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Space DistancesSpace Distances
• To measure distances in space, we use the astronomical unit (AU).
• 1 AU = 150 million kilometers
• 1 AU = the average distance between the Earth and the Sun.
1 AU
Solar System TourSolar System Tour
• Going on a tour through our solar system, we’ll visit 9 planets and some other things too!
CometsComets
• Comets are made up of dust and frozen gases such as ice.
• Sometimes, a comet swings too close to the sun. The suns radiation vaporizes some of the material, spurting gas and dust…this looks like a tail.
MercuryMercury
• Mercury is 0.4 AU from the Sun.
• Like our moon, it’s surface is marked with craters from meteorite impacts.
• 88 days to orbit the Sun
(1)
VenusVenus
• Venus is 0.7 AU from the Sun.
• It is surrounded by thick clouds.
• The clouds create an extreme greenhouse making it the hotest planet at 470 *C (880*F)
• 225 days to orbit the Sun
EarthEarth
• Earth is 150 million km from the Sun (1 AU).
• Earth is the only planet in the solar system with life!
• Here, surface temperatures allow H2O to exist as solid, liquid and gas.
• 365 days to orbit the Sun
MarsMars
• Mars is the 1.5 AU from the Sun.
• It has seasons and polar ice caps.
• Evidence that there was once liquid water on Mars.
• Mars gets its red color from iron oxide
• 687 days to orbit the Sun
Asteroid BeltAsteroid Belt
• The asteroid belt is a band of rocks that lies between the outer planets (the gas giants) and inner planets (the terrestrial planets).– It lies between Mars and
Jupiter
JupiterJupiter
• Jupiter is 5.2 AU from the Sun.
• It is the largest planet in the solar system with many moons.
• It has a Great Red Spot; a giant storm that’s larger than Pluto.
• 12 years to orbit the Sun
Great Red Spot
SaturnSaturn
• Saturn is 9.5 AU from the Sun.
• It is large and has a ring system.
• The rings are made up of millions of particles of dust, ice, and rock.
• 29.5 years to orbit the Sun
UranusUranus
• Uranus is 19.2 AU from the Sun.
• It has a ring system and many moons (27 that we know of).
• Uranus spins horizontal on it’s plane of orbit. (like it is laying down)
• 84 years to orbit the Sun
NeptuneNeptune
• Neptune is 30.6 AU from the Sun.
• Its atmosphere is made of methane gas which give s the planet a blue-green color.
• Sometimes, Neptune’s orbit crosses with Pluto’s and therefore switches places with Pluto.
• 165 years to orbit the Sun
PlutoPluto
• Pluto is usually 39.5 AU from the Sun.
• It is a small, rocky “dwarf planet” with a frozen crust.
• Pluto is smaller than the Moon.
• 248 years to orbit the Sun