The Universe, SolarSystem,
and Planets I
Questions:
How do we know the Big Bang happened?
How do we know the Universe is expanding?
What is the timeframe of Universe evolution?
Edwin Hubble atMt. Wilson
Hubble guiding the Hooker
100 inch telescope in 1923. The Hooker 100 inch telescope atop Mt. Wilson
near Pasadena, CA. It was the largest telescope in
the world from 1917-1947.
Hubble’s observations at the 100 inch during the
1920’s led him to the conclusion that the universe
is expanding, and that an object’s recession velocity
is proportional to its distance from the observer.
4.
A deep imageof an “empty”
portion of the sky with the
Hubble Space Telescope
reveals that the universe is
filled with galaxies- many just
like our own. The light
we see from the most distant
galaxies has traveled approx-
imately 10 billion years to
reach us.
Deep Hubble Space Telescope Image
Origin of theUniverse -
Did It Begin with a Big Bang?
8.
Penzias and Wilson,1965 Arecibo Dish, Puerto Rico
Discovery of the Background Radiation from initial Big Bang
-Long wavelength
-came from all directions
9.
Early History ofthe Universe
• Matter as we know it did not exist at the time of the Big Bang, only pure
energy. Within one second, the 4 fundamental forces were separated
– gravity - the attraction of one body toward another
– electromagnetic force - binds atoms into molecules, can be
transmitted by photons
– strong nuclear force - binds protons and neutrons together in the
nucleus
– weak nuclear force - breaks down an atom’s nucleus, producing
radioactive decay
10.
Early History ofthe Universe
• After 3 minutes, photons and neutrons began
to fuse to form the nuclei of hydrogen and
helium atoms
• About 300,000 years later, temperatures were
cool enough for complete hydrogen and
helium atoms to form
• Photons escaped from matter about the same
time, and light existed for the first time
11.
Changing Composition ofthe
Universe
• 200 million years later, with expansion still occurring, stars and galaxies
began forming from leftover matter - hydrogen and helium
– nuclear fusion in stars has reduced the original composition of
100% H and He to 98%
– when a dying star explodes, the heavier elements created by fusion
are blown into space to be recycled by newly forming stars
– the overall composition of the galaxies is gradually changing to the
heavier elements
12.
The Solar System- Its Origin
The Solar System - Its Origin
and Early Development
and Early Development
Our solar system,
Our solar system,
part of the Milky
part of the Milky
Way galaxy,
Way galaxy,
consists of the
consists of the
Sun, nine planets,
Sun, nine planets,
64 known moons,
64 known moons,
many asteroids,
many asteroids,
millions of comets
millions of comets
and meteorites, as
and meteorites, as
well as
well as
interplanetary
interplanetary
dust and gases
dust and gases
13.
The Solar System- Its Origin
The Solar System - Its Origin
and Early Development
and Early Development
14.
General Characteristics ofthe
Solar System
• Planetary orbits and rotation
– planet and satellite orbits are in a common plane
– nearly all planet and satellite orbital and spin motions are
in the same direction
– rotation axes of nearly all planets and satellites are
roughly perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic
15.
General Characteristics ofthe
Solar System
• Chemical and physical properties of the planets
– the terrestrial planets are small, have a high density, and are
composed of rock and metallic elements
– the Jovian planets are large, have a low density, and are composed of
gases and frozen compounds
• Slow rotation of the Sun
• Interplanetary material
– existence and location of asteroid
belt
– distribution of interplanetary dust
16.
Meteorites -
Visitors fromOuter Space
– Stones - composed of iron and magnesium silicates,
about 93% of all meteorites
– Irons - composed of iron and nickel alloys
– Stony-Irons - nearly equal amounts of iron and nickel
and silicate minerals
• Meteorites are believed to be pieces
of material that originated in the
formation of the Solar System about
4.6 billion years ago