion s Arm. B. The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy. 1. The center of the galaxy is a massive black hole. 2. The black hole provides the gravitational pull that holds the galaxy together.
What are the major parts of the Solar System? A. SOLAR SYSTEM: a collection of astronomical objects held in orbit around the Sun (Sol) by gravity. 1. The Sun is a medium sized star classified as a yellow dwarf. 2. The larger objects of the Solar System are 8 planets: a. INNER PLANETS:. Mercury, Venus, Earth (Terra), Mars b. OUTER PLANETS: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune B. There are other major parts of the Solar System. 1. The Asteroid Belt is a ring of rock, dust, and ice that surrounds the inner planets. 2. The Kuiper Belt is a ring of mostly ice that lies out on the edge of the Solar System. 3. Dwarf Planets can be found in the Asteroid & Kuiper Belts. 4. Moons: natural satellites that orbit a planet 5. Comets: small objects of ice and dust that have irregular orbits around the Sun
How do the inner and outer planets differ? A. The four inner Terrestrial planets have a number of similarities: 1. Composed of rock. 2. Small in size 3. Closer to the Sun 4. Surrounded by the Asteroid Belt B. The four outer Jovian planets have a number of similarities. 1. No solid surface (gas or liquid) 2. Large in size 3. Further from the Sun 4. Outside the Asteroid Belt