6-Exploring the Solar System

Question 1

Where in space have humans traveled?

Answer 1

• Humans have orbited the Earth and traveled to the International Space Station
• The furthest manned trips were the 6 missions to the moon from 1969 to 1972.

Question 2

What is the difference between planets and stars?

Answer 2

• A planet is an object that orbits a star. It is larger than an asteroid and smaller than most stars. It doesn’t give off heat or light.
• A star is a huge ball of gas that gives off heat and light.

Question 3

What galaxy do we live in?

Answer 3

• We live in a collection of stars called the Milky Way galaxy.
• It contains our sun and billions of other stars.

Question 4

What is in the solar system?

Answer 4

• 1 star (the sun)
• 8 planets and some dwarf planets
• moons
• asteroids
• meteors
• comets

Question 5

What are the planets in this solar system in order?

Answer 5

1. Mercury
2. Venus
3. Earth
4. Mars
5. Jupiter
6. Saturn
7. Uranus
8. Neptune
9. (dwarf) Pluto

Question 6

What is the difference between the inner planets and the outer planets?

Answer 6

• Inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars) are solid and made up of metals.
• Outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) are huge and made of gasses.
• Separated by the asteroid belt.

Question 7

What is the sun?

Answer 7

• It’s the closest star to Earth.
• It’s a medium-sized star.
• Its light and energy is produced by nuclear fusion.
• It’s made of gas (mainly hydrogen and helium) and plasma.

Question 8

When do you think the sun will explode?

Answer 8

• The sun will not explode because it is only a medium-sized star.
• The sun is about halfway through its 10 billion year life cycle. It will expand and then collapse from a red giant to a white dwarf.