1. Table of Contents Observing the Solar System The Sun The Inner Planets
The Outer Planets
Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors
Is There Life Beyond Earth?

2. Geocentric System - Observing the Solar System
In a geocentric system, Earth is at the center of the revolving planets and stars.

3. Heliocentric System - Observing the Solar System
In a heliocentric system, Earth and the other planets revolve around the sun.

4. The Sun and Planets - Observing the Solar System
Shown below are the average distances of each planet from the sun.

5. Solar System Activity - Observing the Solar System
Click the Active Art button to open a browser window and access Active Art about the solar system.

6. Planet Speed Versus Distance
- Observing the Solar System
Planet Speed Versus Distance
Johannes Kepler discovered a relationship between the speed of a planet and its distance from the sun. Use the graph to discover what Kepler learned.

7. Planet Speed Versus Distance
- Observing the Solar System
Planet Speed Versus Distance
Reading Graphs:
According to the graph, what is Earth’s average speed?
About 30 km/s

8. Planet Speed Versus Distance
- Observing the Solar System
Planet Speed Versus Distance
Interpreting Data:
Which is closer to the sun, Mercury or Mars? Which moves faster?
Mercury; Mercury

9. Planet Speed Versus Distance
- Observing the Solar System
Planet Speed Versus Distance
Drawing Conclusions:
What is the general relationship between a planet’s speed and its average distance from the sun?
Planets that are closer to the sun move faster.

10. Planet Speed Versus Distance
- Observing the Solar System
Planet Speed Versus Distance
Predicting:
The planet Uranus is about 2,900 million km from the sun. Predict whether its speed is greater or less than Jupiter's speed. Explain your answer.
Uranus’s speed is less than that of Jupiter because Uranus is farther from the sun than Jupiter.

11. Previewing Visuals - Observing the Solar System
Preview Figure 2 and Figure 3. Then write two questions you have about Earth’s history in a graphic organizer like the one below. As you read, answer your questions.
Models of the Universe
Q. What is a geocentric model?
A. A model that shows Earth at the center of the revolving planets and stars
Q. What is a heliocentric system?
A. A model that shows Earth and the other planets revolving around the sun

12. End of Section: Observing the Solar System

13. The Layers of the Sun - The Sun
The sun has an interior and an atmosphere, each of which consists of several layers.

14. - The Sun
Outlining
The Sun
As you read, make an outline about the sun that you can use for review. Use the red headings for the main topics and the blue headings for the subtopics.
The Sun’s Interior
The Core
The Radiation Zone
The Convection Zone
The Sun’s Atmosphere
The Photosphere
The Chromosphere
The Corona
Features on the Sun
Sunspots
Prominences
Solar Flares
Solar Wind

15. Click the Planet Diary button for an activity about the sun.
More on the Sun
Click the Planet Diary button for an activity about the sun.

16. End of Section: The Sun

17. The Inner Planets - The Inner Planets
The inner planets take up only a small part of the solar system. Note that sizes and distances are not drawn to scale.

18. Earth’s Layers - The Inner Planets
Earth has three main layers—a crust, a mantle, and a core.

19. Mercury - The Inner Planets
Mercury is the smallest terrestrial planet and the planet closest to the sun.

20. Venus - The Inner Planets
Venus’s density and internal structure are similar to Earth’s. But, in other ways, Venus and Earth are very different.

21. Venus - The Inner Planets
This figure combines images of Venus taken from space with a camera (left) and radar (right). The camera image shows Venus’s thick atmosphere. Radar is able to penetrate Venus’s clouds to reveal the surface. Both images are false color.

22. Mars - The Inner Planets
Mars is called the “red planet.” When you see it in the sky, it has a slightly reddish tinge. This reddish color is due to the breakdown of iron-rich rocks, which creates a rusty dust that covers much of Mars’s surface.

23. Mars - The Inner Planets
Mares has ice caps at both poles. Scientists think that a large amount of liquid water flowed on Mars's surface in the distant past.

24. Using Prior Knowledge - The Inner Planets
Look at the section headings and visuals to see what this section is about. Then write what you know about the inner planets in a graphic organizer like the one below. As you read, write what you learn.
What You Know
Most of Earth is covered with water.
Mercury is closest to the sun.
Venus is very hot.
Mars is called the “red planet.”
What You Learned
Earth is unique in our solar system for having liquid water at its surface.
Mercury has a greater temperature range than any of the other planets.
A day on Venus is longer than its year.
The reddish tinge on Mars is caused by the breakdown of iron-rich rocks.

25. Click the SciLinks button for links on the planets.
- The Inner Planets
Links on the Planets
Click the SciLinks button for links on the planets.

26. End of Section: The Inner Planets

27. Gas Giants and Pluto - The Outer Planets
The first four outer planets–Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune–are much larger and more massive than Earth, and they do not have solid surfaces. Pluto is small and rocky.

28. Jupiter’s Structure - The Outer Planets
Jupiter is composed mainly of the elements hydrogen and helium.

29. Jupiter’s Moons - The Outer Planets
The astronomer Galileo discovered Jupiter’s four largest moons. They are named Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.

30. Saturn - The Outer Planets
Saturn has the most spectacular rings of any planet.

31. Uranus - The Outer Planets
Although the gas giant Uranus is about four times the diameter of Earth, it is still much smaller than Jupiter and Saturn.

32. Uranus - The Outer Planets
Uranus’s axis of rotation is tilted at an angle of about 90 degrees from the vertical.

33. Neptune - The Outer Planets
Neptune is a cold, blue planet. Its atmosphere contains visible clouds.

34. Circumference - The Outer Planets
To calculate the circumference of a circle, use this formula:
C = 2πr
In the formula, π ≈ 3.14, and r is the circle’s radius, which is the distance from the center of the circle to its edge. The same formula can be used to calculate the circumference of planets, which are nearly spherical.
Neptune’s radius at its equator is about 24,800 km. Calculate its circumference.
= 2.00 X 3.14 X 24,800 km
= 156,000 km

35. Circumference - The Outer Planets Practice Problem
Saturn’s radius is 60,250 km. What is its circumference?
2 X 3.14 X 60,250 km = about 378,800 km

36. Pluto - The Outer Planets
Pluto has a solid surface and is much smaller and denser than the other outer planets.

37. Identifying Main Ideas
- The Outer Planets
Identifying Main Ideas
As you read the section “Gas Giants and Pluto,” write the main idea–the biggest or most important idea–in a graphic organizer like the one below. Then write supporting details that further explain the main idea.
Main Idea
The four gas giants are similar in…
Detail
Detail
Detail
Detail
Structure–
they do not have a solid surface.
Atmosphere–
thick and made up mainly of hydrogen and helium.
Rings–
each is surrounded by a set of rings.
Size and mass–
each is very large and massive.

38. Click the PHSchool.com button for an activity about the planets.
- The Outer Planets
More on the Planets
Click the PHSchool.com button for an activity about the planets.

39. End of Section: The Outer Planets

40. Structure of a Comet - Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors
The main parts of a comet are the nucleus, the coma, and the tail. Most comets have two tails—a bluish gas tail and a white dust tail.

41. Comet Orbits - Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors
Most comets revolve around the sun in very long, narrow orbits. Gas and dust tails form as the comet approaches the sun.

42. The Asteroid Belt - Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors
Most asteroids revolve around the sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. This region is called the asteroid belt.

43. Comparing and Contrasting
- Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors
Comparing and Contrasting
As you read, compare and contrast comets, asteroids, and meteoroids by completing a table like the one below.
Comets, Asteroids, and Meteoroids
Feature
Comets
Asteroids
Meteoroids
Kuiper belt and Oort cloud
Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter
Origin
Comets or asteroids
Excluding the tail, about the size of a mountain
Typically less than 1 km; some are more than 300 km in diameter
Smaller than comets or asteroids
Size
Ice, dust, small rocky particles
Composition
Rock
Rock or dust

44. Links on Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors
Click the SciLinks button for links on comets, asteroids, and meteors.

45. End of Section: Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors

46. Asking Questions - Is There Life Beyond Earth?
Before you read, preview the red headings. In a graphic organizer like the one below, ask a question for each heading. As you read, write answers to your questions.
Question
Answer
What are the “Goldilocks”conditions?
The favorable conditions on Earth that allow life to exist
Is there life on Mars?
Scientists have not yet found evidence for life on Mars.
Why do scientists think Europa might have life?
Europa has an ice crust that could have a liquid water ocean underneath.

47. Links on Extraterrestrial Life
- Is There Life Beyond Earth?
Links on Extraterrestrial Life
Click the SciLinks button for links on extraterrestrial life.

48. End of Section: Is There Life Beyond Earth?

49. Graphic Organizer Feature Geocentric System Heliocentric System
Object at center
Earth
Sun
Objects that move around center
Planets and sun
Planets
Proposed by
Early Greek astronomers
Copernicus
Supporters
Ptolemy
Brahe, Kepler, Galileo

50. End of Section: Graphic Organizer