Locating Facts

Locating Facts VENUS A Planet Venus is the second planet from the sun. Like Earth, Venus orbits the sun. It takes Venus about 225 days to complete its orbit. Earth takes 365 days to complete an orbit. Venus is closer to the sun, so it takes less time. Does Venus Have a Moon? Unlike Earth, Venus has no moon. If Venus had a moon, it would be pulled into the sun.

Locating Facts What Venus Is Like Because Venus is close to the sun, it is much hotter than Earth. You can’t see the surface of Venus with a telescope. It is always covered with a thick layer of clouds.   Exploring Venus A space ship was sent to Venus in 1990. It sent back pictures of the planet’s surface. Now scientists know that Venus is a dry, dusty place. It is covered with rocks. Sometimes volcanoes erupt on its surface.

Locating Facts The surface of Venus The surface of Venus Photo Copyright NASA 2005.

Locating Facts Seeing Venus from Earth You can see Venus from Earth without a telescope. It is always the brightest star in the sky. Look for it in the morning, just before sunrise, or in the evening, just after sunset. Could People Live on Venus? No one could live on Venus for several reasons. The atmosphere on Venus is filled with poisonous gases. There is no water on the planet. The temperature on the surface is over 800 degrees. Venus is the brightest star in the sky. Photo Copyright NASA 1995.

Locating Facts THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS Location The Hawaiian Islands are in the Pacific Ocean. They are over 2,000 miles west of California.   How Many Islands Are There? There are eight main islands in the Hawaiian group. The biggest island is called Hawaii. Several other large islands are Maui, Oahu, and Kauai. There are 137 islands in all, but most are very small. Map of Hawaiian Islands Photo Courtesy of the Perry-Castaneda Library

Locating Facts How Did the Islands Form? The Hawaiian Islands are volcanic. That means they were formed by volcanoes. The islands you see today are the tips of volcanoes. These tips rise above the surface of the Pacific Ocean.   What is the Weather Like? The weather is usually warm on the islands. The temperature ranges from 60–90 degrees. Many small rain showers fall on Hawaii. Sometimes big storms come during the fall. These big storms bring heavy rains. The islands were formed by volcanoes.

Locating Facts Animals and Plants of Hawaii When the Hawaiian Islands were first formed, there was no life on them. Then birds flew to the islands. They dropped seeds that grew into plants. The ocean and the wind also brought seeds and insects. Other animals were brought to the island when people came.   How Did People Come to Hawaii? The first people came to Hawaii from other islands in the Pacific Ocean. They probably arrived about 2,000 years ago. They traveled across thousands of miles of water. It was an almost impossible journey in canoes. They had only the sun, stars, and winds to guide them. Reproduction of an Ancient Canoe Photo Courtesy of Dennis Kawaharada

Pineapples growing in Hawaii Locating Facts Hawaii Becomes a State In 1959 Hawaii was the fiftieth state to be admitted to the United States. Its capital is Honolulu on the island of Oahu.   What Products Does Hawaii Produce? Because of its warm climate, Hawaii produces many tropical crops. Coffee, bananas, and pineapples are some of the products shipped around the world from Hawaii. Beautiful tropical flowers are also grown on the islands and sent to other countries. Pineapples growing in Hawaii

Air Pollution from a Factory Locating Facts AIR POLLUTION What Is Air Pollution? Earth’s atmosphere is made up of invisible gases. Animals breathe the oxygen in the atmosphere. Plants use other gases from the atmosphere. When the air becomes polluted by other materials, animals and plants have a difficult time using the gases they need to live.   What Causes Air Pollution? Air can be polluted by many different things. Some of them are easy to see, such as smoke and dust. Many things that pollute the air are invisible. Most exhaust given off by cars, trucks, and planes can’t be seen. Factories and farms can also put invisible pollution into the air. Air Pollution from a Factory

Locating Facts TREES Choosing a Tree If you are planning to plant a tree, you need to choose the right tree for your yard. Some trees are tall, and others are short. Some are wide, and some are narrow. Ask someone at the garden store how tall and wide the tree will grow. Choose a tree that will fit your space.   Planting a Tree Fall and early spring are the best times to plant a tree. You need a shovel, a wheelbarrow, and a bucket. Dig the hole at least twice as wide as the root ball of the tree. Put the soil you dig out into the wheelbarrow. Place the tree in the center of the hole and carefully fill the sides with the soil from the wheelbarrow. Water the tree with several buckets of water. Cover the bare ground around the tree with mulch. Don’t forget to water the new tree at least once a week. A tree to be planted

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