Stars, Planets, and Moons

Cornell Notes Page 81

Stars • a massive sphere of gas • so much pressure (from its own gravity), nuclear fusion takes place- this gives off light and heat!• the Sun is our closest star

http://www.seasky.org/cosmic/sky7a01.html

To scale or not to scale?

Planets • body that revolves around a star• large enough to be rounded by own gravity• has cleared an orbit for itself

Planets • body that revolves around a star• large enough to be rounded by own gravity• has cleared an orbit for itself- Pluto has debris in its path- not a true planet!

Moons • celestial body that orbits a planet or dwarf planet.

Solar System on a Sentence Strip

• Please follow along with me!

Our Solar System

Our Solar System

• 8 planets revolve around our sun, as well as many other celestial bodies• Heliocentric

4 Inner Planets

• Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars• “Terrestrial Planets”• Small, dense, rocky

Asteroid Belt

• Between Mars and Jupiter• Many irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids and minor planets

4 Outer Planets

• Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune• Very Large • “Gas Giants” and “Ice Giants”

Pluto • Originally the 9th planet• Located in the Kuiper Belt- (similar to the asteroid belt but objects are small and icy) along with Eris, another dwarf planet.