Created by,

Morgan, Liz, Megan

According to scientific theory, over According to scientific theory, over fifteen thousand million years ago, the fifteen thousand million years ago, the universe came into existence with a universe came into existence with a huge explosion, much more violent then huge explosion, much more violent then any that has happened since. any that has happened since. Everything in the universe was packed Everything in the universe was packed together at a single point during this together at a single point during this first instant of creation, but the first instant of creation, but the explosion blew it apart and the universe explosion blew it apart and the universe is still spreading out today.is still spreading out today.

The sun is the largest object in the solar system. You could fit 1.3 million Earths in the sun. the outer layer of the sun is called the photosphere and has a temperature of 6,000 degrees C or 11,000 degrees F. solar energy is created deep within the Sun’s core.

Mercury is the second smallest in the solar Mercury is the second smallest in the solar system. It is just slightly larger then Earth’s system. It is just slightly larger then Earth’s moon and its surface is covered with moon and its surface is covered with craters.craters.

In the areas that are sunlit the surface is so In the areas that are sunlit the surface is so hot that it can melt lead. hot that it can melt lead.

Compared with the other planets Venus Compared with the other planets Venus rotates backwards. Venus doesn’t have rotates backwards. Venus doesn’t have any moons or rings. Venus, which is any moons or rings. Venus, which is named after the Roman goddess of love named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty is also called the Jewel of the and beauty is also called the Jewel of the Sky.Sky.

The only known life in The only known life in the solar system is on the solar system is on earth. Affecting earth. Affecting earth’s weather solar earth’s weather solar activity gives to rise a activity gives to rise a dramatic visual dramatic visual phenomenon in our phenomenon in our atmosphere.atmosphere.

• Mars has an impressive surface with features such as enormous volcanoes and valleys. The solar system’s largest volcano Olympus Mons, is located on Mars. It’s base is larger then New Mexico. Mars is commonly referred to as the Red Planet.

Jupiter is the largest planet in the Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. Jupiter’s great red spot solar system. Jupiter’s great red spot is a huge storm that lasted since the is a huge storm that lasted since the time of Galileo. Unlike Saturn’s rings, time of Galileo. Unlike Saturn’s rings, Jupiter has a very simple system of Jupiter has a very simple system of rings that is an inner halo, a main rings that is an inner halo, a main ring, and a Gossamer Ring.ring, and a Gossamer Ring.

• Saturn has the most spectacular set of rings in the solar system. The system of rings is wide, thin, and made of small pieces of ice and rock.

As a result of a As a result of a possible collision possible collision with an Earth-sized with an Earth-sized object that may object that may have knocked it have knocked it over on its side, over on its side, Uranus rolls around Uranus rolls around in orbit. Uranus has in orbit. Uranus has a faint ring system a faint ring system and 27 known and 27 known moons.moons.

• Neptune is a very Neptune is a very cold place. Its cold place. Its bluish color comes bluish color comes from its atmosphere from its atmosphere of methane gas. of methane gas. One of the windiest One of the windiest place in the solar place in the solar system is Neptune. system is Neptune. Winds top 1,000 km Winds top 1,000 km per hour. per hour.

This mysterious planet is really a double This mysterious planet is really a double planet system, since its moon, Charon, is planet system, since its moon, Charon, is very close to Pluto and about the same very close to Pluto and about the same size.size.

We live in a giant spiral galaxy called We live in a giant spiral galaxy called the Milky Way Galaxy. Our sun is one the Milky Way Galaxy. Our sun is one of several billion stars in the Milky of several billion stars in the Milky Way. The milky way has two other Way. The milky way has two other galaxies that orbit it nearby, they are galaxies that orbit it nearby, they are visible from the southern visible from the southern hemisphere. They are called the hemisphere. They are called the Large Megellanic Cloud and the Small Large Megellanic Cloud and the Small Megellanic cloud.Megellanic cloud.

Small, fragile, irregularly shaped bodies Small, fragile, irregularly shaped bodies composed of a mixture of non-volatile composed of a mixture of non-volatile grains and frozen gases are comets. grains and frozen gases are comets. There orbits are highly elliptical, it brings There orbits are highly elliptical, it brings them close to the sun and swing themthem close to the sun and swing them

Meteors enter our atmosphere on a Meteors enter our atmosphere on a regular basis. At certain times when the regular basis. At certain times when the rate of observable meteors is high is called rate of observable meteors is high is called a meteor shower.a meteor shower.

The solar system consists of the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. It also includes comets, asteroids, and meteoroids.

Since October 2003, there have been 64 moons orbiting the solar systems planets. Mercury and Venus have no moons. Mars has 2 moons.

Earth has 1 moon called Luna. Jupiter has 16 moons! Saturn has 19 moons! Uranus has 17 moons! Neptune has 8 moons. Pluto only has one.

Charged particles from the solar wind Charged particles from the solar wind becomes trapped in earth’s magnetic becomes trapped in earth’s magnetic fields. They collide with air molecules fields. They collide with air molecules above our planets magnetic poles. These above our planets magnetic poles. These air molecules begin to glow and known as air molecules begin to glow and known as the auroras or northern and southern the auroras or northern and southern lights.lights.

During flights, the Galileo spacecraft got images of the earth and moon. The Tyco impact basin is the bright ray center at the bottom of the moon.