Exploring the Thermosphere

Meteor Behavior

• Meteors don't burn in the Thermosphere due to low air density and minimal friction.

Thermosphere Characteristics

• Temperature increases as you go up in the Thermosphere.
• The Thermosphere is the hottest layer of the atmosphere, absorbing the most solar radiation from the sun.
• This is because there is almost no gas (only 0.1%) to protect the Earth from the sun's radiation.

Auroras

• Auroras form when solar storms from the sun interact with the Earth's magnetic field, releasing ionizing gas.
• This gas travels to the north and south poles, producing the blue and green colors we see.
• Auroras form in the Thermosphere.

Ionosphere Composition

• The Ionosphere is composed of electrically charged particles.

Spacecraft and Satellites

• Spacecraft and satellites are not placed beyond the Thermosphere because they are too high for gravity to pull them back.
• They may get lost in space after burning all their fuel.

Atmospheric Layers

• The percentage of gases in each layer of the atmosphere is: • Troposphere: 75% • Stratosphere: 19% • Mesosphere: 5.9% • Thermosphere: 0.1% • Exosphere: No gases

Star Properties

• The color of a star indicates its temperature, with white stars being the hottest.

Sky Appearance

• The sky appears blue when seen from Earth's surface because blue light scatters the least as sunlight travels through the atmosphere.

Space Junk

• Space junk is formed by humans and consists of broken or discarded pieces of satellites, rockets, and other objects orbiting the Earth.