A Mixed-Up Solar System
Dr. Frank Summers
Space Telescope Science Institute
July 11, 2013
Scientific Plotting
A Mixed-Up Solar System
Maintaining Objectivity:
Data without Identifiers
One Way to Look at Things:
Single Characteristics
Observations
• Based on Plot A, objects in the solar
system …
Observations
• Based on Plot A, objects in the solar
system generally have few moons.
Observations
• Based on Plot B, objects in the solar
system …
Observations
• Based on Plot B, objects in the solar
system generally have mostly circular
orbits.
Observations
• Based on Plot C, objects in the solar
system …
Observations
• Based on Plot C, objects in the solar
system generally have low inclination
orbits.
Observations
• Based on Plot D, objects in the solar
system …
Observations
• Based on Plot D, objects in the solar
system have a wide range of distances
from the Sun.
Observations
• Based on Plot E, objects in the solar
system …
Observations
• Based on Plot E, objects in the solar
system have a wide range of masses.
Observations
• Based on Plot F, objects in the solar
system …
Observations
• Based on Plot F, objects in the solar
system have a wide range of sizes.
Observations
• Objects in the solar system
– [A] generally have few moons.
– [B] generally have mostly circular orbits.
– [C] generally have low inclination orbits.
– [D] have a wide range of distances from
the Sun.
– [E] have a wide range of masses.
– [F] have a wide range of sizes.
It Takes Two to Tango:
Relationships Between
Characteristics
Observations
• Based on Plot H, objects in the solar
system …
Observations
• Based on Plot H, objects in the solar
system with smaller/larger mass also
have smaller/larger size.
Observations
• Based on Plot H, objects in the solar
system with smaller/larger mass also
have smaller/larger size.
• Based on Plot H, objects in the solar
system show a tight, positive correlation
between mass and size.
Observations
• Based on Plot H, objects in the solar
system with smaller/larger mass also
have smaller/larger size.
• Based on Plot H, objects in the solar
system show a tight, positive correlation
between mass and size.
• Based on Plot H, objects in the solar
system have a narrow range of density.
Observations
• Based on Plot I, objects in the solar
system …
Observations
• Based on Plot I, objects in the solar
system that have a large orbit tilt tend to
have a more elliptical orbit shape.
Observations
• Based on Plot I, objects in the solar
system that have a large orbit tilt tend to
have a more elliptical orbit shape.
• Based on Plot I, objects in the solar
system show a loose, positive
correlation between orbit tilt and orbit
shape.
The Plot Thickens:
Size vs Composition
Observations
• Based on Plot J, objects in the solar
system …
Observations
• Based on Plot J, objects in the solar
system with similar composition have
similar sizes.
A Diabolical Plot Revealed:
Size vs Distance
Observations
• Based on Plot K, objects in the solar
system …
Observations
• Based on Plot K, objects in the solar
system with similar distances from the
Sun have similar sizes.
Observations
• Based on Plot K, objects in the solar
system with similar distances from the
Sun have similar sizes.
• Based on Plot J, objects in the solar
system with similar composition have
similar sizes.
gaseous
rocky
ice and
some rock
rock and
some ice
What Does It All Mean:
Groups and Common Traits
Observations
• Based on Plot K, objects in the solar
system with similar distances from the
Sun have similar sizes.
• Based on Plot J, objects in the solar
system with similar composition have
similar sizes.
• Based on Plot H, objects in the solar
system with similar masses have similar
sizes.
Observations
• Based on the data in this exercise, the
organization of the solar system …
Observations
• Based on the data in this exercise, the
organization of the solar system can be
described as four groups of objects with
similar mass, size, composition, and
distance from the Sun.
Teacher Supplements
Makemake
Haumea
The 21st Century Solar System
Sun
Rocky
Planets
Asteroid Belt
Giant
Planets
Kuiper Belt
Oort Cloud