The Solar System Allison Carr, Kilie Pennington, and Kristina Sims.

The Solar SystemAllison Carr, Kilie Pennington, and Kristina

Sims

• The Solar System is made up of two parts: the inner and outer solar system.

• The inner planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

• The outer planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

• Inner planets are separated from the outer planets by the Asteroid Belt.

• There are rocky planets and gas planets.

The Sun

• Largest object in the Solar System

• A star

Mercury

•Closest planet to the sun

• Eighth largest planet

•Rocky surface

•No moons

Venus• Brightest object

in the sky except for the Sun and our Moon

• Sixth largest planet

•Has gently rolling plains on the surface and is very hot

Earth• The only planet

that is able to sustain life

•Has one moon

• 71% of Earth is covered by water

• Fifth largest planet

The Moon

• Second brightest object in the sky after the Sun

• The only extraterrestrial body to have been visited by humans

Mars• Sometimes known

as the “Red Planet”.

•Has two moons

• Seventh largest planet

•Has craters and mountains, including the largest mountain in the Solar System named Olympus Mons.

Asteroid Belt

• The region between the inner and outer planets.

•Contains thousands of asteroids

•Many are visible with the binoculars or small telescopes.

Jupiter• The largest

planet in the Solar System

•Has four moons

• Known for the Great Red Spot on its surface

•Has rings, but they are very faint.

Saturn

•Has rings

• Second largest planet

•Has 53 named moons

•When observing Saturn through a telescope, it seems squished because it does not have a rigid structure.

Uranus• First planet

discovered in modern times

•Has rings

• Blue in color

•Has 27 moons

• Third largest planet

Neptune

• Blue in color

•Has rings

•Has 13 moons

• Fourth largest planet

Pluto?

Missed ConceptionFACT #35

Earth’s Moon gives off light on its own. That is how we can seeit at night.

1. Why do you think that some people may think that the Moongives off light on its own?

2. How would you explain the correct answer to someone that did not understand? Do you think your explanation would

persuade someone to change their mind?

3. Have you ever had a similar Missed Conception at any timein your life? Do you think that you might still hold on to

your previous ideas or parts of them? How and/or why has yourthinking changed or not changed?

Resources

•www.nineplanets.org

•www.kids.nineplanets.org

•Science Formative Assessment textbook