The Solar System

Hello to one and all! I'm sure you are really excited about this new chapter about the Solar system. As you explore this segment, there are key questions you could reflect upon. Enjoy the trip in the solar system! Blast-off! Let's learn about the composition of our solar system and discover more about each planet. What makes up our solar system? Do planets move and how? How many planets are there? How can you remember all the planets? What is an orbit? How long does it take for the planets to move around the Sun? Why does the Sun and the Moon appear to e similar in size? Earth, Sun and Moon Movement of the Earth: Rotation and Revolution. What is the difference between the two types of movement? Read on. Does our Earth move or is it the Sun? How do we get day and night? How do we know how many days makes a month and a year? Rotation The Earth rotates on its own axis. This axis is an imaginary line that passes through the North Pole and the South Pole.It takes about 24 hours or one day to complete one rotation. Explore a model of Earth's rotation : View Earth's rotation Revolution The Earth also revolves round the Sun in its orbit. This process of moving around the Sun is called revolution.It takes about 365 days or one year for the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun. Explore a model of Earth's revolution: View Earth's revolution around the Sun Satellites What are satellites? A satellite is an object that revolves round a larger object in space. There are natural satellites and man-made ones. Find out more about satellites. Is the moon a satellite? Are there other moons in our solar sysyem? What is a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse? Why does the moon appear different at different days of the month? Examine the phases of the moon. Check the actual phase of the moon now and compare to your own sightings of the moon in the sky. Hmmm...going further into space. Find out more about these: (no, they are not chocolates!) milky way, galaxy, shooting star, asteroid belt, meteor showers Can we see other planets from Earth? Discover how technology has helped us to learn more about our solar system. Let's take a short quiz and see how much you've discovered. QUIZ