Astronomy Day 1

Science Starter

1. Name as many planets as you can in order (closest to farthest from the sun).

2. Do you know any acronyms for remembering the order of the planets?

3. What makes life possible on Earth?

Lesson Essential Question

How did the solar system form?

Ancient Worlds??

• http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jan/27/ancient-planetary-system-kepler-444-milky-way-galaxy

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlidbLyDnPs

Our Galaxy

Sooo… How’d it happen?

Directions for Notes

• You only need to write the information in YELLOW.

• Please write your notes in your notebook under Unit 1: Astronomy

• Day 1: Formation of our Universe

The Beginning…

• Big Bang Theory- 14 Billion years ago a massive explosion started our universe

Solar Nebula Theory

Nebula-cloud of dust & gas in space

Nebular Theory-the sun and planets formed from a rotating disk of dust and gases.

Our Solar System

How to remember the order…• My = Mercury• Very = Venus• Educated = Earth• Mother = Mars• Just = Jupiter• Sold = Saturn• Us = Uranus• Nine = Neptune• Pizzas = Pluto

Size Comparison

• 99.85% of our solar system’s mass is contained in the sun

• The planets make up the remaining 0.15%

• The sun’s gravitational force guides the planets as they orbit

Turn & Talk

• Turn to the partner at your side and share with them the following:

• What information do you know about our sun? (if any)

Our SunDo you know-• 1.3 million earths can fit

inside• 870,000 miles wide• 93 million miles away

from earth• 8 ½ minutes for light to

reach earth• How hot?• 10,000 million degrees

The power of the Sun…• The Sun gives us heat,

light, our food, and the air that we breathe.

• It powers the atmosphere to give us the winds and rain. Even the coal and oil that generate electricity for light and power come from plants and animals that lived hundreds of millions of years ago and depended on the Sun for life.

We Aren’t as Big as We Think.

Terrestrial & Jovian Planets

• Terrestrial Planets – Mercury, Venus, Earth, & Mars (small & rocky)

• Jovian Planets – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, & Neptune (huge gas giants)

• Pluto does not fit well into either category

What do you think?

• Share with the person directly in front of you:

• How do you think scientists know that our universe is expanding after the Big Bang?

Who discovers all this??

• Stephen Hawking– Astrophysicist

– Black holes & Radiation

– Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

– Many books, movies, and TV shows

Compare & Contrast

• Use your textbook (reading, tables, & figures on pgs. 645-647) to create a chart comparing Terrestrial & Jovian Planets

• You have 10 minutes to work quietly in your desk – you may discuss your chart with students sitting near you

Compare & Contrast

Terrestrial Planets

Jovian Planets • Factors to consider:– Distance between

planets– Size of diameter– Density– Speed of Rotation– Atmosphere– Composition (what are

these planets made of)

Compare & Contrast

Terrestrial Planets Jovian Planets

Orbits are close together Orbits are far apart

Smaller diameter Larger diameter

More dense Less dense

Rotate slower Rotate faster

Thin or no atmosphere Thick atmosphere

Composed mostly of rocky & metallic substances, with few gases & ices

Mostly made of gases and ices, but with rocky and metallic materials in their cores

Planet Project: Poster & Paper

• You may use or textbook, Internet, & any additional resources

• Your poster must include a drawing or picture of your planet and the following information (if relevant) in a paragraph (4-5 sent.) write-up: – Planetary data (chart on pg. 645), location in solar

system, type of planet (Terrestrial or Jovian), unique characteristics, surface features, surface temperature, moons, rings

Planet Project: Poster & Paper

• Use your groups to complete this assignment. In groups make the following assignments:

1.Researcher

2.Artist

3.Writer

4.Task/Time Manager

Exit Ticket

Will be passed out and turned in