Eight PlanetsEight Planets

A Write On ActivityA Write On Activity

In this activity you In this activity you will:will: Learn about the solar system.Learn about the solar system. Practice your knowledge in an Practice your knowledge in an

interactive game.interactive game. Select one planet and write a Select one planet and write a

paragraph containing four paragraph containing four facts you learned.facts you learned.

MercuryMercury

Mercury is the closest planet Mercury is the closest planet to the to the SunSun and the eighth and the eighth largest planet.largest planet.

It has been visited by only It has been visited by only one spacecraft, one spacecraft, Mariner 10Mariner 10. .

Temperatures vary greatly on Temperatures vary greatly on Mercury from 90 K to 700 K.Mercury from 90 K to 700 K.

MercuryMercury

Mercury is similar to the Mercury is similar to the MoonMoon in that its surface is heavily in that its surface is heavily cratered and very old.cratered and very old.

Mercury actually has a very Mercury actually has a very thin atmosphere consisting of thin atmosphere consisting of atoms blasted off its surface atoms blasted off its surface by the by the solar windsolar wind. .

MercuryMercury

  Mercury has no known Mercury has no known satellites.satellites.

VenusVenus Venus is the second planet from Venus is the second planet from

the the SunSun and the sixth largest. and the sixth largest. Venus has been known since Venus has been known since

prehistoric times. It is the prehistoric times. It is the brightest object in the sky except brightest object in the sky except for the Sun and the Moon.for the Sun and the Moon.

Its surface is actually hotter than Its surface is actually hotter than Mercury'sMercury's despite being nearly despite being nearly twice as far from the Sun. twice as far from the Sun.

VenusVenusVenus is sometimes Venus is sometimes regarded as regarded as Earth'sEarth's sister planet. sister planet. –Venus is only slightly Venus is only slightly smaller than Earth smaller than Earth

– Both have few craters. Both have few craters.

VenusVenusVenus’ core is similar Venus’ core is similar to that of Earth, an to that of Earth, an iron core.iron core.

It has no satellites.It has no satellites.It is called the It is called the "morning star" or the "morning star" or the "evening star.”"evening star.”

VenusVenus

EarthEarth The Earth is the third planet The Earth is the third planet

from the Sun and the fifth from the Sun and the fifth largest planet.largest planet.

The Earth is divided into 3 The Earth is divided into 3 main layers:main layers:– The Crust The Crust – The Mantle The Mantle – The CoreThe Core

EarthEarth The crust is thinner under the The crust is thinner under the

oceans, but thicker under the oceans, but thicker under the continents.continents.

Most of the mass of the Earth is in Most of the mass of the Earth is in the mantle.the mantle.

The core is probably composed The core is probably composed mostly of iron.mostly of iron.

71 Percent of the Earth's surface is 71 Percent of the Earth's surface is covered with covered with waterwater. It is the only . It is the only planet on which water can exist in planet on which water can exist in liquid form on the surface. liquid form on the surface.

EarthEarth Earth has only one natural Earth has only one natural

satellite, the satellite, the MoonMoon..

MarsMars

Mars is the fourth planet from Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the seventh largest.the Sun and the seventh largest.

Mars has been known since Mars has been known since prehistoric times. prehistoric times.

The first spacecraft to visit Mars The first spacecraft to visit Mars was was Mariner 4Mariner 4 in 1965, but in 1965, but several others followed.several others followed.

MarsMars Mars has the most highly Mars has the most highly

varied and interesting terrain varied and interesting terrain of any of the planets.of any of the planets.

There is evidence of erosion There is evidence of erosion in many places on Mars in many places on Mars including large floods and including large floods and small river systems (right).small river systems (right).

MarsMars

Mars has permanent ice Mars has permanent ice caps at both poles.caps at both poles.

JupiterJupiter Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Jupiter is the fifth planet from the

Sun and the largest.Sun and the largest. It was first visited by the It was first visited by the

Pioneer 10Pioneer 10 spacecraft in 1973. spacecraft in 1973. Jupiter is a Jupiter is a gas planetsgas planets and does and does

not have a solid surface.not have a solid surface. Its core is composed of rocky Its core is composed of rocky

material.material.

JupiterJupiter The main bulk of the planet is in the The main bulk of the planet is in the

form of liquid metallic hydrogen. form of liquid metallic hydrogen. The outermost layer is composed of The outermost layer is composed of

ordinary molecular hydrogen and ordinary molecular hydrogen and helium.helium.

The vivid colors seen in Jupiter's The vivid colors seen in Jupiter's clouds are probably the result of clouds are probably the result of chemical reactions in Jupiter's chemical reactions in Jupiter's atmosphere. atmosphere.

JupiterJupiter The Great Red Spot is caused The Great Red Spot is caused

by a high-pressure region by a high-pressure region whose cloud tops are whose cloud tops are significantly higher and colder significantly higher and colder than the surrounding regions.than the surrounding regions.

SaturnSaturn Saturn is the sixth planet from the Saturn is the sixth planet from the

SunSun and the second largest. and the second largest. GalileoGalileo was the first to observe it was the first to observe it

with a telescope in 1610.with a telescope in 1610. Like Jupiter, Saturn is a gas planet, Like Jupiter, Saturn is a gas planet,

about 75% hydrogen and 25% about 75% hydrogen and 25% helium.helium.

Saturn's rings, unlike the rings of Saturn's rings, unlike the rings of the other planets, are very bright. the other planets, are very bright.

SaturnSaturn

The rings are actually composed The rings are actually composed of small particles each in an of small particles each in an independent orbit.independent orbit.

The thin ring particles seem to be The thin ring particles seem to be composed primarily of water ice.composed primarily of water ice.

Saturn has 18 named satellites Saturn has 18 named satellites plus 13 recently discovered.plus 13 recently discovered.

SaturnSaturn

UranusUranus Uranus is the seventh planet from Uranus is the seventh planet from

the the SunSun and the third largest (by and the third largest (by diameter).diameter).

Uranus, the first planet discovered Uranus, the first planet discovered in modern times on March 13, 1781.in modern times on March 13, 1781.

Uranus has been visited by only one Uranus has been visited by only one spacecraft, spacecraft, Voyager 2Voyager 2 on Jan 24 on Jan 24 1986. 1986.

UranusUranus Uranus is composed primarily Uranus is composed primarily

of rock and various ices.of rock and various ices. Like the other gas planets, Like the other gas planets,

Uranus has bands of clouds Uranus has bands of clouds that blow around rapidly.that blow around rapidly.

Uranus has ringsUranus has rings composed composed of fairly large particles.of fairly large particles.

UranusUranus Voyager 2 discovered 10 Voyager 2 discovered 10

small moons in addition to small moons in addition to the 5 large ones already the 5 large ones already known.known.

NeptuneNeptune Neptune is the eighth planet Neptune is the eighth planet

from the from the SunSun and the fourth and the fourth largest (by diameter).largest (by diameter).

  Neptune has been visited by Neptune has been visited by only one spacecraft, Voyager 2 only one spacecraft, Voyager 2 on Aug 25 1989. on Aug 25 1989.

Neptune's composition is Neptune's composition is probably various "ices" and rock.probably various "ices" and rock.

NeptuneNeptune Being a gas planet, Neptune has Being a gas planet, Neptune has

rapid winds and large storms.rapid winds and large storms. Neptune has an internal heat Neptune has an internal heat

source, radiating more than source, radiating more than twice as much energy as it twice as much energy as it receives from the Sun.receives from the Sun.

Neptune's most prominent Neptune's most prominent feature is the Great Dark Spotfeature is the Great Dark Spot..

NeptuneNeptune Neptune has dark rings of Neptune has dark rings of

an unknown composition.an unknown composition. It has 11 known moons.It has 11 known moons.

PlutoPluto Pluto was once considered a Pluto was once considered a

planet, but is no longer. It is planet, but is no longer. It is now one of the dwarf planets.now one of the dwarf planets.

In the new solar system, In the new solar system, there are there are eight planetseight planets, at least three dwarf , at least three dwarf planets and tens of thousands of so-planets and tens of thousands of so-called “smaller solar system bodies,” called “smaller solar system bodies,” like comets and asteroids. like comets and asteroids.

PlutoPluto

Little is known about Little is known about Pluto's atmosphere.Pluto's atmosphere.

No longer considered

a planet

Can you match the facts?Can you match the facts? MercuryMercury VenusVenus EarthEarth MarsMars JupiterJupiter SaturnSaturn UranusUranus NeptuneNeptune PlutoPluto

MercuryMercury VenusVenus EarthEarth MarsMars JupiterJupiter SaturnSaturn UranusUranus NeptuneNeptune PlutoPluto

Can you match the facts?Can you match the facts?

Has 3 main layers

MercuryMercury VenusVenus EarthEarth MarsMars JupiterJupiter SaturnSaturn UranusUranus NeptuneNeptune PlutoPluto

Can you match the facts?Can you match the facts?

Closest to the sun

Can you match the facts?Can you match the facts?

MercuryMercury VenusVenus EarthEarth MarsMars JupiterJupiter SaturnSaturn UranusUranus NeptuneNeptune PlutoPluto

Brightest planet in the sky

Can you match the facts?Can you match the facts?

MercuryMercury VenusVenus EarthEarth MarsMars JupiterJupiter SaturnSaturn UranusUranus NeptuneNeptune PlutoPluto

Was first observed

by Galileo

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MercuryMercury VenusVenus EarthEarth MarsMars JupiterJupiter SaturnSaturn UranusUranus NeptuneNeptune PlutoPluto

The first planet

discovered in

modern times

Has a Great Dark Spot

Can you match the facts?Can you match the facts?

MercuryMercury VenusVenus EarthEarth MarsMars JupiterJupiter SaturnSaturn UranusUranus NeptuneNeptune PlutoPluto

Can you match the facts?Can you match the facts?

MercuryMercury VenusVenus EarthEarth MarsMars JupiterJupiter SaturnSaturn UranusUranus NeptuneNeptune PlutoPluto

Has permanent ice caps at both poles

Can you match the facts?Can you match the facts?

MercuryMercury VenusVenus EarthEarth MarsMars JupiterJupiter SaturnSaturn UranusUranus NeptuneNeptune PlutoPluto

The largest planet

Writing ActivityWriting Activity

Choose one planet Choose one planet and create a and create a paragraph about it paragraph about it using 4 facts you using 4 facts you learned.learned.

Review the planets Review the planets by clicking the by clicking the name on the right.name on the right.

MercuryMercury VenusVenus EarthEarth MarsMars JupiterJupiter SaturnSaturn UranusUranus NeptuneNeptune