1. The Solar System

2. Our Solar System
Is a group of planets orbiting a central star that we call the Sun
The solar system contains the Sun, 8 planets, 3 dwarf planets, and various moons, asteroids, meteors, and space debris
In 2006 the International Astronomical Union decided to remove Pluto as a planet and create a new category after the discovery of an object bigger then Pluto

3. The Sun The Sun is the largest thing in our solar system
It is 109x the size of the Earth and x heavier!!
You could fit over a MILLION Earths in the Sun!
All the planets are bound to the Sun by gravity

4. Rotation vs. Revolution
rotation = term used to describe a planet spinning on itself (its axis)
it takes the Earth 1 day (24 hrs) to rotate once
the Earth doesn’t rotate on its true axis but tilted on a 23.5 angle
revolution = the movement of a planet or body around another object
the Earth revolves around the Sun
it take the Earth days to revolve around the Sun once

5. Revolution & Rotation of the Planets
All the planets in the solar system revolve around the Sun in a counterclockwise direction in slightly elliptical (oval) orbits
All planets also rotate in a counterclockwise direction (well, almost all)

6. ------------------ Gas giants ------------------
The Solar System
Gas giants
Terrestrial / inner planets

7. Mercury Closest planet to the Sun
A rocky ball only slightly bigger than the Earth’s moon
Made of rock, covered in craters
Takes only 88 Earth days to orbit the Sun
Has virtually no atmosphere
Temperature -180 to 426C
Extreme temperatures cause huge cracks to form on the planet’s surface

8. Venus Size and composition are similar to Earth
Rocky surface with a thick atmosphere of CO2
Rain is sulfuric acid on this planet, not water!
Takes 244 Earth days to spin on its axis… sloooow
Very hot (470C) due to its thick atmosphere

9. Earth Only planet to support life that we know of
Called the blue planet since it’s mostly covered with water
Temperature -85 to 58C
Rocky core
Atmosphere composed mainly of N2, O2
Only planet to have water in all 3 states
One moon

10. Mars Called the red planet due to iron oxide in its surface
Half the size of Earth
Temperature -120 to 30C
Rocky surface with a thin atmosphere of mainly CO2
Massive volcano named Olympus Mons is almost 3x bigger than Mt. Everest!
Canyon 8 km deep
Winds can exceed 900 km/h
Dust storms can last for weeks
2 moons, Phobos & Deimos

11. Jupiter Largest planet
It’s 2.5x heavier than all the planets combined!
Has a Great Red Spot, as big as 3 Earths, that’s a giant storm
Solid core, but mostly made of H2, He, and CH4 (methane) gases
Takes only 10 hrs to rotate on its axis but 11.9 yrs to revolve around the Sun
Has very thin rings made of ice particles
Temp -150C
More than 60 moons!!

12. Saturn Made mostly of H2 and He gases 2nd biggest planet
Most elaborate ring system, made of dust and ice particles (some are as big as a house!)
Made mostly of H2 and He gases
Could float in a bath tub if you could find one big enough!
Temp -170C
Many, many moons

13. Uranus 3rd biggest planet in the solar system
Ok, we all know the joke, but it’s YUR-ah-nus
Uranus
3rd biggest planet in the solar system
Blue-green colour from methane in its atmosphere
Tilted on its side, so it looks like it’s rolling through its orbit
Rotation is opposite to other planets
Also has a ring system
Takes 84 Earth years to orbit the Sun
Temperature -215C

14. Neptune Gas giant Similar in composition and atmosphere to Uranus
Darker blue colour
Thin rings made of ice particles
Takes almost 165 Earth years to orbit the Sun
Temp is -235C, yikes!
13 known moons
Named after the Roman god of the sea

15. Dwarf Planets Adopted in 2006 Dwarf planets are objects that:
orbit the sun
have enough mass to become round
are not large enough to have an impact on their area
There are currently 3 dwarf planets in our solar system: Pluto, Eris, & Ceres