An introduction to the solar system for Elementary students by Kristin Ballew

1. The Solar System The Sun, Planets, And Our Moon

2. Our Solar System Today we will learn about: The Sun The 8 Planets One Dwarf Planet The Earth’s Moon

3. Important words Orbit – The time is takes a planet to go around the Sun. Revolution – The time is takes a planet to spin (rotate) around one time. Axis – The imaginary line through the center of a planet, that a planet rotates around.

4. The Sun

5. Is a Star in the Milky Way Galaxy The Sun is at the Center of our Solar System All planets, their moons, comets, and Asteroids all orbit the Sun The Sun is 10,000 degrees F 109 times the size of the Earth

6. Mercury

7. 1st planet and closet to the Sun Orbits the sun every 88 days Makes one Revolution every 59 days Has no moons

8. Venus

9. 2nd Planet from the Sun Called Earth’s “twin” because they are so similar in size. Orbits the Sun every 225 days Make one Revolution every 243 days Has no moons The surface is actually impossible to see due to cloud cover. Special imaging tools have given us a look at what the surface might look like.

10. Earth

11. 3rd Planet from the Sun Orbits the Sun every 365 days Makes one Revolution every 24 hours Earth is the only planet in the solar system with life on it Is made of 71% water Has one moon

12. The Moon

13. Orbits the Earth every 27 hours Makes one Revolution every 29 days The Dark spots are called Maria The rest of the moon that is light grey is called the highlands

14. Mars

15. 4th planet form the Sun Orbits the Sun every 687 days Makes one revolution every 24hrs. 39 min., and 35 sec. Has Two moons Is red due to its Iron rich surface Is the next body in space we hope to land on

16. Jupiter

17. 5th Planet from the Sun Orbits the Sun every 12 years Makes one revolution every 9 hours Is the Largest Planet Has 16 moons Has 3 thin rings around it The large red spot is a huge storm the circles the planet.

18. Saturn

19. 6th Planet from the Sun Orbits the Sun every 29 years Makes one revolution every 10hrs Is known for its seven bold rings made of rocks and ice Is the 2nd largest Planet Has 25 moons

20. Uranus

21. 7th Planet from the Sun Orbits the Sun every 84 years Makes one revolution every 17 hours Only Planet to rotate on its side Has rings Has 21 moons Is the last planet we can see with out a telescope.

22. Neptune

23. 8th planet from the Sun Orbits the Sun every 165 years Makes one revolution every 16 hours Has Rings Has 11 moons

24. Pluto

25. Used to be the 9th Planet from the Sun In 2006 it was decided that Pluto is actually what they now call a Dwarf Planet. Due to its size and Irregular orbit Orbits the Sun every 248 days Makes one revolution every 248 years

26. Sources All facts and pictures were provided by http://www.nasa.gov