Light in the solar system
🌟 This Topic is About...
- I will discover that solar systems contain stars, planets, asteroids, and comets.
- I will name the planets in our solar system.
- I will draw a diagram of a moon orbiting a planet.
- I will use a model to show how bodies in the solar system are related.
- I will use reference books and the internet to learn more about the solar system.
Let’s explore the wonders of our amazing solar system!
🌟 Key Words
- asteroid
- closest
- comet
- furthest
- orbit
- solar system
- spacecraft
📖 Tap to Learn the Meanings!
- ☄️ asteroid: a small rocky object that orbits the Sun, mostly found between Mars and Jupiter.
- 🔍 closest: the nearest in distance.
- 🌠 comet: a ball of ice and dust that travels around the Sun and forms a glowing tail when near it.
- 🌌 furthest: the most distant or farthest away.
- 🪐 orbit: the curved path that a planet, moon, or spacecraft follows around another object.
- ☀️ solar system: the Sun and all the planets, moons, and other objects that move around it.
- 🚀 spacecraft: a vehicle designed to travel in space.
Great job learning new words! 🎉
The Sun is our source of light
The spacecraft Galileo took this photograph of the Earth and the Moon on its way to explore the planet Jupiter. The photograph shows us that the Moon and the Earth are surrounded by black, empty space. The Sun is way beyond the photograph on the left. The Sun is shining because it is a star. The Sun lights up the half of the Earth and the Moon facing it. Earth is a planet. Planets reflect the light of the Sun. The Moon also reflects the light of the Sun.
Orbits
Look at the diagram of the Sun, Earth and Moon. The Earth and the Moon are constantly moving in space.
The Moon orbits – goes around – the Earth and the Earth orbits the Sun. The Moon takes 29 days or one month to complete its orbit around the Earth. The Earth takes 365 ¼ days or one year to complete its orbit around the Sun.
In space there are many stars. Each of these stars gives out light. That is why we can see the stars in the night sky. Light from the stars travels to Earth and enters our eyes. Many of the stars could have planets orbiting them in the same way as planets orbit the Sun.
Quick Fact
The distance between the Earth and the Sun is approximately 93 million miles. Light from the Sun takes about 8 minutes to reach Earth.
Our solar system
The solar system – which means the Sun and the planets, moons, comets and asteroids which move around it – is enormous. We can learn about the solar system by using a model. The diagram of the solar system shown here is a model. All the distances and sizes are much smaller than the real thing.
The Sun is at the centre of the solar system. There are eight planets which orbit the Sun. Earth is one of the planets.
Notice that the planets that are closest, or nearest, to the Sun have smaller orbits than the planets further from the Sun. Planets that are closer to the Sun than Earth take less than an ‘Earth year’ to orbit the Sun. Planets that are further from the Sun than Earth take more than an ‘Earth year’ to orbit the Sun.
Quick Fact
A ‘year’ on Mercury is only 88 Earth days long! It orbits the Sun much faster than Earth because it is much closer.
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Asteroids
Asteroids are rocky masses that orbit the Sun. They are similar to planets but much smaller. At the moment scientists have identified 781,692 asteroids! Nearly all of them are in the asteroid belt between the planets Mars and Jupiter.
Moons
Moons orbit planets and asteroids. Earth has one moon. Mars has two moons. This photograph shows Titania. It is the largest of the moons of planet Uranus and the eighth largest moon in the solar system.
Quick Fact
Some moons are so large they are called “natural satellites.” Some planets, like Jupiter and Saturn, have dozens of moons!
🌌 FUN QUESTIONS — Space and Moons
1. What is an asteroid?
🌟 Show answer
2. Where are most of the asteroids in the solar system?
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3. What is a moon?
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4. In the photograph of Titania, why is half the moon in darkness?
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5. Draw a diagram to show the orbit Titania makes around planet Uranus.
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6. Use a reference book or the internet to find out how many moons the planet Jupiter has. You will be surprised!
🌟 Show answer
Comets
Comets are lumps of ice and dirt which move in large orbits around the Sun. Many comets are beyond the planets at the edge of the solar system. Comets have long tails behind them.
Quick Fact
Comets can have very long orbits, and some take hundreds or even thousands of years to complete one trip around the Sun.
🔬 Think like a Scientist: Find Out What Is in Our Solar System
Question: What objects exist in our solar system besides planets?
You will need: Access to resources for research (books, internet, or videos).
📝 Method:
- 1. What other bodies orbit a star besides planets?
- 2. Name two types of body that a moon can orbit.
- 3. Draw a ray diagram of the Sun’s rays travelling to Earth 🌞➡️🌍.
- 4. Find out:
- a. How many moons planet Saturn has.
- b. The name of Saturn’s largest moon.
- 5. Find out the name of the biggest asteroid in our solar system.
💡 Our solar system includes planets, moons, asteroids, and comets orbiting stars like the Sun!
❓ Questions:
🌟 Tap to See Answers
- 1: Other bodies orbiting a star include moons, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.
- 2: A moon can orbit a planet or a dwarf planet.
- 3: Light from the Sun travels in a straight line and reaches Earth after traveling through space. 🌞➡️🌍
- 4a: Saturn has 82 moons.
- 4b: Saturn’s largest moon is Titan.
- 5: The largest asteroid in our solar system is Ceres.
Great work researching our solar system! You’re on your way to becoming a space expert.
🌟 Look what I can do!
- I can show that the Sun is the center of our solar system.
- I can name the planets in our solar system.
- I can describe the contents of solar systems, including stars, planets, asteroids, and comets.
- I can use a model to show the relationships between bodies in the solar system.
- I can draw a diagram of a moon orbiting a planet.
- I can use reference books and the internet to find out more about the solar system.
I’m becoming a solar system expert! 🚀