Mysterious Solar System?

MYSTERIOUS SOLAR SYSTEM?

Or, just a ‘Mixed Up’ solar system?

MoonsMoons?

No moons?

Lots of Moons

Some Moons

One Moon No Moons

2, 10, 7 8, 14, 15 4, 9, 12 1, 6, 13

NU

MB

ER

OF

MO

ON

SNumber of Moons

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

OBJECTS

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Observations [1]

• Based on Plot: Number of Moons, objects in the solar system …

Observations [1]

• Based on Plot: Number of Moons, objects in the solar system generally have few moons.

SIZE

(Rad

ius,

in k

m)

Size

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

OBJECTS

300,000

10,000

1,000

300

100,000

30,000

100

SIZE

(Rad

ius,

in k

m)

Size

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

OBJECTS

300,000

10,000

1,000

300

100,000

30,000

100

Large

Medium

Small

Observations [2]

• Based on Plot: Size, objects in the solar system …

Observations [2]

• Based on Plot: Size, objects in the solar system have a wide range of sizes.

Composition

Rocky Gaseous Ice w/some Rock

1, 9, 13, 15 2, 7, 10, 14 4, 6, 8, 12

SIZE

(Rad

ius,

in k

m)

Size with Composition

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

OBJECTS

300,000

10,000

1,000

300

100,000

30,000

100

Gaseous

Rocky

Ice w/some Rock

SIZE

(Rad

ius,

in k

m)

Size

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

OBJECTS

300,000

10,000

1,000

300

100,000

30,000

100

SIZE

(Rad

ius,

in k

m)

Size with Composition

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

OBJECTS

300,000

10,000

1,000

300

100,000

30,000

100

Gaseous

Rocky

Ice w/some Rock

Observations [3]

• Based on Plot: Size with composition, objects in the solar system …

Observations [3]

• Based on Plot: Size with composition, objects in the solar system with similar composition have similar sizes.

Distance from the Sun

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

OBJECTS

30,000

Radius of orbitRadius of orbitRadius of orbitRadius of orbitRadius of orbit

Radius of

orbit

Sun

Orbit D

ISTA

NC

E F

RO

M T

HE

SU

N(A

vera

ge ra

dius

of o

rbit,

in m

illio

ns o

f km

)

10,000

3,000

1,000

300

100

30

10

Observations [4]

• Based on Plot: Distance from the Sun, objects in the solar system …

Observations [4]

• Based on Plot: Distance from the Sun, objects in the solar system have a wide range of distances from the Sun.

Distance ‘Flipped’

13, 1, 9, 15, 7, 10, 2, 14, 8, 12, 6, 4

NEAR* FAR* VERRRRYYY FAR*

*Relatively speaking of course…

- Can you put your objects in order?

- Do you know what they are now?

What planet is this ? My Very Educated

Mother Just Served Us

Nine Pizzas

General Observations• Objects in the solar system

– [1] generally have few moons.– [2] have a wide range of sizes– [3] objects in the solar system with similar

composition have similar sizes.– [4] have a wide range of distances from the Sun.

Object IdentificationsObject Number Object Name Object Type

1 Venus Rocky Planet

2 Uranus Giant Planet (Gas)

3 Ceres Asteroid

4 Eris Kuiper Belt Object

6 Makemake (2005 FY9) Kuiper Belt Object

5 Vesta Asteroid

7 Jupiter Giant Planet (Gas)

8 Pluto Kuiper Belt Object

9 Earth Rocky Planet

10 Saturn Giant Planet (Gas)

11 Hygeia Asteroid

12 Haumea (2003 EL61) Kuiper Belt Object

13 Mercury Rocky Planet

14 Neptune Giant Planet (Gas)

15 Mars Rocky Planet

16 Pallas Asteroid

Sun

Rocky Planets

Asteroid Belt

Giant Planets

Kuiper Belt

Oort Cloud

The 21st Century Solar System

Another way to think about it…

A model based on composition:

• Rock

• Rock w/some Ice

• Gaseous

• Ice w/some rock

• Inner/Rocky Planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars)

• Asteroids• Outer/Giant Planets

(Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)

• Kuiper Belt Objects

Activity ResourcesIntroducing the Solar System/Background Building

•Solar System Q & As

•Science Content Reading – Star Witness News

Reinforcement

•Online Exploration: Solar System Trading Cards

•Graphic Organizer: Comparison of rocky and gas planets

Activity

•Fast Facts

•WorldWide Telescope

Misconceptions

•Solar System Myths vs. Realities