Summary of Lecture 1

1
Summary of Lecture 1

• What is Astronomy?
• Measuring distances
• on Earth (British and metric system)
• within the Solar System (astronomical unit)
• outside the Solar System (light year)
• The overall structure of the Solar System
• terrestrial planets, gas giants, asteroid belt,
  trans-Neptunian objects (Kuiper belt, scattered
  disk, Oort cloud)
• size of the Solar System

2
Summary of Lecture 1

• How is Pluto different from the rest of the
  planets?
• Kuiper belt objects planet candidates in the
  Solar System
• New definitions planet (8), dwarf planet (3),
  small solar system bodies
• Physical characteristics of a planet
• Mass, Size, Volume, Density