Our Solar SystemOur Solar System

July 16July 16thth, 2007, 2007

By: Lisa LizakBy: Lisa Lizak

Our Solar SystemOur Solar System

Our solar system consists Our solar system consists of the sun, nine planets of the sun, nine planets (and their moons), an (and their moons), an asteroid belt, and many asteroid belt, and many comets and meteors. The comets and meteors. The sun is the center of our sun is the center of our solar system; the planets, solar system; the planets, their moons, the their moons, the asteroids, comets, and asteroids, comets, and other rocks and gas all other rocks and gas all orbit the sun. orbit the sun.

The Nine PlanetsThe Nine Planets

There are nine planets in our solar system:There are nine planets in our solar system:Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

An easy way to remember the order of the An easy way to remember the order of the planets is this mnemonic device: "My Very planets is this mnemonic device: "My Very Excellent Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas.” Excellent Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas.” The first letter of each of these words represents The first letter of each of these words represents a planet - in the correct order. a planet - in the correct order.

Hi, I’m Abby the astronaut. Let’s blast off to the space station!

Welcome to the Space Station!Welcome to the Space Station!Let’s Take A Trip!Let’s Take A Trip!

Mercury Venus Earth

Mars Jupiter Saturn

Uranus Neptune Pluto

Rocket Craft Resources

MercuryMercury

Mercury is the planet closest to Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun in our Solar System. the Sun in our Solar System.

This small, rocky planet has This small, rocky planet has almost no atmosphere. almost no atmosphere.

Mercury has a very elliptical Mercury has a very elliptical orbit and a huge range in orbit and a huge range in temperature. During the long temperature. During the long daytime (which lasts 88 Earth daytime (which lasts 88 Earth days or an entire Mercurian days or an entire Mercurian year), the temperature is hotter year), the temperature is hotter than an oven; during the long than an oven; during the long night (the same length), the night (the same length), the temperature is colder than a temperature is colder than a freezer. freezer.

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VenusVenus

Venus is the second planet Venus is the second planet from the sun in our solar from the sun in our solar system. system. It is the hottest planet in our It is the hottest planet in our Solar System. Solar System. This planet is covered with This planet is covered with fast-moving sulphuric acid fast-moving sulphuric acid clouds which trap heat from clouds which trap heat from the Sun. Its thick atmosphere the Sun. Its thick atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide. is mostly carbon dioxide. Venus has an iron core, but Venus has an iron core, but only a very weak magnetic only a very weak magnetic field. field.

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More On VenusMore On Venus

Venus is also known as the Venus is also known as the "morning star" or the "evening "morning star" or the "evening star" since it is visible and star" since it is visible and quite bright at either dawn or quite bright at either dawn or dusk. It is only visible at dawn dusk. It is only visible at dawn or dusk since it is closer to the or dusk since it is closer to the sun than we are. sun than we are.

Like the moon, Venus' Like the moon, Venus' appearance from Earth appearance from Earth changes as it orbits around the changes as it orbits around the Sun. It goes from full to Sun. It goes from full to gibbous to crescent to new gibbous to crescent to new and back. and back.

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EarthEarth

The Earth is the third planet from The Earth is the third planet from the Sun in our Solar System. the Sun in our Solar System.

It is the planet we evolved on and It is the planet we evolved on and the only planet in our Solar the only planet in our Solar System that is known to support System that is known to support life. life.

The Earth is about 7,926 miles The Earth is about 7,926 miles (12,756 km) in diameter. The (12,756 km) in diameter. The Earth is the fifth-largest planet in Earth is the fifth-largest planet in our Solar System (after Jupiter, our Solar System (after Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune). Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune).

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The MoonThe Moon

The moon is Earth's only natural satellite.

The moon is a cold, dry orb whose surface is studded with craters and strewn with rocks and dust (called regolith).

The moon has no atmosphere. Recent lunar missions indicate that there might be some frozen ice at the poles.

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MarsMars

Mars, the red planet, is the fourth planet from the sun and the most Earth-like planet in our solar system. It is about half the size of Earth and has a dry, rocky surface and a very thin atmosphere.

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JupiterJupiter

Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet in Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet in our solar system. This gas giant has a our solar system. This gas giant has a thick atmosphere, 39 known moons, thick atmosphere, 39 known moons, and a dark, barely-visible ring. Its most and a dark, barely-visible ring. Its most prominent features are bands across prominent features are bands across its latitudes and a great red spot its latitudes and a great red spot (which is a storm). (which is a storm).

Jupiter is composed mostly of gas. Jupiter is composed mostly of gas. This enormous planet radiates twice This enormous planet radiates twice as much heat as it absorbs from the as much heat as it absorbs from the Sun. It also has an extremely strong Sun. It also has an extremely strong magnetic field. It is slightly flattened at magnetic field. It is slightly flattened at its poles and it bulges out a bit at the its poles and it bulges out a bit at the equator. equator.

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SaturnSaturn

Saturn is the sixth planet from the Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun in our solar system. It is the sun in our solar system. It is the second-largest planet in our solar second-largest planet in our solar system (Jupiter is the largest). It system (Jupiter is the largest). It has beautiful rings that are made has beautiful rings that are made mostly of ice chunks (and some mostly of ice chunks (and some rock) that range in size from the rock) that range in size from the size of a fingernail to the size of a size of a fingernail to the size of a car. Saturn is made mostly of car. Saturn is made mostly of hydrogen and helium gas. hydrogen and helium gas.

Saturn is visible without using a Saturn is visible without using a telescope, but a low-power telescope, but a low-power telescope is needed to see its telescope is needed to see its rings. rings.

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UranusUranus

Uranus is the seventh planet Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun in our solar from the sun in our solar system. This huge, icy planet system. This huge, icy planet is covered with clouds and is is covered with clouds and is encircled by a belt of 11 rings encircled by a belt of 11 rings and 22 known moons. and 22 known moons.

Uranus' blue color is caused Uranus' blue color is caused by the methane (CHby the methane (CH44) in its ) in its

atmosphere; this molecule atmosphere; this molecule absorbs red light. absorbs red light.

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NeptuneNeptuneNeptune is the eighth planet from the Neptune is the eighth planet from the sun in our solar system. This giant, sun in our solar system. This giant, frigid planet has a hazy atmosphere frigid planet has a hazy atmosphere and strong winds. and strong winds. This gas giant is orbited by eight This gas giant is orbited by eight moons and narrow, faint rings moons and narrow, faint rings arranged in clumps. Neptune's blue arranged in clumps. Neptune's blue color is caused by the methane (CHcolor is caused by the methane (CH44) ) in its atmosphere; this molecule in its atmosphere; this molecule absorbs red light. absorbs red light. Neptune cannot be seen using the Neptune cannot be seen using the eyes alone. Neptune was the first eyes alone. Neptune was the first planet whose existence was planet whose existence was predicted mathematically (the planet predicted mathematically (the planet Uranus's orbit was perturbed by an Uranus's orbit was perturbed by an unknown object which turned our to unknown object which turned our to be another gas giant, Neptune). be another gas giant, Neptune).

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Pluto: A Dwarf PlanetPluto: A Dwarf PlanetPluto is a dwarf planet that usually Pluto is a dwarf planet that usually orbits past the orbit of Neptune. orbits past the orbit of Neptune. It It was classified as a dwarf planet was classified as a dwarf planet in 2006; before that it was in 2006; before that it was considered to be a planet, the considered to be a planet, the smallest planet in our solar smallest planet in our solar system. system. It is smaller than a lot of the other It is smaller than a lot of the other planets' moons, including our planets' moons, including our moon. moon. Pluto is the only “planet” in our Pluto is the only “planet” in our solar system that has not been solar system that has not been visited by our spacecraft yet. We visited by our spacecraft yet. We only have blurry pictures of its only have blurry pictures of its surface; even the Hubble Space surface; even the Hubble Space Telescope orbiting the Earth can Telescope orbiting the Earth can only get grainy photos because only get grainy photos because Pluto is so far from us. Pluto is so far from us.

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Rocket CraftRocket Craft

Supplies neededSupplies needed: :

A paper towel tube A paper towel tube Construction paper Construction paper Pencil, markers or crayons Pencil, markers or crayons Tape Tape Glue Glue Ruler Ruler Scissors Scissors Markers, crayons or stickers (optional) Markers, crayons or stickers (optional)

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Directions for Rocket CraftDirections for Rocket CraftWrap construction paper around the tube. Tape or glue the construction paper in place. If a single piece of Wrap construction paper around the tube. Tape or glue the construction paper in place. If a single piece of construction paper isn't big enough, use another piece of construction paper to finish covering the tube. construction paper isn't big enough, use another piece of construction paper to finish covering the tube.

Cut 4 slits on one end of the tube. Each slit should be about 2 1/2 inches long, and each pair should be located Cut 4 slits on one end of the tube. Each slit should be about 2 1/2 inches long, and each pair should be located opposite another. (They should divide the tube into 4 equal sections.) opposite another. (They should divide the tube into 4 equal sections.)

Using construction paper, cut out two triangles that are about 5 inches long and 4 inches tall. Using construction paper, cut out two triangles that are about 5 inches long and 4 inches tall.

Cut a slit in each of the two triangles. Each slit should go halfway through the triangle; one goes through the top Cut a slit in each of the two triangles. Each slit should go halfway through the triangle; one goes through the top of a triangle, the other goes through the bottom of the triangle. of a triangle, the other goes through the bottom of the triangle.

Using the triangle with the slit in the bottom, slip the triangle onto the rocket's body in two of the slits. Using the triangle with the slit in the bottom, slip the triangle onto the rocket's body in two of the slits.

Using the triangle with the slit in the top, slip the triangle onto the rocket's body (in the other two slits). In addition Using the triangle with the slit in the top, slip the triangle onto the rocket's body (in the other two slits). In addition to going onto the rocket, this triangle should also slip into the other triangle. You may have to jiggle the paper a bit to going onto the rocket, this triangle should also slip into the other triangle. You may have to jiggle the paper a bit to line the slits up. This forms a steady base for your rocket. to line the slits up. This forms a steady base for your rocket.

Using construction paper, cut a circle about 4 inches in diameter. Cut a slit from the outer edge to the center. Using construction paper, cut a circle about 4 inches in diameter. Cut a slit from the outer edge to the center.

Turn the circle into a cone, and secure it with glue or tape.Turn the circle into a cone, and secure it with glue or tape.

Tape the cone to the top of the rocket. Decorate the rocket with stickers, markers or crayons. You now have a Tape the cone to the top of the rocket. Decorate the rocket with stickers, markers or crayons. You now have a great rocket ship to play with.great rocket ship to play with.

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Additional Resources Additional Resources for for

Young AstronautsYoung Astronauts

www.enchantedlearning.comwww.enchantedlearning.com

www.nasa.govwww.nasa.gov

www.space.comwww.space.com

www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/home/indwww.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/home/index.htmlex.html

www.kidsastronomy.comwww.kidsastronomy.com

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Well, that concludes our trip! Hope you Well, that concludes our trip! Hope you learned a lot and had as much fun as I did!learned a lot and had as much fun as I did!

The End