Light
Light Pollution:
A Journey Through the Solar System
© International Dark-Sky Association
Images courtesy of NASA/PL-Caltech
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© International Dark-Sky Association
Intro to the Solar System
© International Dark-Sky Association
Images courtesy of NASA/PL-Caltech
The Sun is the most prominent feature in our solar system.
© International Dark-Sky Association
Images courtesy of NASA/PL-Caltech
Temperature
430°C to - 185°C
(800°F to -300°F)
Distance from the sun
58 million km
(36 millions miles)
Diameter
4,900 km (3,000 miles)
Length of Day
59 Earth Days
Length of Year
88 Earth Days
© International Dark-Sky Association
Images courtesy of NASA/PL-Caltech
Temperature
460°C (860°F)
Distance from the sun
108 million km (67 million miles)
Diameter
12,100 km (7,520 miles)
Length of Day
243 Earth Days
Length of Year
225 Earth Days
© International Dark-Sky Association
Images courtesy of NASA/PL-Caltech
Temperature
60°C to -90°C
(140°F to -130°F)
Distance from Sun
150 million km (93 million miles)
Diameter
12,800 km (7,900 miles)
Length of day
24 hours
Length of year
365 days
© International Dark-Sky Association
Images courtesy of NASA/PL-Caltech
How Light Pollution Affects Astronomy
Many astronomers today study the planets and universe with very large telescopes, but the first
astronomers studied the universe with only their eyes and early simple telescopes. In those
days, the skies were bright with stars, but today in most cities and towns that is no longer true.
© International Dark-Sky Association
The desire to further study our galaxies inspired astronomers to
launch a very large telescope into space.
The Hubble Space Telescope was the first optical observatory
launched into space. It is one of many telescopes that are peicing
together our universe.
© International Dark-Sky Association
Images courtesy of NASA/PL-Caltech
Before and After
These pictures show the impact artificial night lighting has on the
environment and night skies
© International Dark-Sky Association
Why Did This Happen?
These pictures show some examples of lighting that cause light
pollution. These can include cities, street lights, security
lighting, and more!
© International Dark-Sky Association
Other Effects of Light Pollution
Light pollution affects plants and animals in their nighttime habitats,
consumes wasteful amounts of energy, and negatively impacts human
health.
What can you do?
This is a picture of what the world looks like at night from a satellite. All those lights
from cities and towns that do not use quality efficient lighting can be seen from space!
© International Dark-Sky Association
Temperature
-5°C to -70°C
(25°F to -130°F)
Distance from Sun
228 million km
(141.6 million miles)
Diameter
6,790 km (4,200 miles)
Length of day
24.6 Earth hours
Length of year
687 Earth days
© International Dark-Sky Association
Images courtesy of NASA/PL-Caltech
Asteroids are metallic, rocky bodies without atmospheres that orbit
the Sun but are too small to be classified as planets. They are also
known as "minor planets."
© International Dark-Sky Association
Images courtesy of NASA/PL-Caltech
Temperature
-75°C at cloud tops (-100°F)
Distance from Sun
778.4 million km
(483.7 million miles)
Diameter
142,800 km (88,700 miles)
Length of Day
9.9 Earth hours
Length of Year
11.86 Earth years
© International Dark-Sky Association
Images courtesy of NASA/PL-Caltech
Temperature
-170°C at cloud tops (-270°f)
Distance from Sun
1.4 billion km
(885.9 million miles)
Diameter
120,540 km (74,900 miles)
Length of Day
10.7 Earth hours
Length of Year
29.4 Earth years
© International Dark-Sky Association
Images courtesy of NASA/PL-Caltech
Temperature
-200°C at cloud tops (-330°F)
Distance from Sun
2.9 billion km (1.8 billion miles)
Diameter
51,300 km (31,900 miles)
Length of Day
17.2 Earth hours
Length of Year
84 Earth years
© International Dark-Sky Association
Images courtesy of NASA/PL-Caltech
Temperature
-200°C at cloud tops (-330°F)
Distance from Sun
4.5 billion km (2.8 billion miles)
Diameter
49,500 km (30,800 miles)
Length of Day
16.1 Earth hours
Length of Year
167.79 Earth years
© International Dark-Sky Association
Images courtesy of NASA/PL-Caltech
A Dwarf Planet
Temperature
-230°C (-380°F)
Pluto
Distance from Sun
5.9 billion km
(3.66 billion miles)
Diameter
2,300 km (1,400 miles)
Length of Day
6.4 Earth hours
Length of Year
248 Earth years
© International Dark-Sky Association
Images courtesy of NASA/PL-Caltech
The Kuiper belt is located outside the orbit of Neptune. It consists of many small icy bodies and
is a source of asteroids, comets, and meteors found in our solar system.
© International Dark-Sky Association
Images courtesy of NASA/PL-Caltech
Hale Bopp
Comets are a mixture of ices (both water and frozen gases)
mixed with dust that were not incorporated into planets when
the solar system was formed.
© International Dark-Sky Association
Images courtesy of NASA/PL-Caltech
Meteoroids become meteors when they enter the Earth's
atmosphere. At this time, they are heated by friction, and
streak across the sky with a glowing tail commonly called a
shooting star.
© International Dark-Sky Association
Images courtesy of NASA/PL-Caltech
Thanks for learning about light pollution
and how it affects the world around us!
© International Dark-Sky Association