Planet Earth Part of the Solar System One of several planets and other bodies that move around the sun

Location The Earth in Space The Earth in Space Part of the solar system Part of the solar system Sun Sun Eight planets Eight planets Moons of the planets Moons of the planets Asteroids Asteroids

The Sun Life on earth could not exist without the heat and light from the sun Life on earth could not exist without the heat and light from the sun The sun is made up mostly of intensely hot gases The sun is made up mostly of intensely hot gases Its huge mass creates a strong pull of gravity Its huge mass creates a strong pull of gravity Gravity keeps the planets revolving around it Gravity keeps the planets revolving around it Located about 93 million miles from Earth Located about 93 million miles from Earth

The Earth-Like Planets Earth Earth Mercury Mercury Venus Venus Mars Mars Pluto Pluto

Venus, the jewel of the sky, was once known by ancient astronomers as the morning star and evening star. Early astronomers once thought Venus was two separate bodies. Venus, which is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty, is veiled by thick swirling cloud cover. Astronomers refer to Venus as Earth's sister planet. Both are similar in size, mass, density and volume. Both formed about the same time and condensed out of the same nebulanebula

Earth makes one revolution, or complete trip around the sun in 365 ¼ days How does this affect our calendars today?

 Fourth planet from the Sun  Called the Red Planet  Named for the Roman god of war  Best chance for supporting life  Self-sterilizing  Ultraviolet Rays  Too dry  Soil Composition

The farthest planet from the Sun, Pluto lies on the very edge of our solar system. Because it is far from the Sun, Pluto is so cold that nitrogen and oxygen, which we breathe so easily on Earth, become frozen solid on Pluto! Pluto wasn’t even discovered by astronomers until 1930!

The Jupiter-Like Planets Jupiter Jupiter Saturn Saturn Neptune Neptune Uranus Uranus

 Largest planet in the Solar system  11 Earth diameters wide  Ball of dense gases over a rocky core  Full rotation in 10 hours, so strong winds  39 moons at last count  New moons found all the time

 Second biggest planet in the Solar system  Rings were observed by Galileo in 1610  Ring made of thousands of ice particles  Has winds, magnetic fields, & lightening  31 moons at last count  New moons found all the time

 Named for Roman god of the Sea  The Great Dark Spot was a storm  Mostly hydrogen, helium, & methane

Ω Smaller version of Jupiter Ω 84 years to orbit the sun Ω Rotates on its side Ω A season lasts 21 years

Summer Solstice Occurs on about June 21 every year Moment in the year when the North Pole is closest to the sun Sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer Beginning of summer in Northern Hemisphere Day with the most hours of sunlight

Winter Solstice Occurs on about June 21 every year Moment in the year when the North Pole is closest to the sun Sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer Beginning of summer in Northern Hemisphere Day with the most hours of sunlight