Module 5 Space Environment 1

Space Environment

Module 5

Module 5 Space Environment 2

The UniverseIn The Beginning…

• A formless mass of dust and hydrogen gas cloaked in darkness

• Gravitational force produced huge gas spheres ignited by fusion and there was light…

•Stars were born

Module 5 Space Environment 3

Stars & Nebula

• Our Sun is a star• A Hot body of

Helium and Hydrogen gas

• Nebula are huge clouds of gas and dust that have vague shapes

Module 5 Space Environment 4

Galaxies

• Enormous collections of stars

• Our Galaxy is called the Milky Way

• Scientists estimate that our Milky Way has 100 Billion stars… many with planets

Module 5 Space Environment 5

The Universe

Everything we are aware of is a part of the known universe

– Galaxies– Stars– Planets– Plants– Animals– Humans

All made from the same elements

Module 5 Space Environment 6

Space – the Final Frontier?

• The region of the universe beyond earth

• Great distances between significant bodies– Moon 240,000 miles– Planets 20,000,000

(Venus)

– Sun 93,000,000 miles

– Galaxies Light years

• A light year is 6 trillion miles

Module 5 Space Environment 7

Constellations• Groups of stars named

after mythical figures, objects, or animals as seen from the Earth

• “The Big Dipper”

Module 5 Space Environment 8

The Sun

• Center of our solar system

• Temperatures reach 15,000,000° C at its center

• Dark areas are sunspots -- cooler.

Module 5 Space Environment 9

The Solar SystemNine Ten Planets

Outer – Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto

Inner – Mars Earth Venus Mercury

Module 5 Space Environment 10

Our Sun as seen from the

Pluto

Module 5 Space Environment 11

Relative Size of Planets

Closest to the Sun

Furthest from Sun

Largest planet

Rotates counter-clockwise

Atmosphere is 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen

The “Red” Planet

Pluto Neptune Uranus Saturn Jupiter Mars Earth Venus Mercury

Sun

Module 5 Space Environment 12

Characteristics of Space

• Defined as starting 62 miles above the earth

• Very few molecules (low pressure - almost a vacuum)

• No oxygen• Very cold• Little gravity

(microgravity)

Thickness of the atmosphere

Module 5 Space Environment 13

Our Moon

• ¼ the size of the Earth• Orbits the earth in 28

days• Rotates on its axis once

each 28 days– Lunar day is 28 earth

days

• Far side never viewable from Earth

Module 5 Space Environment 14

Meteors

• Meteoroids are rocks 10 meters or less, that drift through space.

• If it enters the Earths atmosphere it is a meteor.

• If it strikes the earth before burning up it is a meteorite

Module 5 Space Environment 15

Asteroids

• Often called minor planets or planetoids

• Primarily inner Solar System

• smaller than planets • larger than meteoroids• distinction made on

visual appearance when discovered

Module 5 Space Environment 16

Comets

• Composed of frozen gases, dust and ice

• Have no light source but reflect sunlight

• Tail – shaped by Solar wind

– always points away from the sun

Module 5 Space Environment 17

The Universe

A Wonder of God’s creation