Activity One The Nine Planets of the Solar System The Nine Planets of the Solar System Activity Two Spirit and Opportunity Spirit and Opportunity BACK

水星 金星 地球 火星 木星 土星 海王星 天王星 冥王星 Image: mercury.nineplanets.org:8011/ tnp4kids/solar.htm

The Solar System The solar system consists of the Sun; the nine planets, more than 100 satellites of the planets, a large number of small bodies (the comets and asteroids), and the interplanetary medium.

The inner solar system contains the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. 水星 金星 地球 火星

The planets of the outer solar system are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto 木星 土星 海王星 天王星 冥王星

Game Time Let’s compete and see who guesses it right! In each slide, you are to see a list of 5 facts about a planet. If you get it right after the first fact, you receive 50 points; the second fact, 40 points; the third, 30 points; the fourth, 20 points and 10 points when the final fact is shown. Ready?

The only planet never visited by a spacecraft Named after the Greek God of the Underworld The smallest in size Can sometimes be seen with a telescope Farthest planet from the sun

Known for its red color Named after the Greek god of Wars Extremely thin atmosphere Easily visible at night with the unaided eye The 4 th planet from the sun

Named after the Greek god of Agriculture Has extremely rapid rotation Has numerous very thin rings Easily visible because it doesn’t twinkle like the stars The 6 th planet from the sun

Gas planet Named after the Greek god of the Heavens Needs 84 years to complete one revolution around the Sun Barely visible with the unaided eye on very clear nights The 7 th planet from the sun

Old surface similar to the moon Named after the Greek god of Commerce and Travel Too close to the sun to be safely imaged Often visible at night with the unaided eye The Closest planet to the sun

Surface is very young Only planet whose name is not derived from Greek mythology Most of surface is covered with water Has only one natural satellite The 3 rd planet from the sun

By far the largest in size Named after the Greek King of the gods Huge, very strong magnetic field Often visible as the brightest star in the sky The 5 th planet from the sun

Appears blue in color Named after the Greek God of the sea Can occasionally be seen with binoculars Has very dark rings with unknown compositions The 8 th planet from the sun

Brightest planet Hangs a tale Named after the Greek goddess of Love and Beauty Usually visible at night with the unaided eye The 2 nd planet from the sun

More explorations on your own What is the origin of the solar system? How common are planetary systems around other stars? Is there life elsewhere in the solar system? If not, why is Earth special? Is there life beyond the solar system? Intelligent life? Is life a rare and unusual or even unique event in the evolution of the universe or is it adaptable, widespread and common?

Back to main menu

Image: mars_animation.htmlwww.rcopticalsystems.com/gallery/ mars_animation.html Mars - August 30, 2003

Mars Exploration Rover Mission Probably you don’t know much about Mars Exploration Rover Mission In this activity, you are going to learn some facts about it. Hope you gain something from the game.

CNN Student News Report Let’s go to CNN Student News and watch how Opportunity “knocks.”CNN Student News Sources:

Mars Mission Fast Facts Your mission is pretty easy. Just try to answer the following questions. Each correct answer will earn you 10 points. Let’s set off now! Sources:

True or False NASA scientist team created two identical twin rovers for the exploration mission. They were named “Spirit” and “Opportunity.

True or False Spirit was the first rover to land on January 3 and had sent back thousands of pictures since its arrival.

True or False Each rover is the size of a golf cart and weights about 400 pounds.

True or False Both rovers were launched in the summer of In the summer of 2003

True or False The unmanned rovers are to analyze rocks and soil for any evidence of past water activity, which would then suggest a life-supporting environment.

True or False The average temperature on the red planet is 81 ℉ above zero! It’s 81 ℉ below zero.

True or False The gravity on Mars is roughly a quarter of that we're used to. It’s a third of what we’re used to.

True or False The rovers were named by a 9-year- old boy. More about Sofi Collis

Sofi Collis, a third-grader from Scottsdale, Arizona, was born in Siberia and had been adopted by an America family at the age two. Her submissions were selected from 10,000 entries.

The names are based on the feelings Collis said she experienced when she first learned she was coming to America.

"I used to live in an orphanage. It was dark and cold and lonely. At night I looked up at the sparkly sky. I felt better. I think I could fly there. In America I can make all my dreams come true. Thank you for the spirit and the opportunity," Sofi Collis said.

Back to main menu