This PowerPoint is one small part of the Astronomy Topics unit from www.sciencepowerpoint.com. This unit consists of a five part 3000+ slide PowerPoint roadmap, 12 page bundled homework package, modified homework, detailed answer keys, 8 pages of unit notes for students who may require assistance, follow along worksheets, and many review games. The homework and lesson notes chronologically follow the PowerPoint slideshow. The answer keys and unit notes are great for support professionals. The activities and discussion questions in the slideshow and meaningful. The PowerPoint includes built-in instructions, visuals, and follow up questions. Also included are critical class notes (color coded red), project ideas, video links, and review games. This unit also includes four PowerPoint review games (110+ slides each with Answers), 38+ video links, lab handouts, activity sheets, rubrics, materials list, templates, guides, and much more. Also included is a 190 slide first day of school PowerPoint presentation. Teaching Duration = 5+ weeks. Areas of Focus in the Astronomy Topics Unit: The Solar System and the Sun, Order of the Planets, Our Sun, Life Cycle of a Star, Size of Stars, Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse, The Inner Planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Moon, Craters, Tides, Phases of the Moon, Mars and Moons, Rocketry, Asteroid Belt, NEOs, The Torino Scale, The Outer Planets and Gas Giants, Jupiter / Moons, Saturn / Moons, Uranus / Moons, Neptune / Moons, Pluto's Demotion, The Kuiper Belt, Oort Cloud, Comets / Other, Beyond the Solar System, Types of Galaxies, Blackholes, Extrasolar Planets, The Big Bang, Dark Matter, Dark Energy, The Special Theory of Relativity, Hubble Space Telescope, Constellations, Spacetime and much more. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Thanks again and best wishes. Sincerely, Ryan Murphy M.Ed www.sciencepowerpoint@gmail.com

1. • The Caloris Basin. Largest known crater in
the solar system.

2. http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Website Link:

4. • RED SLIDE: These are notes that are very
important and should be recorded in your
science journal.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

5. -Nice neat notes that are legible and use indentations
when appropriate.
-Example of indent.
-Skip a line between topics
-Don’t skip pages
-Make visuals clear and well drawn.

6. • RED SLIDE: These are notes that are very
important and should be recorded in your
science journal.
• BLACK SLIDE: Pay attention, follow
directions, complete projects as described
and answer required questions neatly.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

7. • Mercury: Searching for facts online.
– Search “Virtual Tour Mercury”
– http://www.wwiaviation.com/wavelength/mercury.html
– http://www.space.com/mercury/
– http://www.seasky.org/solar-system/solar-system-intro.html

8. • Activity Sheet Available: Research Inner
Planets.

9. Mercury has little to no
atmosphere and is heavily
cratered

20. • The Caloris Basin. Largest known crater in
the solar system.

21. • Symbol – Mercury (Commerce / Speed)
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

22. • Symbol – Mercury (Commerce / Speed)
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

24. First probe to
gather information
on this innermost
planet

25. First probe to
gather information
on this innermost
planet
March 29, 1974

33. If you weighed 100
lbs on Earth, you
would weigh 38
pounds on Mercury

34. If you weighed 100
lbs on Earth, you
would weigh 38
pounds on Mercury

35. If you weighed 100
lbs on Earth, you
would weigh 38
pounds on Mercury

53. • Forget about the planets temperature and
lack of atmosphere…
– Would you want to go school for a day on
Mercury?

54. • Forget about the planets temperature and
lack of atmosphere…
– Would you want to go school for a day on
Mercury? One Day on Mercury =

55. • Forget about the planets temperature and
lack of atmosphere…
– Would you want to go school for a day on
Mercury? One Day on Mercury = 58 days, 15
hours on Earth.

56. • In 2012, Ice was discovered at the pole in
places permanently shielded from the sun.

57. • In 2012, Ice was discovered at the pole in
places permanently shielded from the sun.

58. • In 2012, Ice was discovered at the pole in
places permanently shielded from the sun.

63. • Mercury’s rotation is on a wobble.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

64. • Mercury’s rotation is on a wobble.
– As it approaches noon, the sun goes back
the way it came, then stops and goes again.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

65. • Mercury’s rotation is on a wobble.
– As it approaches noon, the sun goes back
the way it came, then stops and goes again.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

66. • Video Link! Surface of Mercury (Optional)
– Nice video that shows how surface data is
collected.
– Can be music / video during research
gathering in several slides.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLstq-vuppQ

67. • Mercury
– Close to the sun with no moons.
– Little to no atmosphere (heavily cratered)
– In the Sun the temperatures can reach 800 F or
420 C,
– In the shade, the temperatures can drop to -279
F, -173 C
– 88 day year (travels very fast)
– 1407 hour day (Very Long Day)
Mercury Information: Learn more:
http://nineplanets.org/mercury.html

68. http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Website Link:

69. • This Solar System Basics and the Sun lesson is just one
small part of my Astronomy Topics Unit. This unit
includes
• A five part 2,800 Slide PowerPoint Presentation / unit
roadmap full of activities, review questions, games, video
links, materials list, and much more.
• A 13 bundled homework package, modified version, 7
pages of unit notes, 4 PowerPoint Review Games of
100+ slides each, videos, rubrics, and much more that
all chronologically follow the unit slideshow.
• This is a fantastic unit for any Earth Science Class.
• http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Astronomy_Unit.html

71. Areas of Focus in the Astronomy Topics Unit:
The Solar System and the Sun, Order of the Planets, Our Sun, Life Cycle
of a Star, Size of Stars, Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse, The Inner Planets,
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Moon, Craters, Tides, Phases of the Moon, Mars
and Moons, Rocketry, Asteroid Belt, NEO’s, The Torino Scale, The Outer
Planets and Gas Giants, Jupiter / Moons, Saturn / Moons, Uranus /
Moons, Neptune / Moons, Pluto's Demotion, The Kuiper Belt, Oort Cloud,
Comets / Other, Beyond the Solar System, Types of Galaxies, Black holes,
Extrasolar Planets, The Big Bang, Dark Matter, Dark Energy, The Special
Theory of Relativity, Hubble Space Telescope, Constellations, Age of the
Earth, Time, Earth events in a 12 hour day, Principle of Superposition,
Geologic Timescale, Extinction Events, Dinosaurs, and much more.
Full Unit found at...
http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Astronomy_Unit.html

72. • This was a very brief 5 mb tour. Please visit
the links below to learn more about each of
the units in this curriculum package.
– These units take me about four years to complete
with my students in grades 5-10.
Earth Science Units Extended Tour Link and Curriculum Guide
Geology Topics Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Geology_Unit.html
Astronomy Topics Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Astronomy_Unit.html
Weather and Climate Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Weather_Climate_Unit.html
Soil Science, Weathering, More http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Soil_and_Glaciers_Unit.html
Water Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Water_Molecule_Unit.html
Rivers Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/River_and_Water_Quality_Unit.html
= Easier = More Difficult = Most Difficult
5th – 7th grade 6th – 8th grade 8th – 10th grade

73. Physical Science Units Extended Tour Link and Curriculum Guide
Science Skills Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Science_Introduction_Lab_Safety_Metric_Methods.
html
Motion and Machines Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Newtons_Laws_Motion_Machines_Unit.html
Matter, Energy, Envs. Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Energy_Topics_Unit.html
Atoms and Periodic Table Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Atoms_Periodic_Table_of_Elements_Unit.html
Life Science Units Extended Tour Link and Curriculum Guide
Human Body / Health Topics
http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Human_Body_Systems_and_Health_Topics_Unit.html
DNA and Genetics Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/DNA_Genetics_Unit.html
Cell Biology Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Cellular_Biology_Unit.html
Infectious Diseases Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Infectious_Diseases_Unit.html
Taxonomy and Classification Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Taxonomy_Classification_Unit.html
Evolution / Natural Selection Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Evolution_Natural_Selection_Unit.html
Botany Topics Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Plant_Botany_Unit.html
Ecology Feeding Levels Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Ecology_Feeding_Levels_Unit.htm
Ecology Interactions Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Ecology_Interactions_Unit.html
Ecology Abiotic Factors Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Ecology_Abiotic_Factors_Unit.html

74. • More Units Available at…
Earth Science: The Soil Science and Glaciers Unit, The Geology Topics
Unit, The Astronomy Topics Unit, The Weather and Climate Unit, and The
Rivers and Water Quality Unit, The Water Molecule Unit.
Physical Science: The Laws of Motion and Machines Unit, The Atoms
and Periodic Table Unit, The Energy and the Environment Unit, and
Science Skills Unit.
Life Science: The Diseases and Cells Unit, The DNA and Genetics Unit,
The Life Topics Unit, The Plant Unit, The Taxonomy and Classification
Unit, Ecology: Feeding Levels Unit, Ecology: Interactions Unit, Ecology:
Abiotic Factors, The Evolution and Natural Selection Unit and The Human
Body Systems and Health Topics Unit
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

75. • The entire four year curriculum can be found at...
http://sciencepowerpoint.com/ Please feel free to
contact me with any questions you may have.
Thank you for your interest in this curriculum.
Sincerely,
Ryan Murphy M.Ed
www.sciencepowerpoint@gmail.com

76. http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Website Link: