AST101H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Small Solar System Body, International Astronomical Union, Virgo Supercluster
17 Nov 2012
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AST101H1 Full Course Notes
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Chapter 1 our place in the universe. It is very natural to assume that we inhabit a geocentric universe; however earth is a planet orbiting a rather average star in a vast universe. Solar system = the sun and all the material that orbits it, including planets, dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, and small solar system bodies. Although this term typically refers to our own system, it can apply to others as well. The inner solar system includes the four planets closest to the sun and the outer solar system includes the four the farthest from it. Stars are balls of plasma that produce energy through nuclear fusion. Planets are rocky, icy, or gassy and don"t produce much energy (terrestrial planets vs. gas giants). That means there can"t be a lot of other stuff orbiting the parent star in orbits very similar to the planet. *this is why pluto has been demoted to the status of dwarf planet.
