SOLAR SYSTEM BASICS
Early astronomers believed this was the center of the solar system.
What is Earth?
This is the closest planet to the Sun.
What is Mercury?
Which object in space orbits Earth and reflects light from the Sun?
What is the Moon?
Earth takes about 24 hours to do this once.
What is rotate?
This phase shows the entire side of the Moon facing Earth lit up.
What is a full moon?
All of the planets in our solar system revolve around this.
What is the Sun?
This planet is known as the "red planet."
What is Mars?
This planet has conditions that make life possible.
What is Earth?
Earth spins around this imaginary line.
What is its axis?
The Moon takes about this long to revolve around Earth.
What is about one month?
These planets are small, rocky, and have solid surfaces.
What are terrestrial (Inner) planets?
This planet is the largest planet in our solar system and has enormous storms in its atmosphere.
What is Jupiter?
This object is a star made of gases and provides Earth with warmth and light.
What is the Sun?
The path Earth takes as it travels around the Sun is called this.
What is an orbit?
We see different parts of the Moon because the Moon revolves around Earth and we see different portions of its sunlit half. What is this called?
What are the Moon phases?
These planets are mostly made of gas and have thick atmospheres.
What are gas giants (Outer Planets)?
This planet appears blue because of its atmosphere.
What is Neptune?
What is the name of the imaginary line that runs through Earth from the North Pole to the South Pole?
What is Earth’s axis?
Name the two factors responsible for seasons on Earth.
What are Earth's axial tilt and its revolution around the Sun?
During which two Moon phases do the highest tidal ranges occur?
What are the new moon and full moon?
This is the name given to Pluto because it does not meet all the requirements to be considered a planet.
What is a dwarf planet?
Name all eight planets in order from closest to farthest from the Sun.
What are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune?
Earth, the Sun, and the Moon are all part of this larger system.
What is our solar system?
If Earth's rotation became faster, what would happen to the length of a day?
What is the day would become shorter?
Why can’t we see the Moon during the new moon phase?
What is because the lit-up half of the Moon is facing away from Earth?