Objects of the

Solar System

GATUNGAY, VIA MONECE N.

 Table of Contents

• Meteoroids
• Interplanetary Dust and Other Particles
• Regions of the Solar System
Meteoroids

• Solid bodies smaller than

asteroids are called
meteoroids.
• The boundary between
asteroids and meteoroids,
however, is diffuse.
• It is an asteroid if it has been
observed so often that its
orbital elements are known.
Meteors - often referred to as “shooting stars,” are optical
phenomena caused by meteoroids entering Earth’s atmosphere.
Meteoroids with a mass of about 1 gram or larger create visible
meteors, while even smaller ones can be detected by radar due
to the ionized air column they generate. Micrometeoroids are
studied using particle detectors on satellites and spacecraft.
Particularly bright meteors are called bolides.
Three main types of meteorites

• Stony meteorites
• Iron Meteorites
• Stony-iron meteorites
 Stony Meteorites

Stony meteorites are

the most common
type of meteorite.
They are composed
mainly of silicate
minerals, similar to
the Earth’s rocks.
 Iron Meteorites

Iron meteorites are

primarily composed of
nickel and iron. They
are relatively dense and
often have a metallic
appearance.
 Stony-Iron Meteorites

Are a rare type of meteorite that

contains both silicate minerals and
significant amounts of metal,
primarily iron and nickel. These
meteorites are thought to come
from the boundary region between
a planetary body’s core and its
mantle, where the metal and
silicate materials are mixed.
 Interplanetary Dust and Other Particles

Interplanetary dust and other particles refer to tiny solid materials

and particles that are dispersed throughout our solar system and the
space between celestial bodies.

- exist in the space between planets, moons, and other celestial

bodies within our solar system.
- composed of various materials, including silicates, metals, and
carbon-based compounds.
The origins of interplanetary dust particles are diverse. They
can come from a variety of sources, including:

• Cometary Activity
• Asteroid Collisions
• Interstellar Space
In addition to interplanetary dust, there are
other small particles in space:
Micrometeoroids:
These are even smaller
particles, often ranging
from fractions of a
millimeter to a few
millimeters in size.
Micrometeoroids can be
derived from sources
similar to those of
interplanetary dust, such
as comets and asteroids.
Cosmic dust is extremely
fine material found not only
within our solar system but
also in interstellar space. It
consists of nanometer-sized
particles, and it plays a role
in obscuring the light from
distant celestial objects. It
can scatter and absorb light.
 Interplanetary Dust and Other Particles

Zodiacal light is a faint glow that can be observed above the rising or
setting Sun due to the reflection of sunlight by these interplanetary
dust particles.
• Gegenschein is another faint light phenomenon caused by
interplanetary dust. It appears exactly opposite the Sun in the night
sky.
• The solar wind consists of charged particles, mainly protons,
electrons, and alpha particles (helium nuclei), flowing continuously
out of the Sun.
Zodiacal Light Gegenschein
Regions of the Solar System

The Sun is a massive, self-luminous ball of hot, glowing gas

primarily composed of hydrogen (about 74%) and helium
(around 24%). It’s crucial for the existence of life on Earth
because it provides the energy necessary for various
processes, including photosynthesis and weather patterns.
Inner Planets (Terrestrial Planets)

• Mercury
• Venus
• Earth
• Mars
Asteroid Belt: Situated
between Mars and Jupiter, the
asteroid belt is a region where
countless rocky objects, called
asteroids, orbit the Sun.
Outer Planets (Gas Giants)

• Jupiter
• Saturn
• Uranus
• Neptune
Kuiper Belt: This region,
beyond Neptune, contains
many small icy objects,
including Pluto and other
dwarf planets. It’s
considered a source of
short-period comets.
The Oort Cloud is a
theoretical region of space
located much farther from
the Sun, where it’s
believed to contain a vast
number of icy objects,
including potential comets.
It’s thought to be the origin
of long-period comets that
occasionally enter the
inner solar system.
Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs): These objects, including those in
the Kuiper Belt and scattered disk, orbit beyond Neptune. Some well-
known TNOs include Eris and Haumea.

Inner and Outer Moons: Many planets, including the gas giants and
some of the terrestrial planets, have moons. These moons can vary
significantly in size, composition, and characteristics.
The Goldilocks Zone, also known as the habitable zone
or the circumstellar habitable zone, is the region around
a star where conditions are just right for liquid water to
exist on the surface of a planet. This zone is often
referred to as “Goldilocks” because it’s neither too hot
nor too cold.
The key characteristics of the Goldilocks Zone are:

• The Goldilocks Zone is defined by the range of distances from a

star where temperatures are suitable for liquid water to exist.
• The specific location of the Goldilocks Zone depends on the type
and temperature of the star. Planets that orbit within this zone are
at an appropriate distance from their star to maintain a temperate
climate.
• Planets within the Goldilocks Zone experience a temperature
range that allows water to remain in a liquid state.
• Other considerations, including the planet’s atmosphere, geology,
presence of essential chemical compounds, and more, also play
a role in determining whether a planet could support life.
• Venus, Earth, and Mars are all located within the Goldilocks
Zone of our solar system, but their individual conditions vary
significantly.
• Earth is the prime example of a habitable world, while Venus
and Mars illustrate the diverse outcomes of planetary
evolution within this zone.
• Venus experiencing a runaway greenhouse effect.
• Mars having the potential for microbial life in subsurface
environments.
Exoplanets that have been considered to be
within their star’s habitable zone, making them
potential candidates for conditions conducive
to life:
Proxima Centauri b: This
exoplanet is located in the
habitable zone of Proxima
Centauri, the closest star to
our solar system. It’s an
Earth-sized planet and has
been the subject of extensive
study due to its proximity.
However, it also faces
challenges such as being
exposed to stellar flares from
its red dwarf star.
Kepler-186f: Kepler-186f is
part of the Kepler-186
system and is an Earth-sized
exoplanet within the
habitable zone of its star. It’s
notable for its similarity in
size to Earth, but further
research is needed to
determine its atmospheric
composition and potential
habitability.
TRAPPIST-1 System: The
TRAPPIST-1 star system is
famous for hosting seven
Earth-sized planets, three of
which are within the star’s
habitable zone. These
exoplanets, known as
TRAPPIST-1e, TRAPPIST-
1f, and TRAPPIST-1g, have
drawn significant attention
in the search for potential
habitable environments.
Kepler-442b: This exoplanet is
located in the habitable zone of
the Kepler-442 system and is
considered a prime candidate for
further study. It’s a super-Earth,
meaning it’s larger than Earth
but smaller than gas giants.
LHS 1140b: LHS 1140b is a
rocky exoplanet within the
habitable zone of the LHS
1140 star system. It has
drawn attention because of its
potential to retain an
atmosphere and support
surface water.
References

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Thank you!