Our Solar System and the Pluto Problem - Frontiers in Astrophysics

Explore the intricacies of our Solar System and delve into the controversial Pluto debate in this 46-minute lecture from Yale University's Frontiers/Controversies in Astrophysics course. Begin with a review of problem set solutions and learn how Newton's Third Law applies to exoplanet discovery. Journey through an comprehensive overview of the Solar System, examining the unique features of each planet. Understand astronomy as an observational science and tackle the challenges of categorizing celestial objects. Focus on the Pluto controversy, considering arguments from both sides regarding its planetary status. Dive into topics such as conservation of momentum in exoplanets, inner and outer Solar System objects, Kuiper Belt Objects, and the Oort Cloud. Gain insights into the classification and interpretation of celestial objects in this engaging lecture recorded in Spring 2007.