solar system journal teacher

The Solar System
Image by AL2TB on Wikimedia Commons
Day/ Lesson Number Lesson Title

1 What Makes Up the Solar System?
2 What is Astronomy?
A Look at Space, Celestial Objects, and
the Universe
3 Amazing Astronauts and

Voyages into Space:
A Look at Space Exploration
4 Nine in a Row: All About the Planets
5 Inner Planets vs. Outer Planets
6 All About the Sun
7 The Center of It All
8 Earth’s Satellite:
All About the Moon
9 Night Lights: All About Stars
10 Size and Scale of the Sun and Planets
11 Solar and Lunar Eclipses
12 How Big is the Solar System?
2
Vocabulary Image by AL2TB on Wikimedia Commons
Asteroid A small rocky body orbiting the sun.
Asteroid Belt The space between Mars and Jupiter where most asteroids orbit
Astronaut A person who is trained to travel in spacecraft
Astronomer An expert in astronomy/ a person who studies astronomy
Astronomy The branch of science that deals with celestial objects, space, and
the physical universe as a whole
Atmosphere The envelope of gases that surround a planet
Comet A celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when
near the sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles pointing away from
the sun
Constellation A group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that is traditionally

named after its apparent form or identified with a mythological
figure
Core The center of an object
Cosmonaut The Russian term for “astronaut”
Crater A hole in the ground caused by an object from space
Dwarf Planet A celestial body resembling a small planet but lacking certain
technical criteria that are required for it to be classed as such
Earth The third planet of the Solar System
Galaxy A system of billions of stars, together with gas and dust, held
together by gravitational attraction
Gas Giant A large planet of relatively low density consisting predominantly of

hydrogen and helium, such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune
Gravity The force that attracts a body toward the center of the Earth, or
toward any other physical body having mass
Jupiter The fifth and largest planet in the Solar System
3
Mars The fourth planet of the Solar System
Mercury The planet that is closest to the Sun
Meteorite A meteor that survives its passage through the Earth's

atmosphere such that part of it strikes the
Meteoroid A small body moving in the Solar System that would become a
meteor if it entered the Earth's atmosphere
Milky Way The galaxy where the Solar System is located
Moon A natural satellite of any planet
Neptune The eighth planet in the Solar System
Orbit The curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star,

planet, or moon
Pluto The last and smallest planet in the Solar System
Revolution The movement of an object in a circular or elliptical course

around another or about an axis or center
Rotation The action of rotating around an axis or center
Saturn The sixth planet in the Solar System
Solar System The collection of eight planets and their moons in orbit around
the Sun, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids,
meteoroids, and comets
Star A body of hot gases located in outer space
Sun The central body of the Solar System
Sunspot A spot or patch appearing from time to time on the Sun's surface,
appearing dark by contrast with its surroundings
Telescope An optical instrument used to observe objects that are far away.
Terrestrial Of, on, or relating to Earth
Uranus The seventh planet in the Solar System
Venus The second and brightest planet in the Solar System

4
Planets of the
Solar System
Image by tonynetone on Flickr
To remember the order of the planets, here’s a mnemonic:
My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming Planets

(Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto)
5
Introduction to the Solar System
 The Solar System is made up of nine planets.
 Each planet circles (orbits) the Sun.
 The Sun has a lot of gravity, which is why it tries to pull the planets towards it.
This is why the Sun is the center of the universe.
 There are 180 moons in the Solar System. Moons do not orbit the Sun; they
orbit the closest planet.
 For many years, people were unaware of the Solar System; they believed
Earth was the center of the universe.
 The Solar System orbits around the Milky Way Galaxy.
 In the Milky Way Galaxy, there are about 200 billion stars.
 The Sun makes up 99.85% of the Solar System’s mass; planets, asteroids, and
other objects make up 0.15% of the remaining mass.
 The planets of the Solar System orbit in a counterclockwise direction.
Do you think aliens exist? Why or why not?
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Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images on
Pixabay 6
How Did the Solar System Form:
The Nebular Theory
 The Solar System began forming 5 billion years ago from a giant spinning
cloud of gas and dust.
 Main Gases: Hydrogen (74%) and Helium (24%)
 Remaining Gases: Oxygen; Nitrogen; Carbon.
 The cloud became denser and hotter under the influence of gravity.
 As material fell towards the core, the cloud increased in speed.
 Increasing temperature generated enough energy to trigger a nuclear

fusion.
 The nuclear fusion marked the birth of the Sun.
 The Sun took 10 million years to form.
 Near the Sun was heavier, rocky material and metallic with high melting
points.
 Mutual gravity caused the rocks to come together and form planets.
 Rocky Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
 Temperatures dropped further from the Sun.
 Gas Giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
 The Solar System is about 4.6 billion years old.
Image by nymixArt on Pixabay

7
What Will You Find in the Solar System?
 The Solar System is made up of more than just planets!
Sun A large star; the center of the Solar

(A) System.
Planet A celestial body moving in an elliptical

(B) orbit around a star.
Dwarf Planet A celestial body resembling a planet,

(C) but lacking some required criteria.
Satellite A celestial body orbiting the Earth or

(D) another planet.
Asteroid A small rocky body orbiting the Sun.

(E)
Comet A celestial object consisting of a

(F) nucleus of ice and dust and, when near
the Sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles
pointing away from the Sun.
Meteor A small body of matter from outer space

(G) that enters the earth's atmosphere.
Which One Is It?

Label the pictures with
correct letters above.
Image by geralt on Image on Max Pixel

Pixabay
Image by ESO on Image by NASA/SDO (AIA)

Wikimedia Commons on Wikimedia Commons
Image by bark on Flickr Image by gnokii on Openclipart 8

Image by State Farm on Flickr
History of Astronomy
 Astronomy is one of the oldest types of science.
 Someone who studies astronomy is called an astronomer.
 Astronomy is the study of outer space and celestial bodies, including

stars, comets, planets, and galaxies.
 Astronomy has been traced back to the Ancient Mesopotamia.
 Ancient Greeks, Romans, and Mayans also studied astronomy.
 In ancient times, space was observed only by the eyes.
 In the early 1600s, the telescope was invented. The invention of the
telescope helped scientists get a better view of the sky, stars, the moon,
and planets.
 Major discoveries in astronomy are still being made today. The 20th
Century saw the discoveries of new galaxies, black holes, neutron stars,
and quasars.
Image by OpenClipart- Image by k-images on Image by ktos on Image by OpenClipart- Image by k-images on Image by ktos on
Vectors on Pixabay Pixabay Pixabay Vectors on Pixabay Pixabay Pixabay
9
Galileo Galilei
Born February 25, 1564
Pisa, Italy
Died January 8, 1642

Arcetri, Italy
Contributions to Science  Proved that the Solar System revolved

around the Sun. He called this the
“Heliocentric Model.”
 Improved the telescope, changing the
magnification from 3x to 30x!
 In 1610, he discovered Jupiter had four
moons.
 Discovered Earth’s moon has phases and
craters.
 Experimented a lot—developed the
“Scientific Method”.
 Developed the pendulum design, a time
keeping method.
Image by Sailko on Wikimedia Commons
Image by Justus Sustermans on Wikimedia

Commons
Galileo Galilei Galileo’s Telescopes
10
Nicolaus Copernicus
Born February 19, 1473
Torun, Royal Prussia (now Poland)
Died May 24, 1543

Frauenberg, East Prussia (now Poland)
Contributions to Science  Developed the “Heliocentric Theory”—the

Sun is the center of the universe.
 Stated that Earth revolves around the Sun
in a year and turns on its axis once a day.
 Discovered the correct order of the
planets.
 Explained that stars move because of the
Earth, not because of themselves.
 Also explained that the Sun moves
because of the movement of the Earth.
 Known as the “Father of Modern
Astronomy.”
Image on Wikimedia Commons {{PD-old-100}} Image by Nicolai Copernici on Wikimedia Commons
Copernicus’ Model of
Nicolaus Copernicus
the Solar System
11
Sir Isaac Newton
Born January 4, 1643
Woolsthorpe, England
Died March 31, 1727

London, England
Contributions to Science  Defined the three laws of motion and

universal gravitation, which is described
Philosophiae Naturalis Principia
Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of
Natural Philosophy) published in 1687.
 Discovered gravity; today that theory is
called “Newton’s Law of Universal
Gravitation.”
 Stated: “An object in motion wants to stay
in motion, and an object at rest wants to
stay at rest.”
(http://www.coolkidfacts.com/isaac-
newton-for-kids/)
 Invented the reflecting telescope in 1668.
Today, mostly all telescopes used by
astronomers are reflecting telescopes.
 Considered to be one of the most influential
scientists of all time.
Sir Isaac Newton’s Book,

Philosophiae Naturalis
Image by Godfrey Kneller on Wikimedia
Commons Principia Mathematica
Sir Isaac Newton Image by Wellcome Images on Wikimedia
Commons
12
Fields of Astronomy
Observational the study of celestial objects, such
as stars and planets. There are types
Astronomy of observational astronomy that
focus on how to observe objects:
basic light; radio; infrared; C-ray;
Gamma Ray; ultraviolet
observations
Theoretical the use of mathematical models to
Astronomy describe observations we can see

and even those we cannot see
Solar the study of the Sun and how it

Astronomy impacts the Earth
13
Image by NASA, ESA, H. Teplitz and M. Rafelski (IPAC/Caltech), A. Koekemoer (STScI), R. Windhorst (Arizona State University), and Z. Levay (STScI) on Wikimedia Commons
the study of the planets, moons,
Planetary asteroids, and comets
Astronomy
the study of the stars. This includes

Stellar the formation of stars, different types
of stars, red giants, black holes,
Astronomy supernovas, and neutron stars
Image by skeeze on Pixabay
If you had to choose one of the five fields of astronomy,

which one would you choose and why?
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14
History of Space Exploration
 For hundreds of years, outer space has been somewhat

unknown.
 Prior to 17th Century, astronomers viewed the sky only with their
eyes.
 In 1608, Hans Lippershey invented the telescope. The

telescope allowed astronomers to get a better view of the sky.
 The original telescope only had a 3x magnification—it was

enough to see the sky, but a better magnification would be
needed.
 Galileo Galilei improved the telescope—creating a telescope

with a magnification of 30x!
 In the 1950s, science and technology began improving. The

interest in outer space increased.
 The “Space Race” began in 1957.
 From the 1950s on, people have landed on the Moon, orbited
other planets, and have even taken pictures of Mars!
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Do You Have What it Takes?
Being an astronaut can be a really awesome job! However,

it takes a lot of work! Do you have what it takes?
To be an astronaut, you need to love school! Astronauts

spend a lot of time in school studying astronomy, medicine,
engineering, and math. Many astronauts also know how to
speak more than one language. Usually astronauts can
speak English and Russian.
In order to be an astronaut, you must be very healthy!
Traveling into outer space can be very stressful on the
body and can also make you very tired. Prior to every space
trip, astronauts undergo extensive physical examinations.
When astronauts get into outer space, they work and live
in a tiny space and spend a lot of time together. You need
to be able to get along with your fellow astronauts!
So, do you think you have what it

takes to be an astronaut?
Image by one_life on Pixabay
16
Astronaut Information Picture
Buzz Aldrin  Born: 1930
 Died: N|A
 Famous For… being the
second person to walk on
the Moon.
Image by NASA on Wikimedia Commons
Neil Armstrong  Born: 1930

 Died: 2012
first person to walk on the
Moon.
“One small step for man,
one giant step for
mankind.”
Guion Bluford  Born: 1922

 Died: N|A
first African American to
go into outer space. He
was also the mission
specialist for the
Challenger.
Yuri Gagarin  Born: 1934

 Died: 1968
 Famous For…being the first
Russian astronaut
(cosmonaut) to orbit the
Earth.
Image by SAS Scandinavian Airlines on
Wikimedia Commons
Gus Grissom  Born: 1926

 Died: 1967
 Famous For…being the
second American to go
into outer space. He was
also the commander of
the Gemini II
Image by U.S. Air Force on Wikimedia Commons
17
Astronaut Information Picture
John Glenn  Born: 1921
 Died: 2016
first American to orbit the
Earth. He was also the
oldest person to go into
space—at age 77 he
again traveled to outer
space.
Mae Jemison  Born: 1956

 Died: N|A
first African American
woman to orbit outer
space.
Sally Ride  Born: 1951

 Died: 2012
first American woman to
orbit outer space. She
was also the youngest
astronaut to orbit outer
space.
Alan Shepherd  Born: 1923

 Died: 1998
second person, but first
American to travel to
outer space. He was also
the fifth person to walk
on the Moon.
Image by NASA/MSFC on Wikimedia Commons
Valentina  Born: 1947

Tereshkova  Died: N|A
first female Russian
cosmonaut to orbit outer
space.
Image by Alexander Mokletsov on Wikimedia
Commons
18
“Space Race”
 The “Space Race” occurred in the 1960s.
 During the Cold War, the United States and Soviet Union (present day Russia)
began a competition to see which country would get to outer space first. This
included putting a man on the moon and sending out a spaceship with
astronauts.
 The “Space Race” was very important because it showed which country had
better technology, more access to science information, and smarter
astronauts and engineers.
 In 1955, the United States and Soviet Union announced that they would be
putting a satellite into outer space.
 On October 4, 1957, Sputnik I was placed into orbit by the Soviet Union. The
United States placed Explorer I into orbit in February 1958.
 The Russians were also the first country to launch an animal into space. On
November 3, 1957, Sputnik 2 was launched with Soviet space dog, Laika, on
board.
 On April 12, 1961, Russian cosmonaut (astronaut), Yuri Gagarin became the
first man to orbit Earth. He orbited on the space craft known as Vostok I.
 In early May 1961, Alan Shepherd became the first American to go into outer
space. Shepherd, however, did not orbit the Earth.

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 John Glenn, an American Astronaut, orbited the Earth on February 20, 1962 on
the space craft known as Friendship 7 space craft.
 In 1961, the Apollo Moon Project was launched by President Kennedy (United
States). The goal was to be the first country to put a man on the Moon.
 On July 16, 1969, three astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael
Collins, left for the Moon on Apollo 11. It took three days to get to the Moon.
 On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the Moon.
 Armstrong’s first words on the Moon we: “That’s one small step for man, one
giant leap for mankind.”
 In 1975, the United States and the Soviet Union were beginning to mend their
relationship.
 The United States and the Soviet Union created the Apollo-Soyez Project in
1975; this officially ended the “Space Race.”
Imagine you are one of the astronauts or

cosmonauts that is going into space for the first time.
Write about your experience. Image by NASA on Wikimedia Commons
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Image by NASA / Neil A. Armstrong on
Wikimedia Commons
20
Notable Space Explorations
Year Event
1543 Nicolaus Copernicus claims the Earth and
planets orbit the Sun.
1609 Galiei Galileo is the first astronomer to use

a telescope to view stars.
1668 Invention of the revolving telescope by Sir

Isaac Newton.
1686 Sir Isaac Newton published the famous,

Mathematicl Principles of Natural
Philosophy, explaining universal
gravitation and the motion of the Sun and
planets.
1801 Giuseppe Piazzi discovers the first asteroid,

Ceres.
1926 The first liquid-fueled rocket is launched by

Robert Goddard. This helped to pave the
way for future explorations into space.
1942 Germany sends to first vehicle into outer

space, the V-2 rocket.
1947 Fruit flies become the first animals to go

into outer space.
August 21, 1957 “Space Race” begins
November 3, 1957 Laika, the Soviet space dog, becomes the

first animal to go into orbit.
1961 Yuri Gagrain becomes the first human to

go into outer space and the first human to
orbit the Earth.
1965 Alexei Leneov is the first man to walk in

space.
1965 Mariner 4 (United States) becomes the first

space craft to fly passed Mars.
21
Year Event
1969 Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to
walk on the Moon.
1971 Salyut I, a Russian space station, is

launched.
1971 Mariner 9 orbits Mars.
1973 Pioneer 10 becomes the first space craft

to fly passed Jupiter.
1975 “Space Race” ends with the formation of

the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.
1976 Viking I lands on mars and sends back

pictures.
1981 Columbia, the first space shuttle, is

launched by the United States.
1986 Mir becomes the first inhabited space

station. It would remain inhabited until
2001.
1990 Space Shuttle carries the Hubble

Telescope into orbit.
1998 The first international space station is sent

into orbit.
2001 NEAR Shoemaker lands on 433 Eros, an

asteroid.
22
Image by OpenClipart-Vectors on Pixabay
Planets of the Solar System
 The Solar System is really amazing! Currently, scientists say that,
in the Solar System, there are:
 566,000 asteroids
 3,100 comets
 181 moons
 8 planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, and Neptune
 5 dwarf planets: Pluto, Ceres, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris
 1 big star (Sun)
 The diameter of the Solar System is 11.65 trillion miles

[18.75 trillion kilometers]
Image by WP on Wikimedia Commons

23
Dwarf Planets
 The term “dwarf planet” was adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 2006.
 Dwarf planets are bigger than comets and asteroids, but smaller than planets.
 The Solar System has 5 dwarf planets: Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Makemake, and Haumea.
Planet Year of Distance from the Sun Picture
Discovery
Pluto 1930 5,874,000,000
kilometers

Ceres 1801 413,700,000 kilometers
Image by NASA/ JPL-Caltech/ UCLA/ MPS/

DLR/ IDA on Wikimedia Commons
Eris 2005 10,120,000,000
kilometers

Makemake 2005 6,850,000,000
kilometers
Image by Ann Feild (Space Telescope Science

Institute) on Wikimedia Commons
Haumea 2004 6,452,000,000
kilometers
Image by Jcpag2012 on Wikimedia Commons
24
Mercury
Order from the Sun: First
Distance from the Sun: 35.98 million miles
Number of Moons: 0
Time it Takes to Orbit the Sun: 88 days
Time it Takes to Rotate: 59 Earth days
One Cool Fact About This Planet: Mercury does

not have an atmosphere to protect it from the
Sun.
Image by NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied

Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of
Washington on Wikimedia Commons
25
=
Venus
Order from the Sun: Second
Number of Moons: 0
Time it Takes to Rotate: 243 Earth days
One Cool Fact About This Planet: Venus is the

brightest planet in the Solar System. Venus rises
before the Sun and is often called “Morning
Star”.
26
Earth
Order from the Sun: Third
Number of Moons: 1
Time it Takes to Rotate: 23 hours; 56 minutes; 4.1

seconds
One Cool Fact About This Planet: Earth is the only

planet with life
Image by NASA/ GSFC/ NOAA/ USGS

on Wikimedia Commons
27
Mars
Order from the Sun: Fourth
Number of Moons: 2
Time it Takes to Rotate: 24 hours; 37 minutes; 22

seconds
One Cool Fact About This Planet: Mars has polar

ice caps (just like Earth), which leads scientists to
believe that at one time life existed on Mars.
Image by NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage

Team (STScI/AURA) on Wikimedia Commons
28
Jupiter
Order from the Sun: Fifth
Number of Moons: 67
Time it Takes to Orbit the Sun: 12 years

seconds
One Cool Fact About This Planet: Jupiter is the

stormiest planet in the Solar System.
Image by NASA, ESA, and A. Simon (Goddard

Space Flight Center) on Wikimedia Commons
29
Saturn
Order from the Sun: Sixth
Number of Moons: 62

seconds
One Cool Fact About This Planet: Saturn is the

only planet with rings; the rings can only be
viewed by telescope.
Image by NASA / JPL / Space Science Institute on

Wikimedia Commons
30
Uranus
Order from the Sun: Seventh
Distance from the Sun: 1.784 billion miles
Number of Moons: 27

seconds
One Cool Fact About This Planet: Uranus’ blue-

green color comes from ammonia and
methane, which is located as a frozen mass in
the center of the planet
Image by NASA/JPL/Voyager mission on

Wikimedia Commons
31
Neptune
Order from the Sun: Eighth
Number of Moons: 14
Time it Takes to Rotate: 16 hours; 6.6 minutes
One Cool Fact About This Planet: 2011 marked

the completion of Neptune’s first orbit since its
discovery in 1846.
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Pluto
Order from the Sun: Ninth
Number of Moons: 5
Time it Takes to Rotate: 6 days; 9 hours; 17.6

minutes
One Cool Fact About This Planet: It took NASA’s

spacecraft, New Horizons, 10 years to reach
Pluto. New Horizons left in 2005 and arrived at
Pluto in 2015.
Image by NASA / Johns Hopkins University

Applied Physics Laboratory / Southwest Research
Institute on Wikimedia Commons
33
Rotate Revolve
 Rotate means to  Revolve means to
spin or turn. go around.
 The Earth rotates  The Earth revolves

on its axis. around the Sun.
 The rotation takes  It takes 365 days or

24 hours or 1 day. 1 year for the Earth
to revolve around
 The result of Earth’s the Sun.
rotation is night
and day.  The result is the
change of seasons
(4 seasons).
Image by Tfr000 on Wikimedia Commons Image by Tfr000 on Wikimedia Commons
34
The Inner Planets
Mercury Venus Earth Mars

Image by WikiImages on Pixabay
Size Inner planets are smaller than the outer

planets.
Surface & Atmosphere Inner planets have a solid, rocky surface

and very little or no atmosphere. You can
stand on any inner planet.
Density The elements that make up the inner

planets are packed together very closely,
making them smaller and solid.
Variety of Atmospheres Mercury: none

Venus: mostly carbon dioxide
Earth: nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases
Mars: carbon dioxide and nitrogen
Ancient Astronomers The knowledge of inner planets goes

Knew About Them back thousands of years to the time of the
ancient astronomers.
Spin Slowly The inner planets spin slower than the

outer planets.
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Orbit Quicker Inner planets orbit the Sun quicker than
the outer planets because they are
closer.
Few Moons The only two inner planets that have

moons are Earth and Mars.
No Rings None of the inner planets have rings.
Space Crafts More space explorations are to the inner

planets because they are closer.
36
Think Back!
Directions: Read each statement. Without using your notes, write a T for
statements that are true; write an F for statement that are false.
There are six inner planets.
The inner planets have fewer

moons than the outer planets.
The inner planets orbit quicker

than the outer planets.
Saturn is an inner planet.
The inner planets are smaller

than the outer planets.
The inner planets haven’t been

explored as much as the outer
planets.
37
The Outer Planets
Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune

Image by Kabsik Park on Flickr
Size Outer planets are larger than the inner

planets.
Surface & Atmosphere Outer planets are made mostly of gas

(aka “The Gas Giants”). You could not
stand on any of the outer planets.
Density The outer planets are less dense the inner

planets.
Variety of Atmospheres The outer planets have atmospheres

made mainly of hydrogen, helium, and
methane.
Ancient Astronomers The only two outer planets that were

Didn’t Know About known by the ancient astronomers were
Them Saturn and Jupiter.
Spin Quickly The outer planets spin faster than the

inner planets.
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Orbit Slower Since the outer planets are further away
from the Sun, they orbit slower.
Many Moons Jupiter: 60 moons

Saturn: 27 moons
Uranus: 13 moons
Neptune: 13 moons
Density The elements that make up the inner

planets are packed together very closely,
making them smaller and solid.
Rings All of the outer planets have rings, but

Saturn is the only planet with visible rings.
The rings are made up of the dust and
rocks of the moons that are not
completely formed.
Space Crafts Space crafts do not travel to the outer

planets often. Saturn and Jupiter have
been visited a few times, but Uranus and
Neptune have been visited twice.
39
Think Back!
Directions: Read each statement. Without using your notes, write a T for
statements that are true; write an F for statement that are false.
There are four outer planets.
The outer planets are made

mostly of rocks
The outer planets spin slowly.
All of the outer planets have

rings.
Uranus and Neptune were not

known by ancient astronomers.
The outer planets are smaller

than the inner planets.
40
Sun Facts
 Mass: 4.18 nonillion pounds
(333 thousand times the mass of the Earth).
 Diameter: 2,715,395 miles

(4.730,005 kilometers)
 Surface Temperature: 5,500OC (10,000OF)
 Distance from the Earth: 93 million miles

(149.6 million kilometers)
 Age: 4.5 billion years-old
Image by missiridia on Openclipart 41

One Giant Star: The Sun
 The Sun is classified as a yellow dwarf star.
 The Sun is the center of the Solar System.
 All the planets orbit the Sun.
 The Sun contains 99.8% of the total mass of the Solar

System.
 The Sun is made up of hydrogen and helium gas.
 Hydrogen makes up 74% of the Sun’s total mass.
 In the Sun’s center, hydrogen atoms are exposed to

intense pressure and undergo a process called nuclear
fusion. The hydrogen atoms change into helium atoms.
 Nuclear fusion generates a lot of heat and radiation, which

results in sunlight.
 Without the Sun, the Earth would not have an energy

source. The planet would be frozen solid.
Image by NASA/SDO (AIA) on Wikimedia Commons

42
 The Sun has been observed for hundreds of years.
 Galileo and Sir Isaac Newton discovered that the planets

orbited the Sun.
 The Earth is much closer to the Sun, which is why we see

the Sun as a ball.
 Sun’s radiation escapes as sunlight through the Sun’s

photosphere.
Internal Structure of the Sun
Image by Image Editor on Flickr

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What Makes Night and Day?
 Earth spins on its axis.
 The Sun will always be on one

side of the Earth.
 The side of the Earth that is

facing the Sun will experience
heat and light (day).
 The side of the Earth of the

Earth that is not facing the Sun
is darker and cooler (night).
Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images on Pixabay
44
Why Do Planets Orbit the Sun?
 The Sun’s mass makes up 99.8% of the Solar System.
 The Sun’s mass is greater than the mass of all the

other planets combined.
 The Sun’s mass causes a “dip” within the Solar

System.
 The Sun’s gravity pulls the planets towards it.
 Scientists use the term “gravitational pull” to explain

why the Sun pulls planets towards it.
 “Gravitational Pull” is the invisible force that pulls

objects toward an object with greater mass.
Think back to the demonstration at

the beginning of class. What would
happen to the planets if the Sun
didn’t exist?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Image by cheifyc on Pixabay
45
Heliocentric Model of the Universe
 “Helios” is Greek for Sun.
 “Heliocentric Theory” is the theory that the Sun is

the center of the Solar System.
 First proposed by Aristarchus in 270 BC, but is

credited to Copernicus.
 The Heliocentric Theory replaces the older theory

that the planets and Sun orbit the Earth.
Aristarchus
Image by on Wikimedia Commons {{PD-Art}}
Copernicus
Image by Dr. Manuel on Wikimedia Commons 46

Moon Facts
 Mass: 7.3477 x 10^22 kilograms

(73,477,000,000,000,000,000,000 kilograms)
 Diameter: 2,159 miles

(3,474 kilometers)
 Surface Temperature: Daytime: 100OC (212OF)

Nighttime: -173O C (279.4OF)
 Distance from the Earth: 238,900 miles

(384472.2 million kilometers)
 Age: 4.53 billion years-old
Image by Bobbi Jones Jones on Public Domain Pictures 47

What’s It Like on the
Moon?
 The Moon does not have an atmosphere.
 Meteors often crash into the Moon because there is no

atmosphere.
 The Moon’s craters are the result of the meteor crashes

and the lack of atmosphere.
 On the surface of the Moon, there is about 2 inches of

dust.
 The dust comes from crashes.
 Temperature on the Moon gets very hot and very cold,

due to the lack of atmosphere.
 The Moon orbits and spins at the same time.
 The Moon’s orbit takes 29 days, which results in the Moon

phases.
 The Moon is responsible for tides, weather, and seasons.
Image by NASA on Wikimedia Commons 48

Phases of the Moon
 The Moon does not emit light. When we see the
Moon, we are seeing the reflection of sunlight off the
Moon.
 The Moon phases are the result of the Moon’s orbit

around the Earth.
 The Moon we see is the result of the phase it is in.
 The Moon’s orbit is 29 days.
Image by NASA/JPL-Caltech/Bill Dunford on JPL
49
New Moon When the Earth and Sun are aligned.
Waxing Crescent When the sunlight portion increases,

but it still less than half.
First Quarter Moon is at a 90O angle to the Earth

and Sun.
Waxing Gibbous After the new moon, when the sunlit

portion is more than half.
Full Moon When the Earth and Sun and aligned,

like the New Moon but it is on the
opposite side.
Waning Gibbous When the sunlit portion begins to

decrease.
Third Quarter Moon is at a 90O angle to the Earth

and Sun.
Waning Crescent The Moon is partially visible, but less

than half is illuminated.
Dark Moon When the Moon is invisible.
50
Moons in the Solar System
 Moons are also called natural satellites.
 There are a total of 181 moons in the Solar System.
 173 of those moons orbit the “main” planets.
 The other 8 moons orbit the dwarf planets.
 Each of the moons has a unique name.
 Most of the names, expect for the moons of Uranus, come

from mythological creatures. The moons of Uranus come
from William Shakespeare’s story, A Midsummer Night’s
Dream.
 The only two planets without moons are Mercury and

Venus.
If you discovered a moon, what would

you name it and why?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Image by PIX1861 on Pixabay 51
Planet Number of Moons
Mercury 0
Venus 0
Earth 1
Mars 2
Jupiter 67
Saturn 62
Uranus 27
Pluto 5
52
Star Facts
 Stars are spheres of hot gas called plasma.
 Stars are held together by their own gravity.
 Nuclear fusion causes the star to radiate energy.
 Nuclear fusion occurs in the core of the star and is the process of
hydrogen fusing and making helium.
 There are between 200 million and 400 million stars in the Milky Way
Galaxy.
 Stars range in age from 1 year-old to 10 billion years-old.
 There is a lot of turbulence in the atmosphere, which is why stars

appear to twinkle—they do not twinkle on their own.
 Stars can be a range of colors: brown, red, orange, yellow, white, or

blue.
 Brown stars are the hottest while blue stars are the coolest.
 The smaller the star, the longer lifespan it has.
 It takes a million years for the light from a star to reach Earth.
 A galaxy is a collection of stars, while a constellation is a group of

stars that form a pattern.
 A supernova is a star that suddenly increases greatly in brightness

because of a catastrophic explosion that ejects most of its mass.
 Stars have played an important role in history—helping to guide

early explorers and helping to create calendars.
53
Life Cycle of a Star
 Like living beings, stars have a life cycle.
Nebula Cloud of hydrogen and gas. Also known as

the “birthplace of stars.”
Image by ESO on Wikimedia Commons
Star Sphere of gas. Nuclear fusion helps the star

produce its own heat and light. Stars live for
less than a million years. Stars emit light that
is equal to a million suns.
Image by NASA, ESA, AURA/Caltech, Palomar
Observatory on Wikimedia Commons
Red Giant Large bright star that has a cool surface. It is
formed when the hydrogen fuel begins to
run out in the center of the star.
Image by ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)
on Wikimedia Commons
Red Dwarf Smaller stars that are cool and faint. Live
about 100 billion years.
Image by NASA/Walt Feimer on

Wikimedia Commons
White Dwarf Last stage of a star’s life. At this point the star
is very small and hot. White dwarfs are the
result of the remains of normal stars, just
smaller.
Image by Sephirohq on Wikimedia Commons
Supernova Death of a star. Usually explosive and results

in a star becoming as bright as 100 million
suns. There are two types of supernovas:
Type I and Type II.
Image by NASA/ESA/JHU/R.Sankrit &
W.Blair on Wikimedia Commons
Neutron Stars Made up of neutrons and are the result of a
supernova that has exploded.
Image by Casey Reed - Penn State

University on Wikimedia
Commons
Black Holes Result of massive stars that are in the last
stage of their life. Black holes have a lot of
gravity. Nothing can escape a black hole.
Black holes often take in the neighboring
Image by Ute Kraus on Wikimedia Commons matter them.
54
Image by Qaswara.awad on Wikimedia Commons
55
Types of Stars
 There are three different types of stars:
- Dwarfs
- Giants
- Neutrons
 Normal stars (stars in their main sequence) are categorized by color.
 Small stars are red and do not emit much light.
 Medium sized stars are yellow.
 Large stars are blue and very bright.
Dwarf Small
Usually red or brown
Brown stars do not undergo a nuclear fusion
White dwarf is the result of collapsed red giant
Giant Can be a main sequence (normal) stars or red giants that

are expanding.
Neutron Result of a giant star that has collapsed
Very tiny
56
Guess the Star
Next to each picture, write either dwarf, giant, or neutron.
Giant
Neutron
Image by Kevin Gill on Flickr
Dwarf
57
Constellations
 Constellations are a group of stars that form a pattern when they are
viewed from Earth.
 Constellations can look like:
- Mythological creatures
- People
- Objects
 In 1922, there were 88 known constellations. 48 were the ancient

constellations discovered by Ptolemy. 40 were new constellations that
had just been discovered.
 Constellations divide up the night sky.
 Star maps help to guide you as to where in the sky you can see the
constellations.
 The stars in the constellations aren’t always close together.
 Not all the constellations are visible from every location on Earth.
 There are constellations for the Northern Hemisphere and Southern

Hemisphere.
 Constellations also vary by seasons.
 Constellations can help you identify the stars in the sky.
 Constellations were very helpful in the ancient times. People relied on

the constellations when it was harvest time. People also used the
constellations to keep track of months.
 Constellations are also used for navigation. Ursa Minor helps you find
the North Pole.
58
 Here are the names of the most famous constellations and where they can
be seen.
Constellation Description Location

Orion Named after a hunter from Can be seen all over the
Greek Mythology. world.
Ursa Major Name comes from Latin Northern Hemisphere

and means “Large Bear”.
Also known as the “Big
Dipper”. Used to help find
the North Pole.
Ursa Minor Name comes from Latin and Northern Hemisphere

means “Small Bear”. Also
known as the “Little Dipper”.
Draco Comes from the Latin word Northern Hemisphere

for “dragon”. Draco is one
of the ancient
constellations.
Pegasus Comes from the Greek word Northern Sky

for “flying horse”.
Zodiac 13 constellations that are Northern Zodiac

named after the (found in the Eastern
Zodiac/Astrology signs Celestial Hemisphere):
Pisces, Aries, Taurus,
Gemini, Cancer, Leo
Southern Zodiac
(found in the west):
Virgo, Libra, Scorpius,
Sagittarius, Capricornus,
and Aquarius.
59
Little Dipper
Image by MatthiasBock on Wikimedia Commons
Big Dipper
Image by Torsten Bronger on Wikimedia Commons 60
How Big is Each Planet?
Planet Actual Size Scaled Size
(Diameter in (Diameter in
Kilometers) Centimeters)
Sun 1,392,000 km 139.2 cm
Mercury 4,800 km 0.5 cm
Venus 12,100 km 1.2 cm
Earth 12,800 km 1.3 cm
Mars 6,800 km 0.7 cm
Jupiter 142,000 km 14.2 cm
Saturn 120,000 km 12.0 cm
Uranus 51,200 km 5.1 cm
Neptune 48,600 km 4.9 cm
Pluto 2,200 km 0.2 cm
Image by OpenClipart-Vectors on Pixabay
61
Words to Describe Eclipses
 During an eclipse, the shadow of the Moon has three main parts:
Umbra Moon is completely covered by

the Sun
Antumbra Moon is in front of the Sun, but

doesn’t entirely cover it. The Sun’s
outline can be seen.
Penumbra A portion of the Moon is in front of

the Sun.
 There are three types of eclipses which vary by which part of the
shadow you are located:
Total Sun is completely covered by the

Moon.
Annular The Sun is covered by the Moon,

but can still be seen (edges).
Partial A portion of the Sun is blocked by

the Moon.
62
Image by Daniel M. Short on Wikimedia Commons
What is a Solar Eclipse?
 When the Moon passes in front of the Sun, a solar eclipse
occurs. The Moon is between the Earth and the Sun.
 A shadow falls on certain parts of the Earth.
 Only certain locations see the solar eclipse.
 When a solar eclipse occurs, the Sun looks dark.
 Even though the Sun is dark, you should never look at a

solar eclipse. The Sun’s rays can damage your eyes.
 Syzygy is a word used by astronomers to describe the

alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth during an eclipse.
This happens only during the New Moon.
 In one century (100 years), there are about 240 solar

eclipses.
The next solar eclipse will occur on:

August 21, 2017
63
Image by Luc Viatour on Wikimedia Commons Image by HypnoArt on Pixabay
Image by Mrpulley on Wikimedia Commons Image by Smrgeog on Wikimedia Commons
64
What is a Lunar Eclipse?
 When the Moon passes through the shadow of the Earth, a
lunar eclipse occurs. The Earth is between the Sun and
Moon.
 During a lunar eclipse, the Moon will see Earth’s shadow.
 Lunar eclipses and solar eclipses have the same three

phases.
 Lunar eclipses are seen by a much larger area.
 You can view a lunar eclipse without wearing special eye

protectors/ equipment.
 During a lunar eclipse, with help from the Earth’s

atmosphere, some sunlight is refracted. The refraction
causes the Moon to look dark brown/red.
 In terms of length, lunar eclipses last longer.
The next solar eclipse will occur on:

February 11, 2017
65
Image by Alfredo Garcia, Jr on Flickr Image by Alfredo Garcia, Jr on Flickr
Image by Anton Croos on Wikimedia Commons
Image by Oliver Stein on Wikimedia Commons
66
How Big is the Solar System?
 If you drove from the Sun to Pluto, the distance would be
7,440,000,000 miles, which is equivalent to roughly 6,000 years.
 If you drove from the Sun to the comets and clouds that surround
the Solar System, then the distance would be 5,580,000,000,00
miles.
 In August 1977, the spaceship Voyager 2 was launched. Two-years

later, in July 1979, it reached Jupiter. In August 1981, it passed
Saturn. By January 1986, it reached Uranus and by August 1989, it
reached Neptune. This spaceship took 12 years to complete its
journey.
 The Solar System doesn’t end at the last planet. The Solar System
ends where gravity does—where objects can no longer orbit the
Sun.
 Scientists have predicted that it would take 19 million years to

travel from the Sun to the end of gravity in the Solar System.
 NASA has been working on a spaceship called, New Horizons. This

spaceship will be the fastest that has ever been launched from
Earth. This spaceship, however, would need 37,000 years to travel
from the Sun to the end of the Solar System.
Image by NASA on Wikimedia Commons 67

Galaxies in the Universe
 Scientists have estimated that there are 100 billion galaxies in the Universe.
 Scientists have also estimated that there are about 300 million stars in the
Milky Way Galaxy.
 The Andromeda Galaxy is the closest galaxy to the Milky Way and is
about 6 trillion miles away.
 Galaxies come in four different types:

- Spiral
- Barred Spiral
- Elliptical
- Irregular
Spiral Has long arms that spiral

around the center. Older
stars make up the center;
newer stars make up the
arms.
Image by European Space Agency & NASA on
Wikimedia Commons
Barred Has a long bar in the center

Spiral and arms that spiral.
Image by NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team

STScI/AURA) on Wikimedia Commons
Elliptical Stars are clumped together

and look like an elliptical
disc.
Image by ESA/Hubble & NASA on Wikimedia Commons
Irregular Any other galaxy that is

shaped other than spiral,
barred spiral, or elliptical.
Image by NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team

(STScI/AURA) on Wikimedia Commons
68
Our Galaxy: The Milky Way
 We live in the Milky Way Galaxy, in one of the spiral arms.
 The Milky Way is about 14 billion years old.
 The Milky Way rotates every 200 million years.
 The Milky Way Galaxy contains 100 billion stars, dust, and gas.
 It takes 100,00 years for light to get from one side of the galaxy to the
other.
 Scientists have predicted that in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy there
is a giant black hole.
 The Milky Way Galaxy belongs to a group of 40 galaxies.
 The Local Group contains two large spiral galaxies: the Milky Way and the
Andromeda.
 When looking at the Milky Way in the night sky, it has a milky
appearance—which is how it got its name.
 The Sun’s orbit around the Milky Way takes 225 million to 250 million years.
 Edwin Hubble discovered the shape of the Milky Way.
Image by ForestWander on Wikimedia Commons Image by Unsplash on Pexels
69
What is the Hubble Telescope?
 The Hubble Telescope is one of the most famous telescopes in history.
 The Hubble Telescope was put into orbit on April 24, 1990 by Space
Shuttle.
 The Hubble Telescope is situated outside of the Earth’s atmosphere.
 Pictures from the Hubble Telescope do not have a background light, so

galaxies and stars are clearer.
 Technology in the Hubble Telescope allows it to lock in on the object it is

photographing and take the perfect picture.
 The Hubble Telescope is expected to stay in orbit for 20 years.
 The Hubble Telescope is named after Dr. Edwin Hubble, a famous

astronomer who believed there were other galaxies in outer space and
they were moving away from the Milky Way.
 The Hubble Telescope is very big and very wide! It weighs 24,500
pounds and is 43.5 feet long and 14 feet wide.
 The Hubble Telescope is located 353 miles above Earth.
 Many of the beautiful pictures of outer space have been taken by the
Hubble Telescope.
 In 2018, James Webb Space Telescope, will be launched. This is the

Hubble Telescope’s successor.
Image by NASA on Wikimedia Commons Image by NASA on Wikimedia Commons 70

Sources
 http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/space/solarsystem.html
 http://www.planetsforkids.org
 http://www.ducksters.com/science/solarsystem.php
 http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/scientists/nicolauscopernicus.
html
 http://www.ducksters.com/biography/scientists/isaac_newton.php
 http://www.coolkidfacts.com/galileo-facts-for-kids/
 http://www.ducksters.com/science/astronomy.php
 https://www.britannica.com/biography/Galileo-Galilei
 http://www.coolkidfacts.com/galileo-facts-for-kids/
 https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nicolaus-Copernicus
 http://encyclopedia.kids.net.au/page/ni/Nicolaus_Copernicus
 http://www.brighthub.com/science/space/articles/45553.aspx
 https://www.britannica.com/biography/Isaac-Newton
 http://www.ducksters.com/biography/scientists/isaac_newton.php
 http://www.coolkidfacts.com/isaac-newton-for-kids/
 http://www.ducksters.com/history/cold_war/space_race.php
 http://www.ducksters.com/science/physics/astronaut.php
 http://www.ducksters.com/science/physics/space_exploration_timeline.p
hp
 http://solarviews.com/eng/histintr.htm
 https://www.esa.int/esaKIDSen/SEM6TIWJD1E_LifeinSpace_0.html
 https://theplanets.org/solar-system/
 http://cseligman.com/text/sky/rotationvsday.htm
 http://space-facts.com/dwarf-planets/
 http://www.bobthealien.co.uk/innerouter.htm
 http://www.coolkidfacts.com/earth-facts-for-kids/
 http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-would-earth-be-like-without-the-
sun
 https://www.reference.com/science/gravitational-pull-f24280d269a80625
 http://encyclopedia.kids.net.au/page/he/Heliocentric_theory
 http://easyscienceforkids.com/all-about-our-moon/
 http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=3441
 http://www.ducksters.com/science/phases_of_the_moon.php
 http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases.phtml
 https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/solarsystem/moons
 http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/space/stars.html
 http://www.telescope.org/pparc/res8.html
 http://www.ducksters.com/science/star.php
 http://www.ducksters.com/science/physics/constellations.php
 http://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-map/zodiac-
constellations/
71
 https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/solar-
system-0/
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LovQ4d9RiQE
 http://www.planetsforkids.org/star-sun.html
 http://www.ducksters.com/science/sun.php
 http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/space/stars.html
 http://www.greatballsoffireexhibit.org/docs/Planet_models.pdf
 http://www.universetoday.com/36649/planets-in-order-of-size/
 http://www.kidseclipse.com/pages/a1b3c1d0.htm
 http://www.ducksters.com/science/physics/lunar_and_solar_eclipses.php
 http://www.kidseclipse.com/pages/a1b3c4d0.htm
 https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar-eclipse-frequency.html
 http://www.universetoday.com/104486/how-big-is-our-solar-system/
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 http://www.softschools.com/facts/space/milky_way_facts/424/
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 http://easyscienceforkids.com/edwin-hubble-video-for-kids/
72

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The Solar System

Image by AL2TB on Wikimedia Commons

Day/ Lesson Number Lesson Title

3 Amazing Astronauts and

4 Nine in a Row: All About the Planets

5 Inner Planets vs. Outer Planets

6 All About the Sun

7 The Center of It All

9 Night Lights: All About Stars

10 Size and Scale of the Sun and Planets

11 Solar and Lunar Eclipses

12 How Big is the Solar System?

Image by AL2TB on Wikimedia Commons

Asteroid A small rocky body orbiting the sun.

Astronaut A person who is trained to travel in spacecraft

Astronomer An expert in astronomy/ a person who studies astronomy

Atmosphere The envelope of gases that surround a planet

Constellation A group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that is traditionally

Core The center of an object

Cosmonaut The Russian term for “astronaut”

Crater A hole in the ground caused by an object from space

Earth The third planet of the Solar System

Gas Giant A large planet of relatively low density consisting predominantly of

Jupiter The fifth and largest planet in the Solar System

Mercury The planet that is closest to the Sun

Meteorite A meteor that survives its passage through the Earth's

Milky Way The galaxy where the Solar System is located

Moon A natural satellite of any planet

Neptune The eighth planet in the Solar System

Orbit The curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star,

Pluto The last and smallest planet in the Solar System

Revolution The movement of an object in a circular or elliptical course

Rotation The action of rotating around an axis or center

Saturn The sixth planet in the Solar System

Star A body of hot gases located in outer space

Sun The central body of the Solar System

Terrestrial Of, on, or relating to Earth

Uranus The seventh planet in the Solar System

Venus The second and brightest planet in the Solar System

Image by tonynetone on Flickr

To remember the order of the planets, here’s a mnemonic:

My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming Planets

 Each planet circles (orbits) the Sun.

 The Solar System orbits around the Milky Way Galaxy.

 The planets of the Solar System orbit in a counterclockwise direction.

Do you think aliens exist? Why or why not?

 Main Gases: Hydrogen (74%) and Helium (24%)

 Remaining Gases: Oxygen; Nitrogen; Carbon.

 As material fell towards the core, the cloud increased in speed.

 Increasing temperature generated enough energy to trigger a nuclear

 The nuclear fusion marked the birth of the Sun.

 The Sun took 10 million years to form.

 Rocky Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

 Temperatures dropped further from the Sun.

 Gas Giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

 The Solar System is about 4.6 billion years old.

Image by nymixArt on Pixabay

Sun A large star; the center of the Solar

Planet A celestial body moving in an elliptical

Dwarf Planet A celestial body resembling a planet,