Welcome to our study of the

SOLAR SYSTEM6th Grade

What is the Solar System?

The Solar System Comprises the Sun, its planetary systems of eight planets, their moons, and other non-stellar objects

If we are starting our study of the solar system, where is a

logical place to start?

What is at the center of our

Solar System?

THE SUN

Where did the Sun get its name?

The Romans called the sun “Sol,” which in English

means “Sun.”

We are beginning with the Sun because it is the

center of our solar system and it has high

level of gravity that keeps the planets, their

moons, and other satellites in the solar

system from flying away into space

What is the Sun? A yellow star at the center of our solar system

Almost perfectly spherical

4.6 billion years old

How big do you think the Sun is?

How big do you think the Sun is?

Has a diameter of 865,374 miles

How big is the Sun compared to

the Earth?

The Sun’s SizeThe Sun’s diameter is 109 times the size of the Earth’s diameter

If the sun were a hollow ball, how many Earths could fit

into it?

If the Sun were a hollow ball, more

than 1 million Earths could fit

inside it.

What is the Sun made of?

A) Solid

B) Liquid

C) Gas

Sun’s Composition

The Sun is made up of gases

What specific gases make up

the Sun? Hint: TWO are very important

Which two gases make up the Sun?

1) HYDROGEN = about 75%2) HELIUM = MOST of the rest

Remember that the two gases that make up the majority of the

Sun are…Hydrogen + Helium = Hot

There is also a small amount of??

(4 others)

3) Carbon, Oxygen, Iron, Neon = less than 2%

To remember the

others = C.O.I.N!

How hot do you think that the Sun

can get?

Think about the temperature on Earth

* 90 degrees F is considered extremely hot on Earth, so what would be extremely hot for the sun?

What is the temperature of the

Sun? The temperature varies, but it can get

as hot as 27 million degrees F.