In this section of the course we will move back much closer tohome to study our solar system. However before we can answer grand questions like these we will need a basic working understanding of the planets in the solar system. First a scale model to give you an idea of the size of the solar system.
Solar system is mostly empty space.
Basic Revolution and Rotation Facts. The solar system basically has a disk shape. Leads to the ecliptic that we talked about in earlier classes. The planets revolve about the Sun in orbits that lie close to a common plane. Mercury is tipped by 7 degrees to Earth's orbit.