Research Questions:

Our Solar System

1.   Draw our solar system – including the sun, 9 planets, asteroid belt, Earth’s moon and the rings of orbit. Label everything.

2.   Draw a sundial and explain how it works. Are there any other devices that can be used to plot the apparent movement of the sun over the course of the day? What is the difference between True North and Magnetic North?

3.   What are the planets, other than Earth, that have moons?

4.   Why can’t we view the sun directly or through a simple telescope or filter? What can we use to view the sun and how do we make sure it is a safe method?

5.   Explain how the phases of the moon cycle. Start with the New Moon and explain the 7 phases that follow. Draw these in a circle.

6.   How does Earth, Earth’s moon, the other planets and the stars move in our sky? How do they all appear to move from Earth’s perspective?