Our Solar System Lesson

Our Solar System

Where in the universe are we?

A Small Blue Marble

• We are one planet of eight that orbit a medium-size main sequence star.

• We are the third rock from the Sun.

• Our solar system can be found 2/3 of the way out in the Orion arm of the Milky Way galaxy.

• Our galaxy is one of two trillion galaxies in the observable universe

Poll

Which planet does not have a moon?

• Venus

• Mars

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

Which has a long, narrow, elliptical orbit?

• asteroid

• comet

• meteroid

Eight Unique Planets

• Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune

• Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are known as terrestrial, inner, or rocky planets

• Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are known as gas giants, outer planets or Jovian planets

• All outer planets have rings and are gaseous and larger than inner planets

• Movement of planets is based on revolution around the Sun and rotation on the planet's axis.

Goodnight Moon

• Moons are studied in relation to the planet they orbit.

• Not all planets have moons.

• Most are rocky bodies covered with craters, but some are as unique as their planet.

• Movement of moons is based on revolution around their planet and rotation on their axis

• Find out why we only see one side of our moon.

Asteroids

• Most are rocky bodies that orbit in a region between Mars and Jupiter...asteroid belt.

• They vary in size and shape

• They revolve around the Sun.

• Some asteroids are outside the belt and their orbits cross over Earth's orbit...watch out!

Comets

• have a main body or head composed of ice, methane, ammonia and ice

• have a tail that emerges as they get closer to the Sun during their orbit

• have long, narrow, elliptical orbits that cause them to cross over paths of other objects in the solar system

• originate from regions of the solar system that lies beyond Neptune and even Pluto....Kuiper belt and Oort Cloud

Meteors

• are chunks of rock that burn upon entering a planet's atmosphere

• are called meteoroids within the solar system

• are called meteorites when the chunk of rock strikes the surface of a planet or moon

• are believed to be remains of broken up comets or asteroids