The Outer Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars How are the Outer planets similar?____________________________________________________________________________________________

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How are the planets different? ______________________________________________________________________________________________

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What is another name for the group of Outer planets? ____________________________________________________________________________

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What order do the Outer planets occur from the sun? _____________________________________________________________________________

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To help you organize the information on the Inner Planets, use the graphic organizer. Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Distance from the sun (in miles and kilometers)

Time of Rotation: How long is a day? (How long does it take to rotate on its Axis in Earth Days?)

Time of Revolution: How long is its year? (How long does it take to orbit the sun in Earth days or years?)

What is the atmosphere like? (what is it made up of?)

Number and name of the satellites (moons)/rings

Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Interesting facts about the satellites/rings.

Surface Features (mountains, volcanoes, water, evidence of life, etc.)

How did it get its name? Who is it named after?

Gravitational Pull

Other Interesting Facts

The Inner Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars How are the inner planets similar?____________________________________________________________________________________________

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How are the planets different? ______________________________________________________________________________________________

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What is another name for the group of inner planets? _____________________________________________________________________________

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What order do the inner planets occur from the sun? _____________________________________________________________________________

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To help you organize the information on the Inner Planets, use the graphic organizer. Mercury Venus Earth Mars Distance from the sun (in miles and kilometers)

Time of Rotation: How long is a day? (How long does it take to rotate on its Axis in Earth Days?)

Time of Revolution: How long is its year? (How long does it take to orbit the sun in Earth days or years?)

What is the atmosphere like? (what is it made up of?)

Number and name of the satellites (moons)

Mercury Venus Earth Mars Surface Features (mountains, volcanoes, water, evidence of life, etc.)

How did it get its name? Who is it named after?

Other interesting facts

NASA Missions and Findings Objectives 1. Give a brief history of how NASA began.

2. Why did NASA begin to explore space?

3. Research 2 important missions in NASA’s history and explain the purpose of the mission, the year it happened, the importance of the mission, and what they brought back (findings).

4. What information has NASA already gained about the planet Mars – why should NASA continue to explore this planet?

5. What is in the future for NASA?

What were some of NASA’s accomplishments? What were some of NASA’s failures? Discuss the importance of Space Exploration What are the pros and cons of Space Exploration? What is the cost of Space Exploration? What are 3 different approaches to Space Exploration? (Page 88. In your text) What are the benefits and draw backs of each? Look at the Teacher’s Edition on pg. 88 to get NASA’s pros and cons list

Characteristics of Stars Objectives

1. Explain how the distance between stars is measured. How is a parallax used in this process?

2. What are the main characteristics used to classify stars? For each characteristic, explain or describe the possible options in each category. For example: Size of stars – what are the difference sizes, how are stars measured, what star examples fall into each category?

3. What is apparent magnitude and absolute magnitude?

4. Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram – What is it? How and when was it created? How is it used by scientists?

The Sun Objectives

1. Explain the process of how the sun gets its energy. How is the energy produced in the core?

2. Name and describe the layers of the sun’s atmosphere.

3. Explain what sunspots are and what they are caused by. How do sunspots change over time?

4. Describe the features found on and above the surface of the sun.

5. Include other general characteristics about the sun (temperature, size, etc).

6. Why and when do scientists believe the sun may run out of energy? How will our population and world have to change to survive?

Does the sun rotate? (explain) Does the Sun Revolve? (explain) What does it revolve around? (explain)

Star Systems and Galaxy Objectives 1. Explain the difference between a star system and a galaxy.

2. What evidence do astronomers have that there’re planets around other stars?

3. Name and describe the three categories of galaxies. (In your power point presentation, include a picture for each type of galaxy along with characteristics about that galaxy.)

4. Describe characteristics of our Milky Way galaxy. What are some interesting facts about our galaxy?

5. Research 2 other galaxies and describe their characteristics – what category of galaxies does each fall into?

6. How do galaxies form?

The History of the Universe

Constellations

What is a universe? How many universes are there? Explain the Big Bang Theory of how the universe was formed. Describe how the Solar System was formed. Once a galaxy forms, what happens next?

Key Terms to define: light year,

parallax,

giant star,

apparent magnitude,

absolute magnitude,

Hertz-Sprung Russell Diagram,

main sequence star,

constellations

Describe how astronomers measure distances to a nearby star Explain how stars are classified Name 2 common constellations. (when can you see them and what is the “story” behind the constellation.)

How can you tell a star from a planet?

Asteroids, Meteors and Comets Key Terms: That should be defined within your presentation Asteroid Belt,

Comet,

Meteor,

Meteoroid,

Meteorite,

Asteroid

What are the characteristics of an asteroid (1 slide) Explain the anatomy of each Special Features Where do they come from

Discuss the Asteroid Belt in the Solar system, where do astronomers think it came from?

What are the characteristics of comets? (1 slide1) Explain the anatomy of each Special Features Where do they come from

What are the characteristics of a meteor (1 slide) Explain the anatomy of each Special Features Where do they come from Explain how a meteor’s name changes as it moves from space, into our atmosphere and lands on the Earth. How is the orbit of a comet different than that of a planet? How do asteroids get their names? How do comets get their names? Give the names and describe some common/popular asteroids, meteors and comets (3 Slides at least one for each)

Astrobiology (is there life beyond Earth?) What conditions do living things need to exist on earth? Define an extremeophile What planets/objects in space do we believe would be suitable for life? Why? Do planetary systems exist beyond our solar system? Ironic Facts/Discoveries that support the fact that there could be life outside of the Earth. What missions have tried to discover astrobiological facts? What did they find?

Life Cycle of a Star Describe and show in pictures how a star is formed, its life and its “death” (the life cycle) Identify what determines how long a star will last Explain what happens to a star when it runs out of gas (The life cycle of a star) Visually show the life cycle of all stars (small, medium and large stars)