Solar System - 4th Grade

The pattern of stars in a constellation stays the same, but a planet can be seen in different locations at different times. Why?

• Stars don't move, but planets do.
• Stars and planets both move.
• Stars move, but planets don't.
• Planets don't move, but stars do.

Which statement is true about the sun?

• It is a star.    
• It is the largest star in our galaxy. 
• It is a planet close to Earth.
• It is a moon. 

What is one thing that makes the sun different from the other stars?

•  It is the hottest star in the galaxy. 
•  It is the largest star in the galaxy.
• It is the brightest star in the galaxy.
• It is the closest star to Earth.

Which statement is true?

• The sun rotates around Earth.
• The planets rotate around the sun.
• The sun is the largest planet in our solar system.
• The sun is the brightest star in the galaxy.

Which tool would be the best to use if you were standing on Earth and wanted to observe a planet in the night sky?

• magnifying glass
• naked human eye
• telescope
• thermometer

The order of the planets is:

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

Here is a picture of a city with bright light that can affect what is seen through a telescope.  Why are these bright lights a problem for anyone looking for stars? 

• They pollute the sky with light, making it harder to see the light of distant objects.
• Distant objects reflect the light, making them appear brighter.
• They brighten the night sky, making it easier to see distant objects.
• Distant objects refract the light, making them look like they are twinkling.

As the earth rotates on its axis, the constellations and stars in them appear to _________.  

• move across the sky
• stand still in the sky
• move around each other
• rotate

Which is the reason constellations appear to move across the sky at night? 

• The Moon revolves.
• Earth rotates on its axis.
• Stars move at night.

What is one limitation of using this model of the solar system?

• It is hard to tell the planets apart.
• It is hard to determine the order of the planets.
• It is hard to determine the distance the planets are from the sun.
• It is hard to compare the planets' sizes.