Lesson 2

Earth and Moon

What is the Moon like?

The Moon shines in the night sky. However, the Moon
does not make its own light. Light from the Sun bounces
off the Moon. Moonlight is reflected sunlight.

The Moon and Earth

The Moon is Earth’s closest neighbor. Rocks on the
Moon are like some rocks on Earth. However, the Moon
and Earth are different in many ways.
The Moon is much smaller than Earth. It has no
atmosphere. It has almost no water. The Moon is very
hot during the day. The nights are colder than any place
on Earth.

Earth
Moon
sunlight

Sun
Sunlight strikes
the surface of
Earth as well as
the Moon. The
Moon reflects its
light to Earth.

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 Surface Features
Most of the Moon’s surface is covered with
craters (KRAY•tuhrz). A crater is a hollow area or pit
in the ground. Large rocks called meteoroids
(MEE•tee•uh•roydz) crashed into the Moon. This made crater

many of the Moon’s craters. Meteroids often crash into

other space objects.

Craters and Earth’s Atmosphere

Earth’s atmosphere keeps many meteoroids from
crashing into Earth. When meteoroids enter Earth’s
atmosphere, they become very hot. Most burn up before
they hit Earth’s surface. This is why Earth’s surface is not
covered with craters.

Quick Check

8. What is a crater?

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 What are the phases of the Moon?
The Moon revolves around Earth. It completes one
orbit in just over 29 days.
The Moon’s shape seems to change as it moves
around Earth. The apparent shapes of the Moon are
called phases (FAYZ•ez). During one complete orbit, the
Moon goes through all of its phases.
Like Earth, half of the Moon is always lighted by the
Sun. The other half is dark. We see different amounts of
the lighted side during the Moon’s orbit. Some moon
phases include
• New Moon: none of the lighted side shows
• First Quarter Moon: half of the lighted side shows
• Full Moon: entire lighted side shows
• Third Quarter Moon: half of the lighted side shows

The Moon’s Gravity

The Moon has gravity. It pulls a little on Earth. The
Moon’s gravity causes tides on Earth. Tides are the daily
rise and fall of the ocean’s surface.

Quick Check
Fill in the blanks to complete the paragraph.

The 9. revolves around Earth. The

Moon completes one 10. around

Earth in just over 29 days. During one complete orbit,

the Moon goes through all of its 11. .

During the 12. phase, you can see

the entire lighted side of the Moon.

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 Phases of the Moon

Third Quarter Moon

The Moon is three quarters
Waning Waning
of the way around Earth.
Crescent Moon Gibbous Moon
The left sliver of the Slightly less of
Moon is the only part the lighted side
you can see. can be seen.

New Moon Full Moon

The lighted side The entire
cannot be seen lighted side
from Earth. can be seen.

Waxing Waxing
Crescent Moon Gibbous Moon
Some of the lighted The Moon is
side can be seen. almost full.

First Quarter Moon

The Moon is a quarter of
the way around Earth.

Read a Diagram

Which phase is before a full moon?

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 What is an eclipse?
An eclipse (i•KLIPS) is a shadow cast by Earth or the
Moon.

Solar Eclipses
In a solar eclipse, the Moon makes a shadow on Earth.
This happens when the Moon is directly between the
Sun and Earth. A part of Earth passes through the
Moon’s shadow. During a solar eclipse, the Moon appears
to block out the Sun. Solar eclipses happen only during
the new moon.

Two Kinds of Eclipses

Earth

Moon

Sun

lunar eclipse

solar eclipse
Earth
Moon

Sun

Read a Diagram

Where is the Moon during a solar eclipse?

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 ↑ Lunar eclipses can only
happen at the full moon.
Lunar Eclipses
In a lunar eclipse, Earth makes a shadow on the Moon.
This happens when Earth is directly between the Sun
and the Moon. The Moon seems to disappear.

Eclipse Safety
You should look only at a lunar eclipse. Looking at a
solar eclipse can hurt your eyes. Scientists use special
tools to watch a solar eclipse safely.

Quick Check

13. Where does the shadow fall during a lunar eclipse?

14. Where does the shadow fall during a solar eclipse?

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 Lesson 3
The Solar System

What is the solar system?

The Moon is a satellite of Earth. A satellite is any
object that moves in orbit around another, larger body.
The Sun has many satellites. The Sun and its satellites
make up our solar system. The Sun is the center of the
solar system.

Planets
Planets are large, round objects that travel around the
Sun. There are eight planets in our solar system. Planets
are smaller and cooler than stars. Unlike a star, planets
do not make light. However, planets reflect sunlight just
like the Moon does. So you can see some planets in the
night sky.

The Solar System

Sun Mercury
Venus Earth Mars

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 Orbiting the Sun Quick Check
The planets’ orbits are ellipses
Write the definition of each of these
(i•LIP•seez). An ellipse is a flattened
words.
circle, or oval.
Planets stay in orbit because of 15. planet
gravity and inertia (i•NER•shuh).
Gravity is a force of attraction
between all objects. It pulls planets
to the Sun. Inertia is the tendency of
16. gravity
a moving object to keep moving in a
straight line. Together, gravity and
inertia cause the planets to move
around the Sun.

Read a Diagram

Which planet has the longest journey

around the Sun?

Jupiter

Uranus

Neptune

Saturn

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 How do we learn about
the solar system?
Galileo Galilei was an Italian Stars give off light. They also give
scientist who studied the solar system. off radio waves that we cannot see.
He put curved pieces of glass in a Radio telescopes can read these
tube. This helped him look into space. waves.

Telescopes Astronauts
Galileo’s tool was a telescope. In the 1960s, NASA—the National
Telescopes make objects that are far Aeronautic and Space
away seem closer. Galileo found Administration—used rockets to put
objects in space that no one had seen people into space. Those people were
before. Some of today’s telescopes are the first astronauts (AS•truh•nawts).
like Galileo’s, but larger. Other
telescopes use curved mirrors.

New and Old Telescopes

radio telescopes

Galileo’s
telescope

Read a Photo

Name a difference between the two telescopes.

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 Shuttles and Space Stations Probes
Space shuttles take astronauts into A probe is a spacecraft that leaves
space to do experiments and put new Earth’s orbit. It does not carry people.
satellites into space. Space shuttles NASA has sent probes to planets,
can return to Earth. Space stations moons, and other objects. The probes
stay in space a long time. The are controlled by scientists on Earth.
International Space Station is used by The probes send back pictures and
many different countries. data to Earth.

← In 2004 a space probe

landed on Mars. Two
robots, called Mars
rovers, explored the
surface of Mars.

Quick Check
Name three tools scientists use to study space.

17.

18.

19.

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 What are the rocky planets?
The four planets closest to the Sun are called the
rocky planets. They are made up of mostly rock. They
also seem to have solid cores made of iron.

Mercury Venus

Distance to the Sun: 58 million km Distance to the Sun: 108 million km

Diameter: 4,880 km Diameter: 12,100 km
Rotation Time: 59 Earth days Rotation Time: 243 Earth days
Revolution Time: 88 Earth days Revolution Time: 225 Earth days
Fast Fact: Mercury’s surface is Fast Fact: Temperatures on Venus
covered with craters. can reach 500˚C.
Mercury is the closest planet to Venus is the second planet from
the Sun. That makes it very hot. It the Sun. Venus has a very thick
is also the smallest planet. Mercury atmosphere. Its atmosphere holds
does not have a moon. in heat, making Venus the hottest
planet. Venus also has many
volcanoes.

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 Earth Mars

Distance to the Sun: 150 million km Distance to the Sun: 228 million km
Diameter: 12,756 km Diameter: 6,794 km
Rotation Time: 1 Earth day Rotation Time: about 1 Earth day
Revolution Time: 365 Earth days Revolution Time: 687 Earth days
Fast Fact: Earth’s atmosphere Fast Fact: Iron oxide, or rust, gives
makes it suitable for life. Mars its reddish color.
Earth has an atmosphere and a The fourth planet from the Sun
surface of mostly liquid water. It is is Mars. Mars has two small moons
the only planet known to support and a thin atmosphere. Mars
life. appears to have frozen water just
below the surface.

Quick Check
List the planets in order according to how close they
are to the Sun.
Earth Venus Mars Mercury

20.

21.

22.

23.

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 What are the other planets?
The four planets beyond Mars are called gas giants.
They are large and made mostly of gases. They do not
have solid surfaces.

Dwarf Planets
Scientists have found smaller planets in our solar
system. They are called dwarf planets. Most are made of
rock and ice. Pluto is a dwarf planet.

Jupiter Saturn

Distance to the Sun: 778 million km Distance to the Sun: 1 billion,

Diameter: 143,000 km 429 million km
Rotation Time: 10 Earth hours Diameter: 120,536 km
Revolution Time: 4,333 Earth days Rotation Time: 10 Earth hours
Fast Fact: Jupiter’s four largest Revolution Time: 10,759
moons were first observed by Earth days
Galileo in 1610. Fast Fact: Winds on Saturn can
Jupiter is the largest planet in blow at 500 meters per second.
the solar system. It has more than Saturn, the sixth planet from the
60 moons. The surface is divided Sun, is the second-largest planet. It
into bands. One band has a red has rings that circle the planet.
spot the size of Earth. Saturn has 34 known moons.

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 Uranus Neptune

Distance to the Sun: 2 billion, Distance to the Sun: 4 billion,

871 million km 504 million km
Diameter: 51,118 km Diameter: 49,528 km
Rotation Time: 17 Earth hours Rotation Time: 16 Earth hours
Revolution Time: 30,684 Earth Revolution Time: 60,190 Earth
days days
Fast Fact: The axis of Uranus Fast Fact: Neptune takes 165 Earth
points toward the Sun. years to orbit the Sun.
Uranus is the only planet that Neptune is the farthest planet
rotates on its side. That means one from the Sun. It has 13 moons.
pole always points toward the Sun. Winds on the surface of Neptune
The other pole is always dark. blow up to 2,000 km (1,200 mi)
Uranus has at least 27 moons. per hour.

Quick Check
Write the name of the planet next to the fact
that describes it.
Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune

24. the farthest gas giant from the Sun

25. has at least 34 moons

26. rotates on its side

27. largest gas giant

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 What else is in our solar system?
Planets are not the only objects in our solar system.
Smaller objects also revolve around the Sun.

Comets
• A comet is a chunk of ice, rock, and dust that moves
around the Sun.
• It moves in a long, narrow orbit.
• A comet heats up when it nears the Sun. This causes a
tail to form.

Asteroids
• Asteroids (AS•tuh•roydz) are large pieces of rock or
metal in space.
• Most asteroids are in a belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Comet Hale-Bopp last approached

the Sun in the 1990s. ↓

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 ↑ A meteoroid is called a
meteor when it enters
Earth’s atmosphere.

Meteoroids
• smaller pieces of asteroids
• If a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere, it is called a
meteor.
• Small meteors burn up in the atmosphere.
• Shooting stars are burning meteors.
• A meteor that reaches Earth is called a meteorite.

Quick Check
Describe the three smaller objects found in our solar system.

28.

29.

30.

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