Grade 6 Cluster 4

Space
Our understanding about the
universe changes over time.
New information can causes
us to rethink what we know
and reevaluate how we
understand the universe.
The History of Space
Over time, objects categoried as
planets have changed.
History of Space
The ancient Greeks believed the Earth's moon and
sun were planets along with Mercury !enus Mars
"upiter and #aturn$ Earth was not considered a
planet but thought to be the central ob%ect around
which all the other celestial ob%ects orbited$
H
i
s
t
o
r
y

o
f

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p
a
c
e
!y the "#th
century,
astronomers
realied that the
sun was the
object around
which all the
planets orbit,
and that the
moon is not a
planet, but a
satellite $moon%
of &arth.
History of Space
'ranus was added as a planet in "#("
and Neptune was discovered in "()*.
History of Space
+luto, discovered in ",-., was identi/ed as
the ninth planet.
History of Space
What Makes a Planet According to the
International Astronomical Union?
Plane
t
Dwar
f
Plane
t
Is in orbit around the sun.

!as su"cient mass to assume a nearl# round
shape.
Is not a satellite $moon%.

!as cleared the neighbourhood of its orbit.

!as not cleared the neighbourhood of its orbit.

History of Space
000 This will be on a test

The o1cial names of planets and their moons

are governed by an organiation called the
2nternational 3stronomical 'nion $23'%.

The 23' was established in ",",.

How did the planets get their names4
Our +lanets 5 6ercury
6ercury is only
slightly larger than
&arth7s moon.
8ike the moon, 6ercury has very little atmosphere
to stop impacts and it is covered with craters.
Our +lanets 5 6ercury
6ercury7s
dayside is super5
heated by the
sun, but at night
temperatures
drop hundreds
of degrees
below freeing.
2ce may even
e9ist in craters.
Our +lanets 5 6ercury
6ercury7s
egg5shaped
orbit takes it
around the
sun every ((
days.
Our +lanets 5 6ercury
:enus is only a little smaller than &arth.
Our +lanets 5 :enus
One day on
:enus lasts as
long as ;)-
&arth days $the
time it takes
for :enus to
rotate or spin
once%.
Our +lanets 5 :enus
:enus is a
rocky
planet, also
known as a
terrestrial
planet.
:enus7 solid
surface is a
cratered
and volcanic
landscape.
Our +lanets 5 :enus
:enus makes a
complete orbit
around the sun in
;;< &arth days.
Our +lanets 5 :enus
2f the sun were as tall as a typical front
door, &arth would be the sie of a nickel.
Our +lanets 5 &arth

One day on &arth takes ;) hours $this is the

time it takes the &arth to rotate or spin
once%.

&arth makes a complete orbit around the

sun $a year in &arth time% in about -*<
days.
Our +lanets 5 &arth
&arth7s atmosphere
protects us from
incoming
meteoroids, most
of which break up
in our atmosphere
before they can
strike the surface
as meteorites.
Our +lanets 5 &arth
&arth is the
perfect place for
life.
Our +lanets 5 &arth
2f &arth were
the sie of a
nickel 6ars
would be
about as big
as an aspirin
tablet.
Our +lanets 5 6ars
One day on 6ars takes just a little over
;) hours $the time it takes for 6ars to
rotate or spin once%.
Our +lanets 5 6ars
6ars makes
a complete
orbit around
the sun $a
year in
6artian
time% in *(#
&arth days.
Our +lanets 5 6ars
3t this time in the
planet7s history,
6ars7 surface cannot
support life. 3 key
science goal is
determining 6ars7
past and future
potential for life.
Our +lanets 5 6ars
2f &arth would be the
sie of a nickel and
=upiter would be about
as big as a basketball.
Our +lanets 5 =upiter
One day on =upiter takes about ". hours $the
time it takes for =upiter to rotate or spin once%.
Our +lanets 5 =upiter
=upiter makes a
complete orbit
around the sun
$a year in =ovian
time% in about
"; &arth years
$),--- &arth
days%.
Our +lanets 5 =upiter
=upiter is a gas5giant planet and does not
have a solid surface. However, it is
predicted that =upiter has an inner, solid
core about the sie of the &arth.
Our +lanets 5 =upiter
=upiter7s >reat
?ed Spot is a
gigantic storm
$bigger than
&arth% that has
been raging for
hundreds of
years.
Our +lanets 5 =upiter
Saturn is the second largest planet, and
comparable in sie to =upiter.
Our +lanets 5 Saturn
One day on Saturn takes "..# hours $the time it
takes for Saturn to rotate or spin once%.
Our +lanets 5 Saturn
Saturn makes a
complete orbit
around the sun $a
year in Saturnian
time% in ;, &arth
years.
Our +lanets 5 Saturn
Saturn cannot support life as we know it.
However, some of Saturn7s moons have
conditions that might support life.
Our +lanets 5 Saturn
&arth would be the sie of a nickel and
'ranus would be about as big as a baseball.
Our +lanets 5 'ranus
One day on 'ranus
takes about "#
hours $the time it
takes for 'ranus to
rotate or spin once%.
Our +lanets 5 'ranus
'ranus makes a
complete orbit
around the sun
$a year in
'ranian time% in
about () &arth
years.
Our +lanets 5 'ranus
8ike :enus, 'ranus has a retrograde rotation $east to
west%. 'nlike any of the other planets, 'ranus rotates
on its side, which means it spins horiontally.
Our +lanets 5 'ranus
2f &arth would be the sie of a nickel and
Neptune would be about as big as a baseball.
Our +lanets 5 Neptune
One day on
Neptune takes
about "* hours
$the time it takes
for Neptune to
rotate or spin
once%.
Our +lanets 5 Neptune
Neptune makes a
complete orbit
around the sun $a
year in Neptunian
time% in about "*<
&arth years
$*.,",. &arth
days%.
Our +lanets 5 Neptune
3t times during the course of Neptune7s orbit,
dwarf planet +luto is actually closer to the
sun, and us, than Neptune. This is due to the
unusual elliptical $egg% shape of +luto7s orbit.
Our +lanets 5 Neptune
2s +luto a planet4
Our +lanets 5 +luto