Download The Planets

Programmes in a Box
w/c 17/11/2008
17/11/2008:
/2008: Night Sky
Ask Cubs to bring in a toilet roll with them this week. You may need to bring some spares in case anyone forgets!
Time Activity
5
Welcome & Opening Ceremony
Start the evening and explain to them what they will be doing that
evening.
15
Game: Lunar Landings (POL 16586)
- Divide the Cubs into even teams and line them up in their teams
at one end of the playing area
Notes
Equipment: Assorted scrap
paper, Blindfolds (can use scarf)
- One member of each team stands at the other end of the playing
area with a piece of paper placed between them, try and get
different coloured pieces of paper and try to move them around
- The Cub standing on their own is a lone spaceman who needs to
guide the rest of the team to a safe touchdown on the planet
(paper)
- The first member of each team is blindfolded and is guided to the
planet by the lone spaceman by shouting instructions
- Each member of the team takes their turns to be guided to the
planet
15
Six Activity: Constellations (POL 28101)
Resources: Constellations
- Use the attached resource to help recognise three constellations
Badge Requirements:
Astronomer – Identify three
constellations
- Take the Cubs outside and get them to try and spot the
constellations if it is a clear night
15
Six Activity: Stars in Their Eyes
- Explain to the Cubs that they won’t be able to see all of the
constellations all of the time, so they are going to make Star
Scopes, which means they’ll be able to see the shape of the
constellations, which they can look out for each night before bed.
- Using the template provided, Cubs can make their Star Scope by
cutting out one of the templates (works best printed on slightly
thicker card) and piercing holes in the card where the dots show.
- Apply glue to the dotted tabs and fix to the toilet roll, get them to
note which way up it should be held and write the name of the
constellation along the tube so that when this is held towards the
ceiling, the constellation appears the right way up.
Equipment: Drawing pins,
paper, toilet rolls, scissors,
sellotape
Resources: Stars in Their Eyes,
Star Scope Template
Notes: Don’t forget to name
each one so they can take it
home at the end of the night.
Badge Requirements:
Astronomer – Identify three
constellations
- The constellations can be seen most clearly when the star scope
is pointed towards a source of light.
15
Six Activity: Discovering the Planets (POL 386) 1 of 2
- Give each Cub a copy of the Match the Planets resource
- Give each Six a copy of the Planet Information resource
- Working in small groups, they should try and identify the different
planets from the descriptions
- Explain the difference between a planet and a star
Equipment: Assorted scrap
paper, Coloured paper, Glue,
Paint, Pens, Scissors, Card.
Long strip of card (A3) for each
Six.
Badge Requirements:
Astronomer – Explain the
difference between a planet and
a star
Astronomer – Find out and
present some information on two
of the following:…
Who
Programmes in a Box
15
Six Activity: Discovering the Planets (POL 386) 2 of 2
Get Cubs to draw and colour in cut outs of the planets
- On the strip of card, start with the Sun at the left hand end using
either yellow paint or paper, then add each planet in order using
their general characteristics - a small red circle for Mars and a
huge blue one for Neptune.
- Silver foil moons and stars can be added.
- Teach Cubs one of the phrases to remember which order the
planets are ordered:
My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming Planets!
5
Moon Diaries
- Explain to the Cubs that you would like them to observe the
moon every night for the next two weeks.
- They should write about the shape and how it changes, or draw it
in a moon diary.
5
Closing Ceremony
Wrap up the evening, give out any notices for next week etc.
Equipment: Pens or pencils,
silver foil, scissors
Resources: Match the Planets,
Planet Information
Notes: Before the meeting
prepare long strips of black card
for each group which is used to
show the planets
Badge Requirements:
Astronomer – Make a model or
draw a simple diagram of the
solar system
Notices: Give out any notices for
the coming weeks.
CSL
http://www.britishcouncil.org/kidsenglish
The Nine Planets
LearnEnglish Kids
Match the planets to their descriptions!!
For help see http://kidsf9.net.uk/flash/index.html
And http://kids.nineplanets.org/index.html
Mercury
Venus
Earth
This is the fourth planet from
the Sun. It is cold and lifeless
with permanent ice caps. It is
often called the ‘Red planet’.
The first spacecraft (Mariner
4) landed on it in 1965.
This is the only planet
supporting life and has the
most varied surface. It is 4.6
billion years old. It is the
densest body in the Solar
System. It has one Moon.
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
This is the largest planet. It is
more than twice as massive
as all the other planets
combined! It is a giant gas
planet and the fifth planet
from the Sun. It has a special
feature called ‘the Great red
Spot’.
This is a small, rocky planet
with layers of yellow clouds
made of sulphuric acid. It is
very hot (about 400°C) and
extremely windy. It is the
second planet from the Sun.
Neptune
This is the second largest
planet. It has beautiful rings
made of ice which can be
seen from Earth. Its name is
the root of the English word
‘Saturday’.
This is the only planet not
visited by a spacecraft. It is
the smallest and most
mysterious planet which is
the farthest away from the
Sun. It has one moon called
‘Charon’.
This is a small rocky planet
which is the closest to the
Sun. It has an extreme
temperature range. Some
scientists think volcanoes are
active on this planet.
This planet was visited by the
spacecraft Voyager 2 in
1986. It is a blue-green
colour and has a faint ring
system. It spins differently to
other planets.
This is the eighth planet from
the Sun and is a giant gas
planet with eight moons –
seven small ones and one
large one called ‘Triton’.
Pluto
© The British Council/Sue Clarke Spring Gardens 2005
The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
Planets - Zoom Astronomy
Page 1 of 4
The Planets
Zoom Astronomy
The Planets (plus the Dwarf Planet Pluto)
Our solar system consists of the sun, eight planets, moons, dwarf planets, an
asteroid belt, comets, meteors, and others. The sun is the center of our solar
system; the planets, their moons, the asteroids, comets, and other rocks and gas
all orbit the sun.
The nine planets that orbit the sun are (in order from the sun): Mercury,
Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto (a dwarf
planet). A belt of asteroids (minor planets made of rock and metal) lies between Mars and Jupiter. These
objects all orbit the sun in roughly circular orbits that lie in the same plane, the ecliptic (Pluto is an
exception; it has an elliptical orbit tilted over 17° from the ecliptic).
Easy ways to remember the order of the planets (and Pluto) are the mnemonics: "My Very Excellent
Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas" and "My Very Easy Method Just Simplifies Us Naming Planets" The
first letter of each of these words represents a planet - in the correct order.
The largest planet is Jupiter. It is followed by Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Earth, Venus, Mars, Mercury,
and finally, tiny Pluto (a dwarf planet). Jupiter is so big that all the other planets could fit inside it.
The Inner Planets vs. the Outer Planets
The inner planets (those planets that orbit close to the sun) are quite different from the outer planets
(those planets that orbit far from the sun).
The inner planets are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They are relatively small, composed
mostly of rock, and have few or no moons.
The outer planets include: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto (a dwarf planet). They are
mostly huge, mostly gaseous, ringed, and have many moons (again, the exception is Pluto, the
dwarf planet, which is small, rocky, and has one large moon plus two tiny ones).
Temperatures on the Planets
Generally, the farther from the Sun, the cooler the
planet. Differences occur when the greenhouse
effect warms a planet (like Venus) surrounded by a
thick atmosphere.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/
13/08/2008
Planets - Zoom Astronomy
Page 2 of 4
Density of the Planets
The outer, gaseous planets are much less dense than the inner,
rocky planets.
The Earth is the densest planet. Saturn is the least dense planet; it
would float on water.
The Mass of the Planets
Jupiter is by far the most massive planet; Saturn trails it. Uranus,
Neptune, Earth, Venus, Mars, and Pluto are orders of magnitude
less massive.
Gravitational Forces on the Planets
The planet with the strongest gravitational attraction at its surface
is Jupiter. Although Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are also very
massive planets, their gravitational forces are about the same as
Earth. This is because the gravitational force a planet exerts upon
an object at the planet's surface is proportional to its mass and to
the inverse of the planet's radius squared.
A Day on Each of the Planets
A day is the length of time that it takes a planet to rotate on its axis
(360°). A day on Earth takes almost 24 hours.
The planet with the longest day is Venus; a day on Venus takes
243 Earth days. (A day on Venus is longer than its year; a year on
Venus takes only 224.7 Earth days).
The planet with the shortest day is Jupiter; a day on Jupiter only
takes 9.8 Earth hours! When you observe Jupiter from Earth, you
can see some of its features change.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/
13/08/2008
Planets - Zoom Astronomy
Page 3 of 4
The Average Orbital Speed of the Planets
As the planets orbit the Sun, they travel at different speeds. Each
planet speeds up when it is nearer the Sun and travels more slowly
when it is far from the Sun (this is Kepler's Second Law of
Planetary Motion).
The Planets in Our Solar System
Distance from
the Sun
Planet
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
(Astronomical
Units
miles
km)
0.39 AU, 36
million miles
57.9 million
km
0.723 AU
67.2 million
miles
108.2 million
km
1 AU
93 million
miles
149.6 million
km
1.524 AU
141.6 million
miles
227.9 million
km
5.203 AU
483.6 million
miles
778.3 million
km
9.539 AU
886.7 million
miles
1,427.0
million km
19.18 AU
1,784.0
million miles
2,871.0
million km
30.06 AU
2,794.4
million miles
4,497.1
million km
Period of
Revolution
Around the
Sun
(1 planetary year)
Period of
Diameter Apparent Temperature Number of
(K
Rotation Mass
size
(miles
Range or
Moons
(1 planetary (kg)
km)
from Earth
Average)
day)
87.96 Earth
days
3,031
58.7 Earth 3.3 x
miles
23
days
10
4,878 km
224.68 Earth
days
243 Earth 4.87 x
days
1024
365.26 days
5.98 x
24 hours
1024
5-13 arc
seconds
100-700 K
mean=452 K
0
7,521
miles
12,104
km
10-64 arc
seconds
726 K
0
7,926
miles
12,756
km
Not
Applicable
260-310 K
1
686.98 Earth
days
24.6 Earth
4,222
hours 6.42 x
miles
23
=1.026
10
6,787 km
Earth days
4-25 arc
seconds
150-310 K
2
11.862 Earth
years
88,729
9.84 Earth 1.90 x miles
hours
1027 142,796
km
31-48 arc
seconds
120 K
(cloud tops)
18 named
(plus many
smaller ones)
29.456 Earth
years
74,600
10.2 Earth 5.69 x miles
hours
1026 120,660
km
15-21 arc
seconds
excluding
rings
88 K
18+
84.07 Earth
years
17.9 Earth 8.68 x
hours
1025
32,600
miles
51,118
km
3-4 arc
seconds
59 K
15
164.81 Earth
years
19.1 Earth 1.02 x
hours
1026
30,200
miles
48,600
km
2.5 arc
seconds
48 K
2
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/
13/08/2008
Planets - Zoom Astronomy
Pluto (a
dwarf
planet)
Planet
39.53 AU
3,674.5
million miles
5,913 million
km
Distance from
the Sun
(Astronomical
Units
miles
km)
Page 4 of 4
247.7 years
1,413
6.39 Earth 1.29 x
miles
22
days
10
2,274 km
Period of
Revolution
Around the
Sun
Period of
Diameter Apparent Temperature
Number of
(K
Rotation Mass
size
(miles
Range or
Moons
(1 planetary (kg)
km)
from Earth
Average)
day)
(1 planetary year)
0.04 arc
seconds
37 K
1 large (plus
2 tiny)
Another Planet?
In 2005, a large object beyond Pluto was observed in the Kuiper belt.
A few astronomers think that there might be another planet or companion star orbiting the Sun far
beyond the orbit of Pluto. This distant planet/companion star may or may not exist. The hypothesized
origin of this hypothetical object is that a celestial object, perhaps a hard-to-detect cool, brown dwarf star
(called Nemesis), was captured by the Sun's gravitational field. This planet is hypothesized to exist
because of the unexplained clumping of some long-period comet's orbits. The orbits of these far-reaching
comets seem to be affected by the gravitational pull of a distant, Sun-orbiting object.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/
13/08/2008
Part A – The Physical World
Recognise three different constellations
A constellation is a group of stars. The Pocket Oxford Dictionary describes a constellation as
“fixed stars forming to the eye a separate group usually with respect to the outline enclosing them”.
Stella is the Latin word for star.
Many of the names we know stars by are figures from Greek mythology. The Greeks were great
sailors and the stars were very important to help them navigate.
There are many different constellations visible in the sky on a clear dark night. When you are
looking at stars, try to find somewhere away from street lighting. You will find it easier to see the
constellations and will see more stars if it is really dark.
These are Northern Hemisphere constellations:
Orion (the hunter)
Orion is easy to spot because (to the naked eye) he has three bright stars close together forming
his belt. Having spotted that you can then look out for the ones that mark the corners of his head
and feet and his arms. If you use binoculars or a telescope you will see more stars and more
details.
Casseopeia
Casseopeia was a Greek queen and this constellation is supposed to look like her sitting on her
throne. This one is quite easy to spot because the stars form a large W.
Ursa Major (The Great Bear)
This is the one of the oldest and best known constellations and includes seven stars which make
up the Plough or the Big Dipper. The long arm of the Plough points to the North Star and that
shows the northern direction so you can work out which direction you are headed.
The BBC has a really good website about space, which includes charts showing the constellations
and a constellation guide.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/myspace/constellationguide
s
REF: POL – 28101 - 210208
Resource produced using Programmes Online
www.scouts.org.uk/pol
© The Scout Association 2008
45"34*/5)&*3&:&4
$0/45&--"5*0/P
Scorpius
Ursa Minor (The Little Bear)
Leo
Gemini
Ursa Major (The Great Bear)
Orion
Ursa Minor (The Little Bear)
Leo
Orion
Ursa Major (The Great Bear)
Gemini