Download The Solar System

Earth and the Universe
-The Meaning of Life
Learning Points
1. To be able to list the 8 planets and
2 dwarf planets of our Solar system.
2. To be able to name and describe
the star of our solar system.
3. To be able to describe the planets
of our solar system.
Learning Points
4. Know about the size of the Earth
when compared to the rest of the
Universe.
Our Solar System
The Sun
-Centre of the Solar System
The Solar
System sun is a
star.
The sun, and
other stars, are
light sources.
martianchronicles.wordpress.com
The Solar System
The Solar System is made up of many objects, including; the
sun, EIGHT planets, meteors and THREE dwarf planets.
The Sun is at the centre and the planets orbit at various
distances:
Restart
www.ducksters.com/science/solarsystem.php
Next
Remember the Planets
Here is a quick way of remembering the names
and order of the planets.
My Very
e
r
c
u
r
y
Restart
e
n
u
s
Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming
a
r
t
h
a
r
s
u
p
i
t
e
r
a
t
u
r
n
r
a
n
u
s
e
p
t
u
n
e
Next
Mercury
• Mercury is the planet
nearest to the Sun.
• It is the second smallest of
the planets.
• Mercury is dry, hot and
virtually airless.
• There is no life on Mercury.
• Mercury has no moons.
• One day on Mercury lasts
176 earth days.
• It takes 88 days to orbit the
Sun.
Venus
• Venus is the second planet
from the Sun.
• Venus is covered with pale
clouds which makes it
difficult to see the surface
of the planet.
• No life can exist on Venus.
• Venus has no moons.
• One day on Venus lasts
117.4 earth days.
• It takes 225 days to orbit
the Sun.
www.tivas.org.uk/solsys/tas_solsys_venus.html
Earth
• The Earth is the third
planet from the Sun.
• The atmosphere on Earth
protects it from the rays of
the Sun.
• It has one moon.
• About three-quarters of
the Earth’s surface is
covered in water.
• One day on Earth lasts 24
hours.
• It takes 365and 1/4 days to
orbit the Sun.
rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect16/Sect16_1.html
Mars
• Mars is the fourth planet
from the Sun.
• Mars has very little air.
• It has no surface water.
• It is bitterly cold on Mars.
• Rocks on Mars contain iron
which makes the planet
look red.
• Mars has 2 moons.
• One day on Mars lasts
about 24.5 Earth hours.
• It takes 687 days to orbit
the Sun.
astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/seminars/detail/34
Jupiter
• Jupiter is the fifth planet
from the Sun.
• It is the largest planet in
the Solar System.
• It has 16 moons, two of
which are huge.
• Its largest moon is called
Ganymede.
• Jupiter has a small ring
system.
• One day on Jupiter lasts
nearly 10 Earth hours.
• It takes 11.9 years to orbit
the Sun.
b4tea.com/information/jupiter-facts-and-infor
Saturn
• Saturn is the sixth planet
from the Sun.
• It is surrounded by over
1000 rings made of ice and
dust.
• It has at least 18 moons.
• One day on Saturn lasts
about 10.8 earth days.
• It takes 29.5 years to
orbit the Sun.
www.physics.purdue.edu/.../Cassini/Cassini.html
Uranus
• Uranus is the seventh
planet from the Sun.
• Methane gas in its
atmosphere gives Uranus a
blue-green colour.
• It has 15 known moons.
• It has 11 known rings.
• One day on Uranus lasts
about 17 Earth hours.
• It takes 84 years to orbit
the Sun.
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap010826.html
Neptune
• Neptune is the eighth , but
sometimes it is the ninth
planet from the Sun.
• Neptune has eight moons.
• Its largest moon is called
Triton.
• It has two thick and two
thin rings around it.
• One day on Neptune lasts
about 18 Earth hours.
• It takes 165 years to orbit
the Sun.
www.worldalmanacforkids.com/WAKIViewArticle
What about Pluto?
• Pluto was thought to be the
ninth planet from the Sun,
but sometimes it is the
eighth.
• It has now been
reclassified as a “Dwarf
Planet”.
www.backtowild.com/2007/09/
28/facts-about-pluto
What about Pluto?
Click on picture to see a video
http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_cla
ssroom/ask_astronomer/video/2002002.shtml
The Solar System
Quick Quiz!
1) How many planets are in the Solar System?
2) Name the planets in the order they occur from the
sun?
3) The sun holds the planets in orbit by the force of?
Ask your teacher for help if you get stuck!
Restart
Next
COMPARE THE PLANETS.COM
1. Use the following site to compare the
planets in the Solar System.
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/index.cfm
2. Look at the videos on this internet site.
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/themes/space/
THE END