Download Solar System

Solar System
Simple Facts
• Our solar system consists of nine planets
orbiting around one sun.
• Measurement in space: 1 astronomical unit
(AU) = 150 million kilometers.
THE SUN
• Photosphere- the
brightest part of the
sun
• Chromosphere- gives
off faint red light and
cannot be seen
• Corona- halo that
surrounds the sun
The Sun
• Fusion-The process of converting hydrogen to
helium.
– Albert Einstein came up with the theory of fusion.
E=mc2
– Each second our sun gives off as much energy as equal
to that of 200 BILLION hydrogen bombs.
– The sun makes up more than 99% of our Solar System.
• Inner Planets- 4 Rock Planets
– Mercury- the closest
planet to the sun
– Venus (aka-Earth’s twin)- the hottest planet due
to the cloud cover
– Earth- the only planet
able to sustain life
– Mars- the red planet
Outer Planets- 4 Gas planets
Jupiter- Largest planet
Uranus- 7th planet
from the sun
Saturn- has rings
around it made of
ice
Neptune- sometimes the
Furthest from the sun
Other Objects in Our Solar System
• Meteors- Pieces of rock or metal that enters the
earth’s atmosphere and burns.
• Meteorite- Pieces of rock or metal that enters the
earth’s atmosphere AND HITS THE EARTH.
Other Objects in Our Solar System
• Comet- Large ball of ice,
gas and dust flying
through space.
– Aka- Hairy star
– According to some
mythology, comets bring
bad luck to those who
look at them.
– Scientists believe that
comets make a huge
circle through the
universe. (ALWAYS
takes the same path.)
Other Objects in Our Solar System
• Asteroid- huge rocks
or boulders in space.
– The asteroid belt is
located between the
orbits of Mars and
Jupiter.