Planets

Basic Planet Info.

100

true or false: Planets orbit in perfect circles

false- ellipses

200

A stars temperature determines its color. Cold stars are ___________ while hot stars are ____________.

red/orange, blue/white

300

Planets are categorized based on _________________ and ____________________.

composition, size

400

Explain how planets are thought to have been formed.

Accretion- gradual accumulation and growth from star nebula (gas and debris left over from star formation)

500

What are the 3 criteria to be a planet

1. orbit a host star

2. have a round shape

3. dominate/clear their orbital path

Terrestrial Planets

100

Tallest mountain in our solar system is _______________ and is found on _____________.

Olympus Mons, Mars

200

The most dense planet in our solar system is ________________.

Mercury

300

The surface of this planet looks red. 

Why is the surface red?

Mars, iron oxide (rust) in the soil

400

Atmosphere 100x thinner than Earth's atmosphere.

Mars

500

Name 3 characteristics of terrestrial planets. 

• They are made up mostly of rock and metal.

• They are very heavy.

• They move slowly in space.

• They have no rings and few moons (if any).

• They have a diameter of less than 13,000 km. 

Gas Giants

100

Flattest planet in our solar system?

Saturn

200

What element makes Uranus and Neptune appear blue?

Methane

300

Fastest spinning planet in our solar system is ________________.

Jupiter

400

First planet found with a telescope. 

Extra 100 points for knowing who discovered it.

Uranus, William Herschel

500

Name 3 characteristics of gas giants. 

• They are made up mostly of gases (primarily hydrogen & helium).

• They are very light for their size.

• They move quickly in space.

• They have rings and many moons.

• They have a diameter of less than 48,000 km 

Dwarf Planets

100

How many Dwarf Planets are in our solar system?

5

200

Closest dwarf planet to us?

Extra 100 points if you can say where it orbits.

Ceres, Main Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter

300

Name all the Dwarf Planets in our solar system

Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, MakeMake, Eris

400

Which Dwarf Planet appears football shaped? Why? 

Haumea, spins so fast

500

The discovery of ___________________ and ________________________ prompted the International Astronomical Union to reconsider the definition of planets vs dwarf planets.

Eris, MakeMake

Solar System

100

Where is our solar system located?

Milkyway Galaxy

200

____________ is the hottest planet in our solar system and ____________ is the coldest.

Venus, Uranus

300

Windiest planet in the solar system with strongest winds. 

Neptune

400

Has the most moons in our solar system. 

Extra 100 points for knowing the number of moons. 

Saturn, 146

500

Name the planets and dwarf planets in our solar system in the correct order from closest to farthest from the sun

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Haumea, MakeMake, Eris