The Outer Planets
Exploring the solar systemCopyright NASA, http://spacekids.hq.nasa.gov/osskids/animate/mac.html.
Students explore the outermost planets of our solar system: Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. They also learn about characteristics of Pluto and its interactions with Neptune. Students learn a little about the history of space travel as well as the different technologies that engineers develop to make space travel and scientific discovery possible.
The outer planets and Pluto are difficult to study. Their surface features are not easily visible from Earth without the help of modern equipment. Even if these planets were closer, their extreme pressure and weather would not allow humans to visit them. The information that we have so far about the outer planets is due to technologies designed by engineers, such as powerful telescopes and spacecraft with cameras and atmosphere-measuring equipment.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- List several characteristics of Saturn, including that it is the sixth planet from the Sun, made of gases, and is known for its rings.
- List several characteristics of Uranus, including that it is the seventh planet from the Sun, looks blue-green, and is tilted on its side.
- List several characteristics of Neptune, including that it is the eighth planet from the Sun, looks bright blue, and is very windy.
- List several characteristics of Pluto, including that it is categorized as a dwarf planet, and has an odd-shaped orbit.
- Explain that engineers have made it possible to explore the planets in space.