Life Beyond Earth? Solar System: consists of the Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, meteors, comets, dust, gases and primarily empty space. Atmosphere: layer of air, made up of many layers and gases that surround the Earth’s surface keeping humans safe from the sun’s radiation. Earth: (78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, .9% Argon, .03% Carbon Dioxide) Comet: chunk of ice and rock originating from the outer solar system

Life Beyond Earth? Asteroid: rock in orbit, generally between Mars and Jupiter Meteoroid: space rock that is bigger than dust grain but smaller than asteroid. If it strikes Earth, it is a meteorite. Meteor: streak of light seen when a space rock enters the atmosphere and starts burning up; a falling star.

Life Beyond Earth? Extraterrestrial Life: life that exists other than on earth Satellite: is an object that revolves around another object in space. natural satellite: any celestial body in space that orbits around a larger body. example: Moons  artificial satellite: made by people and launched into orbit using rockets

Why is Earth the only planet in our solar system that supports life? “Goldilocks” Conditions Earth has liquid water (just right H2O) Suitable temperature (just right temperature) Atmosphere for living things (just right atmosphere)

Why are other planets in our solar system unable to support life as we know it based on their characteristics? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OJUn9jmIi4

The Moon’s Surface Maria: dark, flat areas on the moon’s surface. Actually, hardened rock form by lava. Galileo thought they were seas.

The Moon’s Surface Craters: large round pits on the moon’s surface caused by impacts of meteoroids; crater walls shield some areas from sunlight

The Moon’s Surface Highlands: the light colored features which look like mountains and cover much of the moon’s surface

Characteristics of the Moon Atmosphere: dry and airless Size: 3,476 km in diameter; about ¼ of the Earth’s diameter; compared to the Earth, moon is small. Temperature: range from a torrid 130 degree C in direct sunlight to a frigid -180 degree C at night. Water: no liquid water; large patches of ice near the poles are evident

The Origin of the Moon https://app.discoveryeducation.com/learn/videos/b326760a-a079-48c9-bc1b-afe9e101402d?hasLocalHost=true https://goo.gl/AZMy9q  

The Origin of the Moon Scientists think that a planet-sized object collided with Earth to form the moon. Material from the object and Earth’s outer layers was ejected into orbit around Earth, where it formed a ring. Gravity caused this material to combine to form the moon.  

NASA scientists say we could colonize the Moon by 2022 NASA scientists say we could colonize the Moon by 2022... for just $10 billion. http://www.sciencealert.com/nasa-scientists-say-we-could-colonise-the-moon-by-2022-for-just-10-billion

Mars One is an organization based in the Netherlands that has proposed to land the first humans on Mars and establish a permanent human colony there by 2026. www.mars-one.com