The Solar SystemThe Solar System

An Interactive Learning Station

The PlanetsThe Planets Currently, there are nine planets Currently, there are nine planets

which have been discovered. which have been discovered. They include:They include:Mercury

Jupiter

Earth

Pluto

Saturn

Neptune

Mars

Uranus

Venus

MercuryMercury Closest to the sun.Closest to the sun. Only visited by one Only visited by one

spacecraft: Mariner 10.spacecraft: Mariner 10. Orbits the sun every 88 Orbits the sun every 88

days.days. Temperatures can reach Temperatures can reach

467 degrees Celsius.467 degrees Celsius. Second smallest planet to Second smallest planet to

Pluto.Pluto. Surface resembles the Surface resembles the

moon because meteorites moon because meteorites can not burn up – there is can not burn up – there is practically no atmosphere.practically no atmosphere.

VenusVenus Similar to Earth in size, Similar to Earth in size,

mass and compositionmass and composition Covered with clouds Covered with clouds

that trap in heat, that trap in heat, creating a greenhouse creating a greenhouse effect.effect.

Rotates once every 243 Rotates once every 243 Earth days and orbits Earth days and orbits the Sun every 225 days the Sun every 225 days – this makes its day is – this makes its day is longer than its year!longer than its year!

EarthEarth

Only planet known Only planet known to have life.to have life.

Earth has seasons Earth has seasons because its axis is because its axis is tilted 23 degrees.tilted 23 degrees.

Oceans cover 70% Oceans cover 70% of Earth’s surface.of Earth’s surface.

Has one satellite: Has one satellite: the moon.the moon.

MarsMars Small, red, rocky planet.Small, red, rocky planet. Has two small moons.Has two small moons. Experiences large dust Experiences large dust

storms.storms. Water ice was Water ice was

discovered in 2002 – discovered in 2002 – this discovery will aid this discovery will aid scientists in answering scientists in answering the question, “Is there, the question, “Is there, was there, or will there was there, or will there be life on Mars?”be life on Mars?”

Has the largest volcano Has the largest volcano in space.in space.

JupiterJupiter Largest planet.Largest planet. Has three rings.Has three rings. Surface is probably Surface is probably

gases and liquids.gases and liquids. Our VIP – Galileo – Our VIP – Galileo –

discovered 4 of discovered 4 of Jupiter’s moons: Io, Jupiter’s moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.and Callisto.

Jupiter officially has Jupiter officially has 52 moons - the most 52 moons - the most in the solar system.in the solar system.

SaturnSaturn In 1610, Galileo became In 1610, Galileo became

the first astronomer to the first astronomer to see Saturn through a see Saturn through a telescope. telescope.

Made mostly of Made mostly of hydrogen and helium.hydrogen and helium.

The rings of Saturn are The rings of Saturn are made of mostly water made of mostly water ice. ice.

Saturn has at least 30 Saturn has at least 30 moons. The largest is moons. The largest is Titan and is a bit bigger Titan and is a bit bigger than Mercury. than Mercury.

UranusUranus The blue-green color The blue-green color

comes from methane comes from methane gas.gas.

It takes 84 years for It takes 84 years for Uranus to complete one Uranus to complete one revolution around the revolution around the sun.sun.

Seasons in Uranus last Seasons in Uranus last about 20 years due to about 20 years due to it’s unique horizontal it’s unique horizontal tilt.tilt.

Uranus has 11 rings Uranus has 11 rings and at least 20 moons.and at least 20 moons.

NeptuneNeptune Neptune was the first Neptune was the first

planet to be discovered planet to be discovered by using mathematics by using mathematics rather than observations rather than observations of the sky.of the sky.

Neptune was discovered Neptune was discovered in 1846. Its orbit is 165 in 1846. Its orbit is 165 years, therefore it has yet years, therefore it has yet made a full circle around made a full circle around the Sun since it was the Sun since it was discovered.discovered.

Neptune's largest moon, Neptune's largest moon, Triton, gets colder than Triton, gets colder than Pluto. Pluto.

PlutoPluto Pluto is so far away that is Pluto is so far away that is

it difficult for scientists to it difficult for scientists to learn about it. The outer learn about it. The outer fringes of our solar system fringes of our solar system await close-up await close-up observations by a robotic observations by a robotic space flight mission.space flight mission.

Pluto is different from the Pluto is different from the rest of the planets. It may rest of the planets. It may be the largest of a group be the largest of a group of icy objects just beyond of icy objects just beyond Neptune called the Kuiper Neptune called the Kuiper Belt. Belt.

Self Check Question OneSelf Check Question One

Which planet has frequent dust Which planet has frequent dust storms?storms?

Earth

Uranus Mars

Pluto

Correct!Correct!

Next Question

Self Check Question TwoSelf Check Question Two

Which planet has seasons that last Which planet has seasons that last 20 years?20 years?

Mercury Jupiter

Uranus Mars

Correct!Correct!

Next Question

Self Check Question Self Check Question ThreeThree

Which planet has the most moons?Which planet has the most moons?

Jupiter Earth

Venus Pluto

Correct!Correct!

Next Question

Self Check Question FourSelf Check Question Four

Which planet was discovered using Which planet was discovered using mathematics rather than mathematics rather than observation?observation?

Saturn Neptune

Venus Pluto

Correct!Correct!

Next Question

Self Check Question FiveSelf Check Question Five

Which Planet’s surface resembles Which Planet’s surface resembles the moon’s?the moon’s?

Jupiter Mercury

Neptune Saturn

Congratulations!Congratulations!

You have completed the interactive You have completed the interactive learning station!learning station!

ReferencesReferences

NASA KidsNASA Kids Goodman, Polly. Goodman, Polly. Space & Art Space & Art

ActivitiesActivities.. New York: Crabtree Pub, New York: Crabtree Pub, 2002.2002.

Simon, Seymour. Simon, Seymour. Planets Around Planets Around the Sunthe Sun. New York: Seastar Books, . New York: Seastar Books, 2002.2002.

Nine PlanetsNine Planets

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