Solar System Overview and Phenomena

Solar System Overview

• The solar system is a gravitationally bound system comprising the Sun and all the objects that orbit it, including planets, dwarf planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and interplanetary dust.
• The Sun, a G-type main-sequence star, contains roughly 99.86% of the system's total mass.
• The planets are broadly classified into inner (terrestrial) and outer (gas giant) planets, based on their composition and distance from the Sun.
• The inner planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, are primarily composed of rock and metal.
• The outer planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, composed mostly of gas and ice.
• Dwarf planets, such as Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Makemake, and Haumea, are celestial bodies that orbit the Sun but do not dominate their region of space.

Solar Phenomena

• Solar flares are sudden, intense bursts of energy released from the Sun's surface.
• Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun's corona.
• These phenomena are linked to the Sun's magnetic activity.
• Sunspots are temporary dark, relatively cool areas on the photosphere of the Sun.
• They are associated with strong magnetic fields and are often clustered.
• Solar prominences are large, bright, arching features extending outward from the Sun's surface.
• They are anchored to the Sun's photosphere by magnetic fields and consist of ionised gases, primarily hydrogen.
• Solar winds are streams of charged particles emanating from the Sun's corona.
• They continuously flow outward through the solar system affecting space weather.
• Solar energetic particles (SEPs) are high-energy protons and heavier atomic nuclei released during solar flares and CMEs.
• SEPs can pose a radiation hazard to astronauts and spacecraft in space.
• The Sun's magnetic field undergoes a cycle of roughly 11 years, characterized by reversals of its polarity.
• This cycle is related to the frequency of solar phenomena like sunspots, flares, and CMEs.
• Solar oscillations are natural vibrations of the Sun, detected as slight changes in the Sun's surface motion.
• They provide valuable insights into the Sun's internal structure and dynamics.
• The Sun's activity, including variations in energy output, affects Earth's climate and upper atmosphere.
• Aurorae, or northern and southern lights, are created when electrically charged particles from the Sun enter Earth's atmosphere.
• These particles interact with gases in the atmosphere, leading to beautiful displays of light.

This quiz covers the essential elements of the solar system, including the classification of planets and the various solar phenomena like solar flares and coronal mass ejections. Explore the characteristics of inner and outer planets, as well as dwarf planets that orbit the Sun. Get ready to test your knowledge of our cosmic neighborhood!