Low: -128.6°F (-89°C, Antarctica)
Surface (3 Details)
Sizes Up & Fun Facts
Size: 7,917 mi wide. Largest rocky planet (5th overall).
Facts: Only world with confirmed life; 1 moon; protective magnetic field.
4
(4th Planet from Sun)
Rotation: 24.6 hours (~1 Earth day) | Orbit: 687 Earth days (~1.9 yrs)
Named & Discovered
Named: Roman god of war (blood red).
Discovered: Ancient times.
Surface Temperatures
High: ~70°F (20°C, equator noon)
Low: -225°F (-153°C, polar night)
Surface (3 Details)
Sizes Up & Fun Facts
Size: 4,212 mi wide (~half Earth's size). 2nd smallest.
Facts: 2 moons (Phobos/Deimos); giant dust storms; past water evidence.
M
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Distance: ~238,855 miles (384,400 km)
Lunar Eclipse Box
When Earth blocks sunlight from hitting Moon, casting shadow that turns it reddish ("Blood Moon").
Surface Temperatures
High: ~224°F to 250°F (120°C)
Low: -298°F to -300°F (-183°C)
Surface (3 Details)
Sizes Up & Orbit
Size: 2,159 mi wide (1/4 Earth). 5th largest moon.
Rotation/Orbit: 27.3 days for both (synchronous rotation).
SOLAR SYSTEM RESEARCH PROJECT • TEACHER ANSWER KEY (BLACK & WHITE PRINT EDITION) PAGE 1 OF 2
Teacher Grading Key Black & White Print Edition
Part 2: Gas Giants & The Sun
5
(5th Planet • Gas Giant)
Rotation: 9.9 hrs (fastest!) | Orbit: 11.9 Earth yrs
Named & Discovered
Named: King of Roman gods.
Discovered: Ancient times.
Temperature
Cloud-top: -160°F to -238°F
(-110°C to -150°C)
"Surface" (3 Details)
No solid crust; Great Red Spot storm; striped swirling cloud bands.
Sizes Up & Facts
Size: 86,881 mi (11x Earth). 1,300 Earths fit. #1 largest.
Facts: 95 moons; faint rings.
6
(6th Planet • Gas Giant)
Rotation: 10.7 hrs | Orbit: 29.4 Earth yrs
Named & Discovered
Named: Roman god agriculture.
Discovered: Ancient times.
Temperature
Cloud-top avg: ~ -288°F
(-178°C; -220° to -300°F)
"Surface" (3 Details)
No solid crust; golden gas bands; hexagon north polar storm.
Sizes Up & Facts
Size: 72,367 mi (9x Earth). #2 largest.
Facts: Giant ice rings; floats in water; 146 moons.
7
(7th Planet • Ice Giant)
Rotation: 17.2 hrs (retrograde) | Orbit: 84 Earth yrs
Named & Discovered
Named: Greek god of sky.
Discovered: 1781 (Herschel).
Temperature
Coldest: -371°F (-224°C)
High: -320°F (-195°C)
"Surface" (3 Details)
No solid crust; blue-green methane haze; slushy water/ammonia mantle.
Sizes Up & Facts
Size: 31,518 mi (4x Earth). #3 largest.
Facts: Tilted 98° on side; 13 dark rings; 27 Shakespeare moons.
8
(8th Planet • Ice Giant)
Rotation: 16.1 hrs | Orbit: 164.8 Earth yrs
Named & Discovered
Named: Roman god of sea.
Discovered: 1846 (Galle/Le Verrier).
Temperature
Cloud-top avg: ~ -353°F
(-214°C to -373°F)
"Surface" (3 Details)
No solid crust; vivid deep azure blue air; Great Dark Spot storm.
Sizes Up & Facts
Size: 30,599 mi (3.9x Earth). #4 largest.
Facts: 1,200+ mph winds (fastest); moon Triton orbits backward.
S
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Type of Star: Yellow Dwarf (G2V Star)
Sun Safety (3 Rules)
Surface Temperatures
Surface: ~10,000°F (5,500°C)
Core: ~27 million°F (fusion!)
Solar Eclipse Box
Moon passes directly between Earth & Sun, casting shadow on Earth and blocking sunlight.
Sizes Up & Facts
Size: 865,000 mi (109x Earth). 1.3 million Earths fit inside!
Facts: 99.8% solar mass; light takes 8m 20s to Earth.
1. Surface (4 pts)
Student included 3 distinct details about the surface terrain, atmosphere, color, or craters.
2. General Info (4 pts)
Included all 4 items: named after, year discovered, and both high AND low temperatures.
3. Sizes Up (4 pts)
Included 3 details comparing size (diameter, order/rank, or comparison to Earth's size/volume).
4. Overview (4 pts)
Wrote 4 or more complete sentences in the "All About [Topic]" section summarizing their research.
5. Fun Facts (4 pts)
Included 3 unique, verified fun facts about their celestial body in the numbered boxes.
SOLAR SYSTEM RESEARCH PROJECT • TEACHER ANSWER KEY (BLACK & WHITE PRINT EDITION) PAGE 2 OF 2
