Download Solar System Teacher Notes

Solar System Teacher Notes
Earth:
The Earth rotates on its axis. One day takes 24 hours for one complete rotation. This is the reason the moon and the
sun appear to move across the sky.
The Earth is tilted on its axis at 23.5 degrees. This causes the 4 seasons. Each season is 3 months long.
Summer – the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun. The most daylight occurs in June.
Winter – the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun. The least daylight occurs in Dec.
Shadows are caused by objects blocking the sun’s rays from hitting the Earth.
In the morning, shadows are toward the west.
Around noon, shadows are closest to the object.
In the evening, shadows are toward the east.
The Earth is mostly made up of water and this is why Earth is different from other planets.
The Earth has an atmosphere that protects us from harmful sun’s rays, traps in heat, and allows us to breathe.
The Earth revolves around the sun. It takes 365 and ¼ for one complete revolution.
The equator receives the most direct sunlight. The north and south poles receive the least.
Moon:
The moon revolves around the Earth (not the sun). It takes about a month for the moon to complete one revolution.
During this orbit around the Earth, the shape of the moon appears to change. We call that the phases of the moon.
The moon is called a satellite. The half of the moon that faces the sun will reflect the sun’s light.
Sun:
The Sun is a medium-sized star. It is our closest star. It is the largest body in our Solar System.
The Sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
Stars:
Are very far away, that is why they look so small. Some stars are larger and closer to us than other stars, and this causes
some stars to look brighter.
A light year is the distance light travels in one year. Generally, the more light years a star is from us, the fainter the star
is.
Stars of different colors are different temperatures.
Planets:
The eight planets revolve around the sun. The farther a planet is from the sun, the longer it takes to revolve around it.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are in the order from the Sun.
Some planets have many satellites.
Gravity causes the orbits of planets around the Sun.
Planets have an orbit that is clear of any asteroids.
Pluto has asteroids in its orbit.
Comets: The tail of a comet is created by the pressure from the sun forcing the dust away from the sun.