Our World: What is a Solar System?
Find out why one amateur astronomer created an amazing graphic of the 88 largest objects in our solar system. Learn just what makes up a solar system and find out how we classify the thousands of objects in our own solar system. Since the production of this video New Horizons has reached, and is providing information on, the Kuiper Belt.
Discussion and writing prompts
1. A solar system is much more than a collection of planets. What features must be present for a group of objects to be considered a solar system, and what role does gravity play in holding the system together?
2. Astronomers have discovered thousands of planets orbiting other stars. Why is it important to study other solar systems as well as our own?
3. The objects in a solar system constantly interact with one another through gravity. How can changes to one object influence other objects in the system? Choose one object in our solar system—such as the Sun, a planet, a moon, or an asteroid—and explain how it interacts with other objects. Describe why scientists study these interactions to better understand how solar systems form, evolve, and remain stable over time.
Background Information
Grades 3 through 8
- NASA Space Place Solar System (webpage)
Grades 3 through 12
- NASA Our Solar System Lithograph Set (webpage)
- NASA Our Solar System Lithograph Set (webpage)
Grades 4 through 8
- NASA Solar System Exploration - Kids (webpage)
Grades 4 through 12
- NASA eClips Real World: Limits of the Solar System (video)
- NASA eClips Real World: Scaling the Solar System (video)
Grades 5 through 12
- NASA Solar System Exploration (webpage)
Activities
Grades 3 through 5
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center The Scale of Things (pdf)
Grades 3 through 8
- NASA SpacePlace Power Up with Solar System Activities Book (e-book)
Grades 3 through 12
- NISE Network Exploring the Solar System: Pocket Solar System (webpage)
- NASA Eyes on the Solar System (interactive)
- NASA Solar System and Beyond Trading Cards (webpage)
- NASA GSFC Play-doh Scale Models (pdf)
Grades 4 through 8
- Lunar and Planetary Institute Solar System in My Neighborhood (webpage)
Grades 5 through 12
- NASA Solar System TREKS (interactive)
Grades 6 through 8
Grades 6 through 12
- NASA JPL Modeling the Structure of the Solar System (webpage)
- NASA A Scale Model of the Solar System (pdf)