The Solar System Learning the Planets

Objectives You will be able to… Learn some information about the planets, including: Order from the Sun Order of size An interesting fact about each planet What they look like Some additional information about our planet, Earth (Reminder: Take notes!!! – you will be asked to remember facts!)

Mercury Closest planet to the Sun Extremely thin atmosphere The 8 th largest planet

Venus 2 nd planet from the Sun The 6 th largest planet The 3 rd brightest object in the sky

Earth The Earth is our home The 3 rd planet from the Sun The 5 th largest planet Has 1 moon Because our planet is so important to us… Here is more Information about the planet we live on:

Mars 4 th planet from the Sun The 7 th largest planet Has 2 moons Sometimes called the “Red Planet”

Jupiter 5 th planet from the Sun By far the largest planet (in volume and mass) Has 16 or more moons Fastest rotating planet

Saturn 6 th planet from the Sun 2 nd largest planet Has 3 prominent rings Has 20 or more moons ***prominent= big/large

Uranus 7 th planet from the Sun The 3 rd largest planet (in diameter) Has 15 or more moons within it’s rings

Neptune 8 th planet from the Sun 4 th largest planet (in diameter) 5 rings and several moons

And now you know about the planets!! Wait…are you thinking what I am thinking?......

What About Pluto? PLUTO IS NO LONGER A PLANET! Scientists have come up with a new definition for “planet” and Pluto is now considered a “Dwarf” planet and is not counted as one of the “nine” planets anymore. Now there are only EIGHT planets!

What is the difference between a planet and a dwarf planet? A planet- a celestial body that (a) in orbit around the sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self- gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a nearly round shape, and (c) has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit. A dwarf planet- a celestial body that is (a) in orbit around the sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a nearly round shape, (c) has NOT cleared the neighborhood around its orbit, and (d) is not a satellite.

Summary We have seen pictures of the planets and learned that there are actually only 8 of them now. Pluto is considered a “dwarf planet” We learned the difference between a planet and a dwarf planet We learned some facts about each planet and their position in order from the Sun.

Activity Hopefully you remembered to take notes! Now, choose your favorite planet… Use the facts you remember to write about your chosen planet and include why it is your favorite Later you will be asked to share your write-up activity with a partner We will be doing a project later in the week that involves information we have learned about the planets

Quick Test

Acknowledgment Google images Object=Plutohttp://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm? Object=Pluto (You can use these sites to do additional research, or find something on your own…remember, we have projects coming up later in the week—more information can be useful!)