[Astronomy] T2: Lesson 2: Planets, Moons and Stars

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia was listening to the red-headed slytherin, most impressed, when suddenly there was a crash. Her attention snapped to a slytherin boy. She waited to hear the conclusion of the girl's before nodding, "yes, indeed, very good. Ten point to slytherin for remembering all those names. Well done, Ms Mirari."

She smiled again then moved to Mr Daniels. "You really are a true slytherin, aren't you, Daniels," she said impetuous. "Always drawing some attention to yourself in one way or another. Five points from slytherin. Learn to draw the line somewhere, Mr Daniels." She strode to the front of the class once more the continued with the lesson. Professor Owen began to speak again and as she did so the chalk continued to summaries all that she said into understandable notes. Dia was certain that the students would just be copying those instead of listening to her and making their own notes. But, regardless, she spoke.

"Now, Venus is the Roman goddess of love and beauty. The planet is aptly named since it makes a beautiful sight in the sky, with only the Sun and the Moon being brighter. This gave her the names of the morning star and evening star by ancient astronomers. Astronomers refer to Venus as Earth's sister planet for both are similar in size, mass, density and volume; both formed about the same time and condensed out of the same nebula. However, during the last few years scientists have found that the kinship ends there. Venus is very different from the Earth. Can anyone tell me how?"[/font]

[Zachary Daniels]

Zachary watched as the Professor moved back to the front of the classroom, a deep scowl on his face. He avoided Mozess' gaze, embarrassed at the fact he had lost her points not five minutes after she earned them.

Feeling a need to somehow prove Owen wrong, he stood up a little straighter in his desk, mentally promising himself he'd snap that quill in two after the lesson, and raised his hand. His eyes were slightly narrowed, though his voice polite enough and filled with enough respect for a Professor.

"Venus, although sharing similarities with Earth would not be able to support human life because of their prominent differences." Zachary cleared his throat, drawing attention to himself in almost a mockery of what the Professor had said before. "The temperature on Venus is vastly different from that on earth, being much hotter with an average of around 800ºF. Things such as Venus' air being made up of mostly Carbon Dioxide and how it spins clockwise on its axis, while Earth spins counterclockwise are also differences, along with the the fact Venus has no moon." He paused then, turning his gaze to Mozess with a small smirk, and maybe searching for a bit of approval.[/color]

[Mozess Mirari]

'A slytherins attempt at an apology... good enough I suppose,' she thought amusedly, giving a nod of acceptance to the boy. She then carried his speech a step further, 'Venus also has no water, the cirrus clouds they've found are made up of ash from the highly active volcanoes that cover the planets surface. There are nearly three to four times the amount of active volcanoes on Venus' surface than on Earth's, which also makes it near impossible for it to support life. Also, the ash clouds create horrendous lightning storms, that added to the facts Daniels just mentioned make the planet named after the goddess of love, look quite hateful.'

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia looked at Mr Daniels in pleasant surprise. As he spoke, Dia counted his observations on her fingers. When he had finished, Dia smiled at him, "well done, Mr Daniels, twenty points for slytherin!"

Then Ms Mirari spoke, adding to what Mr Daniels had said. Prof Owen was most impressed with the slytherins participation today. "And well done to you too, Ms Mirari, twenty points to you too." Dia flicked her hand at the board it flipped over and the chalk began furious writing the points for Venus under that heading.

She listened at the chalk scratching on the board and smiled at both her slytherin students. "Very well done both of you. Well, that's Venus covered," she clapped her hands together and said, "anyone want to tell me about Mars?" She looked around very quickly, then added, "unless you would like to discuss Earth, of course."

[Mozess Mirari]

Mozess shrugged and decided to wrap up their little planet in a nutshell, just for the heck of it, 'Earth is the third planet from the sun, the fifth largest planet in our solar system, and the only planet that we know of which can support life...' she counted the facts off on her fingers, looked pensive for a moment, then said, "Oh, and seventy-one percent of its surface is covered in water. Can't forget those textbook answers now can we?" After finishing her little rant she nodded at the teacher, "Onto Mars we go then?"

[Jac Shaw]

Jac looked at Mozess and nodded, "I agree! Onto Mars we go." She smiled and rubbed her chin with her quill. "Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and is commonly referred to as the Red Planet. It's rocks, soil and sky all have an incredible red or pinkish hue. The distinct red color made it very obvious to stargazers throughout history. It's quite prominent. Its name comes from the Roman god of war. Other civilizations have had similar names such as the ancient Egyptians who called it 'Her Descher' meaning the 'red one'." Jac smiled around at everyone.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Prof Owen had a slight moment of panic where she thought that she might have over did it about. This panic was reinforced by the silence that followed. Luckily, for her, that silence was short lived. Ms Mirari had elected to go with the latter. Being both right and confident in her statements, Dia could not rightly give her less points for living on the planet.

"Quiet right, Ms Mirari, we cannot. Twenty points for slytherin." She smiled, proud of the enthusiasm shown by the students. The gryffindor who had given her problems in her first lesson spoke up. Owen was pleasantly surprised with her comprehensive answer. She listened and nodded accordingly. "Indeed," she said, looking around the class, "Mars has been of particular interests to all astronomers throughout history and it's red hue does, indeed, explain that. Well done, Ms Biggerstall, twenty-five points for gryffindor."

Dia looked over her shoulder at the black board. The chalk was hard at work, now writing under 'Mars'. She read the points it had made and, quite happy with the comprehensive report on this planet. She was happy to continue. However, before she did she added, "are there any question about Mars? Or would anyone like to add to what has been mentioned?"

[jimmy]

Jimmy was seated at the front of the class, as an industrious student he was busy writing up his notes in shorthand of what had been said thus far in the lesson. This lesson in particular had aroused his curiousity and his acdemic nature allowed him to grasp the facts quite easily as his teachings from before Hogwarts had already involved a little study of this topic. He tried to recall something more of Mars but the words of his old tutor which would usually resound around his head at a time like this didn't come. Sighing regretfully as he could think of naught else to add, but of a sudden, a fact sprang to his head raising his hand immediately he declared
"The Roman god Mars was a god of agriculture before becoming associated with the Greek Ares; the God of War," that he had learnt from his studies of the Greeks and Romans, a topic dear to his heart; they had been capital fellows now all gone to dust. Having studied Geography in much detail too he added
"Also there is no real evidence of tectonic plates on Mars, unlike our own earth, for example there are no fold mountains like the Alps and it's hotspots don't move either as there's no lateral movement." He finished and sat back with a satisfied smile.