Our Solar System

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Slide 1

Our Solar System

Dorian Janney

After School Astronomy Clubs

Slide 2

The Sun

solar flare

sun spots

solar wind

Slide 3

Mercury

Mercury, the planet nearest the Sun, is the second smallest planet in our solar system.

It is only slightly larger than the Earth's moon. The surface is covered with craters.

This tiny planet does not have any rings or moons.

evidence of

craters

Slide 4

Venus

impact craters

lava flows

Venus is one of the brightest objects in our sky,

so it is clearly visible to the naked eye.

It can be tricky to spot because it is always

near the Sun.

It rises and sets with the Sun each day.

Ancient civilizations believed Venus was

actually two different objects,

so they called the one that rose the

Morning Star, and the one that set

the Evening Star.

Slide 5

Earth and moon

What similarities and

differences do you notice

between the Earth and the

Moon?

Why do they have such

different surface features?

Slide 6

Mars

Olympus Mons is the largest volcano in our solar system!

Martian crater

Mars is very bright, which makes it easy to spot in the night sky. It was named after

the Roman god of war because its reddish color reminded the people of blood.

Although people have

never landed on Mars,

we have sent robotic

explorers there.

Slide 7

Asteroid belt

Most asteroids can be found in the Asteroid Belt, which is located between

Mars and Jupiter. Asteroids are rocky and metallic objects that orbit the Sun,

but are too small to be considered planets. They are known as minor planets.

Asteroids range in size from Ceres, which has a diameter of about 1000 km,

down to the size of pebbles.

Slide 8

Jupiter

Here are a few of Jupiter’s moons

Jupiter, the fifth planet from the Sun, is the largest planet in our solar system.

Jupiter is so big that over 1,000 planets the size of Earth could fit into it.

It has over 60 moons and 2 rings. Can life exist on Jupiter's moon, Europa?

The “Great Red Spot”

Is actually a huge

Storm system!

Slide 9

Saturn