About this Flash Card Set
15 Cards
by liam_novak
Explore the Sun, the eight planets, and key facts about our solar system. A fun, factual set for astronomy and earth-science students.
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Solar system
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The Sun and everything that orbits it: 8 planets, their moons, dwarf planets, asteroids, and comets.
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The Sun
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A star at the center of our solar system; a giant ball of hydrogen and helium that provides light and heat.
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Order of the planets from the Sun
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Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
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Mercury
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The smallest planet and closest to the Sun. No atmosphere; extreme temperature swings.
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Venus
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The hottest planet due to a thick, heat-trapping CO₂ atmosphere. Similar in size to Earth.
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Earth
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The only known planet with life; has liquid water and a protective atmosphere.
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Mars
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The 'Red Planet,' colored by iron oxide (rust). Has the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons.
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Jupiter
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The largest planet, a gas giant famous for its Great Red Spot (a giant storm).
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Saturn
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A gas giant known for its spectacular ring system made of ice and rock.
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Uranus
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An ice giant that rotates on its side; appears blue-green from methane in its atmosphere.
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Neptune
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The farthest planet from the Sun; a windy, deep-blue ice giant.
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Terrestrial vs. gas giant planets
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Terrestrial (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) are small and rocky; gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) are large and gaseous.
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Asteroid belt
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A region of rocky asteroids orbiting between Mars and Jupiter.
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Why isn't Pluto a planet?
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In 2006 it was reclassified as a 'dwarf planet' because it hasn't cleared other objects from its orbit.
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Orbit vs. rotation
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Orbit is a planet's path around the Sun (a year); rotation is its spin on its axis (a day).
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