This graphic, constructed from data obtained by NASA's Cassini spacecraft, shows the percentage of cloud coverage across the surface of Saturn's moon Titan.
The color scale from black to yellow sig Mapping Titan's Cloud Coverage. This graphic represents a possible model for mechanisms that could generate the water vapor and tiny ice particles detected by Cassini over the southern polar terrain on Enceladus. This model shows Modeling 'Warm' Ice on Enceladus. A colorful infographic detailing comet ISON's perilous trip to the sun. This figure illustrates the unexpected and bizarre pattern of daytime temperatures found on Saturn's small inner moon Mimas kilometers, or miles, in diameter.
Bizarre Temperatures on Mimas. Diagram of the Cassini Spacecraft. Such "fans" suggest the existence of additional objects in the F ring. From right t Named after the Roman goddess of love, Venus is remarkably much hotter than Mercury and filled to the brim with greenhouse gases. The planet has an average diameter of 7, miles 12, Having been formed some 4 billion years ago, the Earth has radically transformed with the passing of time.
Thanks to the tilting nature of its axis , Earth experiences 4 seasons and the only natural satellite, the Moon is responsible for the ocean tides. With an almost 8, mile As the 8 th planet from the Sun, Neptune is the very last of the gas giants.
With a diameter of 30, miles 49, Scientists believe that the core of Uranus is actually extremely icy which makes it unique because most other planets are presumed to be molten. With a diameter of 31, miles, Uranus takes an equivalent of 84 Earth years to orbit the Sun and a single day on the planet translates to 18 Earth years. With a mean diameter of 12, km mi , Earth is the largest terrestrial planet in the Solar System and the fifth largest planet overall.
However, due to flattening at its poles 0. As a result, its polar diameter differs from its equatorial diameter, but only by about 41 km In short, Earth measures Like Earth, Mars experiences flattening at its poles 0.
As a result, it experiences a bulge at its equator which leads to a variation of 40 km 25 mi between its polar radius and equatorial radius. This works out to Mars having a mean diameter of km Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System, measuring some , km 88, mi in diameter.
Again, this its mean diameter, since Jupiter experiences some rather significant flattening at the poles 0. This is due to its rapid rotational period, with Jupiter taking just 9 hours 55 minutes and 30 seconds to complete a single rotation on its axis.
Combined with the fact that Jupiter is a gas giant, this means the planet experiences significant bulging at its equator. Basically, it varies in diameter from , km 83, This is a difference of km With a mean diameter of , km Like Jupiter, it experiences significant flattening at its poles 0. Would it be easy to model the planet sizes? Why or why not?
Possible response: No, because of the great differences in size. How could we model differences? What everyday objects could represent planets and the sun? Informal Assessment Have students work independently to summarize, in writing, what they learned about our solar system, including: locations of planets in relation to the sun and one another relative sizes of planets, including Earth relative distances of planets any conclusions they can draw about the locations of the asteroid belt and Kuiper belt.
Extending the Learning Encourage students to practice backyard astronomy. Learning Objectives Students will: calculate and model planetary distances by converting astronomical units AU compare planetary sizes using data analyze relative planetary sizes and distances using a kinesthetic model and data. Teaching Approach Learning-for-use. Teaching Methods Discussions Hands-on learning Modeling.
Resources Provided The resources are also available at the top of the page. Background Information Our solar system includes the sun and eight planets that orbit around the sun. Prior Knowledge planets in our solar system order of planets. Recommended Prior Activities None. Vocabulary asteroid belt. Sun 0. Media Credits The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit.
Writer Anna Mika, M. Media If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. Text Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Interactives Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. Related Resources. Solar System. View Collection. Measuring Distances on a Map. View Activity. Solar System Supplement. View Infographic. Science The Solar System. View Video. Educational Resources in Your Inbox.
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