Space

Several of the Apollo missions brought back hundreds of pounds of rocks and soils from their missions to the moon.  Scientists have studied the moon rocks and soil and discovered that the rocks contain aluminum, calcium, iron, manganese, and titanium—just like many earth rocks!  Why do you think that earth rocks and moon rocks are similar?

Explore the relationship between Pluto, Eris, Makemake, and Haumea.  How are they similar and different?

Explain the relationship between the Sun and the Earth and explain why this statement is true: The Sun's energy is the source of all life on Earth.  Hint: For one example, think about photosynthesis.

–All Star Line Up
Choose a star from this All Star Line Up and prepare a Venn diagram comparing the Earth’s Sun to another star of your choice.

–Planets rotate, or spin, on an imaginary axis. A day on any planet is the amount of time it takes for the planet to complete one rotation. Each planet spins at different speeds, so days vary in length from planet to planet.  A year is the amount of time it takes for a planet to complete one orbit around the Sun.

Make an organizational chart that shows the length of a day and the length of a year for each planet.  (Your answers will be reflected in earth hours and days).

Planet	How Long Is a Day on this Planet?	How Long is a Year on this Planet?
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Read Write Think – Venn Diagram Creator
Use this online Venn diagram creator and compare and contrast the planet Earth with another planet of your choice.

–What might the solstices have represented to ancient peoples?

–Our Solar System: Moons
Create a chart and compare the Earth’s moon to another planet’s moon of your choice.  Compare the two moons in terms of their size, what they are made of, their orbit, volcanic activity, craters, atmosphere, and how they affect the planet that are associated with.

–Do some research about the planet Mercury and also about the Earth’s moon.  Once you know some basic facts about both, explore some reasons why the surface of both Mercury and the Moon are very similar.

––Explore the relationship between what we know as the greenhouse effect and why Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system even though it is not the closest planet to the Sun.

––What would the Earth’s seasons be like if the Earth did not tilt?

––Compare and contrast the volcanoes on Earth, Venus, and Mars.

––No star lasts forever.  Research the birth and death of stars.  What do you think will happen to the Earth when the Sun begins to change in its progression toward its final days.

–Interpret the change in the length of shadows during the day in relation to the position of the Sun in the sky.

–The Planetary Council is trying to decide which area of our solar system it should send its new space probe to.  It has narrowed the choices to Mars, the asteroid Ceres, Titan (Saturn’s largest moon), and Jupiter. Create a decision-making matrix to help the Council decide where to send the probe.  Include the benefits of studying each celestial body as well as any “down” sides.