Are any viewers of this post studying astronomy in science class? If so, read on because this post will give you the basics in case you need to refresh your memory or have a quiz coming up. First let’s start with the solar system. The first four planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They have a solid surface which means they are terrestrials. Then we have the asteroid belt. After that we have the gas giants, which are Jupiter and Saturn. Then ice giants which are Uranus, and Neptune. Beyond that is Pluto and the Kuiper belt. Now let’s learn about the moon.

People are unsure how the moon was created but there are theories. One is that a celestial object hit Earth sending part of the Earth into space in which it condensed due to gravity becoming the moon. Anyways, let’s start with phases. The moon is orbiting Earth in a constant way usually with a 5° tilt except when we have an eclipse. The sun’s light is reflected off of the surface of the moon and that causes the moon to give a different shape depending on where the moon is in it’s orbit. Remember when I said that the moon’s orbit was tilted, that is the reason we don’t have a lunar and solar eclipse every year. Next is facts about the solar system.

First up is the reason why the system we live in is called the solar system. The reason has to do with the sun. I know that this might not make sense, but the sun is actually called Sol. Sol is actually Latin for sun, so spanish since it has Latin roots, sol is in the language. If you use the name Sol, you may get extra credit on a test but I can’t guarantee that your teacher will count it correct so I suggest having Sol in parentheses so you have what your teacher wants while you impress them with your knowledge. Next fact, Earth is the only planet in the solar system that isn’t named after a Roman or Greek god/goddess (other than the new ninth planet in our solar system that’s in the Kuiper belt). Final fact, when the moon pulls on the Earth making tides, the opposite side of the planet has high tide because the moon is pulling the Earth a little bit so the water is there because of inertia.

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center via Compfight