Planet Facts
Give three reasons why Pluto isn't a planet. Who voted against it's planet status?
1) It's size. 2) Crosses paths with Neptune, because of it's eplitical orbit. 3) Doesn't clear it's path around the sun of other objects. The IAU.
Which planet has canyons deeper than the Grand Canyon?
Mars.
What is a meteorite?
A meteor that strikes Earth.
Fill in the blank: A comet's tail points _____ from the sun, and the tail becomes _____ as it gets closer to the sun.
Away; Longer.
Which planet has been deemed the name the 'Red Planet?'
Mars.
How does the composition of a planet relate to it's density?
If it is made of gas, then it is less dense, unlike rock where it is more dense.
Where are most asteroids located?
In the orbit between Mars and Jupiter.
What is Pluto considered? Where does it lie?
It is considered a Dwarf planet and it lies on the edge of the Kuiper Belt.
What are the rules of being a "planet?"
It must be round, revolve around the sun, and clear the neighborhood over it's orbit.
Jovian planets (outer) in order closest to the sun.
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus Neptune.
Which planets have rings?
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Name the two planets that have spots, name the spots, and explain what scientists think they are.
Juptier: The Great Red Spot. Neptune: The Great Blue Spot; Scientists believe they are giant storm systems.
What is an asteroid?
Larger pieces of rock similar to the material that formed planets.
Which bodies in our solar system are volcanically active?
Lo (Juptier's moon), Triton (Saturn's moon), and Earth.
Terrestrial planets (inner) in order closest to the sun.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars.
What is a meteor?
Meteroids that burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.
Which planet is the windiest planet in the solar system?
Neptune.
Which planet was named after the god of the deep blue sea because of it's blue color? What casuses the color?
Neptune; Because the small amounts of Methane in it's atmoshphere, which soaks in the light.
How many moons are on Mercury?
None (0).
How many moons are on Venus?
None (0).
Where is the largest volcano in the solar system is located and what is it's name?
Olympus Mas located on Mar's (bigger then Mt. Everest).
Which object's orbit is so unique that it moves into another planet's orbit? Are their others?
Pluto; Yes, the other Dwarf planets.
Which planet has the earliset known and most complex ring system?
Saturn.
What is Halley's Comet's orbital period?
Seventy-six years (76).
What is a meteroid?
Small pieces of rock moving through space.
What causes the comet's tail to become visible?
Sunlight reflects off of the melting gas and ice.
If Pluto was a planet, which group would it most fit with and why?
The inner planets, because Pluto is made of rock and it is very small in size.
Which planets have a higher density and why?
The inner planets, because they were pushed together over a long period of time into a tight, condense ball.
Which planets rotate faster and why?
The outer planets, because they have more gravity, which cause them to rotate faster.
What is the Terrestrial planets (inner) size compared to the Jovain planets (outer)?
They are smaller.
How many moons are on Mars?
Two (2).
Which planet rotates on its side, meaning it's axis is parallel with the plane of it's orbit?
Uranus.
Which planet is deemed Earth's 'twin' planet and why?
Venus, due to its similartities in size, density, and chemical composition.
Which planet is the hottest temperature planet and why?
Venus, due to its thick atmosphere of carbon-dioxide, which creates a very extreme greenhouse effect.
Which planet is covered with clouds so thick that light cannot penetrate it's atmosphere?
Venus.
When do comets begin to glow and why? What do they look like before they glow?
When the comets get closer to the sun, they begin to melt. An invisible rock.
