Show:
The Sun
Stars and
Galaxies
Solar System
Odds and Ends
Planets
100
These are a cooler, dark areas on the sun’s surface. Every 11 years, the sun seems to have a major breakout.
What is a sunspot
100

What is the name and shape of the galaxy that contains Earth?

Milky Way Galaxy (Spiral)

100

Name the eight planets in order from the sun starting with the closest to the sun.

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

100

Name 2 of the 4 Galilean moons of Jupiter.

Io, Europa, Callisto, Ganymede

100
Why is Mars known as the “Red Planet?”
Mars has a chemical called iron oxide (rust) in its soil that causes the surface to take on a reddish appearance.
200

All stars are made-up of these two gases. They are used to create energy through the process of nuclear fusion.

Hydrogen and helium

200

Name two stars besides the sun

Ex. Rigel, Proxima Centauri,...

200

What is the distance between the sun and the Earth?

AU (astronomical unit)

200

What do the terms waxing and waning mean in relation to the moon phases?

When the phases are said to be waxing, the visible portion of the moon seems to be getting larger. When they are waning, the visible part seems to be getting smaller. The moon waxes and wanes from right to left.

200
This is the second largest and lightest planet in the solar system. It's so light that its density would allow it to float on water.
What is Saturn.
300

Fusion (the changing of hydrogen into helium) occurs in what part of the sun?

The core

300
What will happen to our sun in the next stage of its life?
Red Giant - The star's outer layers will expand and become 100X larger than our sun. At this point it will engulf Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars and probably tear apart the gas giants and evaporate Saturn's rings. Doesn't that sound like a lovely time in our Solar System.
300

How many exoplanets are in our solar system?

0

300

Name every student in the class

...

300
What is Jupiter’s “Great Red Spot" and Neptune's "Great Dark Spot"?
Both are huge storms (Hurricane) that have been circulating around the planet for hundreds of years.
400
Identify the stages of our star's life from beginning to end.
What is a nubula, protostar, red giant, white dwarf, and black dwarf.
400

What is the closest galaxy to the Milky Way?

Andromeda.

400

How many planets have rings?

4

400

How fast is light?

300,000,000 m/s

400

This planet is blue because of the methane gas in its atmosphere and is tipped on its side.

Uranus

500

What impact does the sun have on our planet Earth? Think about the effect solar flares have as well.

The sun provides heat/light energy but can damage plant and animal life with its ultraviolet rays (UV). The solar flares of the sun can interrupt radio communications but in a positive sense create the Northern and Southern lights.

500
Stars 10 times larger than our sun can take an alternative path in life. What could be the end result after the star explodes (supernova)?
It could become a nebula, black hole, or neutron star.
500

How many stars are in our solar system?

1

500

What is earthshine?

The faint glow on the dark side of the moon when it's near new phase, caused by sunlight bouncing off of Earth.

500

Why is Venus considered the hottest planet?

Venus has a tremendous Greenhouse Effect – Due to a large amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (98%) -the CO2 traps the heat and causes the surface temperature to reach around 700 Fahrenheit.