OBJECTS IN SPACE OBJECTS IN SPACE

By,By,

Jacob Emery Jacob Emery

IntroductionIntroduction

We live in a solar system in the vast We live in a solar system in the vast Milky Way Galaxy. The Sun is our Milky Way Galaxy. The Sun is our central star, orbited by nine planets, central star, orbited by nine planets, and containing more than 100 and containing more than 100 moons, millions of rocky asteroids, moons, millions of rocky asteroids, and billions of icy comets and stars. and billions of icy comets and stars.

GalaxiesGalaxies

Scientists believe that the number of Scientists believe that the number of galaxies in the universe could be as galaxies in the universe could be as few as 10 billion or as many as 100 few as 10 billion or as many as 100 billion.billion.

Astronomers categorize galaxies Astronomers categorize galaxies primarily by their shapes -- elliptical, primarily by their shapes -- elliptical, spiral, and irregular.spiral, and irregular.

NGC 4242NGC 4242

NGC 4242 is a very NGC 4242 is a very low surface low surface brightness spiral brightness spiral galaxy in the galaxy in the constellation of constellation of Canes Venatici.Canes Venatici.

It is estimated to be It is estimated to be 27 million light years 27 million light years away!away!

NGC 5792NGC 5792

NGC 5792 is a spiral NGC 5792 is a spiral galaxy, the most galaxy, the most common type.common type.

Images of this Images of this galaxy were taken at galaxy were taken at the Lowell the Lowell Observatory.Observatory.

NGCNGC 6946 6946

NGC 6946 is more NGC 6946 is more than 15 million light-than 15 million light-years away.years away.

NGC 6946 is a big NGC 6946 is a big spiral galaxy that spiral galaxy that looks a lot like our looks a lot like our own galaxy, the Milky own galaxy, the Milky Way.Way.

Over the last century, Over the last century, astronomers have astronomers have recorded six recorded six supernovae in the supernovae in the galaxy. galaxy.

NGCNGC 3516 3516

NGC 3516 is one of NGC 3516 is one of Astronomers favorites. Astronomers favorites. They keep turning their They keep turning their telescopes toward it telescopes toward it because it is interesting because it is interesting and easy to study. and easy to study.

NGC 3516 is near the Big NGC 3516 is near the Big Dipper.Dipper.

It's a spiral galaxy It's a spiral galaxy containing hundreds of containing hundreds of billions of stars. billions of stars.

It's about a hundred It's about a hundred million light-years away -- million light-years away -- close as galaxies go. close as galaxies go.

NGC 4731 NGC 4731

This very dim galaxy This very dim galaxy appears a bit bent out appears a bit bent out of shape due to the of shape due to the gravitational effect of gravitational effect of its neighbor.its neighbor.

NGC 4731 is an NGC 4731 is an estimated distance of estimated distance of 65 million light years 65 million light years away.away.

The background is The background is mottled with galaxies mottled with galaxies perhaps hundreds of perhaps hundreds of times more distant. times more distant.

PlanetsPlanets

There are nine planets including Earth that There are nine planets including Earth that orbit the Sun.orbit the Sun.

Is our Solar System alone? Astronomers have Is our Solar System alone? Astronomers have discovered planets orbiting several other discovered planets orbiting several other stars, but we have not found any Earth-like stars, but we have not found any Earth-like planets. planets.

The inner planets are made up of mostly rock The inner planets are made up of mostly rock and metal and the outer planets are mostly and metal and the outer planets are mostly made of ice and gas.made of ice and gas.

Saturn Saturn Saturn is the second Saturn is the second

largest planet. largest planet. Saturn's rings are Saturn's rings are

made of ice and made of ice and rock.rock.

It spins so fast that It spins so fast that it bulges at the it bulges at the equator, and equator, and stretches its clouds stretches its clouds into bands that into bands that encircle the globe.encircle the globe.

Saturn has more Saturn has more than three dozen than three dozen moons, and it's moons, and it's encircled by bright encircled by bright rings.rings.

This view was taken This view was taken by the Hubble by the Hubble Telescope.Telescope.

MercuryMercury Mercury is the planet Mercury is the planet

closest to the Sun. closest to the Sun.

It is slightly larger than It is slightly larger than Earth's Moon, and looks Earth's Moon, and looks very much like the Moon, very much like the Moon, with craters scarring its with craters scarring its rocky surface.rocky surface.

Mercury flies along in its Mercury flies along in its orbit at an average speed orbit at an average speed of 29 miles per second – of 29 miles per second – faster than any other faster than any other planet!planet!

VenusVenus

Venus is the second Venus is the second planet from the Sun.planet from the Sun.

It is the hottest world in It is the hottest world in the solar system. the solar system.

It has a thick It has a thick atmosphere that heats atmosphere that heats its surface to almost its surface to almost 900 degrees Fahrenheit 900 degrees Fahrenheit (480 C).(480 C).

JupiterJupiter

Jupiter is the largest Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar planet in the solar system.system.

In fact, it is more In fact, it is more massive than all the massive than all the other planets and moons other planets and moons in our solar system in our solar system combined. combined.

Its core may be as hot as Its core may be as hot as 54,000 degrees 54,000 degrees Fahrenheit (30,000 C). Fahrenheit (30,000 C).

MarsMars

Mars is the fourth Mars is the fourth planet.planet.

Although Mars is Although Mars is smaller and colder than smaller and colder than Earth, it is still quite Earth, it is still quite similar to our planet. similar to our planet.

It has a thin It has a thin atmosphere and polar atmosphere and polar ice caps, and dry ice caps, and dry riverbeds across its riverbeds across its surface.surface.

Frozen or even liquid Frozen or even liquid water may exist water may exist beneath the red beneath the red Martian soil -- perhaps Martian soil -- perhaps providing a home for providing a home for living organisms. living organisms.

This was taken by the This was taken by the Hubble Space Hubble Space Telescope.Telescope.

Stars and NebulasStars and Nebulas

On a really dark night, you can see On a really dark night, you can see about 1000 to 1500 stars. about 1000 to 1500 stars.

Stars form deep inside vast clouds of Stars form deep inside vast clouds of interstellar gas and dust called interstellar gas and dust called nebulae.nebulae.

The nearest star to Earth is the one The nearest star to Earth is the one we see every day – the Sun. It is 93 we see every day – the Sun. It is 93 million miles away.million miles away.

Red Rectangle NebulaRed Rectangle Nebula A dying star lights up A dying star lights up

clouds of dust around it clouds of dust around it in this nebula.in this nebula.

This old star began This old star began blowing its outer layers blowing its outer layers into space, one by one, into space, one by one, about 14,000 years about 14,000 years ago.ago.

Dust grains reflect light Dust grains reflect light from the star, creating from the star, creating the nebula's layered the nebula's layered look.look.

Eventually, the star will Eventually, the star will lose all of its outer lose all of its outer layers, exposing its hot layers, exposing its hot core, which will cause core, which will cause vast clouds of gas vast clouds of gas around the star to glow around the star to glow like a neon bulb. like a neon bulb.

Image from the Hubble Image from the Hubble Space Telescope. Space Telescope.

FomalhautFomalhaut This infrared image This infrared image

from the Spitzer from the Spitzer Space Telescope Space Telescope hints that one or hints that one or more planets may more planets may orbit Fomalhaut, a orbit Fomalhaut, a nearby bright starnearby bright star

One side of the disk One side of the disk (at the bottom of the (at the bottom of the picture) is brighter picture) is brighter than the other. This than the other. This could indicate that a could indicate that a planet is hidden planet is hidden inside this portion of inside this portion of the disk, and its the disk, and its gravity is causing gravity is causing more of the dust more of the dust grains to congregate grains to congregate around it. around it.

Supernova 1987ASupernova 1987A

Supernova 1987A is a Supernova 1987A is a massive star in a nearby massive star in a nearby galaxy that blasted galaxy that blasted itself to bits.itself to bits.

The ring around the The ring around the exploded star spans exploded star spans about one light-year. It about one light-year. It formed when the star formed when the star expelled a shell of gas expelled a shell of gas about 20,000 years about 20,000 years before it exploded.before it exploded.

Image from Hubble Image from Hubble Space Telescope.Space Telescope.

M17 NebulaM17 Nebula

Clouds of hydrogen gas Clouds of hydrogen gas mix with small mix with small amounts of oxygen, amounts of oxygen, sulfur, and other sulfur, and other elements of a region of elements of a region of M17, a nebula that is M17, a nebula that is giving birth to new giving birth to new stars.stars.

The nebula is about The nebula is about 5,500 light-years away.5,500 light-years away.

The energy of hot, The energy of hot, young stars in the young stars in the nebula causes the gas nebula causes the gas to glow.to glow.

The different colors The different colors represent different represent different elements.elements.

Image from Hubble Image from Hubble Space Telescope.Space Telescope.

M22 Star ClusterM22 Star Cluster

The globular cluster The globular cluster M22 is just one of M22 is just one of several bright star several bright star clusters visible in the clusters visible in the constellation constellation Sagittarius.Sagittarius.

M22 contains several M22 contains several hundred thousand hundred thousand stars packed into a stars packed into a region of space just a region of space just a few dozen light-years few dozen light-years in diameter.in diameter.

Its stars are some of Its stars are some of the oldest in the the oldest in the galaxy, at more than galaxy, at more than 10 billion years. 10 billion years.

CometsComets

Comets are a ball of frozen water and gases mixed Comets are a ball of frozen water and gases mixed with solid chunks of rock. with solid chunks of rock.

There is a vast shell of comets that surrounds the There is a vast shell of comets that surrounds the solar system.solar system.

Something disturbs the comet's orbit -- like the gravity Something disturbs the comet's orbit -- like the gravity of a passing star -- starting it on a long fall toward the of a passing star -- starting it on a long fall toward the Sun. Sun.

As a comet approaches the Sun, some of its ice As a comet approaches the Sun, some of its ice vaporizes, freeing particles of rock as well. This vaporizes, freeing particles of rock as well. This material forms a bright cloud around the comet. And material forms a bright cloud around the comet. And some of the material is pushed into a long, glowing some of the material is pushed into a long, glowing tail. tail.

Comet C/2001 Q4Comet C/2001 Q4

Comet C/2001 Q4 Comet C/2001 Q4 (NEAT) streaks around (NEAT) streaks around the Sun in this recent the Sun in this recent image.image.

The comet passed The comet passed closest to Earth in closest to Earth in early May. early May.

Image from the WIYN Image from the WIYN telescope at Kitt Peak telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory National Observatory in Arizona.in Arizona.

Comet Wild 2Comet Wild 2 Comet Wild 2 appears to Comet Wild 2 appears to

glow in this image from glow in this image from the Stardust spacecraft, the Stardust spacecraft, which flew past the which flew past the comet in January.comet in January.

The dark part of the The dark part of the picture shows craters, picture shows craters, pits, and bright spots on pits, and bright spots on the surface.the surface.

The bright rays around The bright rays around the comet show where the comet show where gas and dust is blowing gas and dust is blowing into space from "jets" on into space from "jets" on the comet's surface. the comet's surface.

It has a tail several It has a tail several million miles long. million miles long.

Comet Ikaya-ZhangComet Ikaya-Zhang

Comet Ikeya-Zhang, Comet Ikeya-Zhang, was in its peak was in its peak brightness this past brightness this past February. February.

This false-color image This false-color image shows the comet's shows the comet's nucleus in white and nucleus in white and blue, and a tail of blue, and a tail of electrically charged electrically charged water molecules in red. water molecules in red.

Comet BorrellyComet Borrelly

Comet Borrelly slowly Comet Borrelly slowly tumbles through space tumbles through space in this image.in this image.

The comet's nucleus, The comet's nucleus, which is a chunk of ice which is a chunk of ice mixed with rock, mixed with rock, measures about five measures about five miles long.miles long.

Ice is vaporizing from Ice is vaporizing from the bright patch near the bright patch near the center of the the center of the nucleus, spraying a "jet" nucleus, spraying a "jet" of gas and dust into of gas and dust into space. space.

Image from Deep Space Image from Deep Space 1.1.

Comet EnckeComet Encke

Since its discovery in Since its discovery in 1786, Comet Encke 1786, Comet Encke has circled the Sun has circled the Sun more than 60 times!more than 60 times!

Encke orbits the Sun Encke orbits the Sun once every 3.3 years -- once every 3.3 years -- more often than any more often than any other comet yet other comet yet discovered.discovered.

MoonsMoons

Most of the planets in our solar Most of the planets in our solar system have moons — planet-like system have moons — planet-like bodies that orbit a bigger body.bodies that orbit a bigger body.

Earth has only one moon, but some Earth has only one moon, but some planets have many: Jupiter, for planets have many: Jupiter, for example, has 63 known moons.example, has 63 known moons.

A planet and its moons actually A planet and its moons actually revolve about each other.revolve about each other.

Titan MoonTitan Moon

Titan is the largest Titan is the largest moon of Saturn.moon of Saturn.

Astronomers cannot Astronomers cannot see Titan's surface see Titan's surface directly because a directly because a cold, hazy cold, hazy atmosphere atmosphere envelopes the big envelopes the big moon. moon.

Image by the Image by the European Southern European Southern Observatory's Very Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Large Telescope in Chile.Chile.

S/2001 U1S/2001 U1

S/2001 U1 is the 21st S/2001 U1 is the 21st known moon of the known moon of the planet Uranus.planet Uranus.

It is a small chunk of It is a small chunk of rock that follows an rock that follows an irregular orbit around irregular orbit around the giant planet. the giant planet.

EuropaEuropa

Warm ice bubbling to Warm ice bubbling to the surface creates the surface creates reddish patches on the reddish patches on the icy surface of Jupiter's icy surface of Jupiter's moon Europa.moon Europa.

A deep ocean of liquid A deep ocean of liquid water may exist water may exist beneath Europa's ice beneath Europa's ice crust, perhaps crust, perhaps providing a home for providing a home for living organisms. living organisms.

NASA released the NASA released the image, which image, which combines two pictures combines two pictures from the Galileo from the Galileo spacecraft.spacecraft.

PhobosPhobos

American astronomer American astronomer Asaph Hall Asaph Hall discovered the discovered the moons of Mars 125 moons of Mars 125 years ago.years ago.

Phobos, shown in this Phobos, shown in this image from Mars image from Mars Global Surveyor, is Global Surveyor, is the larger moon.the larger moon.

Its surface is covered Its surface is covered with impact craters. with impact craters. The largest crater, at The largest crater, at top left, is about six top left, is about six miles across and is miles across and is named Stickney.named Stickney.

Earth’s MoonEarth’s Moon

The Moon probably The Moon probably formed very early in the formed very early in the history of the solar history of the solar system when a large system when a large object -- perhaps several object -- perhaps several times the mass of Mars -- times the mass of Mars -- slammed into Earth.slammed into Earth.

Unlike Earth, the Moon Unlike Earth, the Moon has no atmosphere, and has no atmosphere, and no water. no water.

The lunar surface is The lunar surface is covered with craters, the covered with craters, the scars from countless scars from countless boulders -- some much boulders -- some much bigger than mountains -- bigger than mountains -- that struck it over billions that struck it over billions of years ago. of years ago.

AsteroidsAsteroids

The name "asteroid" comes from a The name "asteroid" comes from a Greek word that means "starlike." Greek word that means "starlike." When seen through a telescope, an When seen through a telescope, an asteroid looks like a faint star.asteroid looks like a faint star.

Asteroids are made up mostly of Asteroids are made up mostly of rock, often rich in iron and other rock, often rich in iron and other metals, and perhaps some ice. metals, and perhaps some ice.

MathildeMathilde

A close picture of A close picture of Mathilde revealed the Mathilde revealed the asteroid’s heavily asteroid’s heavily crater surface.crater surface.

One of only 4 One of only 4 asteroids asteroids photographed up photographed up close.close.

First scanned in 1997.First scanned in 1997.

GaspraGaspra

The surface of The surface of Gaspra, shown in a Gaspra, shown in a Galileo image, has Galileo image, has been pitted by been pitted by asteroid collisions. asteroid collisions. Grooves in its surface Grooves in its surface may have been may have been caused by an impact caused by an impact that split Gaspra from that split Gaspra from a larger asteroid.a larger asteroid.

Galileo found that Galileo found that Gaspra is about 22 by Gaspra is about 22 by 14 by 12 miles.14 by 12 miles.

It's covered with It's covered with impact craters, which impact craters, which means it's taken a means it's taken a pounding as smaller pounding as smaller asteroids slammed asteroids slammed into it. into it.

433 Eros433 Eros

Images show the Images show the asteroid 433 Eros to asteroid 433 Eros to have a 21-mile-long have a 21-mile-long solid body and a face solid body and a face pockmarked with pockmarked with craters. craters.

Observations show that Observations show that Eros is left over from Eros is left over from the formation of our the formation of our solar system four and a solar system four and a half billion years ago. half billion years ago.

It hasn't been heated It hasn't been heated very much, so it's still very much, so it's still the same jumbled up the same jumbled up mixture of rock and mixture of rock and metal as when it metal as when it formed. formed.

CeresCeres

Ceres was the first Ceres was the first asteroid discovered asteroid discovered back in 1801.back in 1801.

Ceres is only about a Ceres is only about a quarter of the size of quarter of the size of our own Moon.our own Moon.

The surface of Ceres The surface of Ceres consists of dark, carbon-consists of dark, carbon-rich rock mixed with a rich rock mixed with a fair amount of water. fair amount of water.

The picture at right is a The picture at right is a circular scar -- known as circular scar -- known as the Manicouagan crater the Manicouagan crater – left when an asteroid – left when an asteroid rammed into present-rammed into present-day Quebec about 200 day Quebec about 200 million years ago. million years ago.

PallasPallas

As first, Astrnomers thought As first, Astrnomers thought Pallas was a planet, when it Pallas was a planet, when it was discovered on March was discovered on March 28th, 1802.28th, 1802.

At right, This microscopic At right, This microscopic sample of zircon is one bit sample of zircon is one bit of evidence that a giant of evidence that a giant asteroid slammed into asteroid slammed into Earth about 3.5 billion Earth about 3.5 billion years ago, triggering years ago, triggering massive changes in the massive changes in the environment.environment.

Although there is no Although there is no remaining impact crater, a remaining impact crater, a team has found team has found microscopic remains of the microscopic remains of the collision in Australia and collision in Australia and Africa. Africa.

ConclusionConclusion

The more scientists The more scientists discover, the more discover, the more complicated our world complicated our world seems. Earth is a seems. Earth is a warm, wet planet with warm, wet planet with an oxygen-rich an oxygen-rich atmosphere – the atmosphere – the perfect place for life, perfect place for life, but who knows what but who knows what is yet to be is yet to be discovered?discovered?

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