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Astronomy
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Apr 3, 2024
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Astronomy 1000
Worksheet #3
Due Wednesday, Mar. 06
(Each question is worth 2 points)
Student Name: ____________________________
1.
During our in-class lectures, your instructor introduced the planets Mercury and Venus
by showing you an image of a transit
of these two planets, so that you could see them
projected against the face of the sun. You were not shown similar transit events for the
remaining planets of the solar system, and for a very good reason. Explain why.
The reason why there aren't similar transit events for the remaining planets of the solar
system is because of what a transit event is. Transit events are when planets are directly
between the Earth and the sun, which the planets Mercury and Venus are. However, no
other planets in our solar system are in these positions, which is why there aren't any
transit events for them because it isn’t possible. 2.
You should never go to Venus, even if given the opportunity. Give at least two reasons
why. (Seriously, don’t do it!)
There are multiple reasons why no one should go to Venus. However, two big reasons
why no one should go to Venus are the average surface temperatures which reach up to
800 degrees Fahrenheit, and the surface pressures of Venus, which are intense enough
to crush submarines. 3.
Explain why the maria
of the moon have a darker coloration compared to the rest of the
moon’s surface.
The maria of the moon has a darker coloration compared to the rest of the moon’s
surface because of the lava. The lava consists of dark, dense, iron-rich rock otherwise
known as basalt rock, which is less reflective, making the moon have a dark coloration.
Astronomy 1000
Worksheet #3
Due Wednesday, Mar. 06
4.
NASA and various other space agencies have sent many unmanned satellites and rovers
to other planets. Name any two of them and give a brief, one sentence description of
the object(s) that mission visited and a major discovery or observation it made.
Two unmanned satellites are Mariner 10 and Messenger: “MErcury Surface, Space
ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging”. Mariner 10 lasted from 1973-1975 and was
made to fly to multiple planets, which it did, visiting Mercury and Venus. Mariner 10
discovered many different things about the planets, but one thing that was discovered
was Venus’s weak magnetic field. Messenger: “MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment,
GEochemistry, and Ranging” lasted from 2004 to 2015, and took pictures of Mercury,
discovering the opposite side of Mercury’s surface texture which is described as “weird
terrain”, but officially called Caloris Basin which are large craters on its surface. 5.
The planet Mars and the moons Europa and Titan are generally seen as the best places
to look for evidence of life in the solar system beyond Earth’s atmosphere. For each of
these three worlds, give a brief one-sentence explanation as to why.
The reason why the planet Mars and the moons Europa and Titan are usually the best
places to find evidence of life in the solar system beyond Earth. For Mars, the main reason why is because a long time ago, Mars had areas where liquid
water, which was once stable, and below the surface and in addition, shared water
patterns like Earth. The moon Europa has a rocky core that is covered in water ice that is heated by its
interior, which has the same force that made a volcanic wasteland, which created a
subsurface ocean. Lastly, the moon Titan has frozen water in the forms of lakes and rivers on its surface
due to its surface temperatures being -300 F and has methane and ethane in those lakes
and rivers, which in its liquid form, could help support life.
Astronomy 1000
Worksheet #3
Due Wednesday, Mar. 06
6.
All the gas giant planets in the solar system have ring systems, but none of the rocky
inner planets do. In a few brief sentences, explain why.
The rings are made up of different-sized reflective ice and dust, and because the
gaseous planets live farther away from the sun, it makes sense that their rings can stay
supported since it is much colder. However, the inner rocky planets are much nearer to
the sun, meaning that their surface temperatures are much hotter. Because they are
generally hotter, the rings won’t be able to stay supported since the rings are made up
of ice pieces. In addition, planets have what is called the “Roche limit” which is the
distance from the planet that orbiting objects can be torn up and become rings. The
gaseous planets have a much larger limit compared to the inner planets like Earth and
Mars, which makes it very unlikely for the inner planets to have rings, unlike the gaseous
planets. 7.
What is an orbital resonance
? Describe one example of an orbital resonance in the solar
system and the effect this resonance has had on the development, geology, or overall
structure of objects in the solar system.
Orbital resonance is when two celestial bodies, such as planets, periodically line up their
orbital period with each other, and the extra gravitational attractions at these times can
affect these objects’ orbits. An example of this happening is the dwarf planet Pluto lining
up with Neptune, creating an orbital resonance with each other, which is at a 3:2
resonance angle. This means that it makes the two bodies seem very close to each other, and makes a lot
believe that they will eventually collide though that is not the case. However, Pluto is
very far from the sun, so in their orbits where they are their closest, they still won’t
collide. Additionally, other planets in the solar system may try to tug at the orbits,
however, because of the resonance, Neptune’s gravity always acts on Pluto in its same
pattern of directions and strengths, so it keeps Pluto above the system and stabilizes the
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Astronomy 1000
Worksheet #3
Due Wednesday, Mar. 06
orbit. This prevents the rest of the solar system from colliding and becoming
unbalanced.