Moons

OUR MOON, IT IS ROUGHLY 4 TIMES SMALLER THAN EARTH 

OUR MOON, IT IS ROUGHLY 4 TIMES SMALLER THAN EARTH 

Moon:  

  • Is a body in space that orbits around a planet, they are also referred to as natural satellites.
  • The moon is our only natural satellite

 

THERE IS NO ATMOSPHERE ON THE MOON, THUS METEORS IMPACT THE MOONS SURFACE CREATING LARGER CRATERS 

THERE IS NO ATMOSPHERE ON THE MOON, THUS METEORS IMPACT THE MOONS SURFACE CREATING LARGER CRATERS 

Lunar Month:

  • The moon completes a full orbit around Earth approximately every 28 days. This is called one Lunar Month.
  • The moon rotates on it’s axis at the exact same speed it revolves around the Earth, therefore no one has seen the far face of the moon!


The Moon Dance

 
STANDING ON EARTH WE ONLY SEE  ONE SIDE OF THE MOON'S SURFACE, THE OTHER SIDE IS WHAT WE CALL THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

STANDING ON EARTH WE ONLY SEE  ONE SIDE OF THE MOON'S SURFACE, THE OTHER SIDE IS WHAT WE CALL THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

As the Moon orbits around Earth it reflects different amounts of sun light off its surface. 

Notice the moon looks differently throughout the month, when the illuminated portion of the Moon changes its shape it is said that the Moon is going through its phases. 

 

 

Phases of the moon: 

The various stages that the illuminated (sunlit) portion of the Moon changes into throughout the Lunar Month. 

PHASES OF THE MOON

PHASES OF THE MOON

  • The waxing moon is gradually reflecting more light to us. The moon appears to get bigger.
  • The waning moon is gradually reflecting less light to us. It appears to get smaller.

 

 

Eclipses

 
HERE WE SEE A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE OF THE SUN

HERE WE SEE A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE OF THE SUN

Solar Eclipse:

Sometimes the Sun’s light is covered by the Moon. This is called a Solar Eclipse.

This happens when the moon is directly in between the Earth and the Sun.

LUNAR ECLIPSES CAN BE VIEWED AT NIGHT AND HAPPEN MUCH MORE OFTEN

LUNAR ECLIPSES CAN BE VIEWED AT NIGHT AND HAPPEN MUCH MORE OFTEN

 

Lunar eclipse:

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly behind the Earth.  The Moon will be covered by the Earth's shadow. 

Other Moons

 

Earth is not the only planet in our solar system that has moons.

Most of the planets in our solar system have moons (with the exception of Mercury and Venus). 

Some moons are only a few kilometres across (Phobos) while others are bigger than the Earth's moon (ex. Titan) 

Planets

 
FALSE COLOUR VIDEO OF MERCURY SHOWS THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS 

FALSE COLOUR VIDEO OF MERCURY SHOWS THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS 

Mercury

  • This is the closest planet to the sun
  • It has no atmosphere
  • It has the shortest year in the solar system
  • Distance from Sun is 58 million km

 

 

Venus

  • The hottest planet.
  • Runaway green house effect where gas in the atmosphere keeps in heat.
  • Temperature so hot metal runs like liquid (molten).
  • Distance from Sun is 108 million km
 
A VIEW OF EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE, CAN YOU SEE THE JET TRAILS LEFT BY AIRLINERS? 

A VIEW OF EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE, CAN YOU SEE THE JET TRAILS LEFT BY AIRLINERS? 

Earth

  • The only planet there is evidence of water in the liquid, solid and gas states
  • Has a lot of geological activity (i.e. earthquakes and volcanoes)
  • Atmosphere comprised mostly of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon. 
  • Has one moon
  • Distance from Sun is 150 million km
 
MARS "THE RED PLANET" IS RED BECAUSE OF THE LARGE AMOUNT OF IRON IN ITS SOIL.

MARS "THE RED PLANET" IS RED BECAUSE OF THE LARGE AMOUNT OF IRON IN ITS SOIL.

Mars

  • Thin atmosphere of carbon dioxide
  • The red colour is due to rust - lots of iron
  • Has polar ice caps
  • Has two moons
  • Contains water only in the solid state
  • Distance from Sun is 228 million km
 

Jupiter

JUPITER'S ATMOSPHERE CREATES MANY COLOURED BANDS AND SWIRLS ACROSS ITS SURFACE, WINDS CAN PICK UP SPEED TO 600 KM PER HOUR

JUPITER'S ATMOSPHERE CREATES MANY COLOURED BANDS AND SWIRLS ACROSS ITS SURFACE, WINDS CAN PICK UP SPEED TO 600 KM PER HOUR

  • Largest planet 
  • The red spot is a storm that is over 400 years old
  • Has over 60 moons, 4 of them are about the size of the Earth's moon
  • Mostly made of the same gas as the sun (hydrogen) & methane.
  • Distance from Sun is 778 million km
 
AURORA BOREALIS ON SATURN!

AURORA BOREALIS ON SATURN!

Saturn

  • Has a massive ring system, some are 2 Km thick in areas
  • Has almost 70 moons, 2 of them are about the size of the Earth's moon
  • Made of the same gas as the sun (hydrogen).
  • Distance from Sun is 1.4 billion km 

 

 
URANUS AND ITS RINGS OF ICE

URANUS AND ITS RINGS OF ICE

Uranus

  • The atmosphere is made up of Methane. That gives it a green appearance.
  • Uranus rolls on side 
  • It is believed to have been tilted on its rotational axis by a meteor strike
  • Has almost 30 moons
  • Distance from Sun is 2.8 billion km 
 
NEPTUNE AND ITS GREAT DARK SPOT - A MASSIVE STORM ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF EARTH

NEPTUNE AND ITS GREAT DARK SPOT - A MASSIVE STORM ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF EARTH

Neptune

  • Atmosphere contains mostly methane gas, which creates the blue colour
  • Has the longest orbit of all planets
  • Has 14 moons
  • Largest moon is Titan which is bigger then Pluto.
  • Distance from Sun is 4.5 billion km 

 

 

COMPARISON OF THE DIFFERENT PLANETARY CONDITIONS 

SURFACES.png

In your groups watch the video above and answer the questions attached to the link below:

Habitable Planet Questions