Solar Systems and

Space
Video Introducing the Solar System

What do we know?
Have a think about what you already know about the
solar system and space
Task: Answer the following:
What is a star?
Name as many planets as you can
What objects exist in space that we know?
What is the study of stars called?

Planner
Part 1
Our Universe
Terminology
Astronomy and
Astrology
Big Bang Theory
The Sun
Stars
Types of Stars

Part 2
Light Years
Hertzsprung-Russell
Diagram
Orbiting the Earth
Satellites
Types of Orbits
Aliens

Our Universe
The Earth is just a tiny part of the solar system
Our solar system is a tiny speck in a galaxy known as the Milky
Way
The sun is about one of 400 billion stars in the Milky Way
The Milky Way is one of about 130 billion galaxies in the
universe

In one word, the universe is EPIC!

Video
Planets in our Solar System

Activity: Create a Glossary

Star

Stars are gaseous objects in space that give off light and heat

Sun

The Sun is a star at the centre of our solar system

Moon

A moon is a natural satellite that orbits a planet. Not all planets have
moons. Our moon travels around the Earth in about one month.

Solar System

A solar system is a group of planets, moons, asteroids and comets that

orbit around a Sun

Galaxy

A galaxy is a huge group of stars and other celestial bodies that are
bound together by gravitational forces.

Milky Way

The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy that is home to our Sun and solar
system. It looks like a faint band of white in the night sky.

Constellation A constellation is a group of stars that when seen from Earth, form a
pattern. There are 88 constellations.
Planets

A planet is a large celestial body that orbits a star and does not shine
on its own. There are 8 planets orbiting the sun in our solar system.

Astronomy versus. Astrology

Astronomy is the study of stars
Stars vary in age size and appearance
Stars can also change over time
Understanding the reasons for the differences
between stars will help us understand our universe
Astrology is the study that attempts to interpret the
influence of the movement and position of stars and
planets on human behaviour
Astrology is quite controversial

Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory is the leading explanation
about how the universe began
It talks about the Universe starting with a single
violent event a big bang
Evidence suggests that all matter in the Universe
must have come from a single source
The theory stems from mathematical theory and
models

Video
The Big Bang Theory

Stars
What are they?
Stars are gaseous objects in space that give off light
and heat
What are they made of ?
Stars are made mainly of hydrogen and helium, with
traces of elements such as boron, carbon and nitrogen

Stars
Compared with the size of the Earth, the size of stars are
enormous
The Sun is over one million times the size of the Earth
One of the largest stars, Canopus, is 80 000 times the size of
our sun

EPIC
The enormous size of a star creates huge gravitational
forces that squeeze the atoms of the gases together and
creates lots of pressure and heat