The Solar System 

Solar System Questions

1.      How far is your planet from the sun?

2.      How long does it take your planet to revolve around the sun?

3.      What is one fact about your planet’s surface?

4.      What is one fact about your planet’s moon?

5.      Find a picture of your planet and describe what it looks like.

Planet Links

Mercury | Venus | Earth | Mars | Jupiter | Saturn | Uranus | Neptune | Pluto

Solar System

Teacher Resources

Mercury

• MESSENGER: Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging - scientific mission to peel back the planet's veil of mystery.
• Nine Planets: Mercury - information about the closest planet to the sun.
• NSSDC Photo Gallery: Mercury - black and white mosaic photographs of the planet's prominent features.
• Planet Mercury, The - describes the planet's general features, surface, and interior.
• Views of the Solar System: Mercury - profiles the closest planet to the Sun, and the second smallest in the solar system.
• Welcome to the Planets: Mercury - profile and pictures.
  Windows to the Universe: Mercury - looks at the planet's atmosphere, myths, news, missions, and more.
  Mercury - lots of information about the planet and its moons and rings, as well as myths, pictures, and news about it.
  Mercury Information - technical and geological information from The Nine Planets.
  Mercury Introduction - information, statistics, and pictures, as well as a description of the Mariner mission which flew past Mercury and got data.

Venus

• Ice On Venus? - is there "ice" on Venus? If so, what kind of "ice" is it?
• Nine Planets: Venus - profiles the second planet from the Sun.
• Planet Venus, The - presents early and modern views of our "sister" planet, and describes the planet's cloud layer, atmosphere, and surface features.
• Solar System: Venus - collection of images.
• Views of the Solar System: Venus - jewel of the sky, once know by ancient astronomers as the morning star and evening star.
• Welcome to the Planets: Venus - images of impact craters, ridges, highlands, and lava flows marking the planet's surface.
  Windows to the Universe: Venus - includes news, missions, images, and technical facts about the blue planet.
  Magellan Mission to Venus - pictures of Venus and other highlights of the mission.
  Venus - lots of information about the planet, as well as myths, pictures, and missions which involved it.
  Venus Information - technical and geological information from The Nine Planets. Venus Introduction - statistics and information, as well as pictures, movies, and a timeline of explorations of Venus.

Earth

• Astronomy On-Line: How to Measure the Size of the Earth - invites you to measure the circumference of the Earth, in collaboration with other Astronomy On-Line groups.
• Earth and Moon
• Earth, The - describes the planet's interior, plate tectonics, atmosphere, magnetic field, and moon.
• International Earth Rotation Service (IERS) - provides timely and accurate data on the Earth's orientation by maintaining key connections between astronomy, geodesy, and geophysics (in English and French).
• Nine Planets: Earth - profile of the third planet from the Sun.
• Views of the Solar System: Earth - third planet from the Sun, and the only planet in the solar system known to harbor life.
• Welcome to the Planets: Earth - images of some of the planet's major features including large mountain, river, and canyon systems.
  Windows to the Universe: Earth - plenty of information on the third planet from the sun.
  Earth - lots of technical information about our planet, as well as myths, pictures, and news about it.
  Earth Information - historical and geological information from The Nine Planets.
  Earth Introduction - statistics and information, as well as pictures and movies of our planet from space.

Mars

• Nine Planets: Mars
• Canyons of Mars, From Silicone Dust Rivers? - personal hypothesis that the canyons of Mars may have been eroded by rivers of silicone dust made from silica reacted to an ancient methane atmosphere.
• Daily Martian Weather Report - Martian atmospheric data. See how the climate of the red planet evolves from day to day and season to season.
• Evidence of Recent Groundwater Seepage and Surface Runoff on Mars - PDF files of the articles published in the journal Science.
• Exploring The Planets: Mars - a National Air and Space Museum exhibit.
• Mars - highlights features of the planet.
• Mars Clickworkers Pilot Study - volunteer to help NASA identify and categorize Martian craters in your web browser, in your free time.
• Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera Images Suggest Recent Sources of Liquid Water on Mars - view the photographic evidence with interpretations.
• Mars Today - current conditions on Mars and the planet's relationship to Earth.
• Mars-Watch.com - news, interesting Martian facts, and a Mars photo archive.
• Mars: Mankind's Future Lies in Space - discusses human exploration, understanding, and possible colonization of Mars. Offers interactivities and a chat room.
• MarsNews.com - newswire for the new frontier - covering Mars missions, prospects of life, and Humans to Mars.
• NASA's Observatorium: Mars
• New Mars - a Journal of the Martian Frontier, offering news and perspectives.
• New Scientist: Mars - collection of articles which appeared in the magazine.
• Planet Mars, The - describes the planet's surface features and processes, atmosphere, interior, and moons.
• Red Zone's Mars Page - with images, chatroom, forum, and more.
• Views of the Solar System: Mars - offers an introduction to the Red Planet.
• What Happened to the Water on Mars? - a personal theory.
• Windows to the Universe: Mars - looks at its interior and surface, atmosphere, moons, plus myths, missions, news, virtual tour, and more.
  World Book Encyclopedia: Mars: Exploring the Red Planet - learn all about the planet Mars, including efforts to explore the Martian atmosphere and surface, and prospects for sending humans to the planet.
  Center for Mars Exploration - the latest information regarding life on Mars. Mars - explore the mythology, art, poetry and science of this planet.
  Daily Martian Weather Report - see how the red planet's climate evolves from day to day, over a whole Martian year.
  Exploring Mars - get set to jet off to the Red Planet! Learn simple facts about Mars, see an atlas, learn about the planet's history, or view some images.
  Headbone Derby - Mystery on Mars - cool online Adventure game that lets students explore the wonders of the World Wide Web to answer questions about Mars.
  Mars Academy - check out this learning center filled with special detailed 'courses' on Mars and space-related topics.
  Mars in Myth & Science Fiction - learn about the history of Mars in fact and fiction in the late 19th century, including astronomical observations by Schiaparelli and fictional stories by H.G. Wells.
  Mars Introduction - information and statistics, as well as pictures, video, and lots of info on missions to Mars.
  Mars Madness - this ThinkQuest Junior site lets you explore the planet's weather, atmosphere, terrain, and more. You can also send a postcard from Mars!
  Mars Millennium Project 2030 - take a journey of inspiration and discovery as you explore Mars through answers to questions asked of artists, scientists, engineers, and astronauts.
  Mars: the Red Planet - an exploration of the planet and its moon.
  Scientific American Frontiers: Flying Free - take a look at a timeline of flying history, see if planes will ever fly over Mars, learn about designing planes, and learn how to make your own paper airplane.
  Search for ET! Are Humans All Alone in the Universe? - come visit this cool interactive site and try to find out if we are really alone! Some information also in Japanese.
  Sky and Telescope: A Grand Return of Mars - read this telescope user's guide to viewing Mars during the year 2001.
  Why is the sky blue? - get the answer to this question and learn why sunsets are red, why Mars is red, and why clouds are white too. Try the quiz to test your understanding.

Jupiter

• Galileo Mission@
• Jupiter Events - gives central merdian transit times for the Great Red Spot and has links to other Jupiter web sites and comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 impact images.
• Jupiter's Ring System - includes animations, images, and references.
• Jupiter: The Giant Planet - introduction to the planet's composition and structure, circulation and atmosphere, satellites and rings, and more.
• Nine Planets: Jupiter - profiles the fifth planet from the Sun.
• Planet Jupiter, The - describes the planet's general and special features, including the Great Red Spot.
• Views of the Solar System: Jupiter - profiles the largest planet in the solar system along with its satellites.
• Welcome to the Planets: Jupiter - data and images from NASA's planetary exploration program.
  Windows to the Universe: Jupiter - detailed look at the largest planet in the solar system.
   BrainPOP: The Planet Jupiter - watch this cool movie about the planet then take a quiz to see what you've learned.
  Jupiter Information - technical and geological information from The Nine Planets.
  Jupiter Introduction - information and statistics on the planet, its satellites and moons, as well as pictures, movies, and a timeline of Jupiter exploration.
  Jupiter Millennium Flyby - learn about the Cassini Spacecraft's brush with Jupiter as it travels on its way to Saturn in December of 2000.
  Lunar Ice - read how scientists study ice on our moon and on Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, to look for signs of water and ancient bacteria. Get answers from an astronaut too.
  Planet Jupiter in Pictures - find lots of pictures of the planet Jupiter, its rings, and its moons. Try the quizzes too.
  Windows to the Universe - Jupiter - lots of facts, as well as pictures, myths, and space missions which gave us information about the planet.

Saturn

• Cassini Mission@
• Magnetosphere and Plasma Science (MAPS) Working Group - studying the nature of Saturn's magnetosphere.
• Nine Planets: Saturn - profile of the sixth planet from the Sun.
• Planet Saturn, The - describes the planet's general features, interior, ring structure, and moons.
• Saturn Events - gives the times of the ring plane crossings and the times of satellite events such as eclipses and transits. The site also has links to images.
• Saturn's Ring System - includes animations, images, and references.
• Sixth Planet from the Sun: Saturn - the planet, its rings, and its moons.
• Welcome to the Planets: Saturn - images of the planet's rings, moons, impact craters, and other features.
  Windows to the Universe: Saturn - detailed look at the sixth planet from the Sun, best known for its spectacular set of rings.
  Saturn - facts and information about this planet, its moons and rings, as well as myths, missions, and news involving it.
  Saturn Information - geological and historical information from The Nine Planets.
  Saturn Introduction - information and statistics on the planet and its satellites, as well as pictures, movies, and a timeline of Saturn exploration.

Uranus

• Herschel, Sir William Frederick (1738-1822)@
• Huge Storms Hit - if springtime on Earth were anything like it will be on Uranus, we would be experiencing waves of massive storms, each one covering the country from Kansas to New York, with temperatures of 300 degrees below zero.
• Nine Planets: Uranus - profiles the seventh planet from the Sun, along with its rings and satellites.
• Planet Uranus, The - describes the planet's surface, interior, rings, and moons.
• Solar Views: Uranus - includes statistics, information on Uranus' rings, photographs, and a moon summary.
• Uranian Ring System, The - includes animations, images, and references.
• Uranus by Alyce - history of the blue planet, as well as a quiz.
• Views of the Solar System: Uranus - details the seventh planet from the Sun, discovered by William Herschel in 1781.
• Welcome to the Planets: Uranus - planetary profile from NASA.
  Windows to the Universe: Uranus - guide to the seventh planet from the Sun, including facts, myth and culture, image archives, and news.
  Uranus - facts and information about this planet, its moons and rings, as well as myths and news about it.
  Uranus Information - technical and geological information from The Nine Planets.
  Uranus Introduction - information and statistics on the planet and its rings, as well as movies, pictures, and a description of the Voyager 2 mission which studied the planet.

Neptune

• Galilei, Galileo (1564-1642)@
• Neptune's Ring System - includes animations, images, and references.
• Nine Planets: Neptune - information on the planet, its satellites, plus pictures.
• NSSDC Photo Gallery: Neptune
• Planet Neptune, The - describes the planet's general features, surface, interior, and faint rings.
• Solar Views: Neptune - statistics, animations, views, and more.
• Welcome to the Planets: Neptune - profile and pictures.
  Windows to the Universe: Neptune - profiles the eighth planet from the Sun
  Neptune - facts and information about this planet and its moons, as well as myths and missions which gave us information about it.
  Neptune Information - geological and historical information from The Nine Planets.
  Neptune Introduction - information and statistics on the planet and its rings, as well as pictures, movies, and a description of the Voyager 2 mission which flew closely past it.

Pluto

• National Space Science Data Center: Pluto
• NSSDC Photo Gallery: Pluto
• Planet Pluto, The - describes the planet's highly elliptical orbit, surface, interior, and moon, Charon.
• Pluto - info from Nine Planets.
• Pluto Home Page - the first planetary web page to be mentioned in a song by Christine Lavin.
• Pluto Profile - from NASA.
• Pluto, the Ninth Planet - cold and dark, but still a great vacation spot.
• Pluto-Kuiper Express@
• Tombaugh, Clyde (1906-1997)@
• Web Directory: Pluto WWW Pages - collection of links.
  Windows to the Universe: Pluto - information on the outermost planet in the solar system.
  NSSDC: Pluto - facts, pictures, and answers to frequently asked questions about this planet from the National Space Science Data Center.
  Pluto - facts and information about this planet, its moons and rings, as well as myths, missions, and news about it.
  Pluto and Charon - information and statistics on the planet and its satellite, Charon, as well as movies, pictures, and a description of the mission which will fly by the planet around 2013.
  Pluto Information - historical and technical information from The Nine Planets.

	Solar System
	Solar System Solar System Live                     Views of the Solar System VirtualSolarSystem     Solar System - Pictures of the Planets                                      Solar System Trading Cards Discover the Solar System BrainPOP - Solar System Build a Solar System Solar System Simulator Views of the Solar System Pictures Solar Max 2000 Stanford SOLAR Center   Solar Eclipse: Stories From the Path of Totality Solar Eclipses Solar Physics: Skylab Total Solar Eclipse Amazing Space StarChild Planet Quest Astro for Kids NASA Kids Coloring Pages Outer Space Nine Planets Think Space Spaceport NASA Observatorium Movie Gallery

Teacher Resources

Understanding Solar Music