A Mixed-Up Solar SystemA Mixed-Up Solar System

Dr. Frank Summers

Space Telescope Science Institute

July 11, 2013

Scientific PlottingScientific Plotting

A Mixed-Up Solar SystemA Mixed-Up Solar System

Maintaining Objectivity:

Data without Identifiers

Maintaining Objectivity:

Data without Identifiers

One Way to Look at Things:

Single Characteristics

One Way to Look at Things:

Single Characteristics

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot A, objects in the solar system …

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot A, objects in the solar system generally have few moons.

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot B, objects in the solar system …

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot B, objects in the solar system generally have mostly circular orbits.

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot C, objects in the solar system …

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot C, objects in the solar system generally have low inclination orbits.

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot D, objects in the solar system …

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot D, objects in the solar system have a wide range of distances from the Sun.

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot E, objects in the solar system …

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot E, objects in the solar system have a wide range of masses.

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot F, objects in the solar system …

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot F, objects in the solar system have a wide range of sizes.

ObservationsObservations

• 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.

Relationships Between Characteristics

Relationships Between Characteristics

It Takes Two to Tango:It Takes Two to Tango:

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot H, objects in the solar system …

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot H, objects in the solar system with smaller/larger mass also have smaller/larger size.

ObservationsObservations

• 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.

ObservationsObservations

• 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.

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot I, objects in the solar system …

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot I, objects in the solar system that have a large orbit tilt tend to have a more elliptical orbit shape.

ObservationsObservations

• 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

The Plot Thickens:

Size vs Composition

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot J, objects in the solar system …

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot J, objects in the solar system with similar composition have similar sizes.

A Diabolical Plot Revealed:

Size vs Distance

A Diabolical Plot Revealed:

Size vs Distance

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot K, objects in the solar system …

ObservationsObservations

• Based on Plot K, objects in the solar system with similar distances from the Sun have similar sizes.

ObservationsObservations

• 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

ice and some rock

rock and some ice

rocky

What Does It All Mean:

Groups and Common Traits

What Does It All Mean:

Groups and Common Traits

ObservationsObservations

• 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.

ObservationsObservations

• Based on the data in this exercise, the organization of the solar system …

ObservationsObservations

• 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 SupplementsTeacher Supplements

Makemake

Haumea

Sun

Rocky Planets

Asteroid Belt

Giant Planets

Kuiper Belt

Oort Cloud

The 21st Century Solar SystemThe 21st Century Solar System