1. Measuring Up! Science Lesson 25 Stars
Solar System Notes
Measuring Up!
Science Lesson 25
Stars

2. California Standards
8.4.c: Students know how to use astronomical units and light years as measures of distance between the Sun, stars, and Earth.
8.4.d: Students know that stars are the source of light for all bright objects in outer space and that the Moon and planets shine by reflected sunlight, not their own light.
8.4.e: Students know the appearance, general composition, relative position and size, and motion of objects in the solar system, including planets, planetary satellites, comets, and asteroids.

3. Language of the Discipline
The solar system is the Sun and the objects that orbit it, such as planets.
Satellites are the solid bodies that orbit a planet.
The inner planets are the four solid planets closest to the Sun.
The outer planets are the four gaseous planets after the inner planets.

4. Measuring Up! Guided Instruction
Read page 169 to 170 in the MU book.

5. Guided Questions About how many galaxies are in the universe.
There are about 130 billion galaxies.
What are satellites?
Satellites are solid bodies that orbit the planets.

6. Measuring Up! Guided Instruction
Read the chart on page 170 in the MU book.

7. Distance from Sun, million km
Object
Distance from Sun, million km
1 orbit around Sun
Diameter, km
Mass (Earth=1)
Density, g/cm3
Number of Moons
Sun
n/a
1,392,000
333,000
1.4
Mercury
57.9
88 days
4,880
0.0553
5.4
Venus
108.2
225 days
12,104
0.815
5.2
Earth
149.6
days
12,756
1.0
5.5 1
Mars
227.9
687 days
6,787
0.1074
3.9 2
Jupiter
778.3
11.86 years
142,800
1.3 60
Saturn
1,427
29.46 years
120,000
95.185
0.7 31
Uranus
2,869
84 years
51,800
1.2 21
Neptune
4,496
164.8 years
49,500
1.7 11
Earth’s moon
3,476
0.0123
3.3

8. Inner Planets
Outer Planets

9. Spatial Intelligence Color the planets in your notes.
Sketch and label the Asteroid Belt.
Label the Inner Planets and Outer Planets.

10. Measuring Up! Guided Instruction
Read page 171and 172 in the MU book.

11. Guided Questions Name the four inner planets.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
Name the four outer planets.
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
What is the surface of Pluto like?
Pluto is small, dark, cold, and rocky.
What is the mood made of?
The moon is made of mostly silicate rocks.

12. More Guided Questions
List the objects in the solar system that are visible from Earth. Include what enables them to be visible from Earth.
The Sun and stars give off light, so they are visible from Earth. The planets, moons, and comets are visible because they reflect light.
Compare the makeup of the inner planets to the outer planets.
The inner planets are mostly solid and are made of silicate rocks. The outer planets are large balls of gas, made mostly of hydrogen and helium, with small solid cores made of metal or rock.

13. Independent Practice:
Read page 173 in the MU book.
Complete the Apply questions in your packet.
Complete the Assessment Practice in your packet.