Many of the moons in our solar system are more interesting than some of the planets. We have found moons with oceans, volcanoes, geysers and earthquakes. There are moons that look like rocks, sponges and cheese. How many moons are there in the solar system? What is the difference between a moon and a planet? Take a trip around the solar system and see what the moons have to offer your curiosity.
This Course Includes Great Bonus Lesson: What on Earth is Astronomy?
Moons of the Solar System
Objective
Warm-up activity
Moons and their effects on planets
Moons in our Solar System
Definition and characteristics of a moon
Moon name origins
Dwarf planet moons
Pluto’s moons
Focus on Charon
The moons of Neptune
Triton: geological activity, geysers and retrograde motion
Synchronic orbits
Finding and naming Neptune’s moons
The moons of Uranus
Canyons on Miranda
Moons and a planet’s rings
Shepherd moons
Saturn and its moons
Enceladus, and its geyser plumes and underground oceans
A discussion of false color images
Titan and its thick atmosphere
The Cassini orbiter and Huygens lander
Mimas and the Herschel crater
Rhea and cratering
Hyperion, the sponge moon
Jupiter and its moons
The Galilean moons Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto
Io and volcanic activity
Europa and its underground oceans
Europa’s stripes and what they might mean
Ganymede: the largest moon in the Solar System
Callisto
Mars and its asteroid moons
Very small moons and gravity
Earth and its moon
The moons size and influence on the Earth
Geology, water and gravity
Manned missions to our moon
Asteroids and their moons
Test Questions
Cross Curricular Activities