Planetary Exploration Sheet #1
Earth
Statistical data on the Earth can be found here:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets
Click on the Earth in the black strip.
Order # from the sun: ___________________
Orbit:
Size in miles/kilometers:
Length of day/year:
Mass:
Density:
Gravity:
Atmosphere:
Surface Composition:
Water:
Temperature range:
Moons:
Define the following:
AU _________________________________________________________
Aphelion ____________________________________________________
Perihelion ____________________________________________________
Web sites to explore:
Click on the Interactive Earth Puzzle at the bottom of the research screen
http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/academy/space/solarsystem/solarsystemjava.html When you have clicked through the
“Next” screens, click and hold down the X-Y-Z coordinates in the corner and reorient the solar system.
Planetary Exploration Sheet #2
Mercury
Statistical data on Mercury can be found here:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets
Click on Mercury in the black strip.
Order # from the sun: ___________________
Orbit:
Size in miles/kilometers:
Length of day/year:
Mass:
Density:
Gravity:
Atmosphere:
Surface Composition:
Water:
Temperature range:
Moons:
What NASA space craft visited Mercury?___________________________
What year did the space craft visit Mercury? ________________________
Mercury has an eccentric orbit. What does that mean?
___________________________________________________________
Web sites to explore:
Do the Find It! quiz at the bottom of the research screen.
http://www.artyastro.com/artyastro.htm Click on fun stuff then click on “Gravitron”.
Planetary Exploration Sheet #3
Venus
Statistical data on Venus can be found here:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets
Click on Venus in the black strip.
Order # from the sun: ___________________
Orbit:
Size in miles/kilometers:
Length of day/year:
Mass:
Density:
Gravity:
Atmosphere:
Surface Composition:
Water:
Temperature range:
Moons:
Define the following:
Asphyxiate __________________________________________________
gibbous _____________________________________________________
sulphuric acid _________________________________________________
Web sites to explore:
Click on the interactive puzzle about Venus at the bottom of the research screen
http://www.artyastro.com/artyastro.htm Click on “Fun Stuff” then click on “Travel Time” to find out how long it
would take you to get to Venus.
Planetary Exploration Sheet #4
Mars
Statistical data on Mars can be found here:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets
Click on Mars in the black strip.
Order # from the sun: ___________________
Orbit:
Size in miles/kilometers:
Length of day/year:
Mass:
Density:
Gravity:
Atmosphere:
Surface Composition:
Water:
Temperature range:
Moons:
Describe Olympus Mons _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Define permafrost _____________________________________________
Web sites to explore:
http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/News/2000/news-stationair.asp - how to make oxygen for space travelers.
http://www.dustbunny.com/afk/planets/mars/marshubble.html will give you a picture of Mars. Other pictures can
be seen by moving your curser to “THE PLANETS” at the top of the screen, scroll down to “Mars” and click on
“Surface of Mars”, “Mars’ Moons” and “Mars’ Grand Canyon”.
Planetary Exploration Sheet #5
Jupiter
Statistical data on Jupiter can be found here:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets
Click on Jupiter in the black strip.
Order # from the sun: ___________________
Orbit:
Size in miles/kilometers:
Length of day/year:
Mass:
Density:
Gravity:
Atmosphere:
Surface Composition:
Water:
Temperature range:
Moons:
Who was the first person to discover the 4 major moons of Jupiter? ________
. . . in what year? ________________________________________________
List 2 other things that person did? _________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Web sites to explore:
http://pds-rings.seti.org/jupiter/ This website will give you great links to pictures and animations of Jupiter and
other planets.
Planetary Exploration Sheet #6
Uranus
Statistical data on Uranus can be found here:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets
Click on Uranus in the black strip.
Order # from the sun: ___________________
Orbit:
Size in miles/kilometers:
Length of day/year:
Mass:
Density:
Gravity:
Atmosphere:
Surface Composition:
Water:
Temperature range:
Moons:
What causes Uranus’ blue color? ____________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Draw Uranus’ symbol. Tell who discovered Uranus and when. _______________
____________________________________________________________________________
Web sites to explore:
http://sse.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Uranus&Display=Overview
http://www.nineplanets.org/uranus.html
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/uranus.html
Planetary Exploration Sheet #7
Saturn
Statistical data on the Saturn can be found here:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets
Click on the Saturn in the black strip.
Order # from the sun: ___________________
Orbit:
Size in miles/kilometers:
Length of day/year:
Mass:
Density:
Gravity:
Atmosphere:
Surface Composition:
Water:
Temperature range:
Moons:
Define oblate? __________________________________________________
What did you learn about Saturn’s rings? _______________________________
______________________________________________________________
What do you need to be able to see Saturn’s rings? _______________________
Web sites to explore:
http://sse.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Saturn&Display=Overview
http://www.artyastro.com/artyastro.htm
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/saturn.html
Planetary Exploration Sheet #8
Neptune
Statistical data on the Neptune can be found here:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets
Click on the Neptune in the black strip.
Order # from the sun: ___________________
Orbit:
Size in miles/kilometers:
Length of day/year:
Mass:
Density:
Gravity:
Atmosphere:
Surface Composition:
Water:
Temperature range:
Moons:
How do the seasons on Neptune compare to Earth’s? ____________________
___________________________________________________________________________
How many earths could Neptune hold if it were hollow? __________________
Neptune is a _________________ planet and has _________________ winds.
Web sites to explore:
http://www.dustbunny.com/afk/planets/neptune/
http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/
http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/neptune.html
Planetary Exploration Sheet #9
Pluto
Statistical data on the Pluto can be found here:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets
Click on the Pluto in the black strip.
Order # from the sun: ___________________
Orbit:
Size in miles/kilometers:
Length of day/year:
Mass:
Density:
Gravity:
Atmosphere:
Surface Composition:
Water:
Temperature range:
Moons:
Pluto is no longer classified as a “planet”. It is now a ______________________.
Who is the Hubble Telescope named for and where is it? __________________
______________________________________________________________
Why is Pluto called a Trans Neptunian Object (TNO)? _____________________
Web sites to explore:
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/pluto.htm
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/pluto/index.shtml
http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20051109/Note2.asp