Studying the small bodies of the Solar System provides a unique opportunity to investigate the dynamic nature of our Solar System, which is not revealed by studying the major planets. The sensitivity of the Rubin Observatory LSST Camera combined with the high frequency of repeated observations will result in the detection of millions of new Solar System objects, from Near Earth asteroids to dwarf planets.

In this investigation, students use mathematical and spatial visualization tools to characterize four main groups of small Solar System objects based on their orbital properties. They interpret how their observational evidence can be used to support the solar nebula theory. They then examine and classify some newly discovered objects from Rubin Observatory.

Prerequisite Concepts

• Students should have been previously introduced to the concepts of Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion.

• Students should have been previously introduced to the concepts of Newton’s Laws, including the law of gravity.

• Students should be acquainted with the idea that the Solar System formed from the collapse of a cloud of gas and dust.

Learning Outcomes

• Students analyze and interpret Solar System objects' orbital properties to identify the group of objects to which they belong.

• Students construct explanations regarding the role of gravity in orbital motions and interactions between Solar System objects.

• Students provide evidence that supports the solar nebula theory of the Solar System’s formation.

Essential Questions

• How do gravitational interactions affect the motion and orbital properties of small objects in the Solar System?
• What can observations of small objects reveal about the formation and history of the Solar System?