Page 400 - 9780077418427.pdf
P. 400
/Users/user-f465/Desktop
tiL12214_ch15_377-404.indd Page 377 9/3/10 6:17 PM user-f465
tiL12214_ch15_377-404.indd Page 377 9/3/10 6:17 PM user-f465 /Users/user-f465/Desktop
15
15 The Solar
System
Neptune, the most distant and smallest of the gas giant planets, is a cold
and interesting place. It has a Great Dark Spot, as you can see in this
photograph taken by the Voyager probe. This spot is about the size of Earth and
is similar to the Great Red Spot on Jupiter. Neptune has the strongest winds
of any planet of the solar system—up to 2,000 km/h (1,200 mi/h). Clouds
were observed by Voyager to be “scooting” around Neptune every 16 hours
or so. Voyager scientists called these fast-moving clouds “scooters.”
CORE CONCEPT
The solar system is composed of the Sun and orbiting planets,
dwarf planets, and small solar system bodies.
OUTLINE
15.1 Planets, Moons, and Other Bodies
Planets, Moons, Mercury Planets, Moons,
and Other Bodies Venus and Other Bodies
The interior planets of Mercury, Mars The outer planets of Jupiter,
Science and Society: Worth the Cost?
Venus, Earth, and Mars are Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
Jupiter
composed of rocky materials with are mostly composed of
Saturn
a metallic nickel and iron core. Uranus and Neptune hydrogen, helium, and methane.
15.2 Small Bodies of the Solar System
Comets
Asteroids
Meteors and Meteorites
Origin of the Solar System 15.3 Origin of the Solar System
The Sun, planets, dwarf planets, Stage A
moons, asteroids, and comets Stage B
are believed to have formed Stage C
from gas, dust, and chemical 15.4 Ideas About the Solar System
The Geocentric Model
elements created by massive, The Heliocentric Model
previously existing stars. People Behind the Science: Gerard Peter Kuiper
377
