Our Solar System July 16 th , 2007 By: Lisa Lizak

Our Solar System Our solar system consists of the sun, nine planets (and their moons), an asteroid belt, and many comets and meteors. The sun is the center of our solar system; the planets, their moons, the asteroids, comets, and other rocks and gas all orbit the sun.

Our solar system consists of the sun, nine planets (and their moons), an asteroid belt, and many comets and meteors. The sun is the center of our solar system; the planets, their moons, the asteroids, comets, and other rocks and gas all orbit the sun.

The Nine Planets There are nine planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. An easy way to remember the order of the planets is this mnemonic device: "My Very Excellent Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas.” The first letter of each of these words represents a planet - in the correct order.

There are nine planets in our solar system:

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

An easy way to remember the order of the planets is this mnemonic device: "My Very Excellent Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas.” The first letter of each of these words represents a planet - in the correct order.

Hi, I’m Abby the astronaut. Let’s blast off to the space station!

Welcome to the Space Station! Let’s Take A Trip! Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Rocket Craft Resources

Mercury Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun in our Solar System. This small, rocky planet has almost no atmosphere. Mercury has a very elliptical orbit and a huge range in temperature. During the long daytime (which lasts 88 Earth days or an entire Mercurian year), the temperature is hotter than an oven; during the long night (the same length), the temperature is colder than a freezer. Home

Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun in our Solar System.

This small, rocky planet has almost no atmosphere.

Mercury has a very elliptical orbit and a huge range in temperature. During the long daytime (which lasts 88 Earth days or an entire Mercurian year), the temperature is hotter than an oven; during the long night (the same length), the temperature is colder than a freezer.

Venus Venus is the second planet from the sun in our solar system. It is the hottest planet in our Solar System. This planet is covered with fast-moving sulphuric acid clouds which trap heat from the Sun. Its thick atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide. Venus has an iron core, but only a very weak magnetic field. Home

Venus is the second planet from the sun in our solar system.

It is the hottest planet in our Solar System.

This planet is covered with fast-moving sulphuric acid clouds which trap heat from the Sun. Its thick atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide. Venus has an iron core, but only a very weak magnetic field.

More On Venus Venus is also known as the "morning star" or the "evening star" since it is visible and quite bright at either dawn or dusk. It is only visible at dawn or dusk since it is closer to the sun than we are. Like the moon, Venus' appearance from Earth changes as it orbits around the Sun. It goes from full to gibbous to crescent to new and back. Home

Venus is also known as the "morning star" or the "evening star" since it is visible and quite bright at either dawn or dusk. It is only visible at dawn or dusk since it is closer to the sun than we are.

Like the moon, Venus' appearance from Earth changes as it orbits around the Sun. It goes from full to gibbous to crescent to new and back.

Earth The Earth is the third planet from the Sun in our Solar System. It is the planet we evolved on and the only planet in our Solar System that is known to support life. The Earth is about 7,926 miles (12,756 km) in diameter. The Earth is the fifth-largest planet in our Solar System (after Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune). Home NEXT

The Earth is the third planet from the Sun in our Solar System.

It is the planet we evolved on and the only planet in our Solar System that is known to support life.

The Earth is about 7,926 miles (12,756 km) in diameter. The Earth is the fifth-largest planet in our Solar System (after Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune).

The Moon The moon is Earth's only natural satellite. The moon is a cold, dry orb whose surface is studded with craters and strewn with rocks and dust (called regolith). The moon has no atmosphere. Recent lunar missions indicate that there might be some frozen ice at the poles. Home

The moon is Earth's only

natural satellite.

The moon is a cold, dry orb

whose surface is studded with

craters and strewn with rocks

and dust (called regolith).

The moon has no

atmosphere. Recent lunar

missions indicate that there

might be some frozen ice at

the poles.

Mars Mars, the red planet, is the fourth planet from the sun and the most Earth-like planet in our solar system. It is about half the size of Earth and has a dry, rocky surface and a very thin atmosphere. Home

Mars, the red planet, is the fourth planet from the sun and the most Earth-like planet in our solar system. It is about half the size of Earth and has a dry, rocky surface and a very thin atmosphere.

Jupiter Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet in our solar system. This gas giant has a thick atmosphere, 39 known moons, and a dark, barely-visible ring. Its most prominent features are bands across its latitudes and a great red spot (which is a storm). Jupiter is composed mostly of gas. This enormous planet radiates twice as much heat as it absorbs from the Sun. It also has an extremely strong magnetic field. It is slightly flattened at its poles and it bulges out a bit at the equator. Home

Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet in our solar system. This gas giant has a thick atmosphere, 39 known moons, and a dark, barely-visible ring. Its most prominent features are bands across its latitudes and a great red spot (which is a storm).

Jupiter is composed mostly of gas. This enormous planet radiates twice as much heat as it absorbs from the Sun. It also has an extremely strong magnetic field. It is slightly flattened at its poles and it bulges out a bit at the equator.

Saturn Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun in our solar system. It is the second-largest planet in our solar system (Jupiter is the largest). It has beautiful rings that are made mostly of ice chunks (and some rock) that range in size from the size of a fingernail to the size of a car. Saturn is made mostly of hydrogen and helium gas. Saturn is visible without using a telescope, but a low-power telescope is needed to see its rings. Home

Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun in our solar system. It is the second-largest planet in our solar system (Jupiter is the largest). It has beautiful rings that are made mostly of ice chunks (and some rock) that range in size from the size of a fingernail to the size of a car. Saturn is made mostly of hydrogen and helium gas.

Saturn is visible without using a telescope, but a low-power telescope is needed to see its rings.

Uranus Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun in our solar system. This huge, icy planet is covered with clouds and is encircled by a belt of 11 rings and 22 known moons. Uranus' blue color is caused by the methane (CH 4 ) in its atmosphere; this molecule absorbs red light. Home

Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun in our solar system. This huge, icy planet is covered with clouds and is encircled by a belt of 11 rings and 22 known moons.

Uranus' blue color is caused by the methane (CH 4 ) in its atmosphere; this molecule absorbs red light.

Neptune Neptune is the eighth planet from the sun in our solar system. This giant, frigid planet has a hazy atmosphere and strong winds. This gas giant is orbited by eight moons and narrow, faint rings arranged in clumps. Neptune's blue color is caused by the methane (CH 4 ) in its atmosphere; this molecule absorbs red light. Neptune cannot be seen using the eyes alone. Neptune was the first planet whose existence was predicted mathematically (the planet Uranus's orbit was perturbed by an unknown object which turned our to be another gas giant, Neptune). Home

Neptune is the eighth planet from the sun in our solar system. This giant, frigid planet has a hazy atmosphere and strong winds.

This gas giant is orbited by eight moons and narrow, faint rings arranged in clumps. Neptune's blue color is caused by the methane (CH 4 ) in its atmosphere; this molecule absorbs red light.

Neptune cannot be seen using the eyes alone. Neptune was the first planet whose existence was predicted mathematically (the planet Uranus's orbit was perturbed by an unknown object which turned our to be another gas giant, Neptune).

Pluto: A Dwarf Planet Pluto is a dwarf planet that usually orbits past the orbit of Neptune. It was classified as a dwarf planet in 2006; before that it was considered to be a planet, the smallest planet in our solar system. It is smaller than a lot of the other planets' moons, including our moon. Pluto is the only “planet” in our solar system that has not been visited by our spacecraft yet. We only have blurry pictures of its surface; even the Hubble Space Telescope orbiting the Earth can only get grainy photos because Pluto is so far from us. Home

Pluto is a dwarf planet that usually orbits past the orbit of Neptune. It was classified as a dwarf planet in 2006; before that it was considered to be a planet, the smallest planet in our solar system.

It is smaller than a lot of the other planets' moons, including our moon.

Pluto is the only “planet” in our solar system that has not been visited by our spacecraft yet. We only have blurry pictures of its surface; even the Hubble Space Telescope orbiting the Earth can only get grainy photos because Pluto is so far from us.

Rocket Craft Supplies needed : A paper towel tube Construction paper Pencil, markers or crayons Tape Glue Ruler Scissors Markers, crayons or stickers (optional) Home NEXT

Supplies needed :

A paper towel tube

Construction paper

Pencil, markers or crayons

Tape

Glue

Ruler

Scissors

Markers, crayons or stickers (optional)

Directions for Rocket Craft Wrap construction paper around the tube. Tape or glue the construction paper in place. If a single piece of construction paper isn't big enough, use another piece of construction paper to finish covering the tube. Cut 4 slits on one end of the tube. Each slit should be about 2 1/2 inches long, and each pair should be located opposite another. (They should divide the tube into 4 equal sections.) Using construction paper, cut out two triangles that are about 5 inches long and 4 inches tall. Cut a slit in each of the two triangles. Each slit should go halfway through the triangle; one goes through the top of a triangle, the other goes through the bottom of the triangle. Using the triangle with the slit in the bottom, slip the triangle onto the rocket's body in two of the slits. Using the triangle with the slit in the top, slip the triangle onto the rocket's body (in the other two slits). In addition to going onto the rocket, this triangle should also slip into the other triangle. You may have to jiggle the paper a bit to line the slits up. This forms a steady base for your rocket. Using construction paper, cut a circle about 4 inches in diameter. Cut a slit from the outer edge to the center. Turn the circle into a cone, and secure it with glue or tape. Tape the cone to the top of the rocket. Decorate the rocket with stickers, markers or crayons. You now have a great rocket ship to play with. NEXT BACK

Wrap construction paper around the tube. Tape or glue the construction paper in place. If a single piece of construction paper isn't big enough, use another piece of construction paper to finish covering the tube.

Cut 4 slits on one end of the tube. Each slit should be about 2 1/2 inches long, and each pair should be located opposite another. (They should divide the tube into 4 equal sections.)

Using construction paper, cut out two triangles that are about 5 inches long and 4 inches tall.

Cut a slit in each of the two triangles. Each slit should go halfway through the triangle; one goes through the top of a triangle, the other goes through the bottom of the triangle.

Using the triangle with the slit in the bottom, slip the triangle onto the rocket's body in two of the slits.

Using the triangle with the slit in the top, slip the triangle onto the rocket's body (in the other two slits). In addition to going onto the rocket, this triangle should also slip into the other triangle. You may have to jiggle the paper a bit to line the slits up. This forms a steady base for your rocket.

Using construction paper, cut a circle about 4 inches in diameter. Cut a slit from the outer edge to the center.

Turn the circle into a cone, and secure it with glue or tape.

Tape the cone to the top of the rocket. Decorate the rocket with stickers, markers or crayons. You now have a great rocket ship to play with.

Additional Resources for Young Astronauts www.enchantedlearning.com www.nasa.gov www.space.com www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/home/index.html www.kidsastronomy.com Home NEXT

www.enchantedlearning.com

www.nasa.gov

www.space.com

www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/home/index.html

www.kidsastronomy.com

Well, that concludes our trip! Hope you learned a lot and had as much fun as I did! The End

Well, that concludes our trip! Hope you learned a lot and had as much fun as I did!