The Solar System

Welcome aboard!Hello! We’re going to take a trip through our solar system. We will explore the features of all the planets and their orbits! By the time we land back on Earth, you will know the order of the planets and be able to identify each one. Grab your gear and head to the Space Station because you’re in for an adventure!

Interactive Field Trip!

BLASTOFF!

3.. 2.. 1..

Which planet should we visit first?

EarthVenus

Mercury

SaturnJupiterMars

Click on the star to get back to this slide!

Neptune

When you’re ready to learn more click on the picture!

Uranus

MercuryTerrestrial Planet

• This is the smallest planet in the Solar System• There is no atmosphere & no known satellites• Temperatures range from -279 - 800 degrees

Fahrenheit • Since Mercury’s orbit is within Earth’s orbit, it can

be viewed from Earth in the early morning or the late evening, but never in the middle of the nighttime.

• Mercury is the second densest planet after Earth

WE ARE HERE

Terrestrial PlanetVenus

• The atmosphere here is primarily carbon dioxide with some poisonous gases – sulfur dioxide

• The land is dry, highland regions, and has depression

• Venus’ core is composed of central iron core and molten rocky mantle – similar to Earth’s core

• Referred to as Earth’s sister planet because of their similar size, density and mass

• Venus was named after the goddess of love & beauty

EarthTerrestrial Planet

• We live on the 5th largest planet• 70% of our planet is covered in oceans

that mostly have not been explored!• The atmosphere is composed of

nitrogen and oxygen• Light takes 8 minutes and 19 seconds

to reach the Earth from the Sun• Have you heard of tectonic plates?

• They move on the floor of Earth pushing or pulling the land creating landmarks or sometimes natural disasters

WE ARE HERE

MarsTerrestrial Planet

• We are on the Red Planet• Mars got it’s nickname from

the red dusty landscape• Mars atmosphere is an

extremely thin layer of carbon dioxide

• 24 hours on Earth = 24.6 hours on Mars

• Mars is the god of war in Roman Mythology

• Similarly to Earth, Mars’ poles are blanketed in ice

• The tallest volcano in our Solar System, Olympus Mons, is located on this planet

WE ARE HERE

Gas Giant

Jupiter• Hydrogen & helium atmosphere• The large red spot is a storm that has been lasting

for over 300 years!• Jupiter has the largest moon in the Solar System

• Has 63 moons total• It was the third planet in our Solar System with rings

to be discovered• Jupiter’s rotation is the fastest in our solar system,

causing days to last one hour

WE ARE HERE

Gas GiantSaturn

• Hydrogen & helium atmosphere• Largest ring system

• Made of water, ice, rocks, dust and other chemicals

• Galileo found these rings, but thought they were actually satellites

• Saturn is less dense than water; with a body of water large enough, it would float

• The poles here are flat because of its fast rotation on its axis

• Saturday is named after this planet

WE ARE HERE

Gas Giant

Uranus• Hydrogen & helium atmosphere; also

methane• Named after the Greek god of the sky• Spins from east to west, opposite of the Earth

Sometimes causing 40 day nights/days depending on your location

• Coldest planet in the Solar System

WE ARE HERE

Gas Giant

Neptune• Hydrogen & helium atmosphere• This planet can never be seen by the naked eye• Farthest planet from the Sun• Neptune emits its own heat• Neptune was the first planet discovered using

mathematics rather than observations• This planet is 30x farther away from the sun

than the Earth

WE ARE HERE

OrbitsTo watch a detailed 2 minute video of the planets orbits click the star

Review

Click the sun when you’re ready for the quiz!

Terrestrial planets

1. Mercury: smallest 2. Venus: Earth’s sister; similar core, size, density and mass3. Earth: only planet with life on it!4. Mars: poles covered in ice

Gas Giants

5. Jupiter:6. Saturn: Found by Galileo7. Uranus: Coolest, spins E W8. Neptune: Farthest from the sun, but emits its own heat

Time to practice what you’ve learned!

Click on the spaceship when you’re ready!

QUIZWhich of the following planets is NOT a Gas Giant?

A. Neptune

B. Saturn

C. Mars

D. Jupiter

INCORRECT

Try again!

GOOD JOB!Move on to the next question!

Question #2

Which planet is referred to as Earth’s sister planet?

A. Jupiter

B. Mars

C. Saturn

D. Venus

INCORRECT

Try again!

GOOD JOB!Move on to the next question!

Question #3

What do Mars and Earth have in common?

C. Their climate is similar

B. They have the same elements in their atmosphereA. Their poles are both covered in ice

INCORRECT

Try again!

GOOD JOB!Move on to the next question!

Question #4

Who was the first to find Saturn’s rings?

A. NASA

B. Galileo

C. Gaia

D. Einstein

INCORRECT

Try again!

GOOD JOB!Move on to the next question!

Question #5

What is the coldest planet in our Solar System?

A. Jupiter

B. Mercury

C. Neptune

D. Uranus

INCORRECT

Try again!

GOOD JOB!Let’s try another game!

Number the planets in order from the sun

Click here for the correct answer!

4 7 6 2 5 8 1 3

NEXT

Write a paragraph about your favorite planet

Include planet names and what you learned about that planet.Explain why this is your favorite planet.

REMEMBER to write down your thoughts in your journal