The Solar System (and its parts) Aubrey Demming ITC 525 Summer 2011

Table of Contents What is the Solar System? What is the Solar System? What is the Solar System? What is the Solar System? Sun Sun Sun Mercury Mercury Mercury Venus Venus Venus Earth Earth Earth Mars Mars Mars Jupiter Jupiter Jupiter Saturn Saturn Saturn Uranus Uranus Uranus Neptune Neptune Neptune Pluto Pluto Pluto View a short solar system video!

What is the Solar System? Our solar system includes the sun and all the objects that orbit around the sun. Our solar system includes the sun and all the objects that orbit around the sun. The objects around the sun include planets, meteors, moons, asteroids, and comets. The objects around the sun include planets, meteors, moons, asteroids, and comets. Click to learn more! Click to learn more!

The Sun The Sun The sun is the center of our solar system and it is not a planet, it’s a STAR! Because it’s a star, that means it’s made of hot gases. The sun is the center of our solar system and it is not a planet, it’s a STAR! Because it’s a star, that means it’s made of hot gases. The surface of the sun is called the photosphere and it’s 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (your body is only 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The surface of the sun is called the photosphere and it’s 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (your body is only 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). We would need 109 Earths to fit inside the sun! We would need 109 Earths to fit inside the sun! Without the sun, we would not have heat or light on the Earth. Without the sun, we would not have heat or light on the Earth. Watch a song to learn about our sun!

Quiz Yourself! What is the sun made out of? A. Golf balls A. Golf ballsGolf ballsGolf balls B. Liquid B. LiquidLiquid C. Gas C. GasGas D. Ice D. IceIce

Correct Answer!! You are on your way to being a super solar system expert!

Oops! That answer is incorrect. If you’re not sure, you can go back to the page about the sun. the sun.the sun. Click here …

Mercury Mercury appears to be a small, brown, planet made up of rock. Mercury appears to be a small, brown, planet made up of rock. It looks a lot like the surface of our moon. It looks a lot like the surface of our moon. It has cliffs and craters because of meteors and comets hitting the surface. It has cliffs and craters because of meteors and comets hitting the surface. During the day, it can reach 800 degrees Fahrenheit and at night, it can drop to During the day, it can reach 800 degrees Fahrenheit and at night, it can drop to -280 degrees Fahrenheit! -280 degrees Fahrenheit! Find out more about the closest planet to the sun!

Quiz Yourself! Mercury looks closest to what other object in our solar system? A. The sun A. The sunThe sunThe sun B. A meteor B. A meteorA meteorA meteor C. Earth C. EarthEarth D. Our moon D. Our moonOur moonOur moon

Correct Answer!! You are on your way to being a super solar system expert!

Oops! That answer is incorrect. If you’re not sure, you can go back to the page about Mercury. Mercury Click here …

Venus Venus is often called “Evening Star” because it is so bright. Venus is often called “Evening Star” because it is so bright. It is a yellowish color and can be seen from Earth. It is a yellowish color and can be seen from Earth. It’s the only planet that spins backwards! It’s the only planet that spins backwards!spins backwards!spins backwards! Venus has clouds filled with sulfuric acid and more volcanoes than any other planet. Venus has clouds filled with sulfuric acid and more volcanoes than any other planet.

Earth Earth is the third planet from the sun. Earth is the third planet from the sun. It is 4.5 billion years old! It is 4.5 billion years old! The Earth has land and water on the surface. 71% of the surface is water! The Earth has land and water on the surface. 71% of the surface is water! We have one moon that orbits around the Earth. We have one moon that orbits around the Earth.moon Click to download Google Earth and explore the Earth in 3-D!

Quick Activity: Turn to a friend and tell him or her two reasons why you think people and animals can live on Earth. Turn to a friend and tell him or her two reasons why you think people and animals can live on Earth. Want some help? Click here to find out why Earth has life! Click here to find out why Earth has life!

Mars Mars is a windy, dusty planet that also has the nickname “Red Planet”. Mars is a windy, dusty planet that also has the nickname “Red Planet”. It’s very rocky and has many features on its surface like craters, canyons, and mountains. It’s very rocky and has many features on its surface like craters, canyons, and mountains. Scientists found evidence that there once was water on Mars, but it is not there anymore. Scientists found evidence that there once was water on Mars, but it is not there anymore.

Quiz Yourself! Why is Mars known as the “Red Planet”? A. It once had water on the surface. A. It once had water on the surface.It once had water on the surface.It once had water on the surface. B. Mars is red in color. B. Mars is red in color.Mars is red in color.Mars is red in color. C. It is a very rocky planet. C. It is a very rocky planet.It is a very rocky planet.It is a very rocky planet. D. The scientist who discovered Mars nicknamed it that. D. The scientist who discovered Mars nicknamed it that.The scientist who discovered Mars nicknamed it that.The scientist who discovered Mars nicknamed it that.

Correct Answer!! You are on your way to being a super solar system expert!

Oops! That answer is incorrect. If you’re not sure, you can go back to the page about Mars. Mars Click here …

Jupiter Jupiter is the largest of the planets. Jupiter is the largest of the planets. Jupiter It is made of gas and has many clouds, some water, and a set of rings around it. It is made of gas and has many clouds, some water, and a set of rings around it. The planet appears “striped” from clouds and gas. The planet appears “striped” from clouds and gas. Jupiter is most known for the Giant Red Spot on its surface. Jupiter is most known for the Giant Red Spot on its surface.

Activity Break! Click on the NASA solar system game! Click on the NASA solar system game!NASA It lets you explore the solar system by clicking on the planets. It lets you explore the solar system by clicking on the planets. Planets with a red ! on top of them are planets where NASA is on a mission. There you can pretend you’re on a mission by playing a game! Planets with a red ! on top of them are planets where NASA is on a mission. There you can pretend you’re on a mission by playing a game!

Saturn Saturn is most known for its rings – which are the largest in the solar system! They are made out of mostly ice. Saturn is most known for its rings – which are the largest in the solar system! They are made out of mostly ice. A lot of wind and high temperatures cause the yellow bands on the surface of the planet. A lot of wind and high temperatures cause the yellow bands on the surface of the planet. Saturn is made mostly of gas and it has 52 moons! Saturn is made mostly of gas and it has 52 moons!52 moons!52 moons!

Uranus Uranus is another planet made mostly of gas. Uranus is another planet made mostly of gas. Methane gas gives the planet its blue/green color. Methane gas gives the planet its blue/green color. The core of the planet is made of rock and ice. The core of the planet is made of rock and ice. Uranus rotates on its side, probably because of something that ran into the planet in the past. Uranus rotates on its side, probably because of something that ran into the planet in the past. It has ten dark rings around it. It has ten dark rings around it. Click to watch a video on Uranus.

Quiz Yourself! What gas gives Uranus its blue color? A. Oxygen A. OxygenOxygen B. Carbon Dioxide B. Carbon DioxideCarbon DioxideCarbon Dioxide C. Helium C. HeliumHelium D. Methane D. MethaneMethane

Correct Answer!! You are on your way to being a super solar system expert!

Oops! That answer is incorrect. If you’re not sure, you can go back to the page about Uranus. Uranus Click here …

Neptune Neptune, like Uranus, has methane gas that makes the planet look blue in color. Neptune, like Uranus, has methane gas that makes the planet look blue in color. It has water and ice on the surface. It has water and ice on the surface. 6 rings are found around the planet and Neptune has 13 moons. 6 rings are found around the planet and Neptune has 13 moons. The winds on Neptune are nine times stronger than winds on Earth! The winds on Neptune are nine times stronger than winds on Earth! Learn more!

Pluto – Is it a planet or not?? Pluto was demoted from a planet to a “dwarf planet” in A dwarf planet is an object that isn’t the largest thing in its orbit. That means there are 8 planets, not 9 now. Pluto was demoted from a planet to a “dwarf planet” in A dwarf planet is an object that isn’t the largest thing in its orbit. That means there are 8 planets, not 9 now. Pluto It’s surface is mainly frozen gases. It’s surface is mainly frozen gases. NASA is currently transporting a space craft to Pluto (for the first time). It should be there in NASA is currently transporting a space craft to Pluto (for the first time). It should be there in View NASA’s launching schedule!

Last Quiz! How many full sized planets are in our solar system? A. 8 A. 88 B. 9 B. 99 Show what you know

Correct Answer!! You are on your way to being a super solar system expert!

Oops! That answer is incorrect. If you’re not sure, you can go back to the page about Pluto. Pluto Click here …

Show What You Know!! Click for an interactive labeling activity. Make sure you put the planets in the correct order! Click for an interactive labeling activity. Make sure you put the planets in the correct order!labeling activitylabeling activity Click for a planet matching game. You need to match the planet to its characteristics! Click for a planet matching game. You need to match the planet to its characteristics!matching gamematching game

Apply What You’ve Learned On your own, visit this link and create your own planet. Think about what we’ve learned about planets so far. Follow the directions on the main page. You will share your planet with the class. On your own, visit this link and create your own planet. Think about what we’ve learned about planets so far. Follow the directions on the main page. You will share your planet with the class.create your own planetcreate your own planet

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