Background Questions Celestial Objects 1. What was invented in the 17 th century? How did this help the study of our universe? 2. What is a probe? 3. Describe the Galileo probe mission. 4. What are scientists who study space called? 5. Why is Pluto no longer considered a planet? Who determined this? 6. Why does our knowledge of space increase with new technology? 1
Part I: Space Research Groups Use the resources provided to learn about your group of celestial objects. Return to your Solar System Team to teach your objects and learn about the others. The Inner Planets Mercury Venus Earth Mars Distance from Sun (km) Revolution Period (Earth Years) 58 million 4.87 x 10 24 kg Terrestrial Planet 1.9 Earth Years The Outer Planets Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Distance from Sun (km) Revolution Period (Earth Years) 5.68 x 10 26 kg 84 Earth Years 4.5 billion Has dozens of moons, including the Galilean moons 2
Part II: Space Research Groups, Continued The Sun/Comets/Meteors/Asteroids Sun Comets Meteor, Meteorites, Meteoroids Asteroids Varies, larger than meteoroids; all asteroids together have about 4% of the mass of the Moon Distance from Sun (km) 0 km Revolution Period (Earth Years) frozen gas, rock and dust Meteoroid found in space; Meteor in Earth s atmosphere; Meteorite hits Earth s surface May be grouped together in the belt between Mars and Jupiter; can move outside of the asteroid belt 3
Part II: Space Research Groups, Continued Moons Earth s Moon Europa Callisto Io Ganymede 1.07 x 10 23 kg Distance from Planet (km) 384,000 km 3.5 Earth days Sulfur dioxide Galilean moon; Largest moon in the solar system 4
Part II: SPACE Bingo Directions: Write the answer to each clue as your teacher calls them out. Then mark on your SPACE Bingo Card. Clue 1: The atmosphere is mainly nitrogen and oxygen. It is a terrestrial planet. Clue 2: This object is made of frozen gas, rock, and dust. It can have a tail when it gets close to the Sun. Clue 3: This terrestrial planet has no moon and is 58 million kilometers from the Sun. Clue 4: This outer planet takes 84 Earth years to revolve around the Sun. It also rotates backwards. Clue 5: This is the group of objects held together by our Sun. Clue 6: This object is what a meteoroid is called when it enters Earth s atmosphere. Clue 7: This Galilean moon is covered in very active volcanoes. Clue 8: These are the gas planets. Clue 9: This is the larger version of a small rock in space. They vary in size and mass. Clue 10: This terrestrial planet has almost the same rotation period as Earth. It is about 228 million km from the Sun. Clue 11: This gas planet takes 29 Earth years to revolve around the Sun. Clue 12: This object is the largest object in our solar system. Its gravity holds the solar system together. Clue 13: This gas planet has an atmosphere made of mainly hydrogen. It has dozens of moons. Clue 14: This outer planet is farthest from the Sun at 4.5 billion kilometers. Clue 15: This is the new name for a meteoroid that falls to Earth and lands on Earth s surface. Clue 16: This moon is the smallest of the Galilean moons and has an icy surface. Clue 17: This is the largest moon in our solar system. Clue 18: This moon has had humans land on it. Clue 19: This is a moon of Jupiter that is covered in very old craters. Clue 20: These are the terrestrial planets. Clue 21: This object varies in mass and size. It is a smaller version of an asteroid and is found in space. Clue 22: This is the name for four of Jupiter s moons, named for the scientist who discovered them. Clue 23: This is the location in the solar system between the inner and outer planets where these objects tend to cluster. Clue 24: This planet is closest to Earth. It has an atmosphere that is mainly carbon dioxide and a small bit of nitrogen. 5
Reflections and Conclusions 1. How has astronomy changed in the 19 th and 20 th centuries? 2. What key inventions have helped humans learn about our solar system? 3. What is the difference between a comet and an asteroid? 4. What is the difference between a moon and a planet? 5. Did you find any similarities between the various moons in our solar system? What were they? 6. What is the difference between meteors, meteorites, and meteoroids? 6
Reflections and Conclusions, Continued 7. Compare and contrast inner and outer planets in the Venn diagram below. List at least two facts for each part of the diagram. Inner Planets Outer Planets 7