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THE SOLAR SYSTEM Unit Overview
The solar system includes an average-sized star (the Sun), its
planets, their moons, asteroids, and comets that orbit that
star.
THE SUN
The Sun is an average-sized yellow star that is the center of
the solar system. It contains more than 98 percent of all the
matter in the solar system.
 Matter is anything that has mass and takes
The powerful nuclear
up space.
reactions at the core of the
 Mass is the amount of matter in an object.
Sun provide the light and
 Volume is the amount of space an object
heat of the solar system.
takes up.
The gravitational pull of the
Sun keeps the planets,
asteroids, and comets in regular orbits circling the Sun. The
Sun is about five billion years old and will gradually begin to
run out of fuel in another five billion years, eventually
becoming a white dwarf.
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THE INNER PLANETS
There are four inner planets largely made up of rocks and metals with
a crust, mantle, and core. They have atmospheres but contain very
little hydrogen and helium.
The inner planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
Mercury is closest to the Sun and Mars is the most distant of these
rocky planets. Earth is the only place in the solar system or the
universe known to have life. This is because Earth has liquid water,
oxygen and a protective atmosphere.
MERCURY
Diameter:
3,029 miles
Average Distance from
36,000,000 miles
the Sun:
Length of Year:
88 days
Length of Day:
59 Earth days (1,416 hrs)
Highest Temperature:
+810⁰F
Color:
Orange
Number of Moons:
0
Interesting  Mercury has the fastest orbiting speed
around the Sun.
Facts:

Scientists think Mercury shrank after it was
formed.
VENUS
Diameter:
7,521 miles
Average Distance from
67,200,000 miles
the Sun:
Length of Year:
225 days
Length of Day:
243 Earth days (5,832 hrs)
Highest Temperature:
+867⁰F
Color:
Yellow
Number of Moons:
0
Interesting  Has the hottest temperature of any planet.
 Space probes melted there.
Facts:
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EARTH
Diameter:
Average Distance from
the Sun:
Length of Year:
Length of Day:
Highest Temperature:
Color:
7,926 miles
93,000,000 miles
365 days
1 day (24 hrs)
+133⁰F
Blue (water), brown and
green (land)
Number of Moons:
1
Interesting  Earth is the only known planet to
Fact:
support life due to liquid water, oxygen
and a protective atmosphere
 Earth is the only planet not named
after a god
http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect16/full20earth2.jpg
MARS
Diameter:
4,221 miles
Average Distance from
141,500,000 miles
the Sun:
Length of Year:
687 days
Length of Day:
24.5 hours
Highest Temperature:
+77⁰F
Color:
Red
Number of Moons:
2
Interesting
 Mars is called the red planet
Fact:
THE OUTER PLANETS
Density- amount of matter (solid,
liquid, or gas) in a given space.
The outer planets do not have rocky
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or solid surfaces. These planets are gigantic balls of swirling gases
and liquid cores held together by the gravitational force of each
planet.
The outer planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and would easily hold
all the other planets. It is also the fastest rotating, or spinning, planet.
Saturn is the lightest, least dense of all the planets and would actually
float on a liquid ocean. Uranus has a very tilted axis and spins on its
side. It has the longest seasons. Neptune has the fastest winds.
JUPITER
Diameter:
88,846 miles
Average Distance from
483,300,000 miles
the Sun:
Length of Year:
11.9 years
Length of Day:
10 hours
Highest Temperature:
- 238 ⁰F
Color:
Yellow, red, brown, white
Number of Known
63
Moons:
Interesting
Jupiter is so large it could hold 1,300
Fact:
Earths
SATURN
Diameter:
74,898 miles
Average Distance from
886,700,000 miles
the Sun:
Length of Year:
29.5 years
Length of Day:
10.6 hours
Highest Temperature:
-292⁰F
Color:
Yellow
Number of Known
At least 47
Moons:
Interesting
Saturn is light enough to float on
Fact:
water.
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URANUS
Diameter:
31,763 miles
Average Distance from
1,782,000,000 miles
the Sun:
Length of Year:
84 years
Length of Day:
17 hours
Highest Temperature:
-353⁰F
Color:
Green
Number of Known
At least 27
Moons:
Interesting Fact: Uranus rotates, or spins, on its side.
NEPTUNE
Diameter:
30,775 miles
Average Distance from
2,774, 000,000 miles
the Sun:
Length of Year:
164.9 years
Length of Day:
16 hours
Highest Temperature:
-364⁰F
Color:
Blue
Number of Known
At least 13
Moons:
Interesting
Neptune has the fastest winds in the
Fact:
solar system
In order of relative position from the sun:
Mercury  Venus Earth Mars Jupiter  Saturn  Uranus
Neptune
In order from smallest to largest:
Mercury Mars Venus Earth Neptune Uranus
Saturn Jupiter
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PLUTO: THE DWARF PLANET
Pluto was discovered in 1930 by the American astronomer Clyde
Tombaugh. There has long been a discussion as to whether Pluto
qualified as a planet because of its unusual behavior and size. It is
less than half the diameter of Mercury, the next smallest planet. It is
made of ice and rock and is extremely cold. Pluto has a very
eccentric, or odd, orbit that brings it inside the orbit of Neptune for
20 years of its 248-year orbit around the Sun.
Pluto may be an escaped moon from another planet that had a
collision and was forced into a new orbit. Pluto and its moon may be
a double-planet system, or it may be a large asteroid from the Kuiper
Belt, a huge number of asteroids beyond the orbit of Neptune. In
August 2006, the International Astronomical Union declared that
Pluto was not a planet. They labeled it a “dwarf planet”. This shows
that our understanding changes as new discoveries are made.
PLUTO (DWARF PLANET)
Diameter:
1,423 miles
Average Distance from
3,672,000,000 miles
the Sun:
Length of Year:
248.6 years
Length of Day:
6.4 days
Highest Temperature:
-382⁰F
Color:
Yellow
Number of Moons:
1
Interesting
Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf
Fact:
planet after a vote by astronomers
on August 24, 2006. Our
understanding changes with new
discoveries.
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Comparisons of Our Average-Sized Star (Sun) and its Planets, and a Dwarf
Planet (Pluto):
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Can you see why our star, the Sun, is called an averagesized star?
Sources:
This passage was reformatted almost verbatim from Standards-Based
Science Investigations, Grade 6, for readability, accessibility and educational
purposes only.
Images not directly cited in the passage or below were obtained from
Microsoft Word 2007 clipart.
Reading: Seeing is Believing: “Space Probes to the Planets”
http://www1.free-clipart.net/gallery2/clipart/Zodiac/Galaxy.jpg
Standards-Based Science Investigations, Grade 6 TCR 8966
http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/breakingorbit/breakingorbitima
ges/orion-constellation.jpg
http://www.kiroastro.com/writings/perspective
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NOTES Page:
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Concept Map for Earth-Sun-Moon Unit
Aristotle
(384- 322 B.C.)
Greek philosopher
Earth-Centered
systematic
observations of the
physical world
Ptolemy
(100- 170 A.D.)
Egypt
Earth-Centered
model was widely
accepted for about
1,400 years
Copernicus
(1473- 1543 A.D.)
Polish astronomer
Sun-Centered
model
Galileo
(1564- 1642 A.D.)
Italian
 Sun-Centered
model
improved
telescope
Scientists
study
patterns in
order to
understand
relationships
Moon
Earth
Sun
1/4 size of Earth
Rotates (spins) on axis takes 24  Is a star that provides heat and
Virtually no atmosphere
hours & is on 23.5 degrees tilt
light
Extreme Temperatures
causing day and night
 Approximately 4.6 Billion
Small, rocky satellite
(Ro-ta-tion  D-A-Y)
years old
Sun’s light creates a repeating  Revolves around the sun
 Composed of very hot gases:
pattern known as the phases of
which causes seasons and takes
mostly hydrogen and helium,
the moon
365 days
with small amounts of other
A complete cycle takes 29 ½
(Re-vo-lu-tion  Y-E-A-R)
gases
days
New Moon
Waxing Crescent
First Quarters
Waxing Gibbous
(Never mind)
(What Can)
(Five Quarters)
(With Gold)
Waning Crescent
(White Chocolate)
Last Quarter
(Little Quarters)
Waxing- Light INCREASES
Waning Gibbous
(Wait! Give)
Full Moon
(Faces Mean)
Waning- Light DECREASES
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What tools or processes do scientists use when they are
conducting experiments with earth and space?
Scientists who study the origin, history and composition
of the celestial bodies: planets, sun, moon and Earth,
asteroids, comets and meteorites include astronomers,
astronauts and planetary geologists. Astronomers and
other scientists must design experiments to study the
solar system and/or determine a cause and effect
relationship. This process is known as scientific
investigation or inquiry. Scientific investigation is how
and why we know about our world today and is a very
valuable tool.
In order to study our solar system or determine a cause
and effect relationship, an astronomer must formulate a
testable question. A testable question is one that can be
measured and proven. A testable question should include
facts and not opinions. Once an astronomer has a
testable question, s/he must construct a hypothesis (an
educated guess).
A good hypothesis must have the language:
“If I________________, then _________________”.
An astronomer then conducts research, plans an
experiment, conducts an experiment(in which s/he tests
only ONE VARIABLE at A TIME) on her/his testable
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question, collects and records data, comes to a conclusion
and repeats the experiment.
Career
Job Description
Facts
Astronomer A scientist who studies
planets, stars and
galaxies
Astronaut
A scientist trained by a
spaceflight program to
command, pilot or serve
as a crewmember of a
spacecraft
Planetary
A scientist concerned
Harrison “Jack” Schmitt
Geologist
with the geology, origin, collected lunar samples
history, composition
during the Apollo 17
processes and structure
mission
of the celestial bodies:
planets, sun, earth,
moon, asteroids, comets,
meteorites
The NASA Apollo Missions were designed to land astronauts on
the moon and to bring them safely back to the Earth. The missions
have returned many objects and artifacts to help us learn about the
composition of the moon. Therefore the Apollo missions add
greatly to our understanding of the moon.
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Who are the scientists that contributed to our
understanding of the solar system?
Aristotle (384- 322 BC)
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/retrograde/aristotle.html
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher. He aimed to develop a universal means
of reasoning. With this universal method, Aristotle thought it would be
possible to learn everything there is to know about reality. Aristotle
believed that the Earth went through processes that were so gradual or
slow that they were not observed. He believed that the Earth did not
move. He estimated the distance of the moon and the sun. Aristotle
believed that the world never had a beginning, nor did it having an endingleaning to the belief of “eternity” or forever. He believed that Earth was at
the center of the solar system.
Source: http://www.philosophypages.com/ph/aris.htm
Source: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/aristotle.html
Ptolemy (~90- 168 AD or 100- 170 AD)
Ptolemy was a Greek astronomer who, like Aristotle, believed
that the Earth was at the center of the solar system. He
contributed greatly to what we know about the solar system by
creating models of the motion of the sun, moon and planets.
Ptolemy developed valuable tools known as tables or maps.
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Copernicus (1473- 1543)
The Copernican Model
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/retrograde/copernican.html
Copernicus denounced the Aristotle and Ptolemy’s belief that the Earth
was the center of the solar system. Copernicus believed that the Sun is
the center of the solar system. He found that Earth rotates once in 24
hours, causing day and night.
Galileo (1564- 1642)
Galileo was an Italian scholar who made great contributions to
what we know about the solar system. Using a telescope, Galileo
showed that the moon’s surface was not smooth; rather it is
covered by mountains and craters. He also showed that the
planets were disks, not points of lights. Using his telescope, he
thought he saw what appeared to be “ears” on Saturn. We now
know that what he was seeing were really “rings”. Galileo
showed that the great “cloud” called the Milky Way was
composed of enormous stars that had not been seen before.
Galileo improved the telescope.
Source: http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/galileo.html ; http://www.phy6.org/stargaze/Ssolsys.htm
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NASA Apollo Missions
View of the Earth as seen from the Moon
Source: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/ap11ann/kippsphotos/6550.jpg
On July 20, 1969, mankind accomplished its greatest feat by
setting foot onto another celestial body, the moon.
Neal Armstrong stepped off of his lunar module and stepped
onto the surface of the moon. From his location, he could see the
Earth in the heavens. He and another astronaut brought back
with them 46 pounds of rock from the surface of the moon. The
NASA Apollo missions add greatly to our understanding of the
moon.
Source: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/ap11ann/introduction.htm
The moon has virtually no atmosphere, but some believe there
may be water in the form of ice in some of the deep craters near
the Moon’s south pole.
Source: http://www.nineplanets.org/luna.html
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/factsheets/Apollo.html
Our understanding of the sun, moon and the solar system
continues to change with new scientific discoveries.
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What are the major characteristics of the Earth, Sun
and Moon?
Celestial
Body
Earth
Size
Color
Overall Composition
12,756
kilometers
(7,927
miles) in
diameter
Blue
(water),
Brown and
green (land)
-rocks
-dirt, soil
-plant life
-water (solid-ice, snow,
liquid- rain, rivers, oceans,
lakes; gas- water vapor)
-protective atmosphere to
block out the sun’s harmful
rays
-numerous gases: including
oxygen and carbon dioxide
- life: including plants and
animals
Sun
110 times
the size of
the Earth
Yellow,
orange
-gases: mostly hydrogen and
helium, small amounts of
other gases
Moon
¼ diameter grayish
of the Earth
-rocks
-virtually no atmosphere
-some scientists think there
is possibly icy (but no liquid
water)
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What is rotation and revolution?
Definition
Rotation
Revolution
The motion of turning or To orbit or move around
spinning on an axis (an
a central point.
imaginary line).
Motion
Spins or Turns
Moving Around
Duration
24 hours
365 days or 1 year
Importance
Earth spins or turns on
Due to earth’s axial tilt,
an axis which causes day Earth experiences
and night. If rotation
seasons
were faster, days would
be shorter. If rotation
were slower, days would
be longer.
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What are the eight moon phases fourth/fifth graders
should kn0w (complete cycle is 29 ½ days meaning there
are actually 29 ½ phases)?
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Moon Phases Study Guide and “Pegs”
New Moon- “Never mind”
When the moon is directly between the sun and the Earth, the side of
the moon facing the Earth is in darkness; hence, it is not visible in the
sky. The intensity of the sun is so great that the moon is lost in the
sun’s glare. This phase is called the “new moon”
Waxing Crescent- “What Can”
As the moon continues to move in its orbit around the Earth, a sliver
of the illuminated side of the moon becomes visible. This phase is
called the “Waxing Crescent” (To wax is to increase)
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First Quarter- “Five Quarters”
When the moon has completed one quarter of its orbit around the
Earth, it makes a right angle with the Earth and the sun. One half of
the moon is still illuminated by the sun, and the other half is still in
darkness. However, from the Earth, the moon now appears to be a
half circle. This phase is called the “First Quarter”
Waxing Gibbous- “With Gold”
As the moon continues in its orbit, the portion of the illuminated side
of the moon visible from the Earth continues to increase. When the
moon appears to be more than a half moon but less than a full moon,
it is called a “Gibbous Moon” At this point in its orbit, the moon
appears to be growing, so this phase is called a “Waxing Gibbous”
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Full Moon- “Faces Mean”
When the moon has completed one half of its orbit around the Earth,
it is almost in a straight line with the Earth and the sun. The entire
side of the moon that faces Earth is illuminated. This phase is called
a “Full Moon”.
Waning Gibbous- “Wait, Give”
The darkened side of the moon begins to reappear to observers after
the full moon. This phase is called a “Waning Gibbous”. The moon is
described as waning when it appears to grow smaller. (To wane is to
decrease)
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Last Quarter- “Little Quarters”
When the moon has completed three-quarters of its orbit around the
Earth, it again makes a right angle with the Earth and the sun. This
phase is called the “Third Quarter” or “Last Quarter”.
Waning Crescent- “White Chocolate”
As the moon’s orbit continues, the moon appears as a crescent shape
once again. Since it appears to grow smaller, this phase is called a
“Waning Crescent”. The darkened area continues to grow larger
until no portion of the illuminated moon can be seen. The moon has
returned to the new moon phase.
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What are examples of Earth, Moon & Sun System Pegs?
1-“The Sun is at the center of the universe” (move
your finger in a circular motion)
2-
“Motions- Rotation” (one finger to the top of
your head and turn your body) “Revolution” (arms go
around in a circle)
3-
“Reasons for our season- The Sun” (motion one
side of the triangle), “Earth’s tilt” (motion second
side of the triangle), “Revolution” (third side of the
triangle)
4-
“Scientists- Aristotle, Ptolemy, Earthcentered. Galileo, Copernicus knew the Sun is at
the center”.(cup your hand and move across the
burners of a stove)
56-
“Our understanding changes with new
discoveries” (pick up your words)
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7-
“Water, oxygen, atmosphere” (break up the
syllables as you pretend to drink your words)
“Support and maintain life” (break up the
syllables as you pretend to drink your words)
8- “Phases for our moon”THINK OF OR SAY THIS SILLY PHRASE TO REMEMBER
THE PHASES:
“Never Mind, Whaaat Can Five Quarters With Gold
Faces Mean? Wait! Give Little Quarters White
Chocolate!”
New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing
Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter,
Waning Crescent
9-
“An axis is the imaginary line Earth tilts on”
(use your pinky to draw a slanted line)
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Science Vocabulary:
Term
Definition
Axis
A straight line around which a body spins or rotates.
Axis is also a Latin word that can mean “hub”, “axis”,
or “axle”.
Cycle
Eclipse
A repeated pattern
Ecliptic
The plane in which the Earth orbits the sun.
Ellipse
The shape that results when a cone is sliced on a
diagonal.
Elliptical
Having a shape that is in the form of an ellipse.
Experiment
A fair test designed to answer a question.
Focus
(plural: foci)
One of the two points around which an ellipse is
constructed.
Hypothesis
A statement that is made to be proved or disproved.
Scientists make hypotheses based on what they
expect will happen and then test whether or not the
hypotheses are correct.
The temporary disappearance or darkening of one celestial
body, such as the sun or moon, when another body moves
between it and an observer or between it and the light
source. An eclipse of the sun is seen by an observer on
Earth when the moon is between the observer and the sun.
An eclipse of the moon is seen by an observer on Earth
when the Earth moves between the sun and the moon and
the Earth’s shadow falls across the surface of the moon.
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Inference
A conclusion based on evidence that results from
events that have already occurred.
Light
A source of illumination, such as the sun or a lamp. Light is
also a form of energy that scientists call “electromagnetic
radiation”.
Model
A system that is built to represent or help us understand a
more complicated system. For example, a small-scale
version of the sun-Earth-moon-system is a model. A model
can also be a larger version of something we can’t see (e.g.,
a model of an atom).
Observation Something that is noticed by using the senses.
Observe
To notice or see.
Prediction
A forecast about what may happen in some future
situation. A prediction is based on information and
evidence, and is different from a guess.
Rotate
To turn or spin on an axis. This word comes from the
Latin word rota, which means “wheel”.
Rotation
The motion of turn on an axis.
Revolution
A complete orbit around a central point or object.
Revolve
To orbit around a central point.
Sequence
A series of events that occur in a natural order.
Shadow
An area that receives no light or less light than the
areas that are around it.
Temperature
A measure of how hot or cold an object or area is.
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Notes Page
Concept Map and Study Guide compiled by Regina Ferebee using information derived
from Virginia Beach City Public Schools curriculum/objectives unless otherwise cited.
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