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Parts of Our Solar System Notes
Our Solar System consists of many objects including the Sun, planets, Moons, dwarf planets, comets, asteroids,
meteors, meteoroids, & meteorites. All of these objects revolve around our sun due to gravity. T Everything in our solar
system revolves around the Sun because it has the most gravitational pull in our solar system due to its immense size.
Moons
Moons are natural satellites that revolve around something larger like a planets and asteroids. Most moons are usually
made of rock. In our solar system every planet has moons except for Mercury and Venus. The Earth’s moon causes the
Earth to experience tides. Finally, because of the Earth’s moon is tidally “locked” to the Earth only one side of the moon
is visible to the Earth. The moon undergoes moon phases as it revolves around the sun.
Planets
Planets are celestial bodies that revolve around the sun in an elliptical shape. They are grouped into inner and outer,
based on distance from the sun and common characteristics. The 4 inner planets are considered rocky planets and are
smaller than the outer planets. The outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) are much larger in comparison
and are considered “gas giants” because of their size and their primary make up of gases. Planets are big enough to
other some smaller objects to revolve around them (moons) and to clear other larger objects from near their orbit. The
Earth is the only planet/space object in our solar system known to have life.
Asteroids
Asteroids are metallic, rocky bodies without atmospheres that orbit the Sun but are too small to be classified as planets.
Known as "minor planets," tens of thousands of asteroids orbit in the main belt: a vast, doughnut-shaped ring located
between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. One scientific theory is that many asteroids are leftover pieces that did not form
into planets with the solar system formed.
Meteors, Meteoroids, & Meteorites
1. Meteorites = A stony or metallic object from interplanetary space that impacts a planetary surface like Earth.
2. Meteor = A small rock in space that orbits the sun.
3. Meteoroids - when a space rock enters the atmosphere, commonly known as a shooting star. Meteoroids glow
because of pressure from the Earth’s atmosphere heating and melting the gases on the meteoroid.
Our Sun
Our Sun is much larger than a planet and is composed of hot, glowing gases (mostly hydrogen & helium) that are
continually undergoing nuclear fusion. The Sun does not have a solid surface. The sun is currently about 5 billion years
old and has enough helium to “burn” for another 5 billion years. Because of the sun’s immense size it has enough
gravitational pull to cause everything in our solar system to revolve around it.
Comets
A small celestial body composed at least partially of ices and rock. Comets either orbit the Sun or pass through the Solar
System on hyperbolic orbital paths sometimes taking 50-1000+ years to travel around the sun. Comets have sometimes
have tails that trail behind them. Comets also have temporary atmosphere called a coma.
Dwarf Planets
Dwarf planets are round and orbit the Sun just like the eight major planets. But unlike planets, dwarf planets are not
able to clear their orbital path so there are similar objects at roughly the same distance from the Sun. A dwarf planet is
much smaller than a planet (smaller even than Earth's moon), but it is not a moon. Pluto is the best known of the dwarf
planets.
Comet
Asteroid
Moons
Dwarf
Planets
Mercury
Mars
Earth
Neptune
Uranus
Saturn
Venus
Venus
Objects Bigger
Than Earth
Objects Smaller
Than Earth
Meteor
Jupiter
Mars
Mercury
The Sun
Unique Properties of Earth
The Earth has several unique properties that that make it different from other celestial bodies within
our solar system. First of all, Earth sustains life while no other celestial body has been found to sustain life. The
Earth is unique and can sustain life for the following reasons. Because of the Earth’s distance from the sun we
have a temperate climate allowing the atmosphere to not be too hot or too cold in most locations for life to
exist. The Earth receives just the right amount of energy from the sun. Secondly, the Earth is the only known
planet to contain free oxygen (not bonded with other elements) which allows the Earth’s atmosphere to be
breathable. Additionally, because the Earth’s atmosphere is able to trap the correct amount of energy the
Earth also heats and cools through the Greenhouse Effect. The greenhouse effect also allows the Earth to
remain the correct temperature to sustain life. The Earth also has the right mix of gases to make our
atmosphere breathable. Thirdly, the Earth has a surface containing liquid ocean water. All living organisms
require water to live.
List 3 unique properties of Earth below:
1. The Earth is the only planet known to have Life –climate, temperature due to distance from sun
2. Atmosphere contains free oxygen (not bound to other elements)
3. Contains liquid water required by all living things
Our 8 planets notes
Planet
Relative size
Mercury Venus
Earth
Mars Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
°
Pluto
.
Roman
God of
agriculture
Greek sky God
Roman sea
God
Greek God
of the
underworld
Max. distance
from sun
36 million
miles
67
million
miles
93
million
miles
142
million
miles
484
million
miles
890
million
miles
1780 million
miles
2790
million
miles
3660
million
miles
Diameter
3030 miles
7520
miles
7920
miles
4220
miles
88,750
miles
74,560
miles
31,570 miles
30,200
miles
1430 miles
Average Temp.
872° F
to
-289° F
900 ° F
136 ° F
to
-130 °F
80° F
to
-190°
F
-148 ° F
to
-238 ° F
-249 ° F
to
-292 ° F
-330 ° F
-306 °F
-351 ° F
Day length
(rotation)
Year length
(revolution)
Rings
58 days
243
days
1 day
1 day
10 hours
10 hours
16 hours
18 hours
6.4 days
88 days
225
days
365 days
687
days
12 years
30 years
84 years
165 years
248 years
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
yes
yes
no
Number of
Satellites/moons
0
0
1
2
63
60
27
13
1
Only planet with known life, evenly
heated by the sun, has readily available
water.
Brightest object in the sky. The only
planet to rotate in clockwise direction.
Closest to the sun. Atmosphere thin and
made of helium.
Interesting facts
Much like the rocky inner planets.
Sometimes its orbit goes inside of
Neptune’s. Now considered a dwarf
planet.
Chief
Roman
God
Made of mostly gas with some storm
activity. Sometimes the farthest planet.
Roman
God of
War
It has rings. It lies on its side as it orbits
the sun. Farthest plant seen with a
telescope. Made of methane gas.
Greek
Meaning:
“to the
ground”
Has many rings around it is mostly mad of
gas. Its largest moon is bigger then
mercury.
Roman
Goddess
of Love
Largest planet in our solar system. Has
Great Red Spot which is believed to be a
storm. Made of gas.
Roman
winged
God
messenger
Has 2 polar ice caps and also has seasons.
Named for
Motions within Our Solar System
Cause of Day & Night
Day and Night occur on Earth because of the
rotation of the Earth on its axis. 1 Earth day lasts 24
hours. The length of daylight and dark vary
depending on the season and a person’s location
on Earth.
Cause of Seasons
Seasons on Earth are cause by the tilt of the Earth
on its axis and the Earth’s revolution around the
sun. In the Northern hemisphere the Earth is tilted
more towards the sun during the summer and
receives more direct energy from the sun. In the
Northern hemisphere the Earth tilts more away
from the sun in the winter and receives less direct
energy from the sun. The Earth’s revolution takes
365 days.
Cause of Tides
Tides are the rising and falling of water in large
bodies of water like oceans and large lakes. The
gravitational pull of the moon on large bodies of
water cause the water levels to rise and fall
creating high and low tides twice a day. Tides are
also affected by the gravitational pull of the sun.
The gravitational attraction of the moon causes the
oceans to bulge out in the direction of the moon.
Another bulge occurs on the opposite side, since
the Earth is also being pulled toward the moon
(and away from the water on the far side. Since the
earth is rotating while this is happening, two tides
occur each day.
Cause of Moon Phases
The lunar phases are created by changing angles
(relative positions) of the earth, the moon and the
sun, as the moon orbits the earth. At certain angles
more or less of the sun’s light is reflected off the
moon down to the Earth’s surface. During a full
moon the entire sunlight moon is facing the Earth.
During the new moon the other side of the moon
receives the sun’s light and we cannot see it. The
moon’s revolution takes 1 month.
Motions within Our Solar System
Cause of Day & Night
Day and Night occur on Earth because of the rotation of the Earth on its axis. 1 Earth day lasts
24 hours. The length of daylight and dark vary depending on the season and a person’s location
on Earth.
Cause of Seasons
Seasons on Earth are cause by the tilt of the Earth on its axis and the Earth’s revolution around
the sun. In the Northern hemisphere the Earth is tilted more towards the sun during the
summer and receives more direct energy from the sun. In the Northern hemisphere the Earth
tilts more away from the sun in the winter and receives less direct energy from the sun. The
Earth’s revolution takes 365 days.
Cause of Tides
Tides are the rising and falling of water in large bodies of water like oceans and large lakes. The
gravitational pull of the moon on large bodies of water cause the water levels to rise and fall
creating high and low tides twice a day. Tides are also affected by the gravitational pull of the
sun. The gravitational attraction of the moon causes the oceans to bulge out in the direction of
the moon. Another bulge occurs on the opposite side, since the Earth is also being pulled
toward the moon (and away from the water on the far side. Since the earth is rotating while
this is happening, two tides occur each day.
Cause of Moon Phases
The lunar phases are created by changing angles (relative positions) of the earth, the moon and
the sun, as the moon orbits the earth. At certain angles more or less of the sun’s light is
reflected off the moon down to the Earth’s surface. During a full moon the entire sunlight moon
is facing the Earth. During the new moon the other side of the moon receives the sun’s light and
we cannot see it. The moon’s revolution takes 1 month.