Our Solar System

Our Solar System

•Composed of 8 planets, their moons, various comets, asteroids & other objects that revolve around a star •A planet is a large space object that moves in a curved path around a star. •The solar system contains large clouds of dust and gas.

The study of the universe or outer space is called Astronomy. http://youtu.be/svvwv5oAf4I 4 min

Inner Planets – Mercury, Venus, Earth & Mars •Closest to the Sun •Terrestrial – hard, rocky surfaces •small

http://youtu.be/YFsB8KKlP4I 8 min

Outer Planets – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus & Neptune •Farthest from the Sun •Ice and Gas Giants •All have rings and many moons

http://youtu.be/43SHCRv4wdw 8 min

http://youtu.be/vU5_aYlaXa8 Moons in out Solar System - 4 min

Moons •A moon is a natural object that revolves around a planet. •Satellite •Mercury & Venus have no moons. •Most moons are made of solid material. Miranda – one of Uranus’s

Callisto – one of Jupiter’s

Io – one of Jupiter’s

Asteroids •Large pieces of space rock with irregular shapes •??Left over material from the formation of the solar system •Most are found in the asteroid belt between Mars & Jupiter. •They can collide with objects creating huge craters. http://youtu.be/MO2LFSifklE 2 min Vesta – large asteroid

Comets •Space bodies made up of ice, dust and small, gritty particles (dirty snowballs) •The ice turns to gas, producing a streak called the tail. •The comet’s tail always points away from the Sun. •Most comets come from the Oort cloud, which is located at the outer edge of our solar system. http://youtu.be/rsTE6pV4wpU What are Comets? 3 min.

http://youtu.be/4nH_mAObnZc 2 min. Halley’s Comet

Meteoroids

•In space – meteoroids – with the asteroids •In our atmosphere – meteors – burning up •On the land – meteorites – all right

•Pieces of rock or dust that are smaller than asteroids •When entering the Earth’s atmosphere, they usually burn up & produce streaks of light – meteors – shooting stars. •Those that land on the Earth’s surface are called meteorites.

http://youtu.be/kAJHVII3_-0 2 min – Difference between M, A & Comets

Rotation •The movement of a space object turning on its axis.

Period of rotation – the amount of time it takes for an object to rotate once

Revolution •The movement of a body in space around another body •Orbit – the path of a body in space revolving around another body

Mercury •Inner planet •Closest to the Sun •Terrestrial – solid & rocky •Smallest planet •Slow rotation •Fast revolution •No water •Thin atmosphere •No moons

God of Speed

1

2 Goddess of Love

Venus

•Inner planet •Terrestrial •Hottest planet •Earth’s twin (about the same size) •No moon •Thick atmosphere (CO²) traps the heat from the Sun

Goddess of Earth – Terra Mater

Earth •Inner planet •Terrestrial •3rd rock from the Sun •Only planet that supports life •75% covered with water

3

4 God of War

Mars •Inner planet •Terrestrial •Thin atmosphere •“Red Planet” – due to the red soil & rocks (iron oxide) •Largest volcano in the solar system – Olympus Mons •2 moons – Phobos & Deimos •Most studied planet (besides Earth) in the solar system

Asteroid Belt •Found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter

God of Sky & Thunder

5 Jupiter •Outer planet – Gas Giants •Largest planet •Mostly hydrogen & helium •Does not have solid surface •Rotates very fast •Thin set of rings •66 moons •Large red spot – huge storm

Saturn

•Outer planet – gas giant •2nd largest planet •Largest system of rings •62 moons – Titan (largest) •Jewel of the Solar System

6

Roman God for Farming

Uranus

•Outer planet – Gas Giant •Very cold •Tipped over on its side •Has rings and many moons •Retrograde rotation

7

God of the Sky

Neptune

God of the water and sea

•Outer planet – Gas Giant •Most distant from the Sun •165 years for one revolution around the Sun •Has rings and many moons •Triton, largest moon, revolves backward/retrograde

8

Pluto •Dwarf planet •Half the size of Mercury •Made of ice and rock •Thin atmosphere •4 moons

God of the Underworld

http://youtu.be/Xwjg1oX5pD4 8 min. Solar System’s 10 Most incredible Moons http://youtu.be/Y2ijS8jY4F4 6 min. What is out Solar System? http://youtu.be/nQfJ7j2UGGk Planets Around a Star SONG – 4 min Mr. Parr http://youtu.be/ZTW1wuQcyPo 5 min – 2013 – The Year of the Comets

Created by M. Brumbaugh 2012 – TCMS