Moons of the Outer Planets
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UAHT INTRO TO ASTRONOMY 1204
The Moons of the Giant Planets
Reference:
Karen Steed, MSE, NBCT, Instructor, University of Arkansas-
Hope-Texarkana
Purpose
: The purpose of this lab is to investigate and gain appreciation for the splendor and diversity of the moons of the outer planets.
Background: In
Chapter 7 we began an exploration of our own solar system. Our solar system is made up of 8 planets, around 200 moons, at least 5 dwarf planets, asteroids, meteoroids, and a host of other objects. One
of the most exciting things the Hubble Telescope showed us about our own home solar system involved the moons of the outer four planets. Since Galileo Galilea first turned a telescope to the sky and observed objects clearly orbiting something other than the earth, scientists have wanted to know more about the moons of our planets. I look forward to what the James Webb Telescope will reveal about the gas giants and their moons.
Note: This
lab is going to be quite different from previous labs. This is going
to be an exploration you will do with little guidance from me. You will explore
and gather information about some of the most prominent moons in our solar system. You will find them on Stellarium and then further explore them using the Internet, textbook, or other sources. Apparatus
Stellarium program
Other Internet sources
Part 1 –The Moons of Jupiter
Procedure: 1.
Use Stellarium to find Jupiter. You may want to use the search
feature of Stellarium to do this. Make sure to turn off the
atmosphere and turn on the planets and deep space objects.
2.
Using the information in the upper left corner of the screen and
record the following:
Magnitude:
-2.87
Sidereal period:
4331.87 days
Sidereal day:
9h55m40.6s
Distance from the Sun (km and AU):
4.971 AU
Diameter (km):
142984 km
UAHT INTRO TO ASTRONOMY 1204
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UAHT INTRO TO ASTRONOMY 1204
3. Make note of any of the moons of Jupiter that are easily seen
around the planet. List them. Does there seem to be a theme
around the names
of the moons of Jupiter? Callisto, Ganymede, Io, Europa. They are named after the
astronomer Galileo Galilei, who discovered them in 1610.
4.
Now get the information from #2 above for the four so-called
Galilean satellites of Jupiter. You do not have to put them in any
particular order.
Moon #1 Callisto
Magnitude:
5.74
Sidereal period:
16.69 days
Sidereal day:
400hr32m11.2s
Distance from the Sun (km and AU):
4.962AU
Diameter (km):
4820.6 km Moon #2 Ganymede
Magnitude:
4.55
Sidereal period:
7.16 days
Sidereal day:
171hr42m33.4s
Distance from the Sun (km and AU):
4.967AU
Diameter (km): 5262.4 km
Moon #3 Io
Magnitude:
18.02
Sidereal period:
1.77 days
Sidereal day:
42hr27m33.5s
Distance from the Sun (km and AU):
4.974AU
Diameter (km): 3643 km
Moon #4 Europa
Magnitude:
5.21
Sidereal period:
3.55 days
Sidereal day:
85hr13m42s
Distance from the Sun (km and AU):
4.968 AU
Diameter (km): 3121.6 km
5.
Lastly, for each of these four moons, research at least one
special or unique feature about the moon
. (Do not forget this
step for all the planets for this lab).
UAHT INTRO TO ASTRONOMY 1204
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UAHT INTRO TO ASTRONOMY 1204
Ganymede has a thin oxygen atmosphere, a rare occurrence among
moons, though it's too thin to support human life. Io's extreme volcanic
activity is due to the gravitational interactions with Jupiter and its
neighboring moons, generating internal heat. Europa's smooth and
relatively young surface is believed to be due to the constant
resurfacing caused by the subsurface ocean.
Callisto is known for its
ancient and heavily cratered surface, making it a celestial time capsule
of early solar system history.
Part 2- The Moons of Saturn
Procedure: 1.
Repeat steps 1-5
for the moons of Saturn. You will only do two of
these moons: the largest of the moons and Enceladus.
Saturn: Magnitude:
0.65
Sidereal period:
10760 days
Sidereal day:
10hr39m22.4s
Distance from the Sun (km and AU):
9.760 AU
Diameter (km): 120536 km
Moon #1 Titan
Magnitude:
8.46
Sidereal period:
15.95 days
Sidereal day:
382hr41m26.7s
Distance from the Sun (km and AU):
9.762 AU
Diameter (km): 5150 km
Titan has vast, liquid hydrocarbon lakes and seas on its surface.
Moon #2 Enceladus
Magnitude:
11.84
Sidereal period:
1.37 days
Sidereal day:
32hr53m06.8s
Distance from the Sun (km and AU):
9.758 AU
Diameter (km): 504.2 km
Enceladus has geysers of water vapor and ice erupting from its
south pole.
UAHT INTRO TO ASTRONOMY 1204
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Part 3- The Moons of Uranus
Procedure:
1.
Repeat steps 1-5
from part 1 for the moons of Uranus. You will only
gather information and research three of these moons: Ariel,
Oberon, and Miranda
Uranus:
Magnitude:
5.68
Sidereal period:
30685 days
Sidereal day:
17hr14m24s
Distance from the Sun (km and AU):
19.626 AU
Diameter (km): 51118 km
Ariel:
appears to have a relatively young and diverse surface with a
combination of both heavily cratered and smoother regions.
Magnitude:
14.28
Sidereal period:
2.52 days
Sidereal day:
60hr29m20.7s
Distance from the Sun (km and AU):
19.625 AU
Diameter (km): 1157.8 km
Oberon:
it's one of the most heavily cratered objects in the solar system.
Magnitude:
14.06
Sidereal period:
13.46 days
Sidereal day:
323hr07m03.2s
Distance from the Sun (km and AU):
19.625 AU
Diameter (km): 1522.8 km
Miranda:
features deep canyons, towering cliffs, and unusual
geological formations, indicating past tectonic activity.
Magnitude:
16.43
Sidereal period:
1.41 days
Sidereal day:
33hr55m24.6s
Distance from the Sun (km and AU):
19.626 AU
UAHT INTRO TO ASTRONOMY 1204
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UAHT INTRO TO ASTRONOMY 1204
Diameter (km): 471.6 KM
UAHT INTRO TO ASTRONOMY 1204
LAB
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Part 4- The Moons of Neptune
Procedure: 1. Repeat steps 1-5
for the moons of Neptune. You will only do the
largest moon of Neptune.
Neptune:
Magnitude:
7.70
Sidereal period:
60189 days
Sidereal day:
16hr06m36s
Distance from the Sun (km and AU):
29.906 AU
Diameter (km): 49528 km
Largest moon: Triton
Magnitude:
13.45
Sidereal period:
5.88 days
Sidereal day:
141hr02m40.2s
Distance from the Sun (km and AU):
29.905 AU
Diameter (km): 2705.2 km Tritan orbits the planet in a retrograde direction. Most moons in our
solar system orbit their host planet in the same direction as the
planet's rotation, but Triton orbits in the opposite direction.
UAHT INTRO TO ASTRONOMY 1204
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UAHT INTRO TO ASTRONOMY 1204
Part 5- Pluto and Charon
Procedure: 1.
Just for fun and learning, let’s do Pluto and Charon as well. Repeat steps 1-5
for Pluto and its moon Charon. Pluto:
Magnitude:
14.41
Sidereal period:
90797 days
Sidereal day:
153hr17m36.1s
Distance from the Sun (km and AU):
34.869 AU
Diameter (km): 2376.5 km Charon:
it's about half the size of Pluto itself. This makes Charon one
of the largest moon-to-planet size ratios in the solar system.
Magnitude:
16.32
Sidereal period:
6.38 days
Sidereal day:
153hr17m36.1s
Distance from the Sun (km and AU):
34.869 AU
Diameter (km): 1212 km
UAHT INTRO TO ASTRONOMY 1204
LAB