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Our solar system resides in the Milky Way galaxy and is made up of the Sun, eight planets, and many moons, asteroids, meteoroids, and comets. Physical Properties: The sun is an inexhaustible source of heat and light energy. It is made of helium and hydrogen gas and plasma. It is extremely dense. Nuclear fusion reactions at the core of the sun convert hydrogen into helium releasing energy. The sun does rotate on an axis. Because it is made of gas and plasma, different parts of the sun spin at different rates! Location: at the center of our solar system (in the milky way galaxy) Physical features: 1. Sun spot – dark spots that are cooler areas 2. Solar flares – eruptions of gas 3. Prominences – loops of gas 4. Corona – outer layer of the sun’s atmosphere Physical properties: Meteoroids are small pieces of rock or iron travelling in space Location: They orbit the sun and may enter the Earth’s atmosphere due to gravity Movement: When meteoroids enter the Earth's atmosphere they are called meteors (because they are burning and glow). Most meteors burn up in the atmosphere, but if they survive the frictional heating and strike the surface of the Earth (or any planet) they are called meteorites. Meteoroids: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Meteoroid_ meteor_meteorite.gif Meteors Meteorites Physical Properties: Asteroids are chunks of rock or iron. Sizes range from 1km-940 km in diameter. Asteroids shine due to reflected sunlight. How big is 940km? Almost 585 miles across! Location: between Mars and Jupiter there is asteroid belt of rock, these are asteroids Movement: Most asteroids stay in this belt orbiting the Sun, but some may leave and go into outer space. Physical properties: made of ice, dust and gases. Comets have tails that glow. These tails point away from the sun as the comet travels around it. Location and movement: They travel around the Sun in long oval-shaped orbits Famous comets: Halley Hale-Bopp Follows a 76 year orbit (next will appear in 2061) Before we begin, you need to understand what these words are. Write the above title on a clean page in your journal, then write down these words and their definitions: Planets – have more circular orbits around the sun Satellite – 1. a body that orbits a planet 2. An object launched to orbit Earth or another celestial body Moon(s) – any planetary satellite Satellites: Man Made Natural We are the third planet in order, starting at the sun Earth is a special planet within our solar system in that it has the right conditions for life to exist. The combination of Earth’s distance from the Sun and its atmosphere allows for a stable temperature capable of supporting higher life forms, such as humans. There are eight large planets in our solar system, all of which revolve around the Sun in their orbits. Each planet also rotates, or spins, along its axis (like a top spinning). We are going to fill these out by going on a scavenger hunt! The information is posted around the room. Fill out your charts. When they are complete, fold and glue them in on your next clean pages in your journal Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are terrestrial planets; that is, they are mostly solid, and are known as the Inner Planets because they are closest to the Sun. Location in the solar system – 1st planet revolving around the Sun Diameter (in km) – 5,490 km Number of moons – no moons Topography (surface) – rocky, many craters and uneven surface Temperature – average temperature of 167oC Atmosphere – thick atmosphere of CO2 Fun Fact: Because Mercury goes round the Sun so quickly, the planet was called after the messenger of the Roman Gods. The messenger Mercury, or Hermes as the Greeks knew him, is usually shown as having wings on his helmet or on his sandals. Location in the solar system – 2nd planet revolving around the Sun Diameter (in km) – 12,100 km Number of moons – no moons Topography (surface) – rocky Temperature – average temperature of 464oC Atmosphere – thick atmosphere of CO2 Fun Fact: Venus rotates in a clockwise direction, while the other planets rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. Location in the solar system – 3rd planet revolving around the Sun Diameter (in km) – 12,800 km Number of moons – one moon Topography (surface) – rocky Temperature – average temperature of 15oC Atmosphere – atmosphere sustains life, primarily made of nitrogen and oxygen Fun Fact: Only planet in the solar system that supports life. Location in the solar system – 4th planet revolving around the Sun Diameter (in km) – 6,800 km Number of moons – one moon Topography (surface) – rocky, ancient volcanoes, ice caps Temperature – average temperature of -65oC Atmosphere – thin atmosphere of CO2 Fun Fact: Only planet in the solar system that might be able to support life. The Outer Planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and they are made up mostly of gases with liquid cores. Location in the solar system – 5th planet revolving around the Sun Diameter (in km) – 143,000 km Number of moons – Jupiter has at least 63 known moons. The largest four are called Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. These four moons are called the Galilean satellites because they were first seen in 1610 by the astronomer Galileo Galilei. Topography (surface) – gas (called a “gas giant”) Temperature – average temperature of -110oC Atmosphere – The atmosphere of Jupiter lacks a clear lower boundary and gradually transitions into the liquid interior of the planet. Fun Fact: If you travel to Jupiter you will be crushed by the pressure of the atmosphere! Location in the solar system – 6th planet revolving around the Sun Diameter (in km) – 121,000 km Number of moons – 53 named moons, 9 “provisional” moons Topography (surface) – gas (called a “gas giant”). Saturn has the largest rings (7 rings in total). Temperature – average temperature of -140oC Atmosphere –is made up mostly of hydrogen (H2) and helium (He). Fun Fact: Saturn is the last planet that can be seen without using a telescope or binoculars and the planet was known in the ancient world before telescopes were invented. Location in the solar system – 7th planet revolving around the Sun Diameter (in km) – 51,200 km Number of moons – 27 moons Topography (surface) – gas , with rings. Uranus is an ice giant. Most (80 percent or more) of the planet's mass is made up of a hot dense fluid of "icy" materials – water (H2O), methane (CH4). and ammonia (NH3) – above a small rocky core. Temperature – average temperature of -195oC Atmosphere – mostly made up of hydrogen (H2) and helium (He), with a small amount of methane (CH4). Fun Fact: Uranus rotates on its side, which means it spins horizontally. Location in the solar system 8th planet revolving around the Sun Diameter (in km) – 49,500 km Number of moons – Neptune has 13 confirmed moons (and 1 more awaiting official confirmation of discovery). Topography (surface) –mostly made of a combination of water (H2O), ammonia (NH3), and methane (CH4) over a possible solid core. Neptune has 6 rings and is known as a gaseous ice giant. Temperature – average temperature of -200oC Atmosphere - made up mostly of hydrogen (H2), helium (He) and methane (CH4). Fun Fact: Neptune's moons are named after various sea gods and nymphs in Greek mythology.