The Asteroid Belt
Where is the asteroid belt located?
between the Earth and Mars
What is the Great Red Spot?
Which planet is considered Saturn's twin?
Jupiter
Why was it so exciting to discover Uranus?
A planet had not been discovered since ancient times
What was the Great Dark Spot?
a storm on Neptune
Where have many meteorites been found?
Antarctica
What is another name for a comet?
a dirty snowball
Why are Jupiter's 4 largest moons called Galilean moons?
Galileo discovered them
What is Saturn made of?
Mostly hydrogen and helium
The sun rises in the west and sets in the east on 2 planets. Which two planets are they?
What chemical gives Neptune it's blue color?
methane
Why does Jupiter have stripes?
Jupiter's stripes are bands of clouds
What is the Exploded Planet Hypothesis?
All the asteroids in the Asteroid Belt were once a planet that exploded
Why is Jupiter like a little sun? (give at least 2 reasons)
Jupiter produces its own heat like the sun, has a host of satellites, and is mostly hydrogen and helium (must list 2/3 to earn points)
What are Saturn's rings made of? Please list at least 3 things.
ice, rocks, boulders, and shepherd moons (must list 3/4 to earn points)
What chemical makes Uranus blue-green in appearance?
Methane
What are the names of Neptune's 3 biggest moons?
(bonus 100 points if you can also answer: How many moons does Neptune have?)
Triton, Proteus, & Nereid
(14)
Why does Saturn look as if it is being squeezed?
It is spinning so fast that the planet flattens at the poles and bulges at the center
What is the scientific name for a shooting / falling star?
a meteor
Name Jupiter's 4 largest moons
Ganymede, Europa, Callisto, and Io
What do shepherd moons do?
They keep the rings in place
Who discovered Uranus? (include first and last names)
William and Caroline Herschel
Why was Neptune discovered, and what made astronomers think there was another planet beyond Uranus?
Neptune was discovered because astronomers were looking for it because Uranus's orbit wobbled as if it was being pulled by another planet.
How were William and Caroline Herschel educated?
They were homeschooled
What is a meteor called when it hits Earth?
a meteorite
How does Jupiter protect our planet?
Jupiter's gravity attracts comets which might otherwise hit Earth
Why would Saturn be an unpleasant place to visit?
How many moons does Uranus have?
(bonus 100 points if you can also answer: What is Uranus's largest moon?)
27; Titania
What are geysers (on Neptune)?
They are holes in the ground through which chemicals underground spew.
How long does it take Neptune to orbit the sun?
164 Earth years