ISP 205 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Galilean Moons
9 Oct 2015
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Document Summary
Review from last class: interferometry improves the angular resolution in terms of capabilities of a telescope. Section 1: a brief tour of the solar system. Sun"s rotation: planets are very tiny compared to distances between them. Sun: over 99. 8% of solar system"s mass, made mostly of h/he gas (plasma, converts 4 million tons of mass into energy each second. Mercury: made of metal and rock; large iron core, desolate, cratered; long, tall, steep cliffs, very hot and very cold: 425 c (day), -170 c (night) Venus: nearly identical in size to earth; surface hidden by clouds, hellish conditions due to an extreme greenhouse effect, even hotter than mercury: 470 c, day and night. Earth: an oasis of life, the only conspicuous surface liquid water in the solar system, a surprisingly large moon. Mars: looks almost earth-like, but don"t go without a spacesuit! Pressure in mars is lower than earth and not much oxygen there.
