Earth and BeyondEarth and Beyond

By Denise CarrollBy Denise Carroll

Earth’s SurfaceEarth’s Surface• How do we know what Earth’s surface looks How do we know what Earth’s surface looks

like?like?• http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/

landsat/intro1.htmllandsat/intro1.html• Tracking LANDSAT: Tracking LANDSAT:

http://landsat.usgs.gov/java/Locate7.phphttp://landsat.usgs.gov/java/Locate7.php

AstronautAstronautAn An astronaut is a person is a person

who travels in space to who travels in space to explore.explore.

On July 2, 1969,Neil On July 2, 1969,Neil Armstrong and Edwin Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin were the first two Aldrin were the first two people to walk on the people to walk on the moon.moon.

Scientists have studied Scientists have studied rocks and photographs rocks and photographs these astronauts brought these astronauts brought back.back.

StarsStars

A A star is a big ball of hot is a big ball of hot gases which give off light. gases which give off light.

How bright a star is How bright a star is depends on . . .depends on . . .

- the size of the star- the size of the star

- how hot the star is- how hot the star is

- how close the star is to - how close the star is to Earth Earth

Why do people in the cities see fewer Why do people in the cities see fewer stars than people who live in the country?stars than people who live in the country?

There are too many lights in the city. These There are too many lights in the city. These lights prevent people from seeing thousands lights prevent people from seeing thousands of stars each night.of stars each night.

ConstellationsConstellations

A A constellation is a is a group of stars that group of stars that form a star picture.form a star picture.

SunSun The The sun is the closest star is the closest star

to Earth. to Earth. The The sun is a big ball of hot is a big ball of hot

gases.gases. The sun gives off two kinds of The sun gives off two kinds of

energy: light and heat. This is : light and heat. This is called called solar energy..

The sun never moves.The sun never moves. All nine planets orbit, or move, around the sun.All nine planets orbit, or move, around the sun. The sun is so large that more than a million The sun is so large that more than a million

Earths could fit inside it.Earths could fit inside it.

With out the sun, there would With out the sun, there would be no life. Why?be no life. Why?

Plants use the sun’s light to make food.Plants use the sun’s light to make food. Animals and people use the sun’s light to see in the Animals and people use the sun’s light to see in the

daytime.daytime. Plants and animals need light and heat to live and Plants and animals need light and heat to live and

grow.grow. The sun’s heat warms water, land, and air.The sun’s heat warms water, land, and air. The sun’s heat warms all living things on Earth.The sun’s heat warms all living things on Earth. All the other planets go around the sun, too, but All the other planets go around the sun, too, but

Earth is the only planet where we can live. The sun Earth is the only planet where we can live. The sun gives us just the right amount of heat and light.gives us just the right amount of heat and light.

PlanetPlanet

A A planet is a large ball of rock or gas that is a large ball of rock or gas that follows a path round the sun.follows a path round the sun.

There are nine planets.There are nine planets.

Sun Sun Mercury, ercury, Venus, enus, Earth, arth, Mars, ars, Jupiter, upiter, Saturn, aturn, Uranus, ranus, Neptune, eptune, Plutoluto

( My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas! )( My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas! )

The The solar system includes the sun includes the sun and nine planets.and nine planets.

EarthEarth Earth is the planet that we live on. It is the 3rd planet Earth is the planet that we live on. It is the 3rd planet

from the sun.from the sun.It is called a “Rocky Planet,” because it is made of It is called a “Rocky Planet,” because it is made of rocks.rocks.

Sometimes Earth is called the “Water Planet,” Sometimes Earth is called the “Water Planet,” because it is the only planet with the water we need because it is the only planet with the water we need to live. to live.

Earth orbits, or circles, the sun in 365 days, or one Earth orbits, or circles, the sun in 365 days, or one year.year.

While it is orbiting the sun, it also spins like a top! It While it is orbiting the sun, it also spins like a top! It spins 1 time in 24 hours, and that is why Earth’s day spins 1 time in 24 hours, and that is why Earth’s day lasts for 24 hours. lasts for 24 hours.

Earth is the only planet where plants and animals live Earth is the only planet where plants and animals live

Earth has day and night.Earth has day and night. Rotation is when something is when something

spins round in round.spins round in round. It takes about 24 hours for It takes about 24 hours for

the Earth to rotate, or spin. the Earth to rotate, or spin. This is one full day.This is one full day.

This rotation causes the Earth This rotation causes the Earth to have day and night.to have day and night.

http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/Earth/Seasons/http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/Earth/Seasons/Seasons.htmSeasons.htm

SeasonsSeasons A A season is a time of year that has a certain kind of is a time of year that has a certain kind of

weather.weather.

- winter, spring, summer, and fall (autumn)- winter, spring, summer, and fall (autumn) Earth follows a path around the sun. This path is Earth follows a path around the sun. This path is

called an called an orbit.. As the earth moves around the sun, Earth has As the earth moves around the sun, Earth has

different seasons.different seasons. The sun shines on The sun shines on

different parts of the different parts of the Earth at different Earth at different times which cause times which cause the seasons.the seasons.

RevolutionRevolutionRemember that the Earth is tilted all the time Remember that the Earth is tilted all the time

that it is moving around the Sun. that it is moving around the Sun. It takes the Earth one year to move around It takes the Earth one year to move around

the sun. This is called a the sun. This is called a revolution. It follows It follows an orbit, or path. an orbit, or path.

The MoonThe Moon The The moon is the largest is the largest

object you can see in the object you can see in the night sky.night sky.

The Earth has one moon. The moon travels The Earth has one moon. The moon travels around the Earth. It takes the moon about 4 around the Earth. It takes the moon about 4 weeks, one month, to travel around the Earth.weeks, one month, to travel around the Earth.

A A crater is a hole, valley, or indentation on a is a hole, valley, or indentation on a planet or moon made by a large rock.planet or moon made by a large rock.

There is no life on the moon because there is no There is no life on the moon because there is no air.air.

Moonlight is the light of the moon is the light of the moon. This light . This light comes from the sun. Which part of the moon is comes from the sun. Which part of the moon is lighted by the sun? lighted by the sun? - The part of the moon that is facing the sun.- The part of the moon that is facing the sun.

Phases of the MoonPhases of the Moon

We have all noticed We have all noticed that the Moon looks that the Moon looks different from night to different from night to night. Sometimes it is night. Sometimes it is in a different position in a different position in the sky or has a in the sky or has a different shape or different shape or phase.

Congratulations!Congratulations!

You have learned about the solar system.You have learned about the solar system.Can you name the nine planets, in order?Can you name the nine planets, in order?

ResourcesResources

http://http://images.search.yahoo.comimages.search.yahoo.comhttp://http://office.microsoft.comoffice.microsoft.com/clipart/clipart