Wonders of Space

By A. Harshaad
POWER
POINT HARSHAAD

PRESENTATIO
N
Planets

OF SOLAR SYSTEM
EYNCYCLOPEDIA AND ASTREROIDS AND METEROIDS
SUN

● Size

● The sun is 1,392,684 kilometers in diameter, which is 109 times the diameter of Earth. It's so big that more than a million Earths could fit
inside it.

● Composition

● The sun is made of 72% hydrogen and 26% helium. It's a giant ball of hot, ionized gas called plasma.

● Age

● The sun is around 4.6 billion years old.

● Temperature

● The sun's surface temperature is 5,500°C, and its internal temperature is 15 million°C.

● Orbit

● The sun orbits the Milky Way at an average speed of 720,000 kilometers per hour. It takes the sun 250 million years to complete a
revolution.

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SUN

● Gravity

● The sun's gravity holds the solar system together, keeping everything in orbit.

● Influence

● The sun's connection with Earth drives the seasons, ocean currents, weather, climate, radiation belts, and auroras.

● Distance

● The sun is about 93 million miles from Earth.

● Nearest neighbor

● The sun's nearest stellar neighbor is the Alpha Centauri triple star system

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MERCURY

● Size: Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system, with a circumference of about 9,500 miles and a diameter of about 3,030
miles.

● Surface: Mercury is rocky and has a dark gray color. The surface is covered in dust and igneous silicate rocks.

● Temperature: Mercury's surface can reach 800°F during the day and -300°F at night.

● Atmosphere: Mercury has a thin exosphere made of atoms from meteoroids and the solar wind. The exosphere is mostly made of
hydrogen, oxygen, helium, sodium, and potassium.

● Rotation: Mercury has an unusual rotation pattern.

● Moons: Mercury doesn't have any moons.

● Orbits: Mercury orbits the Sun faster than any other planet.

● Distance from the Sun: Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun.

● Name: Mercury is named after the Roman god Mercurius, who was the messenger of the gods, god of commerce, and
communication.

● Other facts: Mercury shrinks, has the most craters in the solar system, and goes through phases like the Moon.

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VENUS

● Distance from the sun

● Venus is the second planet from the sun, and is about 67 million miles (108 million kilometers) away.
● Surface temperature
● Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system, with a mean temperature of 462°C
● Atmospheric composition
● Venus' atmosphere is 96% carbon dioxide and 3% nitrogen, and has 90 times the atmospheric pressure of Earth.
● Rotation
● A day on Venus is longer than a year, taking 243 Earth days to rotate once on its axis. Venus also spins clockwise on its axis.
● Volcanoes
● Venus has thousands of volcanoes, more than any other planet in the solar system. Venus also has shield volcanoes, lava flows, and
pancake domes, which are 100 times larger than lava domes on Earth.
● Brightness
● Venus is the second brightest natural object in the night sky, after the moon.

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VENUS

● Moons

● Venus has no moons or satellites.

● Volcanoes

● Venus has thousands of volcanoes, more than any other planet in the solar system. Venus also has shield volcanoes, lava flows, and
pancake domes, which are 100 times larger than lava domes on Earth.

● Brightness

● Venus is the second brightest natural object in the night sky, after the moon.

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EARTH

● Age: Earth is 4.543 billion years old.

● Composition: Earth is a terrestrial planet, meaning it's rocky, not a gas gaint like Jupiter. It has a molten metal core,mantle,and crust
made of silicate rock. The inner core is 6,000°C, which is as hot as the surface of the sun.

● Rotation: Earth rotates on its axis at around 1,000 miles per hour.

● Moon: Earth has one moon, which is the brightest object in the night sky. The moon stabilizes Earth's wobble, which has made the
climate less variable over thousands of years.

● Water: About 71% of Earth's surface is covered by water, and about half of that is obscured by clouds.

● Rotation: Neptune spins on its axis very rapidly.

● Climate: Neptune has a very active climate.

● Rings: Neptune has a very thin collection of rings.

● Moons: Neptune has 16 moons, including Triton.

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MARS

● Atmosphere

● Mars has a thin atmosphere that doesn't allow water to flow or remain in large quantities on the surface. However, there is ice at the poles
and possibly other frosty locations.

● Olympus Mons

● Mars is home to the highest mountain in the solar system, a volcano called Olympus Mons.

● Jumping

● You can jump about three times higher on Mars than on Earth.

● Moons

● Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos, which are smaller than Earth's moon. Phobos is the larger of the two moons and orbits Mars
three times a day.

● Seasons

● Mars has seasons similar to Earth, with an axial tilt of 24.9 degrees.

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MARS

● Name

● Mars is named after the Roman god of war and is also known as the "Red Planet".

● Size

● Mars is the second-smallest planet in the solar system, about half the size of Earth.

● Appearance

● Mars appears reddish or orange in the night sky due to the iron minerals and dust on its surface.

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JUPITER

● Size

● Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, and is more than twice as massive as all the other planets combined. If it were hollow, it
could fit 1,000 Earths inside.

● Age

● Jupiter is the oldest planet, forming 4.5 billion years ago from the leftover dust and gases from the Sun's formation.

● Rotation

● Jupiter has the shortest day in the solar system, taking only 10.5 hours to spin around once on its axis. It also spins at a speed of 28,273
miles per hour, which is almost 28 times the speed of Earth.

● Jupiter has the shortest day in the solar system, taking only 10.5 hours to spin around once on its axis. It also spins at a speed of 28,273
miles per hour, which is almost 28 times the speed of Earth.

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SATURN

● Size

● Saturn is about 10 times the diameter of Earth, or 72,400 miles (116,500 kilometers).

● Atmosphere

● Saturn's atmosphere is mostly made of hydrogen (96%) and helium (3%). The upper atmosphere can have winds of up to 500 meters per second.

● Rings

● Saturn has seven thin, flat rings made of ice particles. The rings are the most complex ring system in the solar system, and are made up of
countless small particles.

● Moons

● Saturn has 145 moons, the most of any planet. In May 2023, a team discovered 62 new moons around Saturn.

● Temperature

● Saturn's average surface temperature is -178 degrees Celsius (-288.4 degrees Fahrenheit). Scientists believe the planet's core is extremely hot,
possibly over 15,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

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URANUS

● Discovery

● Uranus was discovered in 1781 by William Herschel. Before that, it was thought to be a star because of its slow orbit.

● Rotation

● Uranus is the only planet in the solar system that spins on its side, at a 98 degree angle from its orbit. This is why it's known as the
"Sideways planet". Scientists think this unusual rotation is due to a collision with another space body.

● Rings

● Uranus has 13 rings made of ice and rocks that range from 20 cm to 20 meters in diameter. The rings are simpler than Saturn's but more
complex than Jupiter's.

● Atmosphere

● Uranus's atmosphere contains hydrogen sulfide, which makes it smell like rotten eggs.

● Moons

● Uranus has 27 moons, which are thought to be low mass and unstable.

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NEPTUNE

● Discovery: Neptune was discovered on September 23, 1846 by Urbain Le Verrier and Johann Galle. It was the first planet to be located using
math.

● Size: Neptune is the fourth largest planet in the solar system, about four times wider than Earth. It has a radius of 15,299 miles, or about
24,622 kilometers.

● Atmosphere: Neptune's atmosphere is made up of hydrogen, helium, and methane. The methane absorbs red light and reflects bluer colors,
giving Neptune its blue tint.

● Gravity: Neptune's surface gravity is about 110% of Earth's. A 100 pound person would weigh 110 pounds on Neptune.

● Temperature: Neptune has an average temperature of -353°F (-214°C). It receives a thousand times less sunlight than Earth, so how it gets
the energy for its intense weather is still a mystery.

● Rotation: Neptune spins on its axis very rapidly.

● Climate: Neptune has a very active climate.

● Rings: Neptune has a very thin collection of rings.

● Moons: Neptune has 16 moons, including Triton.

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Solar System With All PLANETS View

● https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/solar-system/#/story/total_solar_eclipse

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AND THE MISSIONS
Asteroids: The Silent Voyagers of Space
Introduction

● Asteroids, often referred to as the “minor planets” of our solar system, are a fascinating subject of
study. These rocky remnants, left over from the early formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion
years ago, offer a glimpse into the primordial ingredients that helped shape our planets.
What is Asteroid

● Asteroids are rocky, airless remnants that orbit our sun but are too small to be called planets. They
are made of different types of rocks, but some have clays or metals, such as nickel and iron. Most
asteroids lie in a vast ring between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. This main belt holds more than
200 asteroids larger than 60 miles (100 kilometers) in diameter.
Importance of Studying Asteroids

● Studying asteroids helps us learn more about the history of our solar system. Because they’re
remnants from the solar system’s early days, they haven’t changed much over time. Therefore, they
offer a look at the raw materials that helped form the planets and moons. Moreover, understanding
asteroids is a key to protecting our planet. Some asteroids pass very close to Earth’s orbit, and
these are potentially hazardous to our planet. Scientists study asteroids and are working on ways to
deflect them away from Earth.
Asteroids and Space Missions

● Several space missions have visited asteroids. NASA’s Galileo spacecraft was the first to fly and
photograph an asteroid, Gaspar, in 1991. Later, in 2001, NASA’s NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft
landed on the asteroid Eros, and it studied the asteroid’s composition, geology, and magnetic
properties. Currently, NASA’s OSIRIS-REX mission is studying the asteroid Bennu and will return a
sample to Earth.
Conclusion

● In conclusion, asteroids are more than just space rocks. They’re time capsules holding clues to the
birth of our solar system. They could also be stepping stones for humanity as we voyage further into
the cosmos. As we continue to study these celestial objects, we may also find ways to protect our
planet from potential asteroid impacts in the future.
Meteoroids: The Shooting
Stars of the Cosmos
Introduction

● Meteoroids, often seen as shooting stars, are one of the most fascinating phenomena in the
cosmos. These small particles of celestial debris streak across our night sky, offering a spectacle
that has captivated humans for centuries.
What are Meteoroids?

● When meteoroids enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speed and burn up, the fiery trail they leave
behind is called a meteor. If a meteoroid survives its passage through the atmosphere and impacts
the Earth, it is then officially classified as a meteorite. Meteorites can vary significantly in size, and
they have been known to cause significant damage and even form craters.
Importance of Studying Meteoroids

● Studying meteoroids provides valuable information about our solar system. They are remnants of
the early solar system and thus contain clues about its formation and evolution. Meteorites, in
particular, are studied in detail because they provide a wealth of information about the age,
composition, and history of the solar system. Some meteorites even contain grains older than the
Sun, which are known as premolar grains.
Meteor Showers

● Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through the trail of debris left by a comet or asteroid.
During such events, we can see an increased number of meteors streaking across the night sky.
Some of the most well-known meteor showers include the Perseids in August and the Geminids in
December.
Conclusion

● In conclusion, meteoroids are more than just shooting stars. They are celestial time capsules that
offer us a glimpse into the past of our solar system. By continuing to study these fascinating objects,
we can learn more about our place in the cosmos and the history of the celestial bodies that
surround us.
Topics about Asteroids and meteoroids

● Asteroids: The Silent Voyagers of Space

● Meteoroids: The Shooting Stars of the Cosmos

● Introduction

● What are asteroid

● What are meteoroids

● Importance of studying Asteroids

● Importance of studying meteoroids

● Asteroids and space mission

Topics about Asteroids and meteoroids

● Meter showers

● conclusion
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A.Harshaad
The Life Cycle of a Star
Formation of a Star and of its Life cycle

● Birth of a Star

● Stars are born within the clouds of dust

and scattered throughout most galaxies. A
star begins its life as a cloud of dust and
gas (mainly hydrogen) known as a
nebula. A protostar is formed when gravity
causes the dust and gas of a nebula to
clump together in a process called
accretion.
Formation of a Star and of its Life cycle

● Main Sequence Stage

● The protostar continues to grow, and when it gets hot enough, nuclear fusion begins, and a star is
born. The star then enters the longest phase of its life cycle, the main sequence stage. During this
stage, the star burns hydrogen in its core, which creates a huge amount of energy in the form of
light and heat. Our Sun is currently in this stage.

● Red Giant or Supergiant Stage

● Once the star has burned all of its hydrogen, it expands and cools into a red giant or a red
supergiant if it’s very massive. In this stage, the star burns helium and other heavier elements in its
core.
Formation of a Star and of its Life cycle

● Final Stages of a Star’s Life

● The final stages of a star’s life cycle depend on its mass. A star like our Sun will shed its outer
layers, leaving behind a hot core known as a white dwarf. Over billions of years, the white dwarf will
cool and fade into a black dwarf.

● Massive stars, however, end their lives in a dramatic supernova explosion, leaving behind a neutron
star or, if the star is massive enough, collapsing under its own gravity to form a black hole
Formation of a Star and of its Life cycle

● Conclusion

● In conclusion, the life cycle of a star is a fascinating journey from a simple cloud of dust and gas to
potentially becoming a black hole. This cycle not only illuminates our night sky but also provides the
universe with the building blocks of life, as heavier elements are formed in the heart of stars and
spread throughout the universe in the death throes of supernovae.
Formation of a Star and of its Life cycle

● Star Variations

● sun

● The Massive Stars

● The Planetary Nebulae

● The Supernovas

● The White Dwarfs

● The Neutron Stars

● The Black Holes

Sun

● Introduction

● Stars, the celestial bodies that light up the night sky, come in a variety of sizes and types. Among
these, average stars, often referred to as main-sequence stars, are the most common and include
our own Sun.

● What are sun?

● Average stars, or main-sequence stars, are stars in the prime of their life. They are in a stable phase
of their life cycle, fusing hydrogen into helium in their cores. This process releases a tremendous
amount of energy, causing the star to shine.
Sun

● Characteristics of Average Stars

● Average stars vary in size, mass, color, and temperature, but they all share the characteristic of
being in hydrostatic equilibrium. This means the inward force of gravity is balanced by the outward
pressure from the fusion reactions in the star’s core. Our Sun, a G-type star, is an example of an
average star. It has a surface temperature of about 5,500 degrees Celsius and a color that appears
yellow from Earth.
Sun

● Life Cycle of an Average Star

● An average star spends the majority of its life in the main sequence stage. This stage can last from
a few million to several billion years, depending on the star’s mass. The more massive the star, the
shorter its lifespan. This is because larger stars burn through their hydrogen fuel more quickly.

● Death of an Average Star

● Once an average star exhausts its hydrogen fuel, it leaves the main sequence stage and expands
into a red giant. The star’s core contracts and heats up, igniting helium fusion and causing the outer
layers of the star to expand. Eventually, the star will shed its outer layers and leave behind a white
dwarf, which will cool and fade over billions of years.
The Massive Stars

● Introduction

● Stars, the celestial bodies that light up the night sky, come in a variety of sizes and types. Among
these, massive stars are particularly interesting due to their size, luminosity, and the role they play in
the universe.

● What are Massive Stars?

● Massive stars are stars that have a mass greater than about 8 times the mass of our Sun. They are
characterized by their high luminosity, short lifespan, and spectacular death in the form of a
supernova.
The Massive Star

● Life Cycle of a Massive Star

● A massive star spends its life burning through its hydrogen fuel at a rapid pace due to its high mass.
This stage of a star’s life, known as the main sequence stage, is relatively short for massive stars,
often only a few million years compared to the 10 billion year lifespan of a star like our Sun. Once a
massive star exhausts its hydrogen fuel, it begins to burn heavier elements in its core, eventually
leading to the production of iron.
The Massive Star

● Characteristics of Massive Stars

● Massive stars are incredibly bright and hot. Their surface temperatures can exceed 30,000 degrees
Celsius, much hotter than our Sun’s surface temperature of about 5,500 degrees Celsius. These
stars are often blue or white in color due to their high temperatures.

● Supernova: The Death of a Massive Star

● The death of a massive star is a spectacular event. Once the star’s core has turned to iron, it can no
longer sustain nuclear fusion, and the core collapses under its own gravity. This triggers a powerful
explosion known as a supernova, which can outshine an entire galaxy. The remnants of this
explosion can form a neutron star or, if the star was massive enough, a black hole.
The Planetary Nebulae

● Introduction

● Stars, the celestial bodies that light up the night sky, come in a variety of sizes and types. Among
these, planetary nebulae represent a fascinating stage in the life cycle of certain types of stars.

● What are Planetary Nebulae?

● Despite their name, planetary nebulae have nothing to do with planets. The term “planetary nebula”
is actually a misnomer dating back to the 18th century when astronomers, using the telescopes of
the time, found these objects to have a planet-like round appearance.
The Planetary Nebulae

● A planetary nebula is an astronomical object consisting of a glowing shell of gas and plasma formed
by certain types of stars at the end of their lives. They represent the final brief stage in the life of a
medium-sized star like our Sun.

● Formation of Planetary Nebulae

● When a star with a mass similar to our Sun exhausts its nuclear fuel, it expands into a red giant.
Eventually, the outer layers of the star are ejected due to strong stellar winds. As these outer layers
travel away from the star, a bright, hot core is revealed. This core emits ultraviolet radiation that
ionizes the ejected outer layers, causing them to glow and create a planetary nebula.
The Planetary Nebulae

● Characteristics of Planetary Nebulae

● Planetary nebulae are characterized by their beautiful and intricate shapes. They come in a variety
of shapes and sizes, often with complex structures and symmetries. This is due to the interaction of
the ejected material with the interstellar medium, as well as the action of the central star’s stellar
winds and radiation.

● Importance of Studying Planetary Nebulae

● Planetary nebulae play a crucial role in the chemical evolution of the galaxy, returning material to the
interstellar medium that has been enriched in heavy elements and compounds formed in the
progenitor star. They also provide us with valuable information about the ultimate fate of our Sun,
which will form a planetary nebula in about 5 billion years.
The Supernovas

● Introduction.

● Stars, the celestial bodies that light up the night sky, come in a variety of sizes and types. Among
these, supernovas represent one of the most energetic and spectacular events in the universe.

● What are Supernovas?

● here are two primary types of supernovas: Type I and Type II. Type I supernovas occur in binary star
systems when a white dwarf accretes matter from its companion star, eventually leading to a
runaway nuclear reaction that results in the white dwarf exploding. Type II supernovas occur when
massive stars, at least eight times the mass of our Sun, exhaust their nuclear fuel and collapse
under their own gravity, resulting in a spectacular explosion.
The Supernovas

● Types of Supernovas

● There are two primary types of supernovas: Type I and Type II. Type I supernovas occur in binary
star systems when a white dwarf accretes matter from its companion star, eventually leading to a
runaway nuclear reaction that results in the white dwarf exploding. Type II supernovas occur when
massive stars, at least eight times the mass of our Sun, exhaust their nuclear fuel and collapse
under their own gravity, resulting in a spectacular explosion.
The Supernovas

● Characteristics of Supernovas

● Supernovas are characterized by a sudden increase in brightness followed by a gradual fading. At

their peak, supernovas can outshine an entire galaxy. The material ejected in the explosion, along
with the resulting shock wave, can trigger the formation of new stars and even galaxies.

● Importance of Studying Supernovas

● Studying supernovas is crucial for understanding the universe. They play a significant role in
enriching the interstellar medium with higher elements, which are then incorporated into new stars
and planets. Furthermore, the extreme conditions during a supernova explosion result in the
formation of rare elements like gold and uranium.
The White Dwarfs

● The White Dwarfs

● Stars, the celestial bodies that light up the night sky, come in a variety of sizes and types. Among
these, white dwarfs represent one of the final stages in the life cycle of certain types of stars.

● What are White Dwarfs?

● A white dwarf is a small, dense star that represents the final evolutionary stage of stars not massive
enough to become neutron stars or black holes. These stars, typically about the size of Earth but
with a mass comparable to the Sun, are incredibly dense.
The White Dwarfs

● Characteristics of White Dwarfs

● White dwarfs are characterized by their small size, high density, and low luminosity. They are very
hot when they form, but because they have no source of energy production, they gradually cool and
fade over billions of years. Despite their low luminosity, they are often white or blue-white in color
due to their high temperature.

● Life Cycle of a White Dwarf

● A star becomes a white dwarf after it has exhausted its nuclear fuel and expelled its outer layers as
a planetary nebula. The remaining core, composed mostly of carbon and oxygen, becomes a white
dwarf. Our Sun will become a white dwarf in about 5 billion years.
The White Dwarfs

● Importance of Studying White Dwarfs

● Studying white dwarfs provides valuable insights into the life cycle of stars and the future of our own
Sun. Furthermore, white dwarfs play a crucial role in Type all supernovae, which are used as
standard candles to measure distances in the universe.
The Neutron Stars

● Introduction

● Stars, the celestial bodies that light up the night sky, come in a variety of sizes and types. Among
these, neutron stars, the remnants of massive stars after a supernova explosion, are particularly
intriguing due to their extreme properties.

● What are Neutron Stars?

● Neutron stars are the collapsed cores of large stars that have undergone a supernova explosion.
They are incredibly dense, with a mass about 1.4 times that of our Sun but a radius of only about 10
kilometers. This makes neutron stars some of the densest objects in the universe, second only to
black holes.
The Neutron Stars

● Characteristics of Neutron Stars

● Neutron stars are characterized by their extreme density, small size, and rapid rotation. A sugar-
cube-sized amount of neutron-star material would weigh about as much as a mountain on Earth.
Many neutron stars spin multiple times per second, which is faster than a kitchen blender. Some
neutron stars also have extremely strong magnetic fields, millions of times stronger than the
strongest magnetic fields produced on Earth.
The Neutron Stars

● Life Cycle of a Neutron Star

● A neutron star is formed when a star of sufficient mass undergoes a supernova explosion. The core
of the star collapses under its own gravity, and the protons and electrons are squeezed together to
form neutrons, hence the name “neutron star”. The outer layers of the star are blown off in the
supernova explosion, leaving behind the neutron star.

● Importance of Studying Neutron Stars

● Studying neutron stars provides valuable insights into the laws of physics under extreme conditions.
Neutron stars also serve as excellent natural laboratories for studying the behavior of matter at
nuclear densities. Observations of neutron stars can also provide information about the evolution of
stars and the dynamics of supernova explosions.
The Black Holes

● Introduction

● Stars, the celestial bodies that light up the night sky, come in a variety of sizes and types. Among
these, black holes represent one of the most mysterious and intriguing objects in the universe.

● What are Black Holes?

● A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even particles or
electromagnetic radiation such as light, can escape from it. The term “black hole” comes from the
fact that these objects do not emit any light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation that we can
detect, making them effectively invisible.
The Black Holes

● Formation of Black Holes

● Black holes are formed from the remnants of massive stars. When such a star has exhausted the
nuclear fuel in its core and exploded as a supernova, what remains will collapse under its own
gravity. If the remaining mass is more than about three times the mass of the Sun, the collapse will
continue to form a black hole.

● Characteristics of Black Holes

● Black holes are characterized by the “event horizon,” a boundary in spacetime through which matter
and light can only pass inward towards the mass of the black hole. Nothing, not even light, can
escape from inside the event horizon. The size of a black hole, as determined by the radius of the
event horizon, or Schwarzschild radius, is proportional to the mass of the body, for a non-rotating
black hole.
The Black Holes

● Importance of Studying Black Holes

● Black holes are key to our understanding of the universe. They are predicted by the theory of
general relativity and are a fundamental part of current models of the universe. The study of black
holes can reveal more about the fundamental laws of physics, including the nature of gravity, space,
and time.
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What is Space?
● Space begins ~100 km above Earth (Kármán line)
● Near-perfect vacuum with extremely low density
● Contains planets, stars, galaxies, dust, and dark components
Our Solar System
● 8 planets orbit the Sun
● Asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter
● Dwarf planets like Pluto, Ceres
The Sun
● A G-type main-sequence star
● Powers life via light and heat
● Made mostly of hydrogen and helium; energy from fusion
Planets at a Glance
● Terrestrial: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars— ● Gas/Ice giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,
rocky, smaller Neptune—massive, with rings and many
moons
The Moon and Other Moons
● Earth’s Moon affects tides, phases, eclipses
● Moons vary widely—e.g., Europa (ice), Titan (thick atmosphere)
● Some may host subsurface oceans
Stars and How They Live
Stars form in nebulae from collapsing gas
Lifecycle: protostar → main sequence → giant → remnant
Endings include white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes
 Galaxies
Collections of billions of stars, gas, and dark matter
Shapes: spiral, elliptical, irregular
Milky Way is our home galaxy
Cosmic Mysteries
Dark matter and dark energy dominate the universe
Black holes warp spacetime
Exoplanets may harbor life
Space Exploration
Satellites, telescopes (Hubble, JWST)
Moon landings, Mars rovers
Future: Artemis, crewed Mars missions