The Solar System
What star do all the planets orbit around?
The Sun
How many days does Earth take to orbit the sun?
365
What type of surface do Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars have?
Rocky (solid)
What machines have landed on Mars to study rocks and take pictures?
Space probes or robots
Mercury was named after a Roman ______.
A god
How many planets are in our solar system?
Eight
The closer a planet is to the sun, the ______ time it takes to orbit.
Which planet is the smallest in our solar system?
Mercury
What frozen substance was discovered on Mars?
Ice
The Greek name for the Roman god Mercury is ______.
Hermes
Name the four planets closest to the sun.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
How many days does Mercury take to orbit the sun?
88 days
Which planet is closest to Earth?
Venus
Why was finding ice on Mars exciting for scientists?
Water might mean life could exist
Venus was named after the Roman goddess of ______.
Love
What tool helps scientist see planets better today?
A telescope
How long does Venus take to orbit the sun?
225 days
Which planet is the fourth planet from the sun?
Mars
What do scientists use to look deeper into space today besides telescopes?
Space probes or robots
Mars was named after the Roman god of ______.
War
Name two ancient civilizations that studied the planets.
Greek, Mayans, Incas, Aztecs, Mesopotamians
Which planet takes 165 years to orbit the sun?
Neptune
What makes Mars look red in the night sky?
Rust in the rocks
What question are scientists still debating about Mars?
Whether life exists or once existed on Mars
Which planet’s English name comes from Roman mythology but has a Greek equivalent called Hermes?
Mercury