Morning Starters: Spring 2 - Solar System
Did You Know?
The small dot in the photograph below is the planet Mercury (as seen from Earth as it orbits the Sun). Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and the smallest planet in our solar system. Interestingly, it is not the hottest (that title belongs to Venus), but it is the fastest. It takes just 88 Earth days to orbit the Sun. Like the Moon, Mercury is covered with craters.
Credit: BBC NEWS
Word Challenge
Which ‘-est’ ending superlative adjectives could be used to describe the different planets in our solar system?
Example: Mercury – closest
Hint: Some superlative adjectives appear in the ‘Did you know?’ paragraph.
Grammar Challenge
Using inverted commas, write a sentence that captures the excitement of an astronomer, who has just witnessed Mercury passing in front of the sun.
Example: “I can’t believe it – I just witnessed Mercury transit across the Sun!” the astronomer exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement.
Number Challenge
During the day, Mercury’s temperature was 355°C. At night, the temperature dropped by 475°C.
What was the night-time temperature?
Critical Thinking
Imagine that a new planet has just been discovered. A team of astronomers has named it ‘Perfect Planet.’
What do you think conditions on Perfect Planet are like?