Solar System Video: 1 How it Formed

Solar System Question: How did the solar system form? More than 4.6 billion years ago, the solar system was a cloud of gas, ice, and dust. This cloud condensed into a hot dense spinning disk so dense that nuclear fusion reactions began to occur and the Sun was born. The rest of the material cooled enough to clump together creating the planets.

Solar System Question: What are the planets of the solar system?

Solar System Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune (Pluto)

Solar System Question: What keeps all the planets in their orbits? The Sun’s gravity Question how does the amount of mass in the Sun compare with all the other planets? The Sun contains 99.9% of all mass of the solar system.

Solar System Question: What is the Sun? (planet, star, comet) Star The Sun and solar system are a tiny part of the Milky Way galaxy, which is 100,000 light years across and contains over 10 billion stars. Video: The Sun

Milky Way The Sun is revolving around the center of the Galaxy at a speed of half a million miles per hour, yet it will still take 200 million years for it to go around once.

Inner Planets Question: What is the closest planet to the Sun? Mercury

Inner Planets Mercury Due to low gravitational pull and high daytime temperatures there is no atmosphere. Close to the Sun, therefore day temps reach 425 degrees C. and drop to -170 at night

Inner Planets What is the second planet from the Sun? Venus

Inner Planets Venus is similar to Earth in size and mass. Atmosphere is very dense heavy with carbon dioxide which creates an intense greenhouse effect. Due to the atmosphere temps reach 475 degrees C.

Inner Planets Question: What is the third planet from the Sun? Earth What makes life on Earth possible? Water Atmosphere Distance from the Sun Magnetic field

Inner Planets Question: What is the fourth planet from the Sun? Mars

Inner Planets Mars is called the red planet due to the presence of iron in the rock and soil. A space probe on Mars has found water. Mars is tilted 25 degrees like Earth at 23.5 degrees. Question: As Mars orbits the Sun what would the tilt cause to happen? Seasons

Inner Planets Question: How many moons does Mars have; Two; Phobos and Deimos. Video: Inner Planets 19

Solar System Question: What is the main difference between the inner planets and the outer planets? The inner planets are rocky, the outer planets are gas giants.

Outer Planets Jupiter Question: What is the fifth planet from the Sun? red spot on Jupiter? A storm which has lasted over 300 yrs.

Outer Planets Question: If Jupiter is so large how many Earth’s would fit into it? 1321

Outer Planets Jupiter is composed of mostly hydrogen and helium. Question: How many moons does Jupiter have? At least 50 moons. (17 provisional)

Outer Planets Question: What is the sixth planet from the Sun? Saturn

Outer Planets Ice and rock particles Question: What are the rings around Saturn composed of? Ice and rock particles

Outer Planets Question: How many moons does Saturn have? At least 53 moons (9 provisional)

Outer Planets Question: What is the seventh planet from the Sun? Uranus

Outer Planets Uranus is a large, gaseous planet, composed of hydrogen, helium and methane. Methane gives Uranus its blue-green color. Uranus has 27 moons.

Outer Planets Question: What is the eighth and last planet from the Sun? Neptune

Outer Planets Neptune's atmosphere is similar to Uranus, hence the blue-green color caused by methane. Neptune has at least 13 moons. ( 1 provisional) Video: Outer Planets 18

Other Objects in the Solar System Comet: Composed of dust, rock particles and ice that orbit the Sun.

Other Objects in the Solar System Oort Cloud: Billions of comets that surround the Solar System.

Other Objects in the Solar System Meteoroid: Pieces from a comet or other dust and rock that orbit. Meteor: A meteoroid that burns up in Earth’s atmosphere.

Other Objects in the Solar System Question: What is a meteorite? A meteoroid that strikes the Earth

Other Objects in the Solar System Asteroid: A piece of rock similar to the material that formed into planets. Asteroid Belt: An area between Mars and Jupiter where most asteroids are located.

Other Objects in the Solar System Asteroids range in size from tiny particles to objects 580 miles in diameter. Video: Asteroids, Comets, Pluto 19, Look to the Stars 19