Solar System

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By Jordan
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Sun

• The sun contains nearly all the matter in the
  solar system. Heat, light, and other forms of
  energy stream outward in all directions from its
  surface.

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Mercury
Mercury is so close to the sun that its
temperature is about 425 degrees Celsius (800
degrees Fahrenheit). Mercury does not have enough
gravity to hold an atmosphere.
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Venus

• Venus is a hot planet with a thick atmosphere
  of carbon dioxide. Venus has a surface
  temperature of about 480 degrees Celsius (900
  degrees Fahrenheit), which is much too hot for
  life.

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Earth

• With its oxygen-rich atmosphere and liquid
  surface water, earth may be the only planet in
  the solar system able to support life.

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Mars

• Mars appears red because of the iron oxide,
  or rust, in its soil. Like Earth, Mars has frozen
  ice caps at its poles and deserts.

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Jupiter

• Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar
  system. Unlike the other planets, Jupiter is a
  giant ball of liquid hydrogen and helium
  surrounded by several thin rings.

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Saturn

• Saturn is another gas giant. Saturn has 18 moons
  and a huge system of rings, which are made up of
  ice chunks of varying sizes.

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Uranus

• Uranus has more moons than any other planets
  and ten thin rings. It is tilted so far on its
  axis that it rotates on its side.

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Neptune

• Neptune also has thin rings. Its color is
  similar to that of Uranus. One of Neptunes
  moons, Triton, is the largest in the solar system.

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Pluto
Pluto is small and icy. Part of Plutos orbit
passes inside that of Neptune, so at that time
Neptune is the planet farthest from the sun.
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Meteorites

• A meteoroid is matter revolving around the sun or
  any object in interplanetary space that is too
  small to be called an asteroid or a comet. Even
  smaller particles are called micrometeoroids or
  cosmic dust grains, which includes any
  interstellar material that should happen to enter
  our solar system. A meteorite is a meteoroid that
  reaches the surface of the Earth without being
  completely vaporized.

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Asteroids
Asteroids are chunks of rock that have been
described to look like giant potatoes in space.
Some are as large as small planets. Others are
the size of a basketball. Some scientists
hypothesize that asteroids represent matter that
failed to form a planet.
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Comets

• Comets are balls of ice and rock. They circle
  the sun from two regions beyond the orbit of
  Pluto. Glowing clouds surround most comets. Tails
  of gas can often be seen trailing them as their
  orbits take them near the sun.

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How do we know about all the Planets?

• We use current technology to update knowledge
  about the earth and the solar system. Some
  examples of this technology are telescopes,
  satellites, space probes, and space shuttles.

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Instruments used to observe the universe

• A telescope is an instrument that magnifies, or
  makes larger, distant objects. We can study the
  moon and other objects in space by using a
  telescope.
• A satellite is any natural body, like the moon,
  or artificial object that orbits another object.
  An example of an artificial satellite is Sputnik.
  
• A space probe is a robot vehicle used to explore
  deep space. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are two space
  probes that have been launched.
• Space shuttles have been used since 1981. They
  provide a place to launch, bring back, and repair
  satellites.

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• By Jordan
• Resources
• Solar System Views www.solarviews.com
• Harcourt Science Book for 5th Grade
• Flaming Text www.flamingtext.com

Mrs. Heislers Web Page