SOLAR SYSTEM

Worksheets

Contents

1. Solar System Facts

2. Naming Planets

3. Relationship Goals

4. Planet World

5. Etymology

6. Space Exploration

7. Famous Astronomers

8. Other Objects

9. Truth About Earth

10. Space Movies

11. Mission to Mars

Solar System Facts

The Solar System includes the Sun and all that orbit around it including planets, moons, comets, asteroids, gas, and dust. Scientists theorized that it was formed approximately 4.6 billion years ago after the collapse of a giant molecular cloud.

Objects in the Solar System★ The Sun is the center of the Solar System wherein all objects orbit

around it due to gravity. It is believed that 99.86% of the system’s mass is in the Sun while most of the remaining 0.14% are distributed in the eight planets.

★ There are eight planets in the Solar System divided into inner and outer planets. Inner planets are also known as terrestrial planets composed of Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars which are characterized as small and made mostly of rock and metal.

Solar System Facts★ The outer planets also called gas giants are consist of Jupiter,

Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune which are larger and primarily composed of helium, hydrogen, and other gases.

Uranus and Neptune are also called the ice giants due to its composition.★ In addition, there are 5

dwarf planets namely: Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Makemake, and Haumea. Pluto has been added to this category and was no longer the ninth planet in the system. A dwarf planet’s gravity is not sufficient to either attract or push smaller bodies which makes it different from a planet.

★ Among the planets, Earth is the only place where water can be seen in solid, liquid, and vapor states. Venus also called as the twin planet is similar to Earth’s size, composition, and orbit.

★ With 2,100 km/hr, Neptune has the strongest winds in the Solar System.

★ Comets are icy bodies in the Solar System which are compared to dirty snowballs. A comet consists of ice, dust, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and more. They often have a tail made of solar radiation and solar wind. Most astronomers believed that they came from the Oort Cloud or Kuiper Belt.

★ In addition to comets, asteroids also revolve around the sun. They are also called planetoids or minor planets which are mostly irregular in shape. Most asteroids lie in the Asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. In popular culture, once a big asteroid hit the Earth, it can bring apocalypse.

Solar System Facts★ The Solar System is part of a larger entity known as the galaxy.

Scientists believed that there are billions of galaxies in the universe and that our Milky Way is just one of those.

Photo showing the Earth’s moon with

astronaut footprints

★ The moon is the most visible celestial body in the night sky. Earth have one that serves as a natural satellite. We can see different phases of the moon dependent on its position in relation to Earth and the Sun. It has a small core consists of iron, sulfur, and other elements. Craters can be seen in its surface most likely due to asteroid impacts. In relation to astronomical events, we can observe lunar eclipses when the moon, Earth, and the Sun forms a straight line and solar eclipse when the moon is in between the sun and Earth.

★ Aside from Earth, other planets have moons including Mars with 2, Jupiter with 67, Saturn 62, Uranus 27, and Neptune with 14. Even dwarf planets except Ceres have moons. Only Mercury and Venus do not have any moons.

★ Stars are radiant spheres made of plasma. They are mainly composed of hydrogen and formed in the nebulae or clouds of interstellar gas and dust. From November to April each year, Orion Nebula which is 1,500 light years away from Earth is visible to observers.

Solar System Facts★ Amidst billions of stars in the solar

system, the most famous one is the Sun which is our source of light and heat. It is classified as a G-type star that formed around 4.6 billion years ago. Among the famous stars are the Alpha Centauri System, Sirius, Vega, Betelgeuse, Antares, and Rigel.

Famous Astronomers★ Over the centuries, intellectuals

have struggled to understand what lies beyond the Earth’s sky.

★ Around 276 to 195 B.C, Greek mathematician and astronomer Eratosthenes measured the round Earth using the sun. His measurement was short by only 340 km compared to the actual measurement.

★ Nicolaus Copernicus who lived in the 16th century proposed a model of the solar system in which the Earth revolves around the sun also known as the geocentric theory.

★ In the late 16th and 17th century, Danish astronomer Johannes Kepler determined that planets travelled around the sun in ellipses not circles.

★ Italian philosopher, physicist, and inventor Galileo Galilei was credited for creating optical telescope and discovering Jupiter’s four primary moons. He also defended the idea of Copernicus. .

★ Among others are Sir Isaac Newton, Edmond Halley, William and Caroline Herschel, Edwin Hubble, and Albert Einstein.

Naming PlanetsOur Solar System is composed of eight planets orbiting around the sun. Using the graphics, label and briefly describe each planet.

Name:

Mercury

Naming PlanetsANSWER KEY

The smallest and closest planet to the sun. It has no moons.

Known as the red planet, it has two

moons.

Mars

Earth’s twin planet and hottest planet.

Venus

The 3rd closest to the sun and densest

planet.

Earth

Last of the known planets with 14

moons. Neptune

Known as the ice giant, it is the coldest

planet.Uranus

Second largest planet also known as

the Ringed planet.Saturn

The largest planet with at least 67 moons including those

discovered by Galilei.

Jupiter

Relationship Goals

Name:

Celestial bodies in the solar system play important roles with each other. Can you describe their relationships?

PlanetsSun

Celestial Body A Celestial Body B

MoonEarth

Earth

SunMoon

Relationship GoalsANSWER KEY

PlanetsSun

Celestial Body A Celestial Body B

All planets orbit around the sun.

MoonEarth

They are held together by gravity which cause tides. The moon orbits on

Earth.

Earth

Sun

The moon orbits the Earth and the Earth orbits the sun while rotating in its

axis causing day and night. Alignment can also cause

eclipses.

Moon

Planet World

Name:

Today, there are eight planets in the solar system and all can be seen through a telescope. There has been a theory about Planet X but scientists were still unable to find it. Complete facts about planets.

It is the farthest planet from the sun.

There are two types of planets:

Pluto is now considered a _______.

Unlike most planets, it has craters like the Earth’s moon.

It is the second brightest natural object in the sky.

It has 150 moons and smaller moonlets.

It was discovered by William Herschel in 1781.

70% percent of its surface is covered with water.

Gas giants include _____, ______, _______, and ______.

It is the most gaseous planet.

The smallest planet in the solar system.

It has the fastest winds among any other planets with 1,800 km per hour.

The seventh planet from the sun.

The tallest mountain in the solar system is located in this planet. It has the same seasons like

Earth.

Planet World

ANSWER KEY

It is the farthest planet from the sun.Neptune

There are two types of planets: Inner and Outer Planets

Pluto is now considered a dwarf planet.

Unlike most planets, it has craters like the Earth’s moon. Mercury

It is the second brightest natural object in the sky. Venus

It has 150 moons and smaller moonlets. Saturn

It was discovered by William Herschel in 1781. Uranus

70% percent of its surface is covered with water. Earth

Gas giants include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

It is the most gaseous planet. Jupiter

The smallest planet in the solar system. Mercury

It has the fastest winds among any other planets with 2,100 km per hour. Neptune

The seventh planet from the sun. Uranus

The tallest mountain in the solar system is located in this planet. Mars It has the same seasons like

Earth. Mars

SaturnSOLAR

SYSTEM

Etymology

Name:

Most of the celestial bodies in the solar system are named after mythological beings. Complete the etymology table of their names. Conduct additional research for this activity.

Celestial Bodies Etymology Meaning

Earth

Mercury

Mars

Venus

Neptune

Pluto

Uranus

Jupiter

SaturnSOLAR

SYSTEM

EtymologyANSWER KEY

Celestial Bodies Etymology Meaning

Earth

Mercury

Mars

Venus

Neptune

Pluto

Uranus

Jupiter

SaturnFather of Jupiter, king of the gods in Roman

mythologyOld English word Ertha and Anglo-Saxon term

erdaSoil or ground

Mercury Messenger of the Roman gods

Mars Roman god of war

Venus Roman goddess of beauty and love

Neptune Roman god of the sea

Pluto Roman god of the underworld

Uranus Greek god of the sky

Jupiter Supreme Roman god

Space ExplorationName:

Since the antiquity, humans wished to travel outer space but it was only in the 1950s when an object from Earth reached space. Provide facts about two of the most eager and leading nations in terms of space exploration in the mid-20th century.

Fact #1

Fact #2

Fact #3

Fact #4

Fact #1

Fact #2

Fact #3

Fact #4

Famous AstronomersName:

Ironically, some of our greatest astronomers who helped the development and discovery of knowledge about the solar system did not actually go to space. Take a photo and describe the contributions of the following.

Nicolaus Copernicus Johannes Kepler

Galileo Galilei Sir Isaac Newton

Edmond Halley Albert Einstein

Heavenly Bodies

Name:

The Solar System continues to fascinate scientists today. It is considered a vast knowledge that humans are still to discover. Identify some of the known objects in the solar system.

1. 4. 6.

2.

3.

5.

7.1. It is the center of the

solar system.2. It was once a planet.3. Earth’s natural

satellite.4. Sometimes called

dirty snowballs.5. Referred to as

planetoids. 6. Vibrant spheroid of

plasma.7. The curve path of a

celestial body such as the planets.

Heavenly BodiesANSWER KEY

1. 4. 6.

S C S

2. P L U T O T

3. M O O N M A

5. A S T E R O I D S

7. O R B I T

S1. It is the center of the

solar system.2. It was once a planet.3. Earth’s natural

satellite.4. Sometimes called

dirty snowballs.5. Referred to as

planetoids. 6. Vibrant spheroid of

plasma.7. The curve path of a

celestial body such as the planets.

Truth About EarthName:

Earth is the only planet in the solar system that was not named after a mythological god or goddess. It was believed to have formed around 4.54 billion years ago. Read the statements and draw Earth if it tells something about our home.

It is the center of the solar

system.

Its atmosphere is composed of 78% nitrogen.

A year can lasts for 365 days.

It is where the tallest

mountain can be found.

Also known as the Ringed planet with 2

moons.

The fifth largest planet.

About 90% of its surface is

land.

The only known

planet that supports

life.

The Challenger

Deep can be found here.

It was named after the

Greek god of love, Eros.

Truth About EarthANSWER KEY

It is the center of the solar

system.

It is where the tallest

mountain can be found.

Also known as the Ringed planet with 2

moons.

About 90% of its surface is

land.

It was named after the

Greek god of love, Eros.

Its atmosphere is composed of 78% nitrogen.

The fifth largest planet.

A year can lasts for 365 days.

The only known

planet that supports

life.

The Challenger

Deep can be found here.

Space MoviesName:

In popular culture, facts about the solar system are not a new source for movie scripts. There are children’s favorite like the Guardians of the Galaxy, Space Jam, and Star Wars series. Choose a movie from the list and watch it with your guardian to answer the film analysis.

Who are the main characters?● ___________________● ___________________

What parts of the solar system are mentioned in the film?

● ___________________● ___________________● ___________________

What are the issues raised?● ___________________● ___________________● ___________________

Mission to MarsName:

In the last decades, mankind have been exploring one of the solar system’s planet for possible settlement. If landing on the moon was a great leap for mankind, this one is the future. Read a Mars One article and write your own point of view using the guide questions given.

Access article here: https://www.mars-one.com/news/press-releases/mars-one-will-settle-men-on-mars-in-2023

What are the goals of Mars One?

Why is the mission necessary?

How is the mission possible?

How will it help mankind?

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