Solar System

The Sun

The Sun, a huge sphere of The Sun, a huge sphere of mostly ionized gas, supports life mostly ionized gas, supports life on Earth.on Earth.

The Sun is 332,900 times more The Sun is 332,900 times more massive than Earth and contains massive than Earth and contains 99.86 percent of the mass of the 99.86 percent of the mass of the entire solar system. entire solar system.

Planets

Mercury

Mercury is the nearest planet from Mercury is the nearest planet from the Sun.the Sun.

Its orbit period was 88 days and so one side was permanently facing away from the Sun.

Its diameter is 4878 km.

Its distance from Sun is 57.8 million km.

VENUS

Venus is the second planet from the Venus is the second planet from the sun.sun.

Its name comes from roman goddess Its name comes from roman goddess of beauty & love.of beauty & love.

Its diameter is 12,104 km.Its diameter is 12,104 km.

Its average distance from the sun is Its average distance from the sun is 108.2 million km.108.2 million km.

Earth

The Earth is the third closest planet The Earth is the third closest planet to the Sun.to the Sun.

It is the only planet where the live It is the only planet where the live happens.happens.

It consists Nitrogen (around 78%), It consists Nitrogen (around 78%), followed by Oxygen(21%) and 1% of followed by Oxygen(21%) and 1% of other gases. other gases.

Its diameter is 12,756 km.Its diameter is 12,756 km.

Mars

Mars is the fourth planet from the Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun.Sun.

It is also known as Red Planet.It is also known as Red Planet.

It has the largest volcanic mountain It has the largest volcanic mountain in the Solar System.in the Solar System.

Mars has two natural satellites:- Mars has two natural satellites:- Phobos and Diemos.Phobos and Diemos.

Jupiter

Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun.Sun.

It is the largest planet of the solar It is the largest planet of the solar system.system.

Its four largest moons are:- IO, Its four largest moons are:- IO, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto.Europa, Ganymede, Callisto.

Its magnetic field is 20000 times Its magnetic field is 20000 times than the earth.than the earth.

Saturn

Saturn is the second largest planet of Saturn is the second largest planet of the solar system.the solar system.

Saturn (the Roman God of Saturn (the Roman God of Agriculture) has a diameter of Agriculture) has a diameter of 120,000 km. 120,000 km.

It has more than 30 moons.It has more than 30 moons.

Its volume is 755 times than the Its volume is 755 times than the volume of the earth.volume of the earth.

URANUS

Uranus is the seventh planet of the Uranus is the seventh planet of the solar system.solar system.

It is the first planet which is found It is the first planet which is found with the aid of the telescope.with the aid of the telescope.

It has the 27 moons.It has the 27 moons.

Miranda is the strangest looking Miranda is the strangest looking moon. moon.

NEPTUNE

Neptune is both the smallest and the Neptune is both the smallest and the furthest from the Sun.furthest from the Sun.

It is the last major gaseous outpost It is the last major gaseous outpost before Pluto and the Kuiper Belt.before Pluto and the Kuiper Belt.

Neptune is the Roman God of the Neptune is the Roman God of the

Sea. Sea.

Its distance from the sun is the 4,500 Its distance from the sun is the 4,500 million km. million km.

Pluto is the coldest dwarf planet.Pluto is the coldest dwarf planet.

It is the largest dwarf planet.It is the largest dwarf planet. It has diameter of 3,000 km.It has diameter of 3,000 km. It is about 10 billion miles from Sun. It is about 10 billion miles from Sun.

It is discovered on January 1, 1801.It is discovered on January 1, 1801. Its name is derived from the Roman Its name is derived from the Roman

Goddess.Goddess.

Makemake is a creator god of Rapa Makemake is a creator god of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Nui (Easter Island).

It is the third largest known dwarf It is the third largest known dwarf planet in the Solar System planet in the Solar System

Asteroids are found between belt of Asteroids are found between belt of Mars and Jupiter.Mars and Jupiter.

There are more than 90,000 There are more than 90,000 asteroids.asteroids.

AsteroidsAsteroids

Too small & too Too small & too numerous to be numerous to be considered full fledged considered full fledged planetsplanets

Most revolve around Most revolve around Sun between orbits of Sun between orbits of Mars & Jupiter= asteroid Mars & Jupiter= asteroid beltbelt

the asteroid Ida and its newly-the asteroid Ida and its newly-discovered moon, Dactyl discovered moon, Dactyl

Asteroid beltAsteroid belt

asteroidsasteroids

Meteors are also called Shooting Stars.Meteors are also called Shooting Stars. 10,000 tons meteors are fall on the 10,000 tons meteors are fall on the

earth each day.earth each day.

meteoroidmeteoroid meteor meteor meteorite meteorite

meteor showermeteor shower

meteormeteor

meteoritemeteorite

A shooting star is really a meteor.A shooting star is really a meteor.

Comets take 30 million years to take Comets take 30 million years to take a trip around the Sun.a trip around the Sun.

Each comet has a tiny part nucleus.Each comet has a tiny part nucleus.

comet

“dirty snowball”

chunk of ice & dust

orbits- long narrow

ellipse

Parts of a comet

coma nucleus tail

outer layer inner layerformed by solar

wind pushing gasaway from the sun

tail

nucleus coma

Most comets- found in Kuiper belt (between Neptune & Pluto) or Oort cloud (beyond Pluto)

cometcomet

Pigpen from “Peanuts”

Interactive Comet Animation

Comet Hale-Bopp in 1997

The passage of Hale-Bopp was notable for inciting a degree of panic about comets not seen for decades. Rumors that the comet was being followed by an alien spacecraft inspired a mass suicide among followers of the Heaven's Gate cult.

Comet Halley was visible in Comet Halley was visible in 1910 and again in 1986. The 1910 and again in 1986. The next time it will be visible will next time it will be visible will be in early 2062.be in early 2062.

comacomaouter layer of a comet

““dirty snowball”dirty snowball”Nickname for a comet

nucleusnucleusInner layer of a comet

tailtailFormed by solar wind pushing gas away from the Sun

elliptical (ellipse)elliptical (ellipse)The shape of a comet’s orbit around the Sun

meteormeteorA shooting star is really a ________.

asteroidsasteroids

Too small & too numerous to Too small & too numerous to be considered full fledged be considered full fledged planetsplanets

meteoritemeteoritechunk of rock that chunk of rock that lands on Earth’s surfacelands on Earth’s surface

meteoroidmeteoroidchunk of rock or chunk of rock or dust in spacedust in space

Comets or asteroidsComets or asteroids Meteoroids usually come Meteoroids usually come

from________ or ___________.from________ or ___________.

frictionfriction

causes meteoroids to causes meteoroids to burn up in the burn up in the atmosphereatmosphere

Halley’s CometHalley’s CometThe comet that is The comet that is observed from Earth observed from Earth every 76 yearsevery 76 years