Sun and Moon

The Sun is.

A star
In the Main Sequence stage

99% of the total mass in the solar system

109 times as big as the Earth

Energy Production in the Sun

Nuclear fusion occurs in the sun to give it
its energy.

Hydrogen is converted into Helium.

Structure of the Sun

The sun does not have a solid surface.
The visible surface is where its
atmosphere becomes so thick that you
cant see through it.
The sun is divided into 6 layers.

Layers
of the
sun

Layers of the Sun

Corona- Outermost part of the suns
atmosphere. Visible only during a solar
eclipse
Chromosphere- section of the suns
atmosphere below the corona.

Photosphere- the visible part of the suns

atmosphere. The surface we see.

Convective Zone- Section where

convection currents carry energy to the outer
atmosphere of the sun

Layers of the Sun Continued...

Radiative Zone- Very dense section of
the sun where energy is trapped.

Core- inner part of the sun where the

suns energy is produced by nuclear
fusion.

What Layer is
shown here?
Hint:
Solar Eclipse

Solar Activity

The circulation of energy causes gas in the

photosphere to churn, causing magnetic
fields that reach into space.
Sunspots- when the activity slows down in one
spot, and the photosphere becomes cooler than
other areas. Sunspots are cooler, dark spots
on the sun.
Sunspots change in a regular pattern. About every

11 years there is a peak in sunspots.

They might
affect our climate and cause lower temperatures on
earth.

Sunspots

Solar Activity continued...

Solar Flares- regions of extremely high
temperatures and brightness that develop on
the suns surface. When they erupt, they send
streams of electrically charged particles into the
solar system.
They can extend several thousand miles into
space within minutes.
Particles from solar flares reach earth and interrupt

radio and cell signals.

Solar Flare

Aurora Borealis

Northern Lights
When solar particles enter our atmosphere, they are
attracted to the poles, and cause Aurora

Borealis

Formation of the Moon

Three explanations for how the moon
could have formed:
Twin Theory
Meteor Theory
Capture Theory

Twin Theory

The moon formed at the same time as Earth.

Gravity pulled particles in the solar system together
to make the earth and the moon out of a nebula

Meteor Theory
When Earth was first cooling, a meteor
struck it and splashed a piece off
which hardened to form the moon.

Capture Theory
The Moon formed someplace else, it flew
by Earth and gravity captured it into
orbit.

Features of the Moon

Maria- smooth
dark plains on
the moon
Highlandsrugged
mountains on
the moon that
appear as light
places.

Features of the Moon

Rilles- lines
on the moon
where the crust
of the moon
cracked when it
cooled.

Craters- round
impacts from
meteors

Why are there so many craters

on the moon?
The moon has no
ATMOSPHERE, so
it has no
WEATHER, so
there is no
EROSION.
Therefore, when the
moon gets struck by
a meteor, the crater
stays there forever.

Label
each
section
#1- #9