Fifth Years: Lesson Two

Professor Nakamura fiddled idly with a quill as he watched the students enter his classroom. He smiled once he counted them all, and stood up, ready to teach the lesson. “Welcome back! We will be continuing on the subject of moons, this time the moons of other planets in the solar system."

Notes once again appeared on the blackboard and Professor Nakamura began reading them aloud, allowing for the students to have time to write it down.

Spoiler: Lecture Content

Enceladus
Orbits: Saturn
Facts: One of the brightest objects in the Solar System, due to its surface of water ice that reflects almost 100% of the Sun’s light. Features an ocean of water under its ice surface. Has the potential for harbouring life, along with large geysers spewing out icy bits and water vapor. The wobble in its orbit is evidence of a liquid interior.

Europa
Orbits: Jupiter
Facts: Just a fraction smaller than the Moon. Possibly one of the smoothest objects in the Solar System, with very few craters. The thick surface features red-brown deposits in a fractured pattern. Also has a possible ocean below its surface. The core has geological activity and produces eruptions of water into space.

Ganymede
Orbits: Jupiter
Facts: Largest moon in the Solar System, even larger than Mercury. Has a molten core that has produced its magnetosphere within that of Jupiter. Has a thought atmosphere surrounding the moon.

Io
Orbits: Jupiter
Facts: The most volcanic body in the Solar System, and Jupiter’s third-largest moon. Has an elliptical orbit, that it is forced into by Ganymede and Europa. The moon is also tidally locked like our Moon, causing incredible forces to bulge out the solid surface by as much as 100m. The result is that the moon is almost entirely molten. Volcanoes erupt nearly 190 miles into the atmosphere, easily filling any impact craters.

Titan
Orbits: Saturn
Facts: Titan is the second-largest moon in the Solar System. The only moon is known to have a thick atmosphere, dense enough that the core is completely obscured by the nitrogen and methane clouds. Lakes and rivers of ethane and methane are filled by rains from the orange clouds. This would be a very hostile place for us to visit.

Professor Nakamura addressed his students once more. “As you are probably aware, that is not all of the moons of the planets of the solar system, but a few examples. Jupiter has seventy-nine visible to telescopes and Saturn sixty-two. For homework I want you to read up on the five largest moons of each planet. Now, in case you thought the lesson was over, let’s use the telescopes and try and locate Jupiter’s five biggest moons, referred to as the Galilean moons.” Professor Nakamura smiled and waited for the students to gather up their supplies to move to the viewing tower. It was a nice, clear night. Professor Nakamura wandered around helping out students and telling them how to tell the different moons apart. When the lesson ended, Professor Nakamura dismissed the class.

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Roleplay the lesson for full marks.
Homework isn’t required and none of the other moons will be on the exam.
Feel free to godmod Professor Nakamura helping you out if you wish.

 

[Fraser Fergusson]

Fraser was living week to week, just thinking that once he got through that week things would be easier. That his life would get a little calmer, it just seemed to be a never ending cycle. Perhaps it was. Fraser was just trying to keep it together. He had a lot he needed to be getting on with and was just trying his best to do all of it. Fraser gathered the books and notes he needed and then headed out of the dorm room and to the first class of the day.

Fraser walked into the astronomy classroom and took his usual spot in the room. He looked up at the professor and what appeared on the board and then began getting down what the professor was telling them about it. He didn’t get great notes from what was being said, since he always ended up a bit distracted. He tried his best, but the notes were disjointed, even as they were on the board. He just wasn’t very good at that. The professor did eventually wrap up the lesson and he packed up his things and left the room. Heading out of the classroom the moment he could.

 

[June Davenport]

It was week two of the lessons and so far things went all well. The blonde knew it was important the ending of the year and she had taken on some more responsibilities. One idea to host study sessions would have to come later. She had to see how Slytherin would do, with idiots who tried to be funny and lose housepoints. And if they thought it was funny to try and irritate her they were at the wrong adress. Since June had the professor at her side. And she was always the perfect student, as she tried to be in their eyes. And she was in case of studying, sometimes not so much in social skills. But everyone was different, and than the people didn't had to be so idiotic in her eyes.

The blonde made her way to class and found her usual spot and listened as the professor started his lesson. The moon was still subject and June made notes of the lecture that was told. And shown at the blackboard. It wasn't the most interesting lesson and June didn't felt this professor was the most interesting man. But she wanted to do well at every class including this. When the lesson was ending she packed her stuff and left the room. Ready to study for the next or get some sleep perhaps which was not bad.

 

[Bailey Walden-Cade]

Back in the Astronomy classroom Bailey was ready for another lesson and sat prepared with a blank sheet of parchment. Professor Nakamura informed the class they would be continuing to learn about moons, specifically the moons of other planets and then began his long lecture. They discussed the moons of the other planets of the solar system, some she had heard of but there were a lot she hadn’t. She took a lot of notes during the lecture and when it was over, she folded them up and packed them away in her bag. Once Professor Nakamura finished the lesson and dismissed them Bailey picked up her bag and made her way out of the classroom.

 

[Mikael Nightray]

Mikael entered the Astronomy classroom, wondering why he ever signed up for this class. Well, he knew. Partly. And he was never going to admit why he was here. He glanced at the board as Professor Nakamura launched into the day's lesson on the moons of other planets. He wasn't very interested in all of them but he did take notes on each of the names so he could look them up at a more decent hour. When the professor told them that they could observe Jupiter's moons, Mikael packed up his stuff and followed the rest of the class. The night was clear and while adjusting his telescope took a bit of work, he had been able to eventually find Io and Ganymede. Once they were finally done, Kael left the class without a word.​