Module 4: Astronomy - The Solar System

While you may consider the place that you rest your head at night to be your home, you belong to a bigger, more complex home in the universe - the Solar System. In this module, you will explore this larger address. You will begin by exploring how scientists believe the Solar System formed from a contracting nebula some 4.6 billion years ago. Then, you will begin with the planet closest to the Sun and travel outward to the remote reaches of the Solar System, studying characteristics of each of the eight planets. In addition, you will explore dwarf and other members of the Solar System, like meteors, comets, asteroids, and trans-Neptunian objects. All of these celestial objects have their own systems of classification to help organize and structure their study.

Getting Started

Before you begin your study of the Solar System in this module, take a few moments to consider the following questions: how has your perception of the Solar System changed since you were a small child? Has your idea of your place in the Solar System changed as you have grown to a young adult? It may change even more as you learn about Earth's relative size and impact in the universe.

 

Key Vocabulary

To view the definitions for these key vocabulary terms, visit the course glossary.

accretion	Jovian planet	regolith
asteroid	Kuiper belt	revolution
asteroid belt	lunar eclipse	rotation
aurora	maria	semidiurnal tide
chromosphere	meteor	solar eclipse
comet	meteorite	solar flare
core	meteoroid	Solar Nebula Theory
corona	neap tide	solar prominence
coronal mass injection	nebula	solar wind
differential rotation	nuclear fusion	solstice
diurnal tide	Oort cloud	spring tide
dwarf planet	partial eclipse	sunspot
equinox	photosphere	terrestrial planet
highlands	planetesimal	total eclipse
impact crater	protoplanet	Trans-Neptunian object
impact theory	protosun