Earth in Space Notes Part 1

Our Solar System

• Objects in our solar system move in predictable patterns.

• The predictable movement of these objects are determined mainly by the gravity of the sun and planets and also by the distance between objects in our solar system.

• Will the planets ever collide with each other or the Sun?

• Will any moon ever collide with a planet?• Will meteorites or asteroids ever collide with

planets?• Why are the chances small that things collide in

outer space?• The predictable patterns that the bodies in our

solar system move allow for us to predict things like, days, years, eclipses, lunar phases, and even comet passages.

New Technologies

• New and more powerful telescopes allow scientists to see farther and farther into space.

• The new technology also allows scientists to get more detailed images and readings about distant planets and stars.

• New planets in other solar systems have been discovered even though scientist can’t see them.

• They are discovered when they pass in front of their solar systems’ star and appear as a dark spot when scientists are observing the far away star.

Milky Way Galaxy

• Our solar system is part of the Milky Way Galaxy.

• The Milky Way Galaxy is a spiral galaxy that has arms radiating out from the center.

• Our solar system is located towards the end of one of the arms.