Solar System Unit B
Unit Objectives
- Observe and identify constellations
- Explain why the stars, Sun, and planets appear to move.
- Distinguish between stars and planets.
- Describe how different telescopes work.
- Describe comets and how they cause meteors.
- Identify the major objects in the solar system.
- Compare and contrast the sizes, compositions, surface features, moons, and movement of the planets.
- Analyze the difference between apparent magnitude and absolute magnitude.
- Analyze and identify characteristics of nebulas.
- Investigate life cycles of stars and discover what creates a supernova, neutron star, or black hole.
- Observe and classify galaxies into groups.
- Investigate the relationships between the solar system, the Milky Way Galaxy, and the universe.
- Investigate the kinds and amounts of supplies needed for humans to survive in space.
Resource Links
Vocabulary
- axis
- The imaginary line on which an object rotates.
- comet
- A small object in space, made of ice, dust, gas, and rock, that orbits a star and that can form a gaseous tail.
- constellation
- A group of stars that form a fixed pattern in the night sky.
- meteorite
- The remaining material of a meteor that has landed on the ground.
- meteor
- A piece of rock or metal from space that enters Earth's atmosphere.
- planet
- A large body in space that orbits a star and does not produce light on its own.
- reflecting telescope
- An instrument for viewing distant objects that uses a curved mirror at the back of its tube to gather light and produce an image.
- refracting telescope
- An instrument for viewing distant objects that uses two lenses to gather light and produce an image.
- revolution
- The movement of an object around another object or point.
- rotation
- The spinning motion of an object on its axis.
- star
- A huge object in space, made up of hot gases, that shines by it own light.
Photos from Nasa Images, PhotoshopSupport.com
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