Our Solar System

A Write On Activity

EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE Tennessee Standard:

Content Standard: 7.0 Earth and Its Place in the Universe

The student will investigate the structure of the universe.

Learning Expectations: 7.1 Recognize the basic

components of the universe.

Our Solar SystemOur solar system is made

up of: Sun – Star in the center of

a solar system. Nine planets Their moons – a natural

satellite that orbits a primary planet.

Asteroids Comets

4

Terrestrial vs. Gaseous Terrestrial vs. Gaseous PlanetsPlanetsTerrestrialTerrestrial

Mercury, Venus, Mercury, Venus, Earth, MarsEarth, Mars

1.1. RockyRocky More denseMore dense

2.2. SmallerSmaller

3.3. More closely spacedMore closely spaced

4.4. Closer to the SunCloser to the Sun

GaseousGaseous

Jupiter, Saturn, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, NeptuneUranus, Neptune

1.1. Gaseous, has more Gaseous, has more He and HHe and H Less dense (Saturn Less dense (Saturn

would float)would float)

2.2. LargerLarger

3.3. Spaced farther apartSpaced farther apart

4.4. Farther from the SunFarther from the Sun

Inner PlanetsThe inner four rocky

planets at the center of the solar system are:

Mercury Venus Earth Mars

Mercury

Planet nearest the sun Second smallest planet Covered with craters

As a result of having no atmosphere to protect it from foreign objects hitting its surface.

Has no moons or rings About size of Earth’s moon

Venus Sister planet to Earth Has no moons or rings Hot, thick atmosphere

High composition of CO2 Very hot

Brightest object in sky besides sun and moon (looks like bright star)

Covered with craters, volcanoes, and mountains

Earth Third planet from sun Only planet known to have life and liquid

water Atmosphere composed of composed of

Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), and other gases (1%).

Due to its position in the solar system relative to the sun and composition of atmosphere it makes it an ideal planet for supporting life.

Mars Fourth planet from sun Appears as bright reddish color in the

night sky Surface features volcanoes and huge

dust storms Has 2 moons Most studied planet other than earth.

This is because its characteristics are closest to being able to support life.

ASTEROID BELT

•Most asteroids can be found in the Asteroid Belt, which is located between Mars and Jupiter. Asteroids are rocky and metallic objects that orbit the Sun, but are too small to be considered planets. They are known as minor planets. Asteroids range in size from Ceres, which has a diameter of about 1000 km, down to the size of pebbles.

Asteroids

Small bodies Believed to be left

over from the beginning of the solar system billions of years ago

100,000 asteroids lie in belt between Mars and Jupiter

Largest asteroids have been given names

Meteoroids and Meteorite

Meteoroids are loose dust particles that come from Comeroid. Most areVery small. When it enters Earth’s atmosphere it forms a bright light, ashooting star. Most meteoroids break up in the Earth’s atmosphere.When they break up it is called a meteorite.

Comets

They are like dirty snowballs

Small icy bodies Travel past the Sun Give off gas and

dust as they pass by

Outer Planets

The outer planets composed of gas are :

Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune

Jupiter Largest planet in solar

system Brightest planet in sky 60+ moons Strong magnetic field Giant red spot Has small Rings

Saturn 6th planet from sun Beautiful set of rings 31 moons Largest moon, Titan, Easily visible in the

night sky Voyager explored

Saturn and its rings.

Uranus 7th planet from sun Has a faint ring

system 27 known moons Covered with clouds Uranus sits on its side

with the north and south poles sticking out the sides.

Neptune

8th planet from sun Discovered through

math 7 known moons Triton largest moon Great Dark Spot

thought to be a hole, similar to the hole in the ozone layer on Earth

Outermost Planet

Pluto, the outermost planet, is a small solid icy planet is smaller than the Earth's Moon.

There is much debate to its being considered a planet and today it is considered a dwarf planet.

Pluto 9th planet from sun

(usually) Never visited by

spacecraft Orbits very slowly Moon, Charon, is

very close to Pluto and about the same size

Explore the Universe and expand your mind

Susan HammondTTlJune 2003