Space Facts Space Facts Section B – The PlanetsSection B – The Planets

MercuryMercury Closest planet to the SunClosest planet to the Sun Takes the least amount of Takes the least amount of

time to orbit the Suntime to orbit the Sun Not large enough for its Not large enough for its

gravity to hold onto a moon gravity to hold onto a moon or much of an atmosphere.or much of an atmosphere.

No MoonsNo Moons

VenusVenus The surface is hot (869) The surface is hot (869) and the atmosphere is and the atmosphere is dense and contains carbon dense and contains carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid.dioxide and sulfuric acid.

Second planet from the Second planet from the SunSun

EarthEarth Has volcanic eruptions and Has volcanic eruptions and

earthquakes.earthquakes. Sunlight, a nitrogen and Sunlight, a nitrogen and

oxygen-rich atmosphereoxygen-rich atmosphere Large oceans and the Large oceans and the

greenhouse effect makes greenhouse effect makes climates that supports life.climates that supports life.

Third planet from the Sun.Third planet from the Sun.

MarsMars The largest canyon in the solar The largest canyon in the solar

systemsystem Called the Red PlanetCalled the Red Planet Valles Marineris, is as wide as the Valles Marineris, is as wide as the

United States.United States. Might have had running water at one Might have had running water at one

time. Has ice capstime. Has ice caps Largest volcano in the solar system, Largest volcano in the solar system,

Olympus MonsOlympus Mons

JupiterJupiter The largest planet has an The largest planet has an

atmosphere of cold hydrogen atmosphere of cold hydrogen gas. gas.

It has many moons, so far 17 It has many moons, so far 17 have been found.have been found.

It has a giant red spot that is It has a giant red spot that is thought to be a stormthought to be a storm

SaturnSaturn Mostly gas, but less dense, Mostly gas, but less dense,

making it very light that it making it very light that it could float on water.could float on water.

It has 18 moons.It has 18 moons. It is known for its beautiful It is known for its beautiful

rings which are made of rings which are made of millions of bits of ice.millions of bits of ice.

UranusUranus Atmosphere of methane Atmosphere of methane gas gas

set of dark, narrow rings set of dark, narrow rings that run from top to that run from top to bottom, instead of around.bottom, instead of around.

NeptuneNeptune Is the bluest planet because Is the bluest planet because

of its methane gas of its methane gas atmosphereatmosphere

Its moon, Triton, has Its moon, Triton, has volcanoesvolcanoes

Crosses Pluto’s path as it Crosses Pluto’s path as it orbits the Sunorbits the Sun

Has a set of dark rings Has a set of dark rings

PlutoPluto Does not have a thick Does not have a thick atmosphereatmosphere

Discovered in 1930Discovered in 1930 Has one moon called Has one moon called CharonCharon

Smallest planetSmallest planet Covered by layers of iceCovered by layers of ice

AsteroidsAsteroids A wide belt of small objects A wide belt of small objects

that orbit the Sun between that orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.Mars and Jupiter.

Sometimes called minor Sometimes called minor planets.planets.

Might be the remains of Might be the remains of planets pulled apart or planets pulled apart or leftovers from the formation leftovers from the formation of the solar systemof the solar system

MeteorsMeteors Parts or pieces of meteoroids Parts or pieces of meteoroids

that fall from spacethat fall from space No bigger than a grain of sandNo bigger than a grain of sand Sometimes called a Shooting Sometimes called a Shooting

star.star.

MeteoroidsMeteoroids Part of the dust and gas Part of the dust and gas trail left behind by a trail left behind by a cometcomet

MeteoriteMeteorite A piece of rock that falls A piece of rock that falls and lands on the Earth and lands on the Earth from spacefrom space

CometsComets These are chunks of ice These are chunks of ice

and rock left over from the and rock left over from the formation of our solar formation of our solar systemsystem

They move around the Sun They move around the Sun in a long oval-shaped in a long oval-shaped orbitsorbits

How are meteors related How are meteors related to comets?to comets?

Meteors are the dust Meteors are the dust and rock particles that and rock particles that fall from the tail of a fall from the tail of a cometcomet

Scientist attempt to find out if Scientist attempt to find out if there is other intelligent life in the there is other intelligent life in the

universeuniverse

Scientist use radio Scientist use radio telescopes to try to telescopes to try to detect signs of life detect signs of life sending coded messages sending coded messages called SETI into spacecalled SETI into space

1. I’m the closest planet to 1. I’m the closest planet to the sun, what planet am I?the sun, what planet am I?

A. MercuryA. MercuryB. SaturnB. SaturnC. VenusC. VenusD. EarthD. Earth

MERCURYMERCURY

22. I’m called the Red Planet, . I’m called the Red Planet, who am I?who am I?

A. MarsA. MarsB. JupiterB. JupiterC. PlutoC. PlutoD. MercuryD. Mercury

MARSMARS

3. I’m pieces of meteoroids that 3. I’m pieces of meteoroids that fallfall from space, what am I? from space, what am I?

A. cometsA. cometsB. AsteroidsB. AsteroidsC. MeteorsC. MeteorsD. PlutoD. Pluto

METEORSMETEORS

4. What is a fact about Neptune?4. What is a fact about Neptune?

A. Smallest of all the planetsA. Smallest of all the planets B. Has a moon called TritonB. Has a moon called Triton C. No moons at allC. No moons at all D. Largest canyon in the solar D. Largest canyon in the solar

systemsystem

HAS A MOON CALLED HAS A MOON CALLED TRITONTRITON

5. What is SETI?5. What is SETI? A. A radio stationA. A radio station B. The way to send a B. The way to send a message to your mommessage to your mom

C. Scientist way to send C. Scientist way to send messages into space messages into space looking for intelligent lifelooking for intelligent life

D. The largest planet in theD. The largest planet in the

solar systemsolar system

C. Scientist way to send C. Scientist way to send messages into space messages into space

looking for intelligent lifelooking for intelligent life

6. Which planet has 6. Which planet has earthquakes?earthquakes?

A. MarsA. MarsB. SaturnB. SaturnC. EarthC. EarthD. PlutoD. Pluto

C. EarthC. Earth

7. I’m chunks of ice and rock 7. I’m chunks of ice and rock left over from the formation of left over from the formation of our solar system that move in our solar system that move in an oval- shaped path around an oval- shaped path around

the sun, what am I?the sun, what am I? A. MeteorsA. Meteors B. PlutoB. Pluto C. CometsC. Comets D. ColumbusD. Columbus

C. CometsC. Comets

8. I am the smallest planet and only 8. I am the smallest planet and only discovered in 1930, who am I? discovered in 1930, who am I?

A. VenusA. VenusB. JupiterB. JupiterC. PlutoC. PlutoD. EarthD. Earth

C. PlutoC. Pluto

9. 9. A wide belt of small objects A wide belt of small objects between Mars and Jupiter is between Mars and Jupiter is

called?called?A. CometsA. CometsB. Neptune’s cratersB. Neptune’s cratersC. SETIC. SETID. Asteroid BeltD. Asteroid Belt

D. Asteroid BeltD. Asteroid Belt

10. What are dust and 10. What are dust and particles left behind by a particles left behind by a

comet comet ??A. MeteoritesA. MeteoritesB. MeteorsB. MeteorsC. MeteoroidsC. MeteoroidsD. asteroidsD. asteroids

C. MeteoroidsC. Meteoroids

11. When a piece of a rock falls 11. When a piece of a rock falls from space and lands on the Earth from space and lands on the Earth

its called?its called?A. Asteroid BeltA. Asteroid BeltB. CometB. CometC. MeteoriteC. MeteoriteD. Superman’s D. Superman’s capsulecapsule

C. MeteoriteC. Meteorite

12. 12. I am the largest Planet, who I am the largest Planet, who am I?am I?

A. SaturnA. SaturnB. JupiterB. JupiterC. MercuryC. MercuryD. EarthD. Earth

B. JupiterB. Jupiter

13. 13. I am so light I could float I am so light I could float on water, who am I?on water, who am I?

A. JupiterA. JupiterB. SaturnB. SaturnC. UranusC. UranusD. PlutoD. Pluto

B. SaturnB. Saturn

14. Saturn is known for its?14. Saturn is known for its?A. Beautiful RingsA. Beautiful RingsB. Because it’s the B. Because it’s the Red PlanetRed Planet

C. Smallest planetC. Smallest planetD. Second planet from D. Second planet from the Sunthe Sun

A. Beautiful A. Beautiful RingsRings

15. Uranus is known for?15. Uranus is known for? A. Rings that go up and A. Rings that go up and down instead of around the down instead of around the middlemiddle

B. Its asteroid beltB. Its asteroid belt C. the comet that circles its C. the comet that circles its equatorequator

D. Its 18 moonsD. Its 18 moons

A. Rings that go up A. Rings that go up and down instead of and down instead of around the middlearound the middle

16. The surface of this planet is 16. The surface of this planet is very hot (869very hot (869oo) and it is the ) and it is the

second planet from the sun.second planet from the sun.

A. MercuryA. MercuryB. PlutoB. PlutoC. VenusC. VenusD. MarsD. Mars

C. VenusC. Venus

17. Can you name the 17. Can you name the 9 planets in our solar 9 planets in our solar

system?system?

MERCURYMERCURYVENUSVENUSEARTHEARTHMARSMARSJUPITERJUPITER

SATURN SATURN

URANUSURANUS

NEPTUNE NEPTUNE

PLUTOPLUTO

18. I have a giant red spot that is 18. I have a giant red spot that is thought to be a storm, who am I?thought to be a storm, who am I?

A. JupiterA. JupiterB. PlutoB. PlutoC. EarthC. EarthD. MercuryD. Mercury

A. JupiterA. Jupiter

19. I have large oceans and 19. I have large oceans and oxygen-rich environment, oxygen-rich environment,

who am I?who am I?A. UranusA. UranusB. Asteroid BeltB. Asteroid BeltC. JupiterC. JupiterD. EarthD. Earth

D. EarthD. Earth

20. How are meteors related to 20. How are meteors related to comets?comets?

A. Meteors are in the dust of A. Meteors are in the dust of a comet’s taila comet’s tail

B. Meteors are what B. Meteors are what falls falls from the tail of a comet.from the tail of a comet.

C. Comets come from falling C. Comets come from falling meteors crashing to the earth.meteors crashing to the earth.

D. Comets are falling meteorsD. Comets are falling meteors

B. Meteors are B. Meteors are what what falls falls from the from the

tail of a comet.tail of a comet.

21. What is a Meteorite?21. What is a Meteorite?

A. A falling CometA. A falling Comet B. A shooting starB. A shooting star C. A meteor that hits the C. A meteor that hits the

earthearth D. none of the above they D. none of the above they

are just in fairy talesare just in fairy tales

C. A meteor that C. A meteor that hits the earthhits the earth

22. How many planets do we 22. How many planets do we talk about in our solar system talk about in our solar system

right now?right now?A. 6A. 6B. 12B. 12C. 18C. 18D. 9D. 9

D. 9D. 9

23. What is are the inner 23. What is are the inner planets?planets?

A. Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, A. Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranusand Uranus

B. Mercury, Venus, B. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and MarsEarth, and Mars

C. Mercury,Saturn, C. Mercury,Saturn, Uranus, and PlutoUranus, and Pluto

B. Mercury, Venus, B. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and MarsEarth, and Mars

24. Which are the outer planets?24. Which are the outer planets?

A. Just Neptune, A. Just Neptune, Uranus, and PlutoUranus, and Pluto

B. Mercury, Venus, B. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and MarsEarth, and Mars

C. All the planets after C. All the planets after the Asteroid Beltthe Asteroid Belt

C. All the planets C. All the planets after the Asteroid after the Asteroid

BeltBelt

25. What comes after Mars in 25. What comes after Mars in space that is not a planet?space that is not a planet?

A. Meteors following A. Meteors following a cometa comet

B. The asteroid beltB. The asteroid beltC. SETI messagesC. SETI messagesD. Shooting StarsD. Shooting Stars

B. The B. The asteroid beltasteroid belt

26. What are asteroids made of?26. What are asteroids made of?

A. SnowA. Snow B. Rocks and iceB. Rocks and ice C. candy canesC. candy canes D. Alien shipsD. Alien ships

B. Rocks and iceB. Rocks and ice

27. Explain how meteoroid, meteor, 27. Explain how meteoroid, meteor, and meteorite are related.and meteorite are related.

A. They are all the same thing, A. They are all the same thing, just at a different stage of its just at a different stage of its life.life.

B. They are totally different B. They are totally different rock of ice that all fly with rock of ice that all fly with cometscomets

C. They all fall from the sky C. They all fall from the sky on different dayson different days

A. They are all the same A. They are all the same thing, just at a different thing, just at a different

stage of its life.stage of its life.

28. Which planet has the largest 28. Which planet has the largest volcano in the solar system?volcano in the solar system?

A. MarsA. MarsB. MercuryB. MercuryC. SaturnC. SaturnD. PlutoD. Pluto

A. MarsA. Mars

29. Which facts describe Neptune?29. Which facts describe Neptune?

A. The bluest planet A. The bluest planet B. Has a moon called B. Has a moon called TritonTriton

C. Crosses Pluto’s path C. Crosses Pluto’s path as it orbits the sun as it orbits the sun

D. All of the aboveD. All of the above

D. All of the aboveD. All of the above

30.30. What facts describe Pluto?What facts describe Pluto?

A. Discovered in 1930A. Discovered in 1930 B. has a moon called B. has a moon called

CharonCharon C. Smallest planetC. Smallest planet D. Covered by layers of iceD. Covered by layers of ice F. All of the aboveF. All of the above

F. All of the aboveF. All of the above