Churchill Science

A comet is a mix of rocky material, water ice, and a variety of other ingredients (as pictured here). Try out making some different comets and launch them into orbit around the Sun!

This video starts with Pluto, a dwarf planet, and then moves up in size order. Can you see why everything in the solar system orbits the Sun and not Earth or another planet?

Also, look at the size of the Sun compared to other stars. What would happen if our planet orbited a bigger star? We are going to be talking more about stars and why bigger is NOT better!

Just the animation:

Click on the picture to play the Lunar Cycle Challenge!

The Moon looks different each night because the Earth and Moon are always moving around the Sun. This game will help you to learn about how the Moon’s shape changes every day. What patterns do you notice?

From the Museum of Natural History

Click here to explore the relationships between the Earth, Sun and Moon.

Questions:
-What is missing from this picture?
-What are the circles around the Sun and the Earth?
-Why does the Sun get to be in the middle?
-What do you think would happen if we took the Earth out?