MYSTERIOUS SOLAR SYSTEM?
Or, just a ‘Mixed Up’ solar system?
MoonsMoons?
No moons?
Lots of Moons
Some Moons
One Moon No Moons
2, 10, 7 8, 14, 15 4, 9, 12 1, 6, 13
NU
MB
ER
OF
MO
ON
SNumber of Moons
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
OBJECTS
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Observations [1]
• Based on Plot: Number of Moons, objects in the solar system …
Observations [1]
• Based on Plot: Number of Moons, objects in the solar system generally have few moons.
SIZE
(Rad
ius,
in k
m)
Size
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
OBJECTS
300,000
10,000
1,000
300
100,000
30,000
100
SIZE
(Rad
ius,
in k
m)
Size
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
OBJECTS
300,000
10,000
1,000
300
100,000
30,000
100
Large
Medium
Small
Observations [2]
• Based on Plot: Size, objects in the solar system …
Observations [2]
• Based on Plot: Size, objects in the solar system have a wide range of sizes.
Composition
Rocky Gaseous Ice w/some Rock
1, 9, 13, 15 2, 7, 10, 14 4, 6, 8, 12
SIZE
(Rad
ius,
in k
m)
Size with Composition
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
OBJECTS
300,000
10,000
1,000
300
100,000
30,000
100
Gaseous
Rocky
Ice w/some Rock
SIZE
(Rad
ius,
in k
m)
Size
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
OBJECTS
300,000
10,000
1,000
300
100,000
30,000
100
SIZE
(Rad
ius,
in k
m)
Size with Composition
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
OBJECTS
300,000
10,000
1,000
300
100,000
30,000
100
Gaseous
Rocky
Ice w/some Rock
Observations [3]
• Based on Plot: Size with composition, objects in the solar system …
Observations [3]
• Based on Plot: Size with composition, objects in the solar system with similar composition have similar sizes.
Distance from the Sun
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
OBJECTS
30,000
Radius of orbitRadius of orbitRadius of orbitRadius of orbitRadius of orbit
Radius of
orbit
Sun
Orbit D
ISTA
NC
E F
RO
M T
HE
SU
N(A
vera
ge ra
dius
of o
rbit,
in m
illio
ns o
f km
)
10,000
3,000
1,000
300
100
30
10
Observations [4]
• Based on Plot: Distance from the Sun, objects in the solar system …
Observations [4]
• Based on Plot: Distance from the Sun, objects in the solar system have a wide range of distances from the Sun.
Distance ‘Flipped’
13, 1, 9, 15, 7, 10, 2, 14, 8, 12, 6, 4
NEAR* FAR* VERRRRYYY FAR*
*Relatively speaking of course…
- Can you put your objects in order?
- Do you know what they are now?
What planet is this ? My Very Educated
Mother Just Served Us
Nine Pizzas
General Observations• Objects in the solar system
– [1] generally have few moons.– [2] have a wide range of sizes– [3] objects in the solar system with similar
composition have similar sizes.– [4] have a wide range of distances from the Sun.
Object IdentificationsObject Number Object Name Object Type
1 Venus Rocky Planet
2 Uranus Giant Planet (Gas)
3 Ceres Asteroid
4 Eris Kuiper Belt Object
6 Makemake (2005 FY9) Kuiper Belt Object
5 Vesta Asteroid
7 Jupiter Giant Planet (Gas)
8 Pluto Kuiper Belt Object
9 Earth Rocky Planet
10 Saturn Giant Planet (Gas)
11 Hygeia Asteroid
12 Haumea (2003 EL61) Kuiper Belt Object
13 Mercury Rocky Planet
14 Neptune Giant Planet (Gas)
15 Mars Rocky Planet
16 Pallas Asteroid
Sun
Rocky Planets
Asteroid Belt
Giant Planets
Kuiper Belt
Oort Cloud
The 21st Century Solar System
Another way to think about it…
A model based on composition:
• Rock
• Rock w/some Ice
• Gaseous
• Ice w/some rock
• Inner/Rocky Planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars)
• Asteroids• Outer/Giant Planets
(Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
• Kuiper Belt Objects
Activity ResourcesIntroducing the Solar System/Background Building
•Solar System Q & As
•Science Content Reading – Star Witness News
Reinforcement
•Online Exploration: Solar System Trading Cards
•Graphic Organizer: Comparison of rocky and gas planets
Activity
•Fast Facts
•WorldWide Telescope
Misconceptions
•Solar System Myths vs. Realities