Explore the Planets! Virtual Field Trip

1. Explore the Planets! Virtual Field Trip Travel Journal Click Explore the Planets About Our Trip Planets Michael F. Ruffini

2. Welcome to Explore the Planets About Our Trip…… The Solar System is an exciting place! There are eight planets that orbit the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Pluto was discovered in 1930 and long considered to be the ninth planet. But after the discoveries of similar intriguing worlds even farther out. Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet. The Sun is the center of our solar system; the planets, their moons, the asteroids, comets, and other rocks and gas all orbit the Sun. On this fieldtrip, you will learn interesting facts and information about the planets in our solar system. Let’s find out what we will learn on our trip….. VFT MENU

3. Trip Objectives • Explain how each Planet got its name. • Describe where each Planet is positioned fromthe Sun. • Explain how long it takes for each Planet to rotate on its axis. Describe the size of each planet. Explain the force of gravity at the surface of each planet in relation to your weight. • Explain how long it takes each planet to orbit the Sun. • Explain the composition of the atmosphere ofeach planet. • Describe the size of each planet and how itrelates to the sizes of the other planets. • List and describe the temperature range of each • planet. • List the number of moons if any orbiting eachplanet. • Describe if and how a human could survive oneach planet. • Describe two interesting facts about each planet. • Describe the difference between a comet, • asteroid, and meteorite. Glossary of Trip Terms VFT MENU

4. Glossary of Trip Terms • Asteroid - a small, rocky body that orbits a star. • Atmosphere - the layers of gases which surround a star, like our Sun, or a planet, like our Earth. • Astronomical Unit- The distance from the Earth to the Sun. Usually written AU. • - the giant explosion that is theorized to have created the universe 10 billion to 20 billion years ago. • Comet - Comets are basically dusty snowballs which orbit the sun. They are made of ices, such as water, carbon dioxide, ammonia and methane, mixed with dust. • Galaxy - an enormous gravitationally bound assemblage of millions or billions of stars. • Meteor - the flash of light that we see in the night sky when a small chunk of interplanetary debris burns up as it passes through our atmosphere. "Meteor" refers to the flash of light caused by the debris, not the debris itself. • Meteorites - a part of a meteoroid that survives through the Earth's atmosphere. • Planet- a large rocky or gaseous body that orbits a star • Speed of light- the fastest possible speed in a vacuum, equivalent to 186,000 miles per second (300,000 km per second). • Rotation - the spinning of an object on its axis. • Solar System- the system containing the sun and all the smaller bodies in orbit around it. • Sun - is the star at the center of our solar system. • Universe- the vast expanse of space which contains all of the matter and energy in existence. VFT MENU

5. The Planets! C Asteroids& Meteorites Mercury Mars Venus Earth Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune

6. Mercury Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun in our Solar System. This small, rocky planet has almost no atmosphere. Mercury has a very elliptical orbit and a huge range in temperature. During the long daytime (which lasts 58.65 Earth days or almost an entire Mercurian year, which is 88 days long), the temperature is hotter than an oven; during the long night (the same length), the temperature is colder than a freezer. Mercury Web LinksThinkQuest Kids Astronomy The Eight PlanetsYour Weight on Other Worlds See Travel Journal for Questions VFT MENU

7. Venus Venus is the second planet from the sun in our solar system. It is the hottest planet in our Solar System. This planet is covered with fast-moving sulfuric acid clouds which trap heat from the Sun. Its thick atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide. The surface of Venus is a very unpleasant place featuring very high temperatures, winds that blow hundreds of miles per hour and an atmosphere of sulfuric acid. Venus Web Links ThinkQuest The Eight Planets Kids Astronomy Your Weight on Other Worlds See Travel Journal for Questions VFT MENU

8. Earth The Earth is the third planet from the Sun in our Solar System. It is the planet we evolved on and the only planet in our Solar System that is known to support life. From a distance, our planet looks like a beautiful big blue marble. There are a number of things that make our planet unique in the solar system, not the least of which is that we are the only planet so far that we know for certain has ever had life of any kind. Earth Web Links ThinkQuest The Eight Planets Kids Astronomy Your Weight on Other Worlds VFT MENU

9. Mars Mars, the red planet, is the fourth planet from the sun and the most Earth-like planet in our solar system. It is about half the size of Earth and has a dry, rocky surface and a very thin atmosphere. The Red Planet is named after the Roman god of war. Its distinctive rust color is easily seen through a small telescope. The surface of Mars features many mountains, canyons and even polar ice caps that look a lot like those here on Earth. Mars Web Links ThinkQuest The Eight Planets • Kids Astronomy Your Weight on Other Worlds VFT MENU

10. Jupiter The fifth planet in our solar system is also the largest planet in our system, both in size and mass. Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet in our solar system. This gas giant has a thick atmosphere, 39 known moons, and a dark, barely-visible ring. Its most prominent features are bands across its latitudes and a great red spot (which is a storm). Jupiter Web Links ThinkQuest • Kids Astronomy The Eight Planets Your Weight on Other Worlds VFT MENU

11. Saturn Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun in our solar system. It is the second-largest planet in our solar system (Jupiter is the largest). Saturn is one of the most beautiful planets in the solar system. Its fascinating system of rings has been a source of wonder since we first saw them with the earliest telescopes. In addition, Saturn has so many moons that it is like a miniature solar system. SaturnWeb Links ThinkQuest Kids Astronomy The Eight Planets Your Weight on Other Worlds See Travel Journal for Questions VFT MENU

12. Uranus Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun in our solar system. This huge, icy planet is covered with clouds and is encircled by a belt of 11 rings and 22 known moons. Uranus is one of the giant gas planets in the solar system. Its mysterious blue-green color provides very few clues as to what is going on underneath the surface clouds. If you get a chance to look at Uranus through a telescope, all you will see is a faint blue disk that appears exceptionally dull and lifeless. UranusWeb Links ThinkQuest The Eight Planets Kids Astronomy Your Weight on Other Worlds See Travel Journal for Questions VFT MENU

13. Neptune Neptune is the eighth planet from the sun in our solar system. This giant, frigid planet has a hazy atmosphere and strong winds. This gas giant is orbited by eight moons and narrow, faint rings arranged in clumps.Actually, there are times when Neptune is the furthest planet from the Sun. Pluto, which has a very elliptical orbit, is sometimes closer to the Sun that Neptune for a period of time, but, for the most part, Neptune is closer to the Sun than Pluto. NeptuneWeb Links ThinkQuest The Eight Planets Kids Astronomy Your Weight on Other Worlds See Travel Journal for Questions VFT MENU

14. Asteroids Asteroids are chunks of rock and metal that orbit around the Sun. Scientists think that they are loose material that never formed into planets. Asteroids are rocky or metallic objects, most of which orbit the Sun in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. None of the asteroids have atmospheres. Asteroids are also known as planetoids or minor planets. AsteroidsWeb Links NASA Kids Astronomy See Travel Journal for Questions VFT MENU