The Planets

Learning goals We are learning the differences between the inner and outer planets. We are learning to identify other objects in our solar system.

Planets Recall… planets are celestial objects that orbit around a star in our solar system there are 8 planets that orbit the Sun

Rocky inner planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars small and rocky nearest to the Sun make up the “inner solar system”

The asteroid belt huge band of rocks, past Mars, spread out in vast ring circling Sun some rocks as large as 1000km across some as small as grain of sand just beyond asteroid belt is snow line

Gas giants include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune comprised of gases and liquids make up the “outer solar system”

to be considered a “planet” a celestial object must: Want to be a planet? to be considered a “planet” a celestial object must: be in orbit around a star have enough mass to be pulled into a stable sphere shape by gravity dominate its orbit

The minor planets number of very large balls of ice beyond gas giants Pluto – has own moon: Charon create a thin disk that forms a ring around entire solar system about 25 large enough

Learning goals We are learning the differences between the inner and outer planets. We are learning to identify other objects in our solar system.

Please complete Page 317 questions 2-4