Five and counting! So far, astronomers have discovered five dwarf planets in our solar system. Pluto, which was once thought of as the ninth planet, is today classified as a dwarf planet. This book looks at the current dwarf planets, characteristics, size, and orbital patterns, as well as the three rules scientists follow to characterize these tiny, round space objects. Every day new discoveries are being made. Who knows how many dwarf planets we will find in the future! This book will allow students to understand that patterns in the natural world can be observed, used to describe phenomena, and used as evidence.
Home, Sweet Home! This title is about Earth, the planet we live on! The layers of the Earth, how it relates to the other planets in our solar system, and how it is the only known planet to sustain life, as far as we know, are all discussed in this science title. Learn about how the Earth rotates on its axis, giving us day and night, and how it orbits and is warmed by that giant star we call the Sun. This book will allow students to make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth’s surface.
Our closest solar system is about 10 light years away. It has two main types of planets. Some are rocky and small, like planet Earth, while others are huge balls of gas, like Jupiter. Learn about how astronomers once thought our solar system was the one and only, to how they have now discovered hundreds of stars with planets orbiting them, which means there could be billions of solar systems in outer space! Just maybe, these alien worlds could host life, like our own amazing planet. This book allows students to use observations of the Sun, moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted.
The four planets farthest from the Sun are called the gas giants. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are different from the other planets in our solar system. They are not solid, but are made of liquids and clouds of gas with gravity pulling it all together into a planet shape. Learn facts about the climate, gases, size, and other quirky things each of the planets possess. This book isn't filled with hot air! Pull out your telescope and see if you can observe one of these planets. This book will allow students to understand that patterns in the natural world can be observed, used to describe phenomena, and used as evidence.
Our solar system is made up of the millions of objects in the sky above us, including the Sun, moon, stars, and planets. This book examines the four planets closest to the Sun, known as the rocky planets. All four planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are described with information about their atmosphere, landscape, orbits, and Fun Facts that give additional information about each of these rocky planets! This book will allow students to use observations of the Sun, moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted.
What has a head, two tails, and shoots across the sky? A comet. Coming from the far edges of the solar system, most comets travel around the Sun, while meteors appear as flashing streaks of light in the night sky. Explore these amazing celestial wonders as they zip through space! This book looks at the difference between comets and meteors and their effects on Earth. The physical characteristics of each are identified in detail. This book won’t come crashing down! It’s filled with fun facts that give additional information on this exciting science topic. This book allows students to use observations of the Sun, moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted.
Step into the deserta dry, dusty place with little water and vegetation. What could live in this hostile environment? Peel back the corners of the desert to discover the incredible organisms that survive in this ecosystem, from scorpions and cacti to musk oxen and seals. Find out how deserts work as a system, carving out an existence in one of the most extreme biomes on Earth. Learn, too, how deserts are found all around the world and what you can do to help protect these amazing wildernesses.
