An Introduction to Astronomy Our Place in the Universe

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An Introduction to AstronomyOur Place in the
Universe

• Lambert E. Murray, Ph.D.
• Professor of Physics

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The Universe ContainsStarsGalaxiesClusters
of Galaxies
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Galaxies Come in All Shapes and Sizes
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A Galaxy Like Our Own
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Approaching Our Galaxy Edge-On
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Stars inside the Spiral Arms
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Individual Stars are Often Far Apart
Our Nearest Neighbor is about 4.5 Light Years
Away!
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Our Star The Sun
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The Suns Family of Planets(Not to Scale)
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The Suns Familyof Planets(To Scale)
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Mercury

• The planet nearest to our Sun.

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Venus Viewed from Space is Always Covered with
Clouds
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Venus Without Clouds
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Earth Our Home
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Three Views of Mars from Space
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Mars Close Up and Personal
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Jupiter
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Jupiters Galilean Moons
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Saturn
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Uranus
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Neptune
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Pluto, A Planet?
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Some Space Missions of Interest

• Galileo to Jupiters Moons
• http//www2.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo/ (1,2,5)
• Missions to Mars
• Mars Orbital Surveyor
• http//mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mgs/msss/camera/images/in
  dex.html
• Mars Rovers
• http//marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/
• Mission to Saturn
• Cassini
• http//saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm
• Mission to Mercury
• Messenger
• http//messenger.jhuapl.edu/

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Additional Missions

• LCROSS Mission to the Moon
• http//www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/...main/p
  relim_water_results.html
• Mars Express
• http//www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/...
  index.html
• Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
• http//marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/

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End of Introduction