The Earth in Space`-The Earth in Space`-The Earth in Space

The Solar SystemThe Solar System

Our solar system consists of nine Our solar system consists of nine planets ( now eight)planets ( now eight)

Earth is the third planet from the sunEarth is the third planet from the sun

Solar SystemSolar System

Every planet travels on a path known Every planet travels on a path known

as theiras their ORBITORBIT..An orbit is a elliptical shape (stretched An orbit is a elliptical shape (stretched

out circle)out circle)Every planet takes a different amount Every planet takes a different amount

of time to complete their orbitof time to complete their orbitEarth takes 365 ¼ days to go around Earth takes 365 ¼ days to go around

the sun once.the sun once.

The PlanetsThe Planets

Earth like PlanetsEarth like Planets MercuryMercury VenusVenus MarsMars Pluto Pluto

SolidSolid SmallSmall No or few moonsNo or few moons Spin slowlySpin slowly

Jupiter like PlanetsJupiter like Planets JupiterJupiter SaturnSaturn

Neptune Neptune UranusUranus

Balls of gasBalls of gas Spin rapidlySpin rapidly Many moonsMany moons Surrounding ringsSurrounding rings

The SunThe Sun

93 million miles away from earth93 million miles away from earthMade of hot gasesMade of hot gasesTemperature – 27 million degrees Temperature – 27 million degrees

FahrenheitFahrenheitThe sun gives off the light and warmth The sun gives off the light and warmth

without it life would not exist.without it life would not exist.

The Sun and the SeasonsThe Sun and the Seasons The earth is tilted on an angle of 23 ½ degrees The earth is tilted on an angle of 23 ½ degrees

on its axison its axis Due to this tilt we get the four seasons (Due to this tilt we get the four seasons (diagram diagram

on page 31 in your book)on page 31 in your book) As the earth orbits around the sun, the sun light As the earth orbits around the sun, the sun light

hits the northern and southern hemispheres hits the northern and southern hemispheres differentlydifferently

When the sun is hitting the hemisphere directly When the sun is hitting the hemisphere directly then you are receiving strong rays and the then you are receiving strong rays and the warmth of summerwarmth of summer

Slanted rays means that it is winterSlanted rays means that it is winter

Summer SolsticeSummer Solstice

Summer SolsticeSummer Solstice – June 21 – June 21stst North Pole North Pole is tilted toward the sun and at noon at the is tilted toward the sun and at noon at the Tropic of Cancer the sun is directly Tropic of Cancer the sun is directly overhead.overhead.

-In Northern hemisphere only-In Northern hemisphere only- longest day of sunlight fewest hours - longest day of sunlight fewest hours of darknessof darkness-In Southern Hemisphere it is the -In Southern Hemisphere it is the

beginning of winterbeginning of winter

Winter SolsticeWinter Solstice

Winter SolsticeWinter Solstice – December 22 North Pole is – December 22 North Pole is tilted away from the sun and the at noon the sun tilted away from the sun and the at noon the sun is overhead at the Tropic of Capricornis overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn

In Northern Hemisphere onlyIn Northern Hemisphere onlyThis is the day with the shortest hours of This is the day with the shortest hours of

daylight and longest hours of darkness.daylight and longest hours of darkness.This day is the beginning of summer in This day is the beginning of summer in

the southern hemispherethe southern hemisphere

Spring & Fall EquinoxesSpring & Fall Equinoxes

Spring Equinox – Spring Equinox – Vernal EquinoxVernal Equinox – – March 22 March 22

Fall Equinox – Fall Equinox – Autumnal EquinoxAutumnal Equinox - - September 23September 23

Midway between the two solsticeMidway between the two solsticeThe days and nights are of equal lenghts.The days and nights are of equal lenghts.On both of these days the moon shines On both of these days the moon shines

directly over the equatordirectly over the equator

The SunThe Sun

The EarthThe Earth

Third planet from the sunThird planet from the sunHas only 1 moon compared to Jupiter who Has only 1 moon compared to Jupiter who

as the most of any planet, and Mercury as the most of any planet, and Mercury and Venus which have no moonsand Venus which have no moons

The earth is 75% water 25% landThe earth is 75% water 25% landConsists of 7 continentsConsists of 7 continentsOnly planet thus far that has life on itOnly planet thus far that has life on it

Composition of the EarthComposition of the Earth

CoreCore- inner core- solid- inner core- solid Outer core- liquid- ironOuter core- liquid- iron MantleMantle – middle layer – middle layer

between the crust and the between the crust and the corecore

CrusCrust –t – outermost layer, outermost layer, 25 miles thick beneath 25 miles thick beneath the continentsthe continents

Light and brittle layerLight and brittle layer

Earth’s MovementEarth’s Movement

Like all other planets, earth spins on its Like all other planets, earth spins on its axis – axis – the imaginary line that runs through the the imaginary line that runs through the earths center between the north and south earths center between the north and south poles.poles.

Earth takes 24 hours to spin fully around on its Earth takes 24 hours to spin fully around on its axis thus we have 24 hour days.axis thus we have 24 hour days.

As the earth turns on its axis it has part of the As the earth turns on its axis it has part of the planet facing the sun where it is daytime an part planet facing the sun where it is daytime an part turned from the sun where it is night time. turned from the sun where it is night time.

Earth’s Movement Con’tEarth’s Movement Con’t

The earth revolves around the sun as it The earth revolves around the sun as it rotates on its axis. This rotates on its axis. This revolutionrevolution around the sun takes 365 ¼ days.around the sun takes 365 ¼ days.

The revolution around the sun is what we The revolution around the sun is what we call 1 year. call 1 year.

The extra ¼ of the year is added up and The extra ¼ of the year is added up and gives us a leap year. gives us a leap year.

Leap year is always February 29Leap year is always February 29thth. .

The AtmosphereThe Atmosphere The atmosphere is the gaseous envelope surrounding The atmosphere is the gaseous envelope surrounding

the earth.the earth. It consists mainly of nitrogen and oxygenIt consists mainly of nitrogen and oxygen Life on earth depends partly on the atmosphereLife on earth depends partly on the atmosphere There are 5 layersThere are 5 layers

Troposphere Troposphere – where all weather occurs (people, plants and – where all weather occurs (people, plants and animals live here)animals live here)

StratosphereStratosphere – goes into the sky and is the ozone layer – goes into the sky and is the ozone layer MesosphereMesosphere – above the earths surface – above the earths surface ThermosphereThermosphere – gets higher the further you go because it gets – gets higher the further you go because it gets

closer to the suncloser to the sun ExosphereExosphere – furthest layer of the atmosphere together with the – furthest layer of the atmosphere together with the

thermosphere make the upper atmospherethermosphere make the upper atmosphere

The Atmospheres PurposeThe Atmospheres Purpose

Contains 99% nitrogen and oxygen which is Contains 99% nitrogen and oxygen which is needed for lifeneeded for life

Holds in the suns heat in order to keep life Holds in the suns heat in order to keep life (greenhouse) without the atmosphere earth (greenhouse) without the atmosphere earth would be too cold for many things to livewould be too cold for many things to live

Reflects some heat back into the atmosphere Reflects some heat back into the atmosphere keeping the earth from becoming too warmkeeping the earth from becoming too warm

Shields dangerous sun raysShields dangerous sun rays

The PlanetsThe Planets

MercuryMercury

MercuryMercury

Closest planet to the sunClosest planet to the sun1/3 the size of the earth (21/3 the size of the earth (2ndnd smallest smallest

planet, now the smallest)planet, now the smallest) It has no moonsIt has no moonsLength of year is 88 daysLength of year is 88 days800 degrees in the daytime, -300 degrees 800 degrees in the daytime, -300 degrees

in the night timein the night time

VenusVenus

VenusVenus

22ndnd planet from the sun planet from the sunSixth largest (slightly smaller than earth)Sixth largest (slightly smaller than earth)Sometimes known as earth’s sister planet Sometimes known as earth’s sister planet

because they are similar in size, density, because they are similar in size, density, and volume.and volume.

Has a very slow rotation 243 earth days Has a very slow rotation 243 earth days per venus days.per venus days.

Temperature 900 degrees FahrenheitTemperature 900 degrees Fahrenheit

Earth Earth

EarthEarth

365 ¼ days per year365 ¼ days per yearOnly planet with lifeOnly planet with lifeVarying temperaturesVarying temperatures

MarsMars

MarsMars

The The RedRed Planet Planet Contains the largest mountain in the solar Contains the largest mountain in the solar

systemsystem 44thth planet from the sun planet from the sun 77thth largest planet largest planet ½ the size of the earth½ the size of the earth 1 day on Mars is 24 hours just like EARTH!1 day on Mars is 24 hours just like EARTH! 2 tiny moons2 tiny moons

JupiterJupiter

JupiterJupiter

55thth planet from the sun planet from the sunBy far the largest planet more than twice By far the largest planet more than twice

the size of all the planets combinedthe size of all the planets combined4 very large moons4 very large moonsGas planet – 90% hydrogen, 10%heliumGas planet – 90% hydrogen, 10%helium

SaturnSaturn

SaturnSaturn

22ndnd largest planet in the solar system largest planet in the solar system66thth planet from the sun planet from the sunLength of year is equal to 29.42 earth Length of year is equal to 29.42 earth

yearsyearsDays are 10 h and 39.4 minutes longDays are 10 h and 39.4 minutes longGas planetGas planetHas a series of rings around itHas a series of rings around it33 moons33 moons

Saturn’s RingsSaturn’s Rings Ring Name: DRing Name: D

Distance*: 67000 kmDistance*: 67000 kmWidth: 7,500 km Width: 7,500 km Ring Name: BRing Name: BDistance*: 92000 kmDistance*: 92000 kmWidth: 25,500 kmWidth: 25,500 kmThickness: 0.1 km - 1 kmThickness: 0.1 km - 1 kmMass: 0.1 kgMass: 0.1 kgAlbedo: 0.65 Albedo: 0.65

Ring Name: ARing Name: ADistance*: 122200 kmDistance*: 122200 kmWidth: 14,600 kmWidth: 14,600 kmThickness: 0.1 km - 1 kmThickness: 0.1 km - 1 kmMass: 0.1 kgMass: 0.1 kgAlbedo: 0.60 Albedo: 0.60

Ring Name: FRing Name: FDistance*: 140210 kmDistance*: 140210 kmWidth: 30 km - 500 km Width: 30 km - 500 km

Ring Name: GRing Name: GDistance*: 165800 kmDistance*: 165800 kmWidth: 8,000 kmWidth: 8,000 kmThickness: 100 km - 1,000 kmThickness: 100 km - 1,000 kmMass: 100 kg Mass: 100 kg

Ring Name: ERing Name: EDistance*: 180000 kmDistance*: 180000 kmWidth: 300,000 kmWidth: 300,000 kmThickness: 1,000 kmThickness: 1,000 kmMass: 1,000 kg Mass: 1,000 kg

UranusUranus

UranusUranus

77thth planet from the sun planet from the sun33rdrd largest planet largest planet27 moons27 moonsRing system surrounding itRing system surrounding it

NeptuneNeptune

NeptuneNeptune

88thth planet from the sun planet from the sun 44thth largest largest Composition – various ices and rockComposition – various ices and rock Bluish color comes from methane gasBluish color comes from methane gas Crosses orbits with pluto at times making it the Crosses orbits with pluto at times making it the

farthest planet from the sun for several months.farthest planet from the sun for several months. 13 moons 13 moons Has rings but they are not as bright and colorful Has rings but they are not as bright and colorful

as Saturn’s because they are made of rock and as Saturn’s because they are made of rock and dust mostly dust mostly

PlutoPluto

PlutoPluto

99thth planet from the sun planet from the sunSmallest planetSmallest planetPluto has just recently been taken off of Pluto has just recently been taken off of

the list of the planets and made into a the list of the planets and made into a dwarf planet due to its small sizedwarf planet due to its small size

ERISERIS