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Solar System astronomy, which could also be called local astronomy, includs studies of the Sun, planet, minor bodies, interplanetary medium, and solar system history. |
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The sun, also known as the primary star of the solar system, is here examined in much closer detail than is possible for other stars.
These fall into three groups: The inner planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars; the gas giants Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune; and dwarf planets, including Pluto.
These include comets, asteroids, and meteors. These are found in three principal regions: the main asteroid belt, between Mars and Jupiter; the Kuiper belt, beyond Neptune and in the region of Pluto; and the Oort cloud; the outer reaches of the solar system. There are too many to mention here, and have a variety of compositions.
Interplanetary space is a better vacuum than can be achieved on earth. However, it is not entirely empty, and is occupied by particles of various sizes, from the size of sand grains down to subatomic particles. It includes principally solar radiation, the solar wind, and dust generated by comets and asteroid collisions.
This must be largely deduced and calculated, and many of the details are somewhat speculative.
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Physics forms an essential foundation for planetary astronomy. Mechanics is vital to it. Rigid body mechanics, and nonrigid mechanics are all important. Particle mechanics including particle description, kinematics, kinetics, energetics, and particle systems may offer some basic ideas. Rigid body machanics including rigid body description and motion, rotational dynamics, statics, and dynamic systems is more directly useful. Gravitation and celestial mechanics including surface gravitation, particle celestial mechanics, rigid body celestial mechanics, and nonrigid celestial mechanics are also very important. |
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Thermodynamics is also useful. Statistical mechanics involves more advanced studies, but classical thermodynamics and nonclassical thermodynamics can be used. Electromagnetism including electrostatics, electric current, magnetism, and optics is vital in studies of solar system astronomy. Relativity including special and general relativity and quantum physics are also important. The structure of matter including subatomic physics and radiation, atomic physics, molecular physics, and bulk matter physics is also essential to it. Exotic matter is little known. Chemistry is a vital and necessary part of planetary astronomy. Chemical substances including elements, compounds, and mixtures are vital. Changes and reactions are vital. Chemical systems including solid chemistry, liquid chemistry, gas and plasma chemistry, and inorganic and organic chemistry are also important. Studies of cosmology and galactic astronomy are not especially significant, but stellar astronomy including the interstellar medium, stars, star clusters, and astrocartography is useful. Earth science is useful as a point of comparison and departure. Planetary astronomy does not depend heavily on biology. Personal studies will be significant as the site develops. The human body, psychology, and biography can be connected. Anthropology including social foundations, demography, physical anthropology, human ecology, human geography, and particular groups can be connected. Culture including material culture, conceptual culture, and behavioral culture will be useful. Institutions including families, education, economics, government, and religion will also be useful. Sociology including social structure and change, communities, and peoples of the world will also be useful. The history of studies of the solar system dates to prehistory or unrecorded antiquity. It developed in classical and medieval times and has expanded considerably in modern times. Its future is obscure. |
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