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Long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away (room 5-1), a group of fifth graders (that’s you!) were learning about space…. Space The Final Frontier. Part 1 – Planets in Our Solar System. What is a solar system ?.
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Long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away (room 5-1), a group of fifth graders (that’s you!) were learning about space…
Space The Final Frontier Part 1 – Planets in Our Solar System
What is a solar system? • A system of planets, moons, comets, asteroids, dust, gases, and anything else that orbit a star and are tied to its gravitational force • The sun (a yellow star) is the center of our solar system
Previously in the study of space… • Around 200 BC • Aristarchus (Greek) • Sun was the center • Ptolemy • Greece, early 100s • The earth was the center of the universe
Copernicus • Polish astronomer • 1543 • The sun was the center of the solar system • Planets revolved in circles around the sun • Proved using mathematical data
Modern Model • Early 1600s • Johannes Kepler • Planets travel in elliptical (oval-shaped, like a flattened circle) orbits around the sun • Proven mathematically by Sir Isaac Newton
Planets • AKA major planets • A body that revolves around the sun • Gravity keeps them in orbit • Shine because they reflect light from the sun • Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune • Many Very Entertaining Monkeys Just Stay Up Nights
Planets continued • Revolve around the sun (year) • Rotate (spin) on an axis (day/night)
The Inner Planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
Mercury • Closet planet to the sun • Diameter (distance across): 3,000 miles • Temperature: Between 800 degrees and -280 degrees Fahrenheit (F) • Distance from the sun: 36 million miles • Length of day (in Earth time): 176 days • Length of year (in Earth days): 88 days • Natural satellites: 0
Mercury Special characteristics: • Smallest planet • Moon-like surface • Dry, hot, airless (no atmosphere) • Oldest surface • Least explored • Sun’s rays are 7 times as strong as they are on Earth • Travels at a speed of 104,000 mph • Named for the Roman god of trade and profit
Venus • 2nd planet • Diameter: 7,520 miles • Temperature: 864 degrees F • Distance from the sun: 67 million miles • Length of day: 243 days • Length of year: 225 days • Natural satellites: 0
Venus continued • Special characteristics: • Brightest object in morning and evening sky (outside of moon) • Clouds of sulfuric acid, hurricane force winds, and lightning • Heavy atmosphere – carbon dioxide, nitrogen • One school day on Venus would last 4 months! • Almost all features are named for extraordinary Earth women • Named for Roman goddess of love • Spins backwards
Earth • 3rd planet • Diameter: 7,926 miles • Average temperature: 59 degrees F • Distance from the sun: 93 million miles • Length of day: 24 hours • Length of year: 365 days • Natural satellites: 1
Earth continued • Special characteristics: • 2/3 water, 1/3 land • Only planet known to have living things • Nitrogen and oxygen • Oxygen rich environment • Travels at a speed of 64,000 mph
Mars • 4th planet • Diameter: 4,200 miles • Average temperature: -81 degrees F • Distance from the sun: 142 million miles • Length of day: 24.62 hours • Length of year: 687 days (1.88 years) • Natural satellites: 2
Mars continued • Special characteristics: • “Red Planet” – red soil contains rust • Dark blue-gray/greenish “seas” • No water on surface, frozen water beneath surface • Thin air, mostly carbon dioxide • 1997 – Mars Pathfinder landed on Mars • Present Day: Spirit and Opportunity rovers • It would take 5 minutes to travel to Mars at the speed of light • Named for Roman god of war
Mars North is at the center, south is at both ends
The Outer Planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
Jupiter • 5th planet • Diameter: 88,915 miles • Average temperature: -234 degrees F • Distance from the sun: 484 million miles • Length of day: 9 hours • Length of year: 12 years • Natural satellites: 62
Jupiter continued • Special characteristics: • Largest planet • Giant ball of gas • Heavy pressure turns gas into liquid • Giant red spot – giant storm that has lasted hundreds of years • Stripes and swirls are cloudy, windy clouds of ammonia and water • Poisonous atmosphere – hydrogen and helium • 49 moons, 3 rings (“mini solar system”) • Named for the king of ancient Roman gods
Saturn • 6th planet • Diameter: 75,000 miles • Average temperature: -288 degrees F • Distance from the sun: 886 million miles • Length of day: 11 hours • Length of year: 30 years • Natural satellites: at least 53
Saturn continued • Special characteristics: • First viewed through a telescope by Galileo in 1610 • Made of hydrogen, helium and methane • No solid surface • Pressure makes gas into liquid • Yellow and white clouds • “Jewel” of our solar system – 6 major rings • Speed of wind at equator: 1,100 mph • Named for the Roman god of agriculture
Uranus(YOOR un nus) • 7th planet • Diameter: 31,760 miles • Average temperature: -357 degrees F (core temperature 9,000 degrees F) • Distance from the sun: 1.7 billion miles • Length of day: 17 hours • Length of year: 84 years • Natural satellites: 27
Uranus continued • Special characteristics: • Tilted sideways • 11 rings • No solid surface • Blue-green color due to methane gas • Atmosphere: hydrogen, helium, methane, water, ammonia • Named for Roman god – father of the Titans • Tremendous pressure • Seasons last 20 years
Neptune • 8th planet • Diameter: 30,700 miles • Average temperature: -353 degrees F • Distance from the sun: 2.8 billion miles • Length of day: 16 hours • Length of year: 165 years (2011) • Natural satellites: 13
Neptune continued • Special characteristics: • Blue color from methane gas • Located through math, rather than observation • Incredible pressure • May have a super hot ocean • Winds: 1,200 mph • Named for the Roman god of the sea • Invisible to naked eye • 6 rings
Dwarf Planet • Orbits the sun • Has sufficient mass to be nearly round • Is not a satellite • Does not clear the neighborhood around its orbit • Could be called “plutoid” if located beyond Neptune
Dwarf Planets • Pluto • Previously known as the ninth planet • Average temperature: -356 degrees F • Distance from the sun: 4.6 billion miles • Length of day: 6.4 Earth days • Length of year: 248 years • Natural satellites: 3 • Orbit crosses Neptune’s orbit • UB313 or Eris • 10 billion miles from the sun • Takes twice as long as Pluto to orbit the sun
Dwarf Planets • Ceres • Located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter • MakeMake (new official name for Dwarf Planet 136472 2005 FY9) • Located beyond Neptune • Haumea (new official name for Dwarf Planet 136108 2003 EL61, originally called "Santa.“) • Located in the Kuiper Belt
Credits • Scott Foresman Science • www.nasa.gov • Scholastic News • Google Images • Dictionary.com