The Solar System

The Sun The sun is the biggest, brightest, and hottest object in the solar system. The sun is the biggest, brightest, and hottest object in the solar system. The sun is an ordinary star. The sun is an ordinary star. The sun is made of about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium. The sun is made of about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium.

THE INNER PLANETS

Mercury Mercury is solid and is covered with craters. Mercury is solid and is covered with craters. Mercury has almost no atmosphere. Mercury has almost no atmosphere. It has very hot days, and very cold nights. It has very hot days, and very cold nights.

Venus Venus was once thought of as “Earth’s twin” because of their similar size. Venus was once thought of as “Earth’s twin” because of their similar size. The surface is rocky and extremely hot (~900 F!) The surface is rocky and extremely hot (~900 F!) The thick CO 2 atmosphere completely hides the surface and traps heat. The thick CO 2 atmosphere completely hides the surface and traps heat. Rotates “backwards”! Rotates “backwards”!

Earth Liquid water covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface. Liquid water covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface. Earth is geologically active, which means tectonic processes continue to shape its surface. Earth is geologically active, which means tectonic processes continue to shape its surface.

Moon

Mars Mars has a thin atmosphere that contains mostly carbon dioxide. Its soil is red due to high iron content. May have once had liquid water. Mars has two small moons.

Moons of Mars PhobosDeimos

*ASTEROID BELT*

THE OUTER PLANETS

Jupiter

Jupiter Jupiter is the largest planet – 1,300 Earths could fit inside it! The Great Red Spot is a huge storm of swirling gas that has lasted for hundreds of years. Jupiter does not have a solid surface – it is mainly hydrogen and helium.

Moons of Jupiter Jupiter has four large Galilean moons, twelve smaller named moons and twenty- three more recently discovered but not named moons. We’ll take a look at the four large Galilean moons which were first observed by Galileo in 1610.

Io – Moon with active volcanoes Io – Moon with active volcanoes Europa – May have liquid water beneath its icy surface Europa – May have liquid water beneath its icy surface Ganymede – Has water ice Ganymede – Has water ice Callisto – Heavily cratered Callisto – Heavily cratered

Saturn Saturn is made of materials that are lighter than water (low density). If you could fit Saturn in a lake, it would float! Saturn is made of materials that are lighter than water (low density). If you could fit Saturn in a lake, it would float!

Rings of Saturn Saturn’s rings are not solid; they are composed of small countless particles. Saturn’s rings are not solid; they are composed of small countless particles. Saturn has many moons, but Titan has been of the most interest to scientists. Saturn has many moons, but Titan has been of the most interest to scientists.

Titan The only moon with a thick atmosphere The only moon with a thick atmosphere Has lakes of liquid methane on the surface Has lakes of liquid methane on the surface

Uranus Uranus is blue-green because of the methane in its atmosphere. Uranus is blue-green because of the methane in its atmosphere. Has at least 27 moons. Has at least 27 moons. Rotates on its side! Rotates on its side!

Neptune Has a thick gassy atmosphere with possible frozen material beneath Has a thick gassy atmosphere with possible frozen material beneath Has the Great Dark Spot, similar to Jupiter’s storm system Has the Great Dark Spot, similar to Jupiter’s storm system The fastest winds in the solar system have been recorded on Neptune! The fastest winds in the solar system have been recorded on Neptune!

*KUIPER BELT*

Pluto Once considered the 9 th planet, Pluto is now known as a dwarf planet. Once considered the 9 th planet, Pluto is now known as a dwarf planet. It is one of many “Trans-Neptunian Objects” It is one of many “Trans-Neptunian Objects”

Large trans-Neptunian Objects

Other objects in our solar system: Asteroids - Rocky leftovers of the early solar system. - They are made up of metallic elements and silica. - They are mostly found between Mars and Jupiter in the asteroid belt and at the edge of the Solar system in the Kuiper belt.

Other objects in our solar system: Comets - A small eccentrically orbiting object made of rock and ice which have one or more tails that point away from the sun. They are mostly found in the outer part of the solar system.

Other objects in our solar system: Comets

Other objects in our solar system: Meteoroids, Meteors and Meteorites - Meteoroids: Piece of material in space that falls towards Earth and enters the atmosphere. - Meteors: The streak of light produced when a meteoroid burns up in the atmosphere. - Meteorites: A fragment of a meteoroid that does not burn up in the atmosphere, and that strikes the Earth.

What is an eclipse? An eclipse occurs any time something passes in front of the Sun, blocking its light. This can be the Earth or the Moon. An eclipse occurs any time something passes in front of the Sun, blocking its light. This can be the Earth or the Moon.

Lunar Eclipses The Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the Sun’s light, and results in a full moon The Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the Sun’s light, and results in a full moon

Umbra – The dark inner portion of the shadow cone. Umbra – The dark inner portion of the shadow cone. Penumbral – the lighter outer portion of the shadow. Penumbral – the lighter outer portion of the shadow.

Solar Eclipses The Moon moves between the Sun and the Earth, if lined up correctly can block the view of the sun from Earth. The sun is not blocked every time, because moon is tilted 5 degrees. This results in a new moon. The Moon moves between the Sun and the Earth, if lined up correctly can block the view of the sun from Earth. The sun is not blocked every time, because moon is tilted 5 degrees. This results in a new moon.

Spring tide There are more extreme tides when the sun, Earth and moon line up. There are more extreme tides when the sun, Earth and moon line up.

Neap Tides High tides are lower than normal and low tides are higher than normal. High tides are lower than normal and low tides are higher than normal.