This unit will also cover.. Learning the Inner Planets The Habitable Zone Astronomical Units Focus on Mercury Focus on Venus Focus on Earth Axial Tilt / Seasons Synchronous Orbit of the Moon Phases of the Moon

This unit will also cover.. Learning the Inner Planets The Habitable Zone Astronomical Units Focus on Mercury Focus on Venus Focus on Earth Axial Tilt / Seasons Synchronous Orbit of the Moon Phases of the Moon

This unit will also cover.. Learning the Inner Planets The Habitable Zone Astronomical Units Focus on Mercury Focus on Venus Focus on Earth Axial Tilt / Seasons Synchronous Orbit of the Moon Phases of the Moon

This unit will also cover.. Learning the Inner Planets The Habitable Zone Astronomical Units Focus on Mercury Focus on Venus Focus on Earth Axial Tilt / Seasons Synchronous Orbit of the Moon Phases of the Moon

This unit will also cover.. Learning the Inner Planets The Habitable Zone Astronomical Units Focus on Mercury Focus on Venus Focus on Earth Axial Tilt / Seasons Synchronous Orbit of the Moon Phases of the Moon

This unit will also cover.. Learning the Inner Planets The Habitable Zone Astronomical Units Focus on Mercury Focus on Venus Focus on Earth Axial Tilt / Seasons Synchronous Orbit of the Moon Phases of the Moon

This unit will also cover.. Learning the Inner Planets The Habitable Zone Astronomical Units Focus on Mercury Focus on Venus Focus on Earth Axial Tilt / Seasons Synchronous Orbit of the Moon Phases of the Moon

This unit will also cover.. Learning the Inner Planets The Habitable Zone Astronomical Units Focus on Mercury Focus on Venus Focus on Earth Axial Tilt / Seasons Synchronous Orbit of the Moon Phases of the Moon

This unit will also cover.. Learning the Inner Planets The Habitable Zone Astronomical Units Focus on Mercury Focus on Venus Focus on Earth Axial Tilt / Seasons Synchronous Orbit of the Moon Phases of the Moon

This unit will also cover.. Tidal Forces The Apollo Missions Focus on Mars Exploration of Mars Space Race Rocketry Space Shuttle Program Forces in Rocketry Parts of a Rocket Building Soda Bottle Rockets

This unit will also cover.. Tidal Forces The Apollo Missions Focus on Mars Exploration of Mars Space Race Rocketry Space Shuttle Program Forces in Rocketry Parts of a Rocket Building Soda Bottle Rockets

This unit will also cover.. Tidal Forces The Apollo Missions Focus on Mars Exploration of Mars Space Race Rocketry Space Shuttle Program Forces in Rocketry Parts of a Rocket Building Soda Bottle Rockets

This unit will also cover.. Tidal Forces The Apollo Missions Focus on Mars Exploration of Mars Space Race Rocketry Space Shuttle Program Forces in Rocketry Parts of a Rocket Building Soda Bottle Rockets

RED SLIDE: These are notes that are very important and should be recorded in your science journal. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

-Nice neat notes that are legible and use indentations when appropriate..

-Nice neat notes that are legible and use indentations when appropriate. -Example of indent.

-Nice neat notes that are legible and use indentations when appropriate. -Example of indent. -Skip a line between topics

-Nice neat notes that are legible and use indentations when appropriate. -Example of indent. -Skip a line between topics -Don’t skip pages

-Nice neat notes that are legible and use indentations when appropriate. -Example of indent. -Skip a line between topics -Don’t skip pages -Make visuals clear and well drawn.

RED SLIDE: These are notes that are very important and should be recorded in your science journal. BLACK SLIDE: Pay attention, follow directions, complete projects as described and answer required questions neatly. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Keep an eye out for “The-Owl” and raise your hand as soon as you see him. –He will be hiding somewhere in the slideshow Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Keep an eye out for “The-Owl” and raise your hand as soon as you see him. –He will be hiding somewhere in the slideshow “Hoot, Hoot” “Good Luck!” Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. New Area of Focus: The Inner Planets. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Can you name the inner planets by sight? –Give it a shot below. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Can you name the inner planets by sight? –Give it a shot below. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Can you name the inner planets by sight? –Give it a shot below. Venus Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Can you name the inner planets by sight? –Give it a shot below. Venus Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Can you name the inner planets by sight? –Give it a shot below. Venus Mars Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Can you name the inner planets by sight? –Give it a shot below. Venus Mars Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Can you name the inner planets by sight? –Give it a shot below. Venus Mars Mercury Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Can you name the inner planets by sight? –Give it a shot below. Venus Mars Mercury Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Can you name the inner planets by sight? –Give it a shot below. Venus Mars Mercury Earth Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Which planet rotates opposite of all the others? Venus Mars Mercury Earth Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Which planet rotates opposite of all the others? Venus Mars Mercury Earth Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Which planet rotates opposite of all the others? Venus Mars Mercury Earth Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Can you do it one more time? Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Can you do it one more time? Mercury Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Can you do it one more time? Mercury Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Can you do it one more time? Mercury Venus Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Can you do it one more time? Mercury Venus Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Can you do it one more time? Mercury Venus Mars Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Can you do it one more time? Mercury Venus Mars Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Can you do it one more time? Mercury Venus Mars Earth Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Activity! Say the name of the inner planets when the arrow points to them. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

“BE QUIET!” “I am trying to study”

On the next slide, teacher to minimize out of slideshow and assist students in dragging inner planets to their correct order.

Answer:

What is the connection between this story and the planet earth? Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Answer! The distance to planet Earth from the Sun is just right. Not to hot, and not to cold. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Which planets are too hot, too cold, and just right? Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Which planets are too hot, too cold, and just right? Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Which planets are too hot, too cold, and just right? Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Which planets are too hot, too cold, and just right? Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Which planets are too hot, too cold, and just right? Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Which planets are too hot, too cold, and just right? Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Which planets are too hot, too cold, and just right? Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

AU = Astronomical Unit, Distance from Earth to the Sun. AU = Astronomical Unit, Distance from Earth to the Sun Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

AU = Astronomical Unit, Distance from Earth to the Sun. AU = Astronomical Unit, Distance from Earth to the Sun. 93 Million Miles or 93 Million Miles or - - Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

AU = Astronomical Unit, Distance from Earth to the Sun. AU = Astronomical Unit, Distance from Earth to the Sun. 93 Million Miles or 93 Million Miles or 150 Million Kilometers or 150 Million Kilometers or Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

AU = Astronomical Unit, Distance from Earth to the Sun. AU = Astronomical Unit, Distance from Earth to the Sun. 93 Million Miles or 93 Million Miles or 150 Million Kilometers or 150 Million Kilometers or 1 AU 1 AU Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

AU = Astronomical Unit, Distance from Earth to the Sun. AU = Astronomical Unit, Distance from Earth to the Sun. 93 Million Miles or 93 Million Miles or 150 Million Kilometers or 150 Million Kilometers or 1 AU 1 AU Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

How units in astronomy are measured, Learn More:

What planet am I? I am about 9.5 AU from the sun.

What planet am I? I am about.7 AU from the sun.

Inner Planets – Mercury, Venus, Earth,

What’s inside?

Activity! Gathering information about the Sun and the Inner Planets. –Please create two pages in your journal of the next slide. –Please Google “Virtual Tour Solar System” –Record important factoids about each of the inner planets. –The more information the better. 5 would be the absolute minimal per planet.

Mercury: Searching for facts online. –Search “Virtual Tour Mercury” – /space/solar-system/mercury-article.htmlhttp://science.nationalgeographic.com/science /space/solar-system/mercury-article.html – ury.htmlhttp:// ury.html – – system-intro.htmlhttp:// system-intro.html

Activity! Visit the websites about Venus and record information for the unit assessment. system/mercury-article.htmlhttp://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/solar- system/mercury-article.html

Activity Sheet Available: Research Inner Planets.

THE SUN

Mercury

THE SUN Mercury Venus

THE SUN Mercury Venus Earth

THE SUN Mercury Venus Earth Mars

THE SUN Mercury Venus Earth Mars

THE SUN Mercury Venus Earth Mars Asteroid Belt

THE SUN Mercury Venus Earth Mars Asteroid Belt

THE SUN Mercury Venus Earth Mars Asteroid Belt The Sun is by far the largest object in the solar system. It contains more than 99.8% of the total mass of the Solar System. All energy for our solar system comes from the sun. Check out the Corona Ejections The Sun is, at present, about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium by mass everything else ("metals") amounts to less than 2%. The sun is approximately 93 million miles from Earth.

THE SUN Mercury Venus Earth Mars Asteroid Belt Mercury is a small, rocky planet. ~ Mercury has been visited by the Mariner 10 spacecraft. Mariner 10 has mapped a little less than half (45%) of Mercury's surface. ~ Scientists think that there may be *volcanic activity* on Mercury. They are still studying information sent to Earth from the Mariner spacecraft to make sure. ~ The temperature on Mercury ranges from 90 K to 700 K. The Sun is by far the largest object in the solar system. It contains more than 99.8% of the total mass of the Solar System. All energy for our solar system comes from the sun. Check out the Corona Ejections The Sun is, at present, about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium by mass everything else ("metals") amounts to less than 2%. The sun is approximately 93 million miles from Earth.

THE SUN Mercury Venus Earth Mars Asteroid Belt Mercury is a small, rocky planet. ~ Mercury has been visited by the Mariner 10 spacecraft. Mariner 10 has mapped a little less than half (45%) of Mercury's surface. ~ Scientists think that there may be *volcanic activity* on Mercury. They are still studying information sent to Earth from the Mariner spacecraft to make sure. ~ The temperature on Mercury ranges from 90 K to 700 K. Venus is a small, rocky planetblanketed in a thick layer of yellowish clouds. These clouds are not made of water (like the ones here on Earth). Instead, they are formed from a poison called sulfuric acid. ~ Venus' surface is very hot - about 400 degrees Celsius! ~ Even though Venus is very cloudy, it's simply *too hot* for rain to form. ~ The first spacecraft to visit Venus was Mariner 2 in Venus has since been visited by more than 20 spacecraft in all so far! Some of these visiting spacecraft include: Pioneer Venus, Venera 7, Venera 9 and Magellan. The Sun is by far the largest object in the solar system. It contains more than 99.8% of the total mass of the Solar System. All energy for our solar system comes from the sun. Check out the Corona Ejections The Sun is, at present, about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium by mass everything else ("metals") amounts to less than 2%. The sun is approximately 93 million miles from Earth.

THE SUN Mercury Venus Earth Mars Asteroid Belt Mercury is a small, rocky planet. ~ Mercury has been visited by the Mariner 10 spacecraft. Mariner 10 has mapped a little less than half (45%) of Mercury's surface. ~ Scientists think that there may be *volcanic activity* on Mercury. They are still studying information sent to Earth from the Mariner spacecraft to make sure. ~ The temperature on Mercury ranges from 90 K to 700 K. Venus is a small, rocky planetblanketed in a thick layer of yellowish clouds. These clouds are not made of water (like the ones here on Earth). Instead, they are formed from a poison called sulfuric acid. ~ Venus' surface is very hot - about 400 degrees Celsius! ~ Even though Venus is very cloudy, it's simply *too hot* for rain to form. ~ The first spacecraft to visit Venus was Mariner 2 in Venus has since been visited by more than 20 spacecraft in all so far! Some of these visiting spacecraft include: Pioneer Venus, Venera 7, Venera 9 and Magellan. Earth is a small, rocky planet which supports a variety of life! As far as we know, Earth is unique from all other planets in this respect. ~ Temperatures at the Earth's center (called the "core") may be as high as 7500 K - That's hotter than the surface of the Sun! ~ The Earth is the densest major body in the solar system. This means that it's the most "compact" of all the planets. For example, you have two loaves of bread, both of the same amount. You smash one loaf of bread flat. Even though both loaves are of the same amount, the smashed bread is *denser* because it is more compact. The Earth is 4.5 to 4.6 billion years old, but the oldest known rocks are less than 4 billion years old. Rocks older than 3 billion years are rare. The oldest fossils of living organisms are less than 3.9 billion years old! ~ The Earth is orbited by one moon. The Sun is by far the largest object in the solar system. It contains more than 99.8% of the total mass of the Solar System. All energy for our solar system comes from the sun. Check out the Corona Ejections The Sun is, at present, about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium by mass everything else ("metals") amounts to less than 2%. The sun is approximately 93 million miles from Earth.

THE SUN Mercury Venus Earth Mars Asteroid Belt Mercury is a small, rocky planet. ~ Mercury has been visited by the Mariner 10 spacecraft. Mariner 10 has mapped a little less than half (45%) of Mercury's surface. ~ Scientists think that there may be *volcanic activity* on Mercury. They are still studying information sent to Earth from the Mariner spacecraft to make sure. ~ The temperature on Mercury ranges from 90 K to 700 K. Venus is a small, rocky planetblanketed in a thick layer of yellowish clouds. These clouds are not made of water (like the ones here on Earth). Instead, they are formed from a poison called sulfuric acid. ~ Venus' surface is very hot - about 400 degrees Celsius! ~ Even though Venus is very cloudy, it's simply *too hot* for rain to form. ~ The first spacecraft to visit Venus was Mariner 2 in Venus has since been visited by more than 20 spacecraft in all so far! Some of these visiting spacecraft include: Pioneer Venus, Venera 7, Venera 9 and Magellan. Earth is a small, rocky planet which supports a variety of life! As far as we know, Earth is unique from all other planets in this respect. ~ Temperatures at the Earth's center (called the "core") may be as high as 7500 K - That's hotter than the surface of the Sun! ~ The Earth is the densest major body in the solar system. This means that it's the most "compact" of all the planets. For example, you have two loaves of bread, both of the same amount. You smash one loaf of bread flat. Even though both loaves are of the same amount, the smashed bread is *denser* because it is more compact. The Earth is 4.5 to 4.6 billion years old, but the oldest known rocks are less than 4 billion years old. Rocks older than 3 billion years are rare. The oldest fossils of living organisms are less than 3.9 billion years old! ~ The Earth is orbited by one moon. Mars is a small, rocky planet which is cold and lifeless. ~ The first spacecraft to visit Mars was Mariner 4 in Several others followed including the two Viking landers in After a long break, Mars Pathfinder landed successfully on Mars on July 4, ~ Mars has permanent ice caps at both poles made up mostly of solid carbon dioxide. We know this as "dry ice." ~ Very strong winds and vast dust storms sometimes blow through the entire planet for months! ~ Mars has two tiny moons which orbit very close to the surface. Their names are Phobos and Deimos. The Sun is by far the largest object in the solar system. It contains more than 99.8% of the total mass of the Solar System. All energy for our solar system comes from the sun. Check out the Corona Ejections The Sun is, at present, about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium by mass everything else ("metals") amounts to less than 2%. The sun is approximately 93 million miles from Earth.

THE SUN Mercury Venus Earth Mars Asteroid Belt Mercury is a small, rocky planet. ~ Mercury has been visited by the Mariner 10 spacecraft. Mariner 10 has mapped a little less than half (45%) of Mercury's surface. ~ Scientists think that there may be *volcanic activity* on Mercury. They are still studying information sent to Earth from the Mariner spacecraft to make sure. ~ The temperature on Mercury ranges from 90 K to 700 K. Venus is a small, rocky planetblanketed in a thick layer of yellowish clouds. These clouds are not made of water (like the ones here on Earth). Instead, they are formed from a poison called sulfuric acid. ~ Venus' surface is very hot - about 400 degrees Celsius! ~ Even though Venus is very cloudy, it's simply *too hot* for rain to form. ~ The first spacecraft to visit Venus was Mariner 2 in Venus has since been visited by more than 20 spacecraft in all so far! Some of these visiting spacecraft include: Pioneer Venus, Venera 7, Venera 9 and Magellan. Earth is a small, rocky planet which supports a variety of life! As far as we know, Earth is unique from all other planets in this respect. ~ Temperatures at the Earth's center (called the "core") may be as high as 7500 K - That's hotter than the surface of the Sun! ~ The Earth is the densest major body in the solar system. This means that it's the most "compact" of all the planets. For example, you have two loaves of bread, both of the same amount. You smash one loaf of bread flat. Even though both loaves are of the same amount, the smashed bread is *denser* because it is more compact. The Earth is 4.5 to 4.6 billion years old, but the oldest known rocks are less than 4 billion years old. Rocks older than 3 billion years are rare. The oldest fossils of living organisms are less than 3.9 billion years old! ~ The Earth is orbited by one moon. Mars is a small, rocky planet which is cold and lifeless. ~ The first spacecraft to visit Mars was Mariner 4 in Several others followed including the two Viking landers in After a long break, Mars Pathfinder landed successfully on Mars on July 4, ~ Mars has permanent ice caps at both poles made up mostly of solid carbon dioxide. We know this as "dry ice." ~ Very strong winds and vast dust storms sometimes blow through the entire planet for months! ~ Mars has two tiny moons which orbit very close to the surface. Their names are Phobos and Deimos. The Sun is by far the largest object in the solar system. It contains more than 99.8% of the total mass of the Solar System. All energy for our solar system comes from the sun. Check out the Corona Ejections The Sun is, at present, about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium by mass everything else ("metals") amounts to less than 2%. The sun is approximately 93 million miles from Earth. EXAMPLE

THE SUN Mercury Venus Earth Mars Asteroid Belt Mercury is a small, rocky planet. ~ Mercury has been visited by the Mariner 10 spacecraft. Mariner 10 has mapped a little less than half (45%) of Mercury's surface. ~ Scientists think that there may be *volcanic activity* on Mercury. They are still studying information sent to Earth from the Mariner spacecraft to make sure. ~ The temperature on Mercury ranges from 90 K to 700 K. Venus is a small, rocky planetblanketed in a thick layer of yellowish clouds. These clouds are not made of water (like the ones here on Earth). Instead, they are formed from a poison called sulfuric acid. ~ Venus' surface is very hot - about 400 degrees Celsius! ~ Even though Venus is very cloudy, it's simply *too hot* for rain to form. ~ The first spacecraft to visit Venus was Mariner 2 in Venus has since been visited by more than 20 spacecraft in all so far! Some of these visiting spacecraft include: Pioneer Venus, Venera 7, Venera 9 and Magellan. Earth is a small, rocky planet which supports a variety of life! As far as we know, Earth is unique from all other planets in this respect. ~ Temperatures at the Earth's center (called the "core") may be as high as 7500 K - That's hotter than the surface of the Sun! ~ The Earth is the densest major body in the solar system. This means that it's the most "compact" of all the planets. For example, you have two loaves of bread, both of the same amount. You smash one loaf of bread flat. Even though both loaves are of the same amount, the smashed bread is *denser* because it is more compact. The Earth is 4.5 to 4.6 billion years old, but the oldest known rocks are less than 4 billion years old. Rocks older than 3 billion years are rare. The oldest fossils of living organisms are less than 3.9 billion years old! ~ The Earth is orbited by one moon. Mars is a small, rocky planet which is cold and lifeless. ~ The first spacecraft to visit Mars was Mariner 4 in Several others followed including the two Viking landers in After a long break, Mars Pathfinder landed successfully on Mars on July 4, ~ Mars has permanent ice caps at both poles made up mostly of solid carbon dioxide. We know this as "dry ice." ~ Very strong winds and vast dust storms sometimes blow through the entire planet for months! ~ Mars has two tiny moons which orbit very close to the surface. Their names are Phobos and Deimos. The Sun is by far the largest object in the solar system. It contains more than 99.8% of the total mass of the Solar System. All energy for our solar system comes from the sun. Check out the Corona Ejections The Sun is, at present, about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium by mass everything else ("metals") amounts to less than 2%. The sun is approximately 93 million miles from Earth. EXAMPLE system/mercury-article.html

Area of Focus: Mercury Area of Focus: Mercury Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

THE SUN Mercury Venus Earth Mars Asteroid Belt Mercury is a small, rocky planet. ~ Mercury has been visited by the Mariner 10 spacecraft. Mariner 10 has mapped a little less than half (45%) of Mercury's surface. ~ Scientists think that there may be *volcanic activity* on Mercury. They are still studying information sent to Earth from the Mariner spacecraft to make sure. ~ The temperature on Mercury ranges from 90 K to 700 K. Venus is a small, rocky planetblanketed in a thick layer of yellowish clouds. These clouds are not made of water (like the ones here on Earth). Instead, they are formed from a poison called sulfuric acid. ~ Venus' surface is very hot - about 400 degrees Celsius! ~ Even though Venus is very cloudy, it's simply *too hot* for rain to form. ~ The first spacecraft to visit Venus was Mariner 2 in Venus has since been visited by more than 20 spacecraft in all so far! Some of these visiting spacecraft include: Pioneer Venus, Venera 7, Venera 9 and Magellan. Earth is a small, rocky planet which supports a variety of life! As far as we know, Earth is unique from all other planets in this respect. ~ Temperatures at the Earth's center (called the "core") may be as high as 7500 K - That's hotter than the surface of the Sun! ~ The Earth is the densest major body in the solar system. This means that it's the most "compact" of all the planets. For example, you have two loaves of bread, both of the same amount. You smash one loaf of bread flat. Even though both loaves are of the same amount, the smashed bread is *denser* because it is more compact. The Earth is 4.5 to 4.6 billion years old, but the oldest known rocks are less than 4 billion years old. Rocks older than 3 billion years are rare. The oldest fossils of living organisms are less than 3.9 billion years old! ~ The Earth is orbited by one moon. Mars is a small, rocky planet which is cold and lifeless. ~ The first spacecraft to visit Mars was Mariner 4 in Several others followed including the two Viking landers in After a long break, Mars Pathfinder landed successfully on Mars on July 4, ~ Mars has permanent ice caps at both poles made up mostly of solid carbon dioxide. We know this as "dry ice." ~ Very strong winds and vast dust storms sometimes blow through the entire planet for months! ~ Mars has two tiny moons which orbit very close to the surface. Their names are Phobos and Deimos. The Sun is by far the largest object in the solar system. It contains more than 99.8% of the total mass of the Solar System. All energy for our solar system comes from the sun. Check out the Corona Ejections The Sun is, at present, about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium by mass everything else ("metals") amounts to less than 2%. The sun is approximately 93 million miles from Earth.

THE SUN Mercury Venus Earth Mars Asteroid Belt Mercury is a small, rocky planet. ~ Mercury has been visited by the Mariner 10 spacecraft. Mariner 10 has mapped a little less than half (45%) of Mercury's surface. ~ Scientists think that there may be *volcanic activity* on Mercury. They are still studying information sent to Earth from the Mariner spacecraft to make sure. ~ The temperature on Mercury ranges from 90 K to 700 K. Venus is a small, rocky planetblanketed in a thick layer of yellowish clouds. These clouds are not made of water (like the ones here on Earth). Instead, they are formed from a poison called sulfuric acid. ~ Venus' surface is very hot - about 400 degrees Celsius! ~ Even though Venus is very cloudy, it's simply *too hot* for rain to form. ~ The first spacecraft to visit Venus was Mariner 2 in Venus has since been visited by more than 20 spacecraft in all so far! Some of these visiting spacecraft include: Pioneer Venus, Venera 7, Venera 9 and Magellan. Earth is a small, rocky planet which supports a variety of life! As far as we know, Earth is unique from all other planets in this respect. ~ Temperatures at the Earth's center (called the "core") may be as high as 7500 K - That's hotter than the surface of the Sun! ~ The Earth is the densest major body in the solar system. This means that it's the most "compact" of all the planets. For example, you have two loaves of bread, both of the same amount. You smash one loaf of bread flat. Even though both loaves are of the same amount, the smashed bread is *denser* because it is more compact. The Earth is 4.5 to 4.6 billion years old, but the oldest known rocks are less than 4 billion years old. Rocks older than 3 billion years are rare. The oldest fossils of living organisms are less than 3.9 billion years old! ~ The Earth is orbited by one moon. Mars is a small, rocky planet which is cold and lifeless. ~ The first spacecraft to visit Mars was Mariner 4 in Several others followed including the two Viking landers in After a long break, Mars Pathfinder landed successfully on Mars on July 4, ~ Mars has permanent ice caps at both poles made up mostly of solid carbon dioxide. We know this as "dry ice." ~ Very strong winds and vast dust storms sometimes blow through the entire planet for months! ~ Mars has two tiny moons which orbit very close to the surface. Their names are Phobos and Deimos. The Sun is by far the largest object in the solar system. It contains more than 99.8% of the total mass of the Solar System. All energy for our solar system comes from the sun. Check out the Corona Ejections The Sun is, at present, about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium by mass everything else ("metals") amounts to less than 2%. The sun is approximately 93 million miles from Earth.

Mercury: Searching for facts online. –Search “Virtual Tour Mercury” – – –

Activity Sheet Available: Research Inner Planets.

If you weighed 100 lbs on Earth, you would weigh 38 pounds on Mercury Mercury = 100 X.38 = 38 pounds

Mercury has little to no atmosphere and is heavily cratered

The Caloris Basin. Largest known crater in the solar system.

Symbol – Mercury (Commerce / Speed) Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Symbol – Mercury (Commerce / Speed) Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

First probe to gather information on this innermost planet

March 29, 1974

If you weighed 100 lbs on Earth,

If you weighed 100 lbs on Earth, you would weigh 38 pounds on Mercury

Mercury = 100 X.38 = 38 pounds

If you weighed 100 lbs on Earth, you would weigh 38 pounds on Mercury Mercury = 100 X.38 = 38 pounds

If you weighed 100 lbs on Earth, you would weigh 38 pounds on Mercury Mercury = 100 X.38 = 38 pounds

Forget about the planets temperature and lack of atmosphere… –Would you want to go school for a day on Mercury?

Forget about the planets temperature and lack of atmosphere… –Would you want to go school for a day on Mercury? One Day on Mercury =

Forget about the planets temperature and lack of atmosphere… –Would you want to go school for a day on Mercury? One Day on Mercury = 58 days, 15 hours on Earth.

In 2012, Ice was discovered at the pole in places permanently shielded from the sun.

Mercury’s rotation is on a wobble. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Mercury’s rotation is on a wobble. –As it approaches noon, the sun goes back the way it came, then stops and goes again. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Mercury’s rotation is on a wobble. –As it approaches noon, the sun goes back the way it came, then stops and goes again. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Video Link! Surface of Mercury (Optional) –Nice video that shows how surface data is collected. –Can be music / video during research gathering in several slides.

Mercury –Close to the sun with no moons. –Little to no atmosphere (heavily cratered) –In the Sun the temperatures can reach 800 F or 420 C, –In the shade, the temperatures can drop to -279 F, -173 C –88 day year (travels very fast) –1407 hour day (Very Long Day) Mercury Information: Learn more:

Area of Focus: Venus Area of Focus: Venus Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Activity Sheet Available: Research Inner Planets.

Inner Planetary Topics Review Game Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

This Solar System Basics and the Sun lesson is just one small part of the Astronomy Topics Unit. This unit includes… A five part 2,800 Slide PowerPoint Presentation / unit roadmap full of activities, review questions, games, video links, materials list, and much more. A 13 bundled homework package, modified version, 7 pages of unit notes, 4 PowerPoint Review Games of 100+ slides each, videos, rubrics, and much more that all chronologically follow the unit slideshow. This is a fantastic unit for any Earth Science Class.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. Thanks again for your interest in this curriculum. Sincerely, Ryan Murphy M.Ed