Space

Space

Unit 7

​The solar system consists of the Sun and everything that orbits, or travels around, the Sun. This includes the eight planets and their moons, dwarf planets, and countless asteroids, comets, and other small, icy objects. However, even with all these things, most of the solar system is empty space.

​The solar system itself is only a small part of a huge system of stars and other objects called the Milky Way galaxy.

The Milky Way galaxy is just one of billions of galaxies that in turn make up the universe.

Multiple Choice

Our Galaxy is called Milky Way.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The Milky Way is the only Galaxy in the universe.

• True

• False

​The Sun

Our Sun is about 100 times wider than Earth, but it is just an average sized star. Astronomers have found some stars that are 100 times bigger than the Sun and others that are 10 times smaller.

Life on Earth depends on the Sun, because:

• The Sun’s gravity holds our entire solar system together.

• Heat from the Sun makes Earth warm enough to live on.

• Without light from the Sun, there would be no plants or animals—and, therefore, no food and we wouldn’t exist.

​The Sun is also right in the middle of its lifecycle. Right now, our Sun is in a stage called yellow dwarf. It is about 4.5 billion years old. In another 5 billion years the Sun will become a big, cool star called a red giant. A few billion years after that, it will become a small white dwarf star. It will shrink to around the same size as Earth, but it will weigh 20,000 times more.

Multiple Choice

The Sun is a ....

• planet

• star

• asteroid

Multiple Select

Life on Earth depends on the Sun because...

• The sun's gravity holds our entire Solar System together.

• Heat from the Sun makes the Earth warmer.

• Without light from the Sun there would be no human, animal and plant life.

• Life on Earth doesn't depend on the Sun.

Multiple Choice

How old is our Sun?

• 4 billion years old.

• 4.5 billion years old.

• 5 billion years old.

​The Planets

​After the Sun, the largest objects in the solar system are the planets. In order from closest to the Sun, these planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Most of them orbit the Sun in paths shaped like circles. Most of the planets have at least one moon. However, they vary widely in size, temperature, and makeup.

Scientists used to call Pluto the ninth planet. But in 2006 scientists decided that several objects in the solar system, including Pluto, should be called dwarf planets.

• ​Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system, and it is shrinking every day!

• Venus is the brightest natural object in the sky after the moon. 

• Earth is the only planet proven to have life (that we know of).

• Mars, the red planet, is named after the Roman god of war.

• Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system – so big that it would fit every other planet inside it twice!

• Saturn only planet with rings and 82 moons. 

• Uranus is the coldest planet in the solar system. 

• Neptune, the blue planet, is named after the Roman god of the sea.

Multiple Choice

How many planets are in our solar system?

• seven

• eight

• nine

Multiple Choice

Which planet is named after the Roman god of war.

• Venus

• Neptune

• Mars

​Earth

Structure and Surface

• Earth is a terrestrial planet. It is small and rocky.

• It’s the only planet in our solar system we know of that supports life. It is mostly nitrogen, and it has plenty of oxygen for us to breathe.

• Earth is special because it is an ocean planet. Water covers 70% of Earth's surface.

Time on Earth

• A day on Earth lasts a little under 24 hours.

• One year on Earth lasts 365.25 days. That 0.25 extra means every four years we need to add one day to our calendar. We call it a leap day (in a leap year).

Earth’s Neighbors

• Earth has just one Moon. It is the only planet to have just one moon.

• Earth has lots of spacecraft watching it. There is still a lot we can learn about our home planet.

• Earth is the third planet from the Sun in our solar system. That means Venus and Mars are Earth’s neighboring planets.

Multiple Choice

A day on Earth lasts...

• 12 hours

• 24 hours

• 48 hours

Multiple Choice

Water covers ____ of Earth's surface.

• 70%

• 80%

• 90%

ASTRONAUT

A person who is specially trained to travel into outer space. Astronauts aboard a spacecraft may have different responsibilities. Typically there is a commander who leads the mission and a pilot. Other positions may include flight engineer, payload commander, mission specialist, and science pilot.

Spacesuits

These spacesuits provide them with air, protect them from the extreme temperatures of space, and protect them from the radiation of the Sun.

Space Stations​

A space station is a special kind of satellite used by astronauts. Astronauts can live on a space station for months while they gather information and do experiments.

Satellites​

A satellite is a small object that orbits, or revolves around, a larger object in space. Satellites can be natural or artificial (made by people). All the planets in the solar system except Mercury and Venus have natural satellites. Earth's Moon is one example. Artificial satellites are sent into space to gather information. Most are launched into space by rockets.

Space Probe​

A probe is a spacecraft that travels through space to collect science information. Probes do not have astronauts. Probes send data back to Earth for scientists to study.
Sputnik 1 was the first probe to go into space. It was launched on Oct. 4th, 1957.

​Rockets

​Spaceship

​A vehicle that can carry people and cargo beyond the Earth's atmosphere, through space to other planetary bodies, space stations, or orbits and back home again.

​A space vehicle or missile, or the special engine that's meant to propel such a vehicle into the air.

​The key difference between Spaceship vs Rocket is rockets take the spaceship up to space and then fall back down to earth once releasing the ship.

Multiple Choice

This is a

• rocket

• spaceship

• space station

Multiple Select

This is a

• space probe

• satellite

• space station

Poll

How do I feel about this Presentation

• I Understand everything.

• I still have questions

• I didn't understand