Planets can be classified in many ways. In Unidad 1 “Planetas Interiores y Exteriores” we saw how they are classified according to their orbit relative to the orbit of the Earth. In this activity we will learn how they are classified according to their composition.

The four planets closest to the Sun (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars) are relatively small, warm, rocky, have few (if any) moons and no ring systems. We call them rocky or terrestrial planets, because of their resemblance to Earth.

The four planets farthest from our star (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) are much larger, cooler and mainly consist of gas so we call them gas giants. Although from Earth we can only see Saturn’s rings, they all have many moons and ring systems.

Introduction

Download here the INTRODUCCIÓN to this Didactic Unit.

Activities

In these activities you will be able to work with real images obtained with the Liverpool Telescope, just as professional astronomers do.

Jupiter

Jupiter is the largest and fastest rotating planet in the Solar System. Because of its fast rotation, the planet is not completely spherical, but is slightly flattened at the poles. With this activity you will be able to measure the flattening of Jupiter and detect its Great Red Spot, using real images of the planet obtained with the Liverpool Telescope.

• Download the GUÍA of the activity.
• Download the images of JUPITER you are going to work with.
• If you haven’t already done so, download the software (PeterSoft) to view and analyse the images.

Saturn

Saturn is the second largest planet in the Solar System and has a ring system that can be seen from our planet with a small telescope. In this activity you can see how the inclination of Saturn’s rings (as seen from Earth) changes as the planet moves in its orbit around the Sun.

• Download the GUÍA of the activity.
• Download the images of SATURN you are going to work with.
• Download the HOJA DE CÁLCULO to write down your measures.
• If you haven’t already done so, download the software (PeterSoft) to view and analyse the images.

Remember you can also obtain your own images of the planets in  “Quiero Observar” and make new measurements and investigations.

Activity Data

Concepts: Terrestrial and gas planets. Binoculars and telescopes: instruments for observation. Jupiter. Saturn.

Tools to learn to use: Distance measurement.

Estimated time: 3 hours.

Authors: Oswaldo González, Nayra Rodríguez, Alfred Rosenberg, Inés Bonet.

Materials for educators: Guía didáctica.