ASTR 1100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Iron Oxide, Orbital Period, Solar Time
Document Summary
Lecture 7: solar system: planets (part ii: mercury. Surface is similar to the moon"s (many craters) and no maria. Fastest orbit: 88 earth days = 1 year on mercury. Rotation: sidereal day = 59 earth days. 1 solar day on mercury = 2 years on mercury => 176 earth days (because rotates very slowly). Mercury can be hot and very cold. => the biggest temperature difference between night and day in the solar system - day: 430 degree celsius; night: -170 degree celsius. Reasons: very long day and night meaning facing toward the sun and facing away from the sun for very long periods. There is no atmosphere and oceans to hold heat in: venus. Harsh environment in venus and probes that landed does not survive. Rotates in the opposite direction, 180 degrees axial tilt. Orbital period: 225 days = 1 year on venus. Sidereal day: 243 day; solar day: 17. 7 days. Similar to earth in size, mass and density.
