Introduction to the Introduction to the Solar SystemSolar System

OUR SOLAR SYSTEMOUR SOLAR SYSTEM

PlanetsPlanetsStarsStarsSunSunMoonMoon

The Solar SystemThe Solar System

All objects in the solar system All objects in the solar system stay together by the force of stay together by the force of gravitygravity..

Our journey begins at the Our journey begins at the center of our solar center of our solar system-- THE SUNsystem-- THE SUN

Let’s blast off ...and Let’s blast off ...and explore explore

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 ,2, 1, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 ,2, 1, LIFTOFF!!LIFTOFF!!

Formed 5 billion Formed 5 billion years agoyears ago

Makes up 99.8% of Makes up 99.8% of our solar systemour solar system

Made of helium Made of helium and hydrogen and hydrogen

Rocky Inner PlanetsRocky Inner Planets

MercuryMercuryVenusVenusEarthEarthMarsMars

a small, rocky a small, rocky planetplanet

closest to the sunclosest to the sun covered with covered with

hundreds of hundreds of thousands of thousands of craters craters

small, rocky planetsmall, rocky planet covered with thick, covered with thick,

yellow clouds made of yellow clouds made of sulfuric acidsulfuric acid

Venus has no water Venus has no water Venus has no moonsVenus has no moons

small, rocky planetsmall, rocky planet the Earth has one the Earth has one

moonmoon the Earth has the Earth has

oceansoceans the Earth is unique the Earth is unique

from other planets from other planets because it supports because it supports lifelife

the red planetthe red planet it is cold and it is cold and

lifelesslifeless very strong very strong

winds and vast winds and vast dust stormsdust storms

Gaseous Outer Gaseous Outer PlanetsPlanets

JupiterJupiterSaturnSaturnUranusUranusNeptuneNeptune

the largest planetthe largest planet the “gas giant”the “gas giant” the “great red the “great red

spot”spot” you could fit 1,000 you could fit 1,000

Earths inside it! Earths inside it!

Giant gas Giant gas planetplanet

beautiful rings beautiful rings made of water, made of water, ice and rocky ice and rocky particlesparticles

Saturn has 18 Saturn has 18 moons (the moons (the most)most)

giant gas planet giant gas planet made up of made up of mostly rock and mostly rock and ices.ices.

tilted on its sidetilted on its side Uranus has 15 Uranus has 15

moonsmoons

giant gas planet giant gas planet made up of ices and made up of ices and rockrock

Neptune’s orbit Neptune’s orbit crosses Pluto’s orbitcrosses Pluto’s orbit

Neptune has what’s Neptune has what’s known as “the great known as “the great dark spot”dark spot”

What About…What About…

One of many One of many Dwarf Planets Dwarf Planets (such as Eris & (such as Eris & Ceres)Ceres)

Orbits outside Orbits outside our Solar Systemour Solar System

The Solar SystemThe Solar System

Remembering the order of Remembering the order of the planets is easy...the planets is easy...

MMercuryercury VVenusenus EEartharth MMarsars JJupiterupiter SSaturnaturn UUranusranus NNeptuneeptune PPlutoluto

MMy y VVeryery EagerEager MMotherother JJust ust SServederved UUs s NNiceice PPuddingudding

Prepare for landing!Prepare for landing!