CELESTIAL OBJECTS

Data Cards

100

This object has a diameter of 1,390,000 km, and a distance from the sun of 0. Name this object.

The Sun

200

This type of object is the only type of celestial object that has a perihelion date

comet

300

This PLANET has a density of 5.5g/cm^3, an orbital period of 365 days, and a distance from the sun of 149.6 million km. Give me the Planet’s name.

Earth (ways to tell, density = rocky planet, orbital period = year)

400

Which of these objects is a Moon? How can you tell? (must give 1 reason)

OBJECT A: 

Mass (10^24 kg) = 0.13;

Distance From the Sun (million km)= 1,433.5;

Orbital Period (days)= ___

OBJECT B:

Mass (10^24 kg) = 0.01;

Distance From the Sun (million km)= 2,300;

Orbital Period (days)= 90,411

OBJECT C:

Mass (10^24 kg) = 568;

Distance From the Sun (million km)= 1,433.5;

Orbital Period (days)= 10,747

Object A: (distance from the sun= same as Object C, but smaller mass; No orbital period listed)

500

Which of these objects is Jupiter? How can you tell? (must give 1 reason)

OBJECT A: 

Mass (10^24 kg) = 568;

Distance From the Sun (million km)= 1,433.5;

Orbital Period (days)= 10,747

OBJECT B:

Mass (10^24 kg)= 1,898;

Distance From the Sun (million km)= 778.6;

Orbital Period (days): 4,331 

OBJECT C: 

Mass (10^24 kg)= 0.642; 

Distance From the Sun (million km)= 227.9;

Orbital Period (days): 687

Object B: (distance from the sun= closer of the gas planets listed; biggest gas planet listed; orbital period is closer of the gas planets listed.)

Object Properties

100

These are the most dense objects in our solar system that are orbiting close to the sun. 

Terrestrial Planets

200

Put these objects in order from MOST to LEAST massive: Terrestrial Planets, Comets, Gas Planets, Asteroids, Moons.

Gas Planets, Terrestrial Planets, Moons, Asteroids, Comets

300

Comets have a ___________ ______, which means the day they are closest to the sun. (must say it correctly)

Perihelion date

400

Other than color, name 3 specific things that are wrong with this image. 

teacher discretion 

500

Name one way that moons are different than dwarf planets.

Moons orbit a planet, DPs orbit the sun, Moons are ALWAYS smaller than the planet, DPs are found in the asteroid belt/kuiper belt,

Planets

100

Name the only terrestrial planet with life.

Earth

200

Name the largest Gas Planet

Jupiter

300

Name all the planets in order from closest→ farthest to the sun.

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

400

Name any dwarf planets that we studied, AND where it is located.

Ceres (asteroid Belt), Pluto (Kuiper belt/past Neptune), Eris (Kuiper belt/past Neptune)

500

Name 2 of the 4 Galilean Moons of Jupiter.

Ganymede, Callisto, Io, Europa

Random

100

How many stars can be found in our solar system?

1. (the sun)

200

Densities of gas planets are < _____g/cm^3, but terrestrial planets have density that is larger than that same number. Tell me the number and explain why this is the case.

2g/cm^3

Gas is less dense than solid rock, so terrestrial planets have higher densities. 

300

What piece of information will NOT be listed for a moon on our data card that lets you know it is a moon?

Orbital period

400

Which planet has a day that is longer than its year?

Venus (Orbital period = 225 days, Rotational period 243 days)

500

Ms. Floerke’s dog, Phoebe, is named after the only moon of a planet that orbits backwards? Which gas planet does the moon “Phoebe” orbit?

Saturn