EARTH

• Spins around the sun on its AXIS. This is called the ROTATION of earth.

• It tilts and the revolution causes SEASONS!

• It is an INNER planet.

MERCURY

• Second smallest planet.• Closest planet to the sun

• Its surface is scarred by craters.• Is an INNER planet.

VENUS

• Its surface is surrounded by thick clouds.• Second closest planet to the sun

• It is an INNER planet.

MARS

• Iron oxide, known as rust, is found in its rocks.

• Fourth planet from the sun• Is an INNER planet.

JUPITER

• Fifth planet from the sun• Largest planet

• Has the shortest day• Is an OUTER planet.

SATURN

• Sixth planet from the sun.• Orbited by at least 30 moons.• OUTER planet.

URANUS

• Seventh planet from the sun• Is an OUTER planet

• Has rings

NEPTUNE

• Eighth planet from the sun.• Is an OUTER planet. • Known as a gas planet.

PLUTO

• Now known as a “Dwarf Planet”• Smaller than Earth’s moon

Earth’s Moon

• Takes 28 days to orbit the Earth.• Wane:• Wax:• Eclipse:

Asteroids

• Pieces of rock.• Made of minerals similar to those that

formed rocky planets and moons

SUN

• The distance from Earth to the sun is measured in ASTRONOMICAL UNITS.

STARS

• Scientists believe they began as huge clouds of gas and dust.

• A group of stars that form a pattern is a CONSTELLATION.

• Scientist infer there are 100 billion stars in the universe.

COMETS

• Large body of ice and rock• They appear to glow

• Travel in an elliptical orbit.

GALAXIES

• Made of: Stars, gas and dust.• Shapes are: Spiral, Elliptical and Irregular• We live in the Milky Way Galaxy. It is Spiral.• You can’t see the entire Milky Way from

Earth because Earth is INSIDE the Milky Way.