Jovian Planets, Moons, & Pluto

Lesson 5: Jovian Planets, Moons, & Pluto

Discussion Question 1: Jovian Interiors

Discussion Question 1: There is no discernible surface for any of the gas giants. Even the existence of a solid core does not indicate that there is a “surface” to stand on. The question here then becomes why such a difference between the inner rock planets and the outer gas giants? Why is it that the gas giants have such large atmospheres while the inner planets like Earth do not? What do the interiors of Jupiter and Saturn look like for example? How do scientists learn about planetary interiors?

Discussion Question 2: Pluto Gets Booted from Club Planet

Discussion Question 2: Pluto was classified as planet for historical reasons. When it was discovered in the 1930’s, we did not have the high-powered telescopes we have today nor did we have the understanding that we now have in regards to the nature of the objects in the outer solar system. Given the advent of massive and space-based telescopes would you not expect the possibility that our understanding of objects as far away as Pluto might change? Do you agree with the IAU’s decision to de-classify Pluto as a planet? Why or why not? Be specific. What basis did they have?

Lesson 6: Comets & Asteroid

Discussion Question 1: Small Solar System Bodies

Discussion Question 1: What’s the difference between an asteroid, a meteor, and a meteorite? Has one of these objects ever landed on a person?! How common are these impacts and why does the Earth exhibit so few craters when compared to other rocky solar system bodies?

Discussion Question 2: Space Rocks!

Discussion Question 2: Let us come back from the Giant Planets to the smaller bodies of the solar system for a minute. There is another type of object in the solar system that has an atmosphere but of a different type. It is the comet. What is a comet and where do they originate from? What can they tell us about the formation of the solar system’s planets and moons?

Lesson 7: The Sun

Discussion Question 1: The Sun

Discussion Question 1: The Sun goes through 11-year cycle of activity. This activity is most easily determined by monitoring Sunspot activity. A large number of sunspots correspond to high solar activity. You can see a chart of the current activity here:

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/solar-cycle-progression

Clearly the Sun’s activity can have profound effects on the climate of the Earth. The Maunder minimum was period of low solar activity. This led to a global cooling of the Earth. During the Little Ice Age, access to Greenland was largely cut off by ice from the early 1400’s to the mid 1700’s. Canals in Holland routinely froze solid, glaciers advanced in the Alps, and sea-ice increased so much that no open water was present in any direction around Iceland in 1695. Today we see that the Earth is warming even when the Sun is at a minimum of activity. What impacts do we experience here at Earth currently as a result of solar activity?

Discussion Question 2: Solar Wind

Discussion Question 2: During everyday life we perceive that the Sun is a static energy source. The old saying goes that the Sun will always rise the next day. The reality is that it is an ever changing and very active body. It is the most active object in this solar system. Take a look at this video and let me know what your opinion is:

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap071106.html

Does this surprise you in that the Sun’s surface is so active in real time? What is the Proton-Proton chain reaction and how does it relate to the energy production of the Sun?

Lesson 8: Star Birth & Life in the Universe

Discussion Question 1: Life in the Solar System

Discussion Question 1: There are a multitude of bodies in our solar system that may the ability to sustain life. As far as the major planets are concerned, the Earth is ideal for life because it orbits our star in what is known as the zone of habitation. This is defined as the region around a star, not just our star, in which a planet orbits the star at a distance that water can exist in a liquid form. Since we have but one planet, the Earth, as an example as to where life can exist, we surmise that liquid water is essential for life as we know it. After all, would you not expect life to exist on a planet where conditions are optimal? We will see however that there are other bodies in our solar system where life has a very good chance of existing. Any ideas where this might be?

Discussion Question 2: Life in the Universe

Discussion Question 2: Stellar nurseries are massive regions of star formation much like the region in which our own star formed. Once these baby stars form, they eventually get gravitationally ejected from the region and move into interstellar space. Stars are formed in bundles in this regard and our Sun likely has numerous brothers and sisters that formed from the same cloud as ours. They are out there independently revolving around the center of the Milky Way as we are. Our Sun’s sister may be on the other side of galaxy. Likewise, we can see that these large star forming regions are star factories using the remnants of past dead stars to form new ones and possibly new life. We can also see the formation of stars occurring in these areas at all different stages and use these observations to test our theories. Do you imagine that we can see solar systems in these regions as well? Given the numbers of stars we see in the Universe what conclusion could you make about the likelihood of life on one of these planets? Defend your opinion.