essay on universe for class 5

• The Universe

The Universe is everything we can touch, feel, sense, measure or detect. It includes living things, planets, stars, galaxies, dust clouds, light, and even time. Before the birth of the Universe, time, space and matter did not exist.

The Universe contains billions of galaxies, each containing millions or billions of stars. The space between the stars and galaxies is largely empty. However, even places far from stars and planets contain scattered particles of dust or a few hydrogen atoms per cubic centimeter. Space is also filled with radiation (e.g. light and heat), magnetic fields and high energy particles (e.g. cosmic rays).

The Universe is incredibly huge. It would take a modern jet fighter more than a million years to reach the nearest star to the Sun. Travelling at the speed of light (300,000 km per second), it would take 100,000 years to cross our Milky Way galaxy alone.

No one knows the exact size of the Universe, because we cannot see the edge – if there is one. All we do know is that the visible Universe is at least 93 billion light years across. (A light year is the distance light travels in one year – about 9 trillion km.)

The Universe has not always been the same size. Scientists believe it began in a Big Bang, which took place nearly 14 billion years ago. Since then, the Universe has been expanding outward at very high speed. So the area of space we now see is billions of times bigger than it was when the Universe was very young. The galaxies are also moving further apart as the space between them expands.

Story of the Universe

• Extreme life
• In the beginning
• The Big Bang
• The birth of galaxies
• What is space?
• Black Holes
• The mystery of the dark Universe
• Cosmic distances

• Next Generation Science Standards
• Grade 5 Science: Proposed by NGSS

Grade 5 - 5-ESS1 Earth’s Place in the Universe

Earth Science F or Grade 5

LINKS to content and activities to help fulfill the Next Generation Science Standards shown below.

ESS1.A: The Universe and its Stars

ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System

Planets and Moons

Changing Seasons

Next Generation of Science Standards (NGSS) - Grade 5

Disciplinary Core Ideas

ESS1.A: The Universe and its Stars • The sun is a star that appears larger and brighter than other stars because it is closer. Stars range greatly in their distance from Earth. (5-ESS1-1)

ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System •  The orbits of Earth around the sun and of the moon around Earth, together with the rotation of Earth about an axis between its North and South poles, cause observable patterns. These include day and night; daily changes in the length and direction of shadows; and different positions of the sun, moon, and stars at different times of the day, month, and year. (5-ESS1-2)

Science and Engineering Practices

Analyzing and Interpreting Data Analyzing data in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to introducing quantitative approaches to collecting data and conducting multiple trials of qualitative observations. When possible and feasible, digital tools should be used. • Represent data in graphical displays (bar graphs, pictographs and/or pie charts) to reveal patterns that indicate relationships. (5-ESS1-2)

Engaging in Argument from Evidence Engaging in argument from evidence in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to critiquing the scientific explanations or solutions proposed by peers by citing relevant evidence about the natural and designed world(s). •  Support an argument with evidence, data, or a model. (5-ESS1-1)

Crosscutting Concepts

Patterns  • Similarities and differences in patterns can be used to sort, classify, communicate and analyze simple rates of change for natural phenomena. (5-ESS1-2)

Scale, Proportion, and Quantity • Natural objects exist from the very small to the immensely large. (5-ESS1-1)

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

5-ESS1-1. Support an argument that differences in the apparent brightness of the sun compared to other stars is due to their relative distances from the Earth. [Assessment Boundary: Assessment is limited to relative distances, not sizes, of stars. Assessment does not include other factors that affect apparent brightness (such as stellar masses, age, stage).]

5-ESS1-2. Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows, day and night, and the seasonal appearance of some stars in the night sky. [Clarification Statement: Examples of patterns could include the position and motion of Earth with respect to the sun and selected stars that are visible only in particular months.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include causes of seasons.]

Common Core State Standards Connections

ELA/Literacy

RI.5.1    Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. (5-ESS1-1) RI.5.7    Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently. (5-ESS1-1) RI.5.8    Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s). (5-ESS1-1) RI.5.9    Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably. (5-ESS1-1) W.5.1    Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. (5-ESS1-1) SL.5.5    Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, sound) and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes. (5-ESS1-2)

Mathematics MP.2 Reason abstractly and quantitatively. (5-ESS1-1),(5-ESS1-2) MP.4 Model with mathematics. (5-ESS1-1),(5-ESS1-2) 5.NBT.A.2 5.G.A.2

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What is the Universe?

The universe is everything. It includes all of space, and all the matter and energy that space contains. It even includes time itself and, of course, it includes you.

Earth and the Moon are part of the universe, as are the other planets and their many dozens of moons. Along with asteroids and comets, the planets orbit the Sun. The Sun is one among hundreds of billions of stars in the Milky Way galaxy, and most of those stars have their own planets, known as exoplanets.

The Milky Way is but one of billions of galaxies in the observable universe — all of them, including our own, are thought to have supermassive black holes at their centers. All the stars in all the galaxies and all the other stuff that astronomers can’t even observe are all part of the universe. It is, simply, everything.

Though the universe may seem a strange place, it is not a distant one. Wherever you are right now, outer space is only 62 miles (100 kilometers) away. Day or night, whether you’re indoors or outdoors, asleep, eating lunch or dozing off in class, outer space is just a few dozen miles above your head. It’s below you too. About 8,000 miles (12,800 kilometers) below your feet — on the opposite side of Earth — lurks the unforgiving vacuum and radiation of outer space.

In fact, you’re technically in space right now. Humans say “out in space” as if it’s there and we’re here, as if Earth is separate from the rest of the universe. But Earth is a planet, and it’s in space and part of the universe just like the other planets. It just so happens that things live here and the environment near the surface of this particular planet is hospitable for life as we know it. Earth is a tiny, fragile exception in the cosmos. For humans and the other things living on our planet, practically the entire cosmos is a hostile and merciless environment.

How old is Earth?

Our planet, Earth, is an oasis not only in space, but in time. It may feel permanent, but the entire planet is a fleeting thing in the lifespan of the universe. For nearly two-thirds of the time since the universe began, Earth did not even exist. Nor will it last forever in its current state. Several billion years from now, the Sun will expand, swallowing Mercury and Venus, and filling Earth’s sky. It might even expand large enough to swallow Earth itself. It’s difficult to be certain. After all, humans have only just begun deciphering the cosmos.

While the distant future is difficult to accurately predict, the distant past is slightly less so. By studying the radioactive decay of isotopes on Earth and in asteroids, scientists have learned that our planet and the solar system formed around 4.6 billion years ago.

How old is the universe?

The universe, on the other hand, appears to be about 13.8 billion years old. Scientists arrived at that number by measuring the ages of the oldest stars and the rate at which the universe expands. They also measured the expansion by observing the Doppler shift in light from galaxies, almost all of which are traveling away from us and from each other. The farther the galaxies are, the faster they’re traveling away. One might expect gravity to slow the galaxies’ motion from one another, but instead they’re speeding up and scientists don’t know why. In the distant future, the galaxies will be so far away that their light will not be visible from Earth.

Put another way, the matter, energy and everything in the universe (including space itself) was more compact last Saturday than it is today.

Put another way, the matter, energy and everything in the universe (including space itself) was more compact last Saturday than it is today. The same can be said about any time in the past — last year, a million years ago, a billion years ago. But the past doesn’t go on forever.

By measuring the speed of galaxies and their distances from us, scientists have found that if we could go back far enough, before galaxies formed or stars began fusing hydrogen into helium, things were so close together and hot that atoms couldn’t form and photons had nowhere to go. A bit farther back in time, everything was in the same spot. Or really the entire universe (not just the matter in it) was one spot.

Don't spend too much time considering a mission to visit the spot where the universe was born, though, as a person cannot visit the place where the Big Bang happened. It's not that the universe was a dark, empty space and an explosion happened in it from which all matter sprang forth. The universe didn’t exist. Space didn’t exist. Time is part of the universe and so it didn’t exist. Time, too, began with the big bang. Space itself expanded from a single point to the enormous cosmos as the universe expanded over time.

What is the universe made of?

The universe contains all the energy and matter there is. Much of the observable matter in the universe takes the form of individual atoms of hydrogen, which is the simplest atomic element, made of only a proton and an electron (if the atom also contains a neutron, it is instead called deuterium). Two or more atoms sharing electrons is a molecule. Many trillions of atoms together is a dust particle. Smoosh a few tons of carbon, silica, oxygen, ice, and some metals together, and you have an asteroid. Or collect 333,000 Earth masses of hydrogen and helium together, and you have a Sun-like star.

For the sake of practicality, humans categorize clumps of matter based on their attributes. Galaxies, star clusters, planets, dwarf planets, rogue planets, moons, rings, ringlets, comets, meteorites, raccoons — they’re all collections of matter exhibiting characteristics different from one another but obeying the same natural laws.

Scientists have begun tallying those clumps of matter and the resulting numbers are pretty wild. Our home galaxy, the Milky Way, contains at least 100 billion stars, and the observable universe contains at least 100 billion galaxies. If galaxies were all the same size, that would give us 10 thousand billion billion (or 10 sextillion) stars in the observable universe.

But the universe also seems to contain a bunch of matter and energy that we can’t see or directly observe. All the stars, planets, comets, sea otters, black holes and dung beetles together represent less than 5 percent of the stuff in the universe. About 27 percent of the remainder is dark matter, and 68 percent is dark energy, neither of which are even remotely understood. The universe as we understand it wouldn’t work if dark matter and dark energy didn’t exist, and they’re labeled “dark” because scientists can’t seem to directly observe them. At least not yet.

How has our view of the universe changed over time?

Human understanding of what the universe is, how it works and how vast it is has changed over the ages. For countless lifetimes, humans had little or no means of understanding the universe. Our distant ancestors instead relied upon myth to explain the origins of everything. Because our ancestors themselves invented them, the myths reflect human concerns, hopes, aspirations or fears rather than the nature of reality.

Several centuries ago, however, humans began to apply mathematics, writing and new investigative principles to the search for knowledge. Those principles were refined over time, as were scientific tools, eventually revealing hints about the nature of the universe. Only a few hundred years ago, when people began systematically investigating the nature of things, the word “scientist” didn’t even exist (researchers were instead called “natural philosophers” for a time). Since then, our knowledge of the universe has repeatedly leapt forward. It was only about a century ago that astronomers first observed galaxies beyond our own, and only a half-century has passed since humans first began sending spacecraft to other worlds.

In the span of a single human lifetime, space probes have voyaged to the outer solar system and sent back the first up-close images of the four giant outermost planets and their countless moons; rovers wheeled along the surface on Mars for the first time; humans constructed a permanently crewed, Earth-orbiting space station; and the first large space telescopes delivered jaw-dropping views of more distant parts of the cosmos than ever before. In the early 21st century alone, astronomers discovered thousands of planets around other stars, detected gravitational waves for the first time and produced the first image of a black hole.

With ever-advancing technology and knowledge, and no shortage of imagination, humans continue to lay bare the secrets of the cosmos. New insights and inspired notions aid in this pursuit, and also spring from it. We have yet to send a space probe to even the nearest of the billions upon billions of other stars in the galaxy. Humans haven’t even explored all the worlds in our own solar system. In short, most of the universe that can be known remains unknown .

The universe is nearly 14 billion years old, our solar system is 4.6 billion years old, life on Earth has existed for maybe 3.8 billion years, and humans have been around for only a few hundred thousand years. In other words, the universe has existed roughly 56,000 times longer than our species has. By that measure, almost everything that’s ever happened did so before humans existed. So of course we have loads of questions — in a cosmic sense, we just got here.

Our first few decades of exploring our own solar system are merely a beginning. From here, just one human lifetime from now, our understanding of the universe and our place in it will have undoubtedly grown and evolved in ways we can today only imagine.

Next: The Search for Life: Are We Alone?

• Informational Text , Interactive Notebooks , NGSS , Utah SEEd

Earth’s Place in the Universe – 5th Grade Science Unit

Earth’s place in the universe.

Are you covering Earth’s Place In the Universe, space, and the solar system in your 4th or 5th-grade class?

This engaging unit begins with phenomena and will help you teach your class about the Sun’s brightness, the seasonal appearance of stars, and daily changes of shadows. Students will love these interesting activities regarding the Sun’s brightness, the seasonal appearance of stars, and daily changes of shadows. This resource uses phenomena to engage the students. This resource is designed to address two of the 5th grade standards for NGSS from the Earth’s Place in the Universe strand.

5-ESS1-1. Support an argument that differences in the apparent brightness of the sun compared to other stars is due to their relative distances from Earth.

5-ESS1-2. Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows, day and night, and the seasonal appearance of some stars in the night sky.

Also aligned with Utah SEEd 4th grade standards

Utah SEEd 4.4.1

Construct an explanation  that differences in the apparent brightness of the Sun compared to other stars is due to scale. Emphasize relative distance from Earth, not sizes of stars.

Utah SEEd 4.4.2

Analyze and interpret data  of observable patterns to show that Earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the Sun.

Students will learn that the movements in the solar system affect how we see the night sky and how we see shadows.  Students will also learn that stars may be bigger than our Sun, but not appear that way because of the great distance they are from Earth.  

Students will also learn about the make-up and layers of our Sun and about the life cycle of a star. Students will create graphs and answer questions based on the graph they have created.

Fifth Grade Students will LOVE this complete unit on the Earth’s Place in the Universe filled with many different interesting activities!

Other teachers LOVE this unit.  It’s got a perfect rating on TPT and 100+ perfect reviews!

Just love the way the author really ties to the standard and has it so well planned out. The suggested schedule is really great. No busy work here. This is a rich standards based unit. Just what I have come to expect from this author.

  The science curriculum at my school is not very clear, this helped me and my class out SO much!

Reading Information Text About the Life of a Star

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• Understanding Our Universe and Earth

Introduction to Our Universe

Isn’t it amazing to gaze up at the sky and see a clear sky? Have you ever wondered, while looking up, when and how our planet Earth and the other heavenly bodies came into being? or how life began, and how different forms of life that we observe around us have evolved? Read ahead to discover the answers to these questions and know about the universe we inhabit.

What is the Universe?

Our universe is roughly 13.8 billion years old. Scientists arrived at that figure by calculating the ages of the oldest stars as well as the pace at which the universe is expanding. 

In 1924, Edwin Hubble established that the speed at which astronomical objects move away is related to their distance from each other. In other words, the more away an object is from the Earth, the quicker it moves away from us. This became Hubble's law, which provides support to the Big Bang Theory.

The  Big Bang Theory can be understood by a balloon experiment that has several dots. As we blow the air in the balloon, the distance between the dots increases and this same happens with the universe also.

The universe contains all of the available energy and matter. Much of the visible matter in the universe is made up of individual atoms of hydrogen and the basic atomic element, consisting of just a proton and an electron.

Nature of the Universe

The universe includes everything we can touch, feel, experience, measure, or detect. It includes living things, planets, stars, galaxies, dust clouds, light, and matter that is not visible through light and even time. According to research, our planet earth is 4.6 billion years old. 

The Sun and the planets originated together 4.6 billion years ago from the solar nebula (i.e, a cloud of gas and dust). The collapse of the solar nebula was most likely caused by a shock wave (i.e, a high-pressure wave) from a nearby supernova explosion (i.e, a powerful and luminous space explosion). This leads to the formation of the Sun, moon and the other planets around it.

Our Solar System

The Sun and the celestial bodies that revolve around it comprise the solar system. Our solar system is a tiny part of the Milky Way Galaxy, which is one of the millions of galaxies present in the universe and one of the parts of the universe. The planets that are present in our solar system are regarded as the universe's planets.

The solar system is made up of many bodies such as planets, comets, asteroids, and meteors. The Sun's gravitational force attracts these bodies, keeping them revolving around it. Now let’s learn about the different celestial bodies of our solar system.

The Sun: The Sun is the focal point of the solar system. It is a star in the shape of a large ball of blazing gases. It is approximately 100 times the size of the Earth. The Sun seems bigger because it is closer to Earth than any other star. The Sun is extremely hot due to the constant burst of gases that occurs in the Sun.

Mercury: It is close to the Sun and it has no atmosphere. It contains rough terrain with big holes known as craters. These craters were formed when fast-moving objects from space collided with the Earth.

Mercury planet

Venus: It is about the same size as the Earth and has a thicker atmosphere. The Sun's rays warm the planet's surface as they travel through thick dense clouds, but the cloud prevents the heat from leaving, making the planet hot.

The Venus planet

Earth: The Earth is at the proper distance from the Sun, and it contains the proper quantity of gas mixture that allows life to exist on Earth. Water covers approximately 70% of the Earth's surface, with the remaining 30% made up of land. The Earth has one Moon.

The Earth planet

Mars: Mars is a chilly planet that orbits the Sun as the fourth planet from the Sun. There are two moons. It's a rough planet. Its surface is coated with crimson dust, thus the name "red planet."

The Mars planet

Jupiter: It is our solar system's largest planet. It is largely formed of gases and lacks a solid surface. There is a massive storm that has been raging for thousands of years, which is why the planet is referred to as stormy. It is surrounded by more than 60 moons.

The Jupiter planet

Saturn: It is the solar system's second biggest planet. It's largely made up of gases. It is surrounded by millions of bits of rock and ice. This appears to be a solid ring. It has 62 moons in all.

The Saturn planet

Uranus: It is a gas giant that rotates on its side. It is an ice giant because it is a very frigid planet. There are 27 moons in all.

The Uranus planet

Neptune: It is a frigid planet, similar to Uranus. The planet seems blue because of the dark blue swirl of the storm raging on it. It has fourteen moons.

The Neptune planet

Dwarf planet: Pluto was classified as a planet until 2006. Currently, it is categorised as a dwarf planet. It has four moons.

The Pluto planet

Solved Questions

1. What are the different types of the universe?

Ans: Based on the shape, the universe can be classified as 'flat,' 'closed,' or 'open.' These forms are difficult to visualise in terms of the Universe, however, they may be compared to a sheet of paper (flat), a sphere (closed), or a saddle (open).

2. Why is the Sun in the centre of the solar system?

Ans: In the case of our solar system, the majority of the original mass contributed to the formation of the Sun. The mass with the greatest angular momentum stayed in a disc, which then orbited the Sun. The planets, we think, originated from this disc, and hence the sun is naturally situated at the centre of this event.

3. Who was the first to recognise the solar system as a whole?

Ans: Galileo Galilei, an Italian astronomer born in 1564, altered our view of our location in the Universe with his discoveries of our solar system and the Milky Way. Galileo's studies of the Moon, Venus's phases, moons surrounding Jupiter, sunspots, and the discovery that the Milky Way Galaxy is made up of apparently uncountable individual stars prompted the development of modern astronomy.

There are more stars present in the universe than there are grains of sand combining all the beaches on Earth. That's more than a billion trillion!

The cosmos, which is another name for the Universe, has no centre and is continually expanding (becoming larger) every second, making reaching the edge impossible.

In this article, we have studied “what is the universe”, the nature of the universe and the solar system. Our solar system's centre point is the Sun. There are eight planets in our solar system and one dwarf planet named Pluto. Pluto is not considered a planet because it does not fulfil the definition of a planet according to the International Astronomical Union.

Learning By Doing

Look at the sky in the morning or evening in the west direction, you will see the shiniest star. Can you tell me the name of it?

FAQs on Understanding Our Universe and Earth

1. How many stars are there in our solar system?

There is just one star in our solar system that we are aware of — the Sun! Our solar system is unique in that it only has one star. The vast majority of other solar systems have two or more stars. These are known as binary systems. Astronomers have seen solar systems with as many as six stars.

2. How many moons or natural satellites do we have in our solar system?

The planets in our solar system have 171 moons or natural satellites. The planets with their number of moons are given below.

Earth has one moon.

Mars has two moons.

Jupiter has 66 moons.

Saturn has 62 moons.

Uranus has 27 moons.

Neptune has 14 moons.

3. What does our solar system's name mean?

Our solar system is called after our Sun, Sol, which is named from the Latin word for Sun, "Solis," and anything linked to the Sun is referred to as "solar." Our solar system is located in the outer spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy.

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The Universe

Fifth graders identify and discuss responsibilities of careers related to the study of the universe, such as an astronomer or an astronaut. They compare what the world looks like now to what it might look like in the year 3000.

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Solar System Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on solar system.

Our solar system consists of eight planets that revolve around the Sun, which is central to our solar system . These planets have broadly been classified into two categories that are inner planets and outer planets. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are called inner planets. The inner planets are closer to the Sun and they are smaller in size as compared to the outer planets. These are also referred to as the Terrestrial planets. And the other four Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are termed as the outer planets. These four are massive in size and are often referred to as Giant planets.

The smallest planet in our solar system is Mercury, which is also closest to the Sun. The geological features of Mercury consist of lobed ridges and impact craters. Being closest to the Sun the Mercury’s temperature sores extremely high during the day time. Mercury can go as high as 450 degree Celsius but surprisingly the nights here are freezing cold. Mercury has a diameter of 4,878 km and Mercury does not have any natural satellite like Earth.

Venus is also said to be the hottest planet of our solar system. It has a toxic atmosphere that always traps heat. Venus is also the brightest planet and it is visible to the naked eye. Venus has a thick silicate layer around an iron core which is also similar to that of Earth. Astronomers have seen traces of internal geological activity on Venus planet. Venus has a diameter of 12,104 km and it is just like Mars. Venus also does not have any natural satellite like Earth.

Earth is the largest inner planet. It is covered two-third with water. Earth is the only planet in our solar system where life is possible. Earth’s atmosphere which is rich in nitrogen and oxygen makes it fit for the survival of various species of flora and fauna. However human activities are negatively impacting its atmosphere. Earth has a diameter of 12,760 km and Earth has one natural satellite that is the moon.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and it is often referred to as the Red Planet. This planet has a reddish appeal because of the iron oxide present on this planet. Mars planet is a cold planet and it has geological features similar to that of Earth. This is the only reason why it has captured the interest of astronomers like no other planet. This planet has traces of frozen ice caps and it has been found on the planet. Mars has a diameter of 6,787 km and it has two natural satellites.

It is the largest planet in our solar system. Jupiter has a strong magnetic field . Jupiter largely consists of helium and hydrogen. It has a Great Red Spot and cloud bands. The giant storm is believed to have raged here for hundreds of years. Jupiter has a diameter of 139,822 km and it has as many as 79 natural satellites which are much more than of Earth and Mars.

Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun. It is also known for its ring system and these rings are made of tiny particles of ice and rock. Saturn’s atmosphere is quite like that of Jupiter because it is also largely composed of hydrogen and helium. Saturn has a diameter of 120,500 km and It has 62 natural satellites that are mainly composed of ice. As compare with Jupiter it has less satellite.

Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun. It is the lightest of all the giant and outer planets. Presence of Methane in the atmosphere this Uranus planet has a blue tint. Uranus core is colder than the other giant planets and the planet orbits on its side. Uranus has a diameter of 51,120 km and it has 27 natural satellites.

Neptune is the last planet in our solar system. It is also the coldest of all the planets. Neptune is around the same size as the Uranus. And it is much more massive and dense. Neptune’s atmosphere is composed of helium, hydrogen, methane, and ammonia and it experiences extremely strong winds. It is the only planet in our solar system which is found by mathematical prediction. Neptune has a diameter of 49,530 km and it has 14 natural satellites which are more than of Earth and Mars.

Scientists and astronomers have been studying our solar system for centuries and then after they will findings are quite interesting. Various planets that form a part of our solar system have their own unique geological features and all are different from each other in several ways.

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Learn Class 5 Science - Earth and Universe

It is impossible to imagine just how big the Universe is in space. Human imagination cannot comprehend it. The Milky Way Galaxy is one very tiny part of the Universe. As part of The Milky Way Galaxy, the Solar System is a minor component. Now we can clearly understand how vast our universe is.

There are millions of galaxies in the Universe. Scientists say that the Big Bang theory is responsible for creating the universe.

Only the Earth is able to sustain life in the solar system. The following are some fantastic Earth facts that everyone should know:

• The Earth is the third most massive planet in the solar system and the fifth largest from the sun.
• 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by water.
• Earth rotates around an axis tilted at about 23 12 degrees. This tilt is why the Earth hardly ever touches the ground.
• We have four seasons that are 23 1/2 degrees.
• Earth is estimated to be 4.5 to 4.6 billion years old, and the oldest known living organism is estimated to be 3.9 billion years old.
• Plate tectonics exist only on Earth. Plate tectonics refers to areas of floating magma on top of the surface of a planet. The plates can move against one another.
• There are small flattened areas at the north and south poles of the Earth, which isn't a perfect sphere.
• In actuality, it is an oblate spheroid whose central portion bulges out due to the rotation of Earth.
• Earth's interior is about 6000 degrees Celsius.

Earth and Universe Sample Questions for Class 5

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Earth and Universe

Learn more about Earth and Universe of Class 5 .

The sun lies at the heart of the solar system, where it is by far the largest object. It holds?99.8 percent?of the solar system's mass and is roughly 109 times the diameter of the Earth ? about one million Earths could fit inside the sun.

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Wonders of Science Essay, 200-500 Words, 10 Lines

This post will help you to write an essay on the wonders of science. Get essays on the wonders of science in 150 words, 200 words, 250 words, 500 words, 10 lines for children, students of class 5 -10

Table of Contents

From cave dwellers to galaxy travelers, the wonders of science have catapulted the human race to become the greatest known species in the universe. Due to scientific advancements, humans are not only ruling the earth but are also seeking prospects of inhabiting the moon and other planets. All the great scientific and medical achievements have been a direct result of the scientific temperament of humans. The world we see today has been directly shaped by the marvels of scientific theories and applications. One cannot think of any aspect of our life that has not been touched and advanced by scientific developments. We can even the miraculous effects of science in our lifetime. So, students are stressed to develop scientific outlook from the early years of their life.

Wonders of Science Essay

To make students aware of the impact of science on humans lives, students are asked to read about the achievements and write an essay on this. To help students in this matter, we have offered a few sample essays on the wonders of science on this page. There is a 500-word extended essay on the wonders of science, a 100- to 150-word short essay, 200 to 300 words essay, a paragraph and ten lines essay on the wonders of science. These essays will be helpful for students (from class 1 to class 10) and children.

Wonders of Science Essay in 10 Lines

• The role of science is very important in our everyday life.
• Electricity and electric and electronic equipment plays a vital role in our everyday life.
• Now diagnosing the problem becomes much easier with the help of the invention of X-Ray, Ultrasonography, ECG, MRI, Penicillin, etc.
• Inventions of science have made our traveling fast and comfortable. We can reach safely at any part of the world within a few hours.
• Science has brought an evolution in communication. Now we can talk and see people on mobile phones.
• The Harvesting machines, Tractors, Manures, and good quality seeds and many innovations and discoveries of science help farmers grow a good quality crop.
• The first invention of science for entertainment was Radio. People use the radio to listen to songs and news on it. Now, we can watch TV programs videos on mobiles, T.V and also on computers.
• The invention of printing, typing, binding, etc. has boosted our education system.
• The invention of the needle, scissors, and the sewing machine to the heavy industrial machinery has done huge progress in the industrial field.
• Science has given comfort in our everyday life and we can’t think a minute without science.

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Wonders of Science Essay for Classes 1 and 2

Our former president of India, Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, declared that science is a wonderful gift to humanity after being in awe of its marvels. Science helped humanity advance from the Stone Age into the modern era, which is full of many conveniences. These make life easier and inspire us to reflect on the glories of science. Electricity, computers, and many other technologies have altered our way of life, including communication and travel. They have improved our lives and made them more intriguing. The potential concealed in the cosmos is made evident by science. The miracles of science are richly honoured in our contemporary lives.

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Wonders of Science Essay -150 Words

Humanity is blessed with science. It provides comfort for man’s existence. Man has been empowered by scientific knowledge and information. Science has advanced human understanding in nearly every field, including agriculture, communication, medicine, and nearly every other field. Science plays a crucial role in our daily lives. Thanks to the amazing scientific discoveries that have made our lives easier, such as electricity, fans, air conditioners, televisions, mobile phones, and automobiles, it is now nearly impossible to live without them. We cannot imagine living without science, not even when we go to bed at night or wake up in the morning. Launch vehicles such as missiles and rockets have made it possible to travel to Mars and the moon. The industry is going in a completely different direction with the arrival of robots. Humans are being astounded by the magical mix of technological know-how and cutting-edge technologies like blockchain, virtual reality, augmented reality, internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and so forth. Science is advancing beyond our wildest expectations.

Wonders of Science Essay in 200 words

Wonders of Science essay in English will be helpful for classes 1,2,3,4 and 5

Science is a blessing to human beings. The role of science is very important in our everyday life. We cannot think of our life without science. It is the most important thing to keep the wheel of progress running. The most wonderful invention of science is electricity. The invention of electricity brings an incredible change in human civilization. Science is the base for preparing wonderful medicines which give us immediate relief. Now diagnosing the problem becomes much easier with the help of the invention of X-Ray, Ultrasonography, ECG, MRI, Penicillin, etc. Inventions of science have made our traveling fast and comfortable. We can reach safely at any part of the world within a few hours. Science has brought a great change in communication. The Harvesting machines, Tractors, Manures, and good quality seeds are the gift of science to a farmer. Science is also bringing the evolution in education and entertainment sector. In one word we can’t live a minute without science.

Wonders of Science Essay in 250-300 Words

Science is a broad, ever-growing field of study that has revealed many of nature’s wonders. Science has shed light on the universe and our place in it, from the smallest particles that comprise matter to the vastness of space. We now have the means to delve into the depths of the cosmos and the complexities of existence thanks to science. Using telescopes, we have been able to see into space and see how galaxies develop and how stars come to be. With the use of microscopes, we have been able to investigate the microscopic world and learn about the complex dance between cells and the components of life.

Our planet has seen numerous transformations thanks to the marvels of science. Science has produced electricity, which powers our cities, industries, and homes. Almost every area of modern life has been transformed by the invention of the computer, including information processing and communication. Antibiotics and vaccinations are examples of medical advances that have improved our health and lengthened our lives. Science keeps pushing the envelope of what is known, discovering new lands and solving the universe’s riddles. We are close to deciphering the nature of consciousness, discovering the human genome’s mysteries, and utilizing artificial intelligence.

Human development is fueled by science, which also holds the key to solving many of the world’s problems, including poverty, sickness, and climate change. In addition to striving to use science’s power wisely and ethically, for the good of all humanity, we must continue to investigate its wonders. There is much promise for science in the future. We may anticipate seeing even more incredible discoveries and advancements as we continue to understand more about the cosmos and ourselves. We must never stop appreciating the wonders of science and exploring its possibilities since it has the ability to positively impact the world.

Wonders of Science Essay in 500 words

Wonders of Science essay in English will be helpful for classes 6,7,8,9, and 10

Introduction

Everything is possible in this era of science. One of the things we can’t live without in our daily lives is science. Thus, it can be claimed that science has altered the world in unimaginable ways. Humanity has advanced in many aspects of life thanks to the advancement of science, from agriculture to medical, communication technology to space technology.

Science- Simplifying the life

The growth of science has improved the quality of living. If we apply science effectively, it can make our lives easier and healthier. The development of cellphones with internet access is a benefit for the current world. We have access to all the amenities and comforts. Things can communicate thanks to emerging technology like artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT). Not only have humans become wiser thanks to science, but other objects are also becoming smarter.

Wonders of Science- Hidden aspects

Although science has given us a lot, we are all aware that everything has a price. There are also drawbacks to science. Science can create everything, but it can also destroy it. Some examples of this innovation are the atomic and nuclear bombs. Since everything is being done by machines, science is also making people more lazy. Human health is also impacted by science. It also leaves a lot of individuals without jobs. Science doesn’t always treat nature well. The latest innovations are a major contributor to pollution.

There is no end to the wonders of science, and its potential is limitless. Science can be a difficult master, despite its many positive traits. It is crucial to remember that excess of anything is poison, and this also holds true for science. It’s critical to use this resource effectively if you want to have a beneficial impact on humanity.

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Here we are providing you with a list of some common essay topics

Essay on wonders of science- FAQs

Q.1 what was the first scientific discovery.

Ans.  The stone wheel was the first scientific discovery.

Q.2 Who is considered the father of invention?

Ans.  Thomas Alva Edison is considered the father of invention.

Q.3 When National Science Day is celebrated?

Ans.  National Science Day is celebrated on 28 February every year.

Q.4 Who invented the telephone?

Ans.  Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.

Q.5 Who invented the bulb?

Ans. Thomas Edison invented the bulb.

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Ans. The stone wheel was the first scientific discovery.

Ans. Thomas Alva Edison is considered the father of invention.

Ans. National Science Day is celebrated on 28 February every year.

Ans. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.

Ans. Thomas Edison invented the bulb.

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Essay on Solar System and Planets in English for Children and Students

Table of Contents

Our solar system consists of a sun, eight planets, satellites, dwarf planets, asteroids, meteoroids and comets. The eight planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Earlier it had nine planets. However, Pluto, the ninth planet does not meet the latest standards set for the planets. It has now been termed as a dwarf planet thereby increasing the count of the dwarf planets in our solar system to five.

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Long and Short Essays on Solar System and Planets in English

Here are long and short essay on solar system and planets in English, to help you with the topic in your exams or essay writing/debate competitions.

After going through these solar system and planets essay, you will know about the formation of solar system, when the planets were discovered, the dwarf planets, satellites and characteristics of individual planets etc.

All in all, these Solar System and Planets Essays will make you familiar with the universe we are a part of, so much so, that you can confidently take part in debates, talk shows and discussions, on our solar system and its planets. Please go through these essays to select your needed ones:

Short Essay on Solar System and Planets (200 words)

The universe is massive. It is much bigger than we can imagine and our solar system is just a small part of it. Our solar system houses a big, bright star called the Sun. The Sun is a rich source of electromagnetic energy that it exudes in the form of light and heat. There are eight planets in our solar system namely, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. These planets revolve around the sun in a fixed path referred to as the orbit. Several other smaller objects also move around the sun.

Many planets in our solar system have natural satellites called the moon. While Earth has one moon, Mars has two, Neptune has 14 moons, Uranus has 27 moons, Saturn has 62 moons and Jupiter has as many as 79 moons. Even the dwarf planet Pluto has 5 moons. Mercury and Venus, on the other hand, do not have any moon. Just as the planets move around the Sun in a fixed path, moons orbit around their respective planets.

In addition to the Sun, planets and moons, our solar system consists of several other celestial bodies called the comets, asteroids and meteoroids. While our solar system has only one star, many other solar systems are known to have at least two stars.

Essay on Solar System and Planets (300 words)

Introduction

Our solar system was formed billions of years ago. It consists of numerous celestial bodies including planets, satellites, asteroids, comets, meteorites and a massive star. Our solar system forms a part of the Milky Way Galaxy. Various celestial bodies in our solar system revolve around the Sun directly or indirectly.

The Formation of the Solar System

It is believed that around 4.6 billion years ago, the gravitational collapse of a giant interstellar molecular cloud gave shape to our solar system. Major part of the collapsing mass collated at the centre, that formed the Sun. The remaining mass flattened into a proto planetary disk and formed the planets, satellites and other objects in the solar system. Planet Jupiter, the biggest planet in our solar system, contains major chunk of the remaining mass.

Our solar system is believed to have evolved substantially since its inception. Many new moons have come into shape from the gases and dust around the planets. Several collisions among the celestial bodies have also occurred and still continue to occur thereby contributing to the evolution of the solar system.

The Discovery of Planets

For thousands of years astronomers believed that Earth was stationary and formed the centre of the universe. It was in the 18 th century that the astronomers accepted that Earth orbits around the Sun.

In 2 nd millennium BC, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were identified by ancient Babylonian astronomers. Later, Nicolaus Copernicus also identified them. Uranus was discovered by famous astronomer, Sir William Herschel in 1781. Neptune was discovered by English astronomer and mathematician, John Couch Adams in the year 1846. It was in the year 1930 that the ninth planet, Pluto was discovered. Astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto which is now identified as a dwarf planet.

The study of the universe and heavenly bodies is one of the most fascinating studies. Through continuous research, astronomers have found out several surprising facts about the universe and our solar system. Our solar system is ever evolving and newer facts are being discovered and studied by researchers year after year.

Essay on Solar System and Planets (400 words)

Celestial bodies are objects that naturally occur in the observable universe. These include the stars, natural satellites, planets, asteroids, galaxies, comets and meteorites. Our solar system consists of a Sun, eight planets their moons, five dwarf planets and asteroids among other celestial bodies. Brief information about each of the celestial bodies present in our solar system is given below.

The Sun is the only star on our solar system. It is stationary and the other objects in our solar system revolve around it. It is the most massive component of our solar system. Research states that it comprises of 99.86% of the entire mass of our solar system.

The Planets

There are eight planets in the solar system. These are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The planets have been divided into two groups – Terrestrial Planets and Giant Planets. Planets vary based on their size, geological features, mass, number of satellites and various other factors. No traces of life have been found on any planet apart from Earth.

The Dwarf Planets

There are five dwarf planets in our solar system. These are Pluto, Ceres, Haumea, Eris and Makemake. While Ceres is situated in the asteroid belt others are located in the outer solar system. Dwarf planets are quite like the full size planets. The only difference is that the full size planets have cleared the objects in the area of their orbit whereas the dwarf planets have not.

Astronomers claim that there are six other objects in our solar system that are akin to the dwarf planets. These may be officially recognized as dwarf planets in the times to come.

There are a total of 193 moons in our solar system as per a research conducted in the year 2008. Out of these, 185 moons orbit around the full size planets and 8 moons revolve around the dwarf planets. Moons come in various sizes and shapes. They differ from each other in various ways. Most of the moons are airless. However, there are some that have atmosphere. Some even have hidden oceans. Each planet has different number of moons. Earth has just one moon while Jupiter has the highest number of moons. It has a total of 79 moons. Moons orbit around their respective planets.

In addition to the aforementioned, there are many other celestial bodies in our solar system. These include the Interplanetary Medium, Kuiper Belt, Oort Cloud, asteroids and meteoroids. The Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud comprise of billions of icy objects. Each celestial body in our solar system is unique with its own set of features.

Essay on Solar System and Planets (500 words)

Our Solar System – A Small Part of the Universe

Our solar system is huge but nothing compared to the size of the universe. The universe is humongous and is believed to encompass numerous solar systems consisting of several planets, stars and other heavenly bodies. The universe is all space and time and it is not possible to calculate its spatial size. The size of the observable universe is estimated to be 93 billion light years.

The Galaxies and Solar Systems

Research shows that just like our solar system there are numerous other solar systems in the universe. The universe consists of billions of galaxies. Each of these galaxies has uncountable stars and many of these stars are said to have solar systems of their own. The size of the stars, the number of planets, the geological features of the planets, the number and size of the natural satellites vary from solar system to solar system.

Our solar system is a part of the Milky Way Galaxy. The Milky Way Galaxy is huge. It has more than 100 billion stars. More than 2500 stars with planets orbiting around them have been discovered in the Milky Way Galaxy. The study in this field is going on constantly. There are numerous planetary systems that the scientists and astronomers are yet to discover.

Our Solar System

Our solar system encompasses Sun which is a big ball of fire. Sun is stationary and forms the centre of our solar system. Eight planets namely, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune revolve around the Sun. Each of these planets move in a fixed path in its own set speed. The geological features of each of these planets are different. While Neptune is freezing cold, Venus is scorching hot. Similarly, while Jupiter is massively big, Mercury is comparatively very small in size. The planet is even smaller than some of the moons in our solar system. The atmosphere of each of the planets is different. Planets have been divided into two groups and the features of the planets within each group also vary vastly.

Earth is the only planet in our solar system which is known to have life. It is filled with vast oceans and gases such as oxygen and nitrogen that render life. Mars is said to share some similarities with Earth. Evidences of ice have been found on the planet. The planet is extremely cold and thus life there seems impossible. However, it is believed that the planet was once wet and warm and life existed here. Astronomers are studying this planet closely and have found many interesting facts about the same. These planets have different numbers of natural satellites.

Apart from this, there are five dwarf planets in our solar system. These are Ceres, Haumea, Makemake, Eris and Pluto. Earlier there were nine planets in our solar system and Pluto was one among them. However, it has now been termed as a dwarf planet.

The Universe is vast and there is a lot to study and discover. Scientists have studied our solar system deeply for centuries and are now moving beyond to study other solar systems and galaxies. A lot of interesting facts about this enchanting universe are likely to surface in the times to come.

Long Essay on Solar System and Planets (600 words)

Our solar system consists of eight planets that revolve around the Sun, which is central to our solar system. These planets have broadly been classified into two categories – inner planets and outer planets. There are four inner planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The inner planets are closer to the Sun and smaller in size as compared to the outer planets. These are also referred to as the Terrestrial planets. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are termed as the outer planets. These are massive in size and are often referred to as Giant planets.

Here is brief information about each of these planets:

The smallest planet in our solar system, Mercury is also the closest to the Sun. Its geological features consist of lobed ridges and impact craters. Being closest to the Sun, Mercury’s temperature sores extremely high during the day time. It can go as high as 450 degree Celsius. Surprisingly, the nights here are freezing cold.

Mercury has a diameter of 4,878 km. It does not have any natural satellite.

Venus is said to be the hottest planet of our solar system. It has a toxic atmosphere that traps heat. It is also the brightest planet and is visible to the naked eye. It has a thick silicate layer around an iron core which is similar to that of Earth. Astronomers have seen traces of internal geological activity on this planet.

Venus has a diameter of 12,104 km. Just like Mars, Venus also does not have any natural satellite.

Earth is the largest inner planet. Two-third of this planet is covered with water. It is the only planet in our solar system where life is known to exist. Earth’s atmosphere, which is rich in nitrogen and oxygen, makes it fit for the survival of various species of flora and fauna. However, human activities are having negative impact on its atmosphere.

Earth has a diameter of 12,760 km. It has one natural satellite, the moon.

Mars, the fourth planet from Sun, is often referred to as the Red Planet. The iron oxide present on this planet gives it a reddish appeal. The planet is cold and has geological features similar to that of Earth. This is the reason why it has captured the interest of astronomers like no other planet. Traces of frozen ice caps have been found on the planet.

Mars has a diameter of 6,787 km and two natural satellites.

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. It has a strong magnetic field. It largely consists of helium and hydrogen. It has a Great Red Spot and cloud bands. A giant storm is believed to have raged here for hundreds of years.

Jupiter has a diameter of 139,822 km and has as many as 79 natural satellites.

Saturn is known for its ring system. These rings are made of tiny particles of ice and rock. Its atmosphere is quite like that of Jupiter as it is also largely composed of hydrogen and helium.

Saturn has a diameter of 120,500 km. It has 62 natural satellites that are mainly composed of ice.

Uranus, the seventh planet from Sun, is the lightest of all the giant, outer planets. It has a blue tint which is because of the presence of Methane in the atmosphere. Its core is colder than the other giant planets. The planet orbits on its side.

Uranus has a diameter of 51,120 km and 27 natural satellites.

The last planet in our solar system, Neptune is also the coldest of all. It is around the same size as the Uranus but is much more massive and dense. Neptune’s atmosphere is composed of helium, hydrogen, methane and ammonia. It experiences extremely strong winds. It is the only planet in our solar system which is found by mathematical prediction.

Neptune has a diameter of 49,530 km. It has 14 natural satellites.

Scientists and astronomers have been studying our solar system for centuries and the findings are quite interesting. Various planets that form a part of our solar system have their own unique geological features and are different from each other in several ways.

More Information:

• Essay on Role of Science in Making India
• Essay on Wonders of Science
• Essay on Science and Technology

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• Essay On Space

Essay on Space

500+ words essay on space.

Space is one of the interesting topics that children want to know more about. When we hear news related to space missions or astronauts flying to space, it generates curiosity and interest among us to research it. Many questions arise in our minds. How strongly do astronauts feel the acceleration during take-off? What does it feel like to float weightlessly in the space station? How do astronauts sleep there? What do they eat? What does the Earth look like from space? The answers to all these questions are provided in this essay on space. Students must go through it to know more about space. The information provided will also help them to write an effective essay on space. Also, they can get a list of CBSE Essays on different topics to boost their essay-writing skills. Doing so helps them to score good marks in English, and they can also participate in various essay writing competitions.

Space Exploration: An Overview

We refer to the expanding universe with one simple word: space. But do we know what space is? Space is a continuous area or expanse which is free, available and unoccupied. It is a boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events have relative positions and directions. It is the zone above and around our planet where there is no air to breathe or light to scatter. It is a vacuum devoid of matter where sound can not travel. The earth looks round only when seen from space. One can only see land and water. In space, there is no gravity due to which things float in the air.

Space travel began in 1957 with the launch of the first satellite, called Sputnik, by the former Soviet Union. Many satellites and probes are launched into space. This is done to observe the Earth, collect data on climate and weather, supply modern navigation systems, explore distant celestial bodies and perform scientific research related to space. Yuri Gagarin became the first human being to fly to space on 12th April 1961.

Sunita Williams in Space

Sunita Williams is an astronaut who has set several milestones working in space. She is best known for her work on the International Space Station and her spacewalks. She was also a Navy Captain in the United States and a highly versatile pilot. Sunita Williams set a new record for the longest space flight by a woman.

When Sunita Williams came to India for the first time, thousands of children and students got a chance to meet her. Sunita says that her friend Kalpana Chawla wanted to come to India and meet the children. She came to India to fulfil Kalpana’s dream. She shared her experience of space with the children. She said, “We cannot sit in one place in space. We keep floating in the spaceship from one end to another. In fact, water too doesn’t stay in one place. It floats around as blobs. To wash our face or hands we had to catch these blobs and wet paper with them. We ate in a very different way on the spacecraft. It was a fun experience when we float into the dining area of the spaceship and catch the floating food packet. In space, there was no need to use a comb as hair kept standing all the time. We were not able to walk, so we had to get used to floating around. We had to learn to do simple things differently. To stay in one place, we had to strap ourselves there. It was a lot of fun living in space but it was very difficult.”

Sunita also described the view of the earth when seen from the spaceship. She said, “the earth looks so beautiful and amazing. She could watch it for hours, from the window of the spaceship. She could clearly see the curved shape of the earth.”

Students must have found “Essay on Space” useful for improving their essay writing skills. Visit BYJU’S website to get the latest updates and get all study materials on CBSE/ICSE/State Board/Competitive Exams at BYJU’S.

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Essay on our universe: definition, stars and solar system.

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Essay  on Our Universe: Definition, Stars and Solar System!

When we look at the sky, we see different kinds of natural bodies like the sun, the stars, the moon, and so on. The natural bodies in the sky are called celestial bodies or heavenly bodies. They are part of our universe. The universe is a huge space which contains everything that exists. The celestial bodies that we see are just a small fraction of the bodies that exist in the universe. One of the reasons why we do not see more of them is that they are very, very far away.

To measure the large distances in the universe, scientists use a unit of length called the light year. A light year is the distance travelled by light in one year. Light travels 9.46 trillion km in a year (one trillion is 1 followed by 12 zeroes).

One light year represents this huge distance. Proxima Centauri, the star closest to our solar system, is 4.2 light years from us. This means that light from this star takes 4.2 years to reach us. In this article, we shall learn a bit about stars and our solar system. But before that, let us see how the universe was formed.

Scientists believe that the universe was born after a massive explosion called the ‘big bang’. A long time after the big bang, stars like our sun were formed. At that time, clouds of hot gases and particles revolved around the sun. Over time, many particles got stuck together to form large bodies. These bodies pulled in smaller objects near them by gravitational force. This made them larger still. These bodies finally became the planets.

Away from the lights of the city, you can see thousands of stars in the night sky. You can also see some planets and their moons, either with the naked eye or with the help of a telescope. These celestial bodies are different from the stars in one important way. Stars are celestial bodies that produce their own heat and light. Planets and their moons shine by reflecting the light of a star such as our sun.

All stars are huge balls of hydrogen and helium gases. In a star, hydrogen gets converted into helium. In this reaction, a large amount of energy is liberated. This is the source of the heat and light of a star. Stars vary in brightness and size. Some are medium-sized, like our sun. Some are so huge that if they were to be placed in our sun’s position, they would fill the entire solar system!

There are trillions of stars in the universe. They occur in groups called galaxies. The gravitational force between stars keeps the stars of a galaxy together. Apart from stars, a galaxy may have other celestial bodies like planets and moons. So you can say that a galaxy is a group of stars and other celestial bodies bound together by gravitational force.

The distribution of the stars in a galaxy can give it a shape such as spiral, ring or elliptical. Our sun is a part of a spiral galaxy called the Milky Way Galaxy. This galaxy is named after the Milky Way. The Milky Way is a band of stars that we can see on a clear night. These stars are a part of our galaxy. The ancient Romans called this band of stars Via Galactica, or ‘road of milk’. That is how our galaxy got its name.

Constellations :

As the earth moves round the sun, we see different stars at different times of the year. In the past, people found many uses for this. For example, they would get ready for sowing when particular stars appeared in the sky. Obviously, it was not possible for them to identify each and every star. So, they looked for groups of stars which seem to form patterns in the sky. A group of stars which seem to form a pattern is called a constellation.

Ancient stargazers made stories about the constellations and named them after the animals, heroes, etc., from these stories. So constellations got names like Cygnus (swan), Leo (lion), Taurus (bull), Cancer (crab), Perseus (a hero) and Libra (scale). You can see many of these constellations on a clear night.

The Great Bear (Ursa Major) is one of the easiest constellations to spot. You can see it between February and May. Its seven brightest stars form the shape of a dipper (a long-handled spoon used for drawing out water). Together, these stars are called the Big Dipper or Saptarshi. These and the other stars of the constellation roughly form the shape of a bear.

The two brightest stars of the Big Dipper are called ‘pointers’ because they point towards the pole star. The pole star lies at the tail of the bear of a smaller constellation called the Little Bear (Ursa Minor).

To find the north direction, ancient travellers would look for the Big Dipper and from there, locate the pole star. While all stars seem to move from the east to the west (as the earth rotates in the opposite direction), the pole star seems fixed. This is because it lies almost directly above the earth’s North Pole [Figure 13.3 (c)].

Orion (the Hunter) and Scorpius are two other prominent constellations. There are different stories linking them. According to one, the mighty hunter Orion vowed to kill all the animals of the world. Alarmed at this, the Earth Goddess sent a scorpion to kill Orion. He ran away, and continues to do so even now. This story takes into account the fact that Orion goes below the horizon when Scorpius rises. Orion rises again only when Scorpius sets.

Remember that constellations are imaginary. For our convenience we have picked a few stars that resemble a pattern and called them a constellation. On the other hand, galaxies are real things in which stars and other celestial bodies are held together by gravitational force.

The Solar System :

The sun is the brightest object in the sky. It is huge. It is about 333,000 times heavier than the earth, and you could fit more than a million earths inside it! Its great mass causes a large gravitational force. This keeps the sun, the planets, their moons and some other smaller bodies together as the sun’s family. The sun and all the bodies moving around it are together called the solar system. All the members of the solar system revolve around the sun in almost circular paths, or orbits.

After the sun, the planets are the largest bodies in our solar system. Scientists define a planet as a round body that orbits the sun and which has pulled in all objects near its orbit. Remember that planets were formed when large bodies in space pulled in smaller bodies near it. This cleared the space around a planet’s orbit.

There are eight planets in our solar system. In order of distance from the sun they are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. You can remember this order as My Very Efficient Maid Just Served Us Noodles.

Apart from revolving around the sun, each planet rotates, or spins, about its axis. The time taken to complete a revolution around the sun is the length of a planet’s year. And the time taken to complete one rotation is the planet’s day.

The four planets closest to the sun—Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars—are small, rocky planets. They are called terrestrial (earthlike) planets. The other four planets—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune—are giants in comparison.

They are made up mainly of gases. They are called gas giants or Jovian (Jupiter like) planets. All the gas giants have rings around them. Since they are very far from the sun, the gas giants are much colder than the terrestrial planets.

While stars twinkle, planets shine with a steady light. You can see some of the planets with the naked eyes or with the help of a good pair of binoculars. Just remember that as the planets move around the sun, they appear at different positions in the sky at different times of the year. And for the period they are behind the sun, they are not visible.

Mercury, the smallest planet of our solar system, revolves around the sun the fastest. But it rotates on its axis at a much slower speed than the earth. So, a day on Mercury is about 58 times longer than a day on earth.

Although Mercury is the closest to the sun, it is not the hottest planet. Its thin atmosphere cannot trap heat. So, at night, when there is no sun, the temperature can fall to as low as -180°C. You can see Mercury near the eastern horizon before sunrise at certain times of the year. And at certain other times, you can see it near the western horizon after sunset.

The thick atmosphere of Venus makes it the brightest and the hottest planet of the solar system. Its atmosphere has mainly carbon dioxide gas, which reflects a lot of sunlight. But it also traps so much heat that the average temperature on Venus is about 450°C.

Venus takes 243 days to complete one rotation, making its day the longest in the solar system. As a matter of fact, a day on Venus is longer than its year! It is easy to spot Venus because it is so bright. When it is visible in the east before sunrise, it is called a morning star. And when it is visible in the west in the evening, it is called an evening star.

The earth is not the fastest, slowest, hottest, coldest, largest or smallest planet. But it is the only planet on which life is known to exist. The planet’s distance from the sun, the composition of its atmosphere and the fact that liquid water is found on it make life possible on it.

Were it nearer the sun, the water on it would have evaporated. Were it farther away, all our oceans, rivers and lakes would have frozen. The carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere plays two important roles. Plants use it to make food—which feeds, directly or indirectly, all animals. It also traps just enough heat to ensure that the nights on earth do not become freezing cold.

No other planet evokes so much interest as Mars does. This is because scientists have found evidence that liquid water once flowed through the channels visible on its surface. So it is possible that some form of life once existed on this planet. The rust-coloured soil of Mars gives it a red colour. So, it is also called the Red Planet.

When visible, Mars looks like a red sphere. During its two-year orbit, it looks the brightest when the earth is between the sun and Mars. During this time, you can see it rise in the east as the sun sets in the west.

Jupiter is the largest and the heaviest planet of our solar system. It also has the largest number of moons. The strong winds blowing on it, and on the other gas giants, create light and dark areas, giving them a striped look.

If you look through a powerful telescope, you will see a big spot on Jupiter’s surface. This spot is actually a huge storm, which has been raging on Jupiter for more than 300 years. In 1979, the Voyager 1 spacecraft discovered faint rings around Jupiter. These rings are not visible even through the most powerful earth-based telescopes. Jupiter is also visible to the naked eye. It looks like a bright spot in the sky.

You can easily recognise a picture of Saturn because of the planet’s prominent rings. These rings are actually particles of dust and ice revolving around Saturn. Apart from these particles, a large number of moons orbit this planet.

Uranus and Neptune:

Uranus and Neptune are the third and the fourth largest planets respectively. Yet, they were the last two planets to be discovered. That is because they are so far away from us. Even today, we know very little about them.

The moons of planets :

An object revolving around a celestial body is known as a satellite. All planets except Mercury and Venus have natural satellites, or moons, revolving around them. So far, we know of more than 150 planetary moons. Some of them are so small that they were discovered only when spacecraft flew past them. A few of the moons are almost as large as planets. One of Jupiter’s moons, Ganymede, is the largest of them all. It is even larger than Mercury. Of all the moons, we know the most about the earth’s moon.

The earth’s moon:

The earth’s moon is the brightest object in the night sky. It shines by reflecting sunlight. If you look at the moon through a telescope or a good pair of binoculars, you will see a number of craters on its surface. These are large depressions created when huge rocks from space hit the moon. The moon does not have water or an atmosphere. It also does not have life on it.

The moon takes 27 days and 8 hours to complete one revolution around the earth. In this time it also completes one rotation around its axis. We see different shapes of the moon as it travels around the earth.

Stand in front of a lamp in a darkened room. Hold a ball in your outstretched arm and move it around you, just as the moon moves around the earth. A friend standing some distance away from you will always see half of the ball (moon) lit by the lamp (sun). But to you (earth) the shape of the lit portion will keep on changing, like the changing shapes of the moon.

Sunlight lights up half of the moon. As the moon revolves around the earth, we see different parts of the sunlit half. The shapes of these parts are called the phases of the moon. When the entire side facing the earth is sunlit, the moon appears as a full disc. We call this the full moon or purnima. And when the side of the moon facing us gets no sunlight, we do not see the moon.

This is called the new moon or amavasya. After the new moon, the moon appears as a thin crescent. As days pass, we see larger portions of the moon till the full moon appears. After this, the size of the moon visible to us gradually decreases till we once again have the new moon. The whole cycle of one new moon to the next takes 29.5 days. So the new moon and the full moon appear about fifteen days from each other.

Dwarf planets :

A dwarf planet is a small, round body that orbits the sun. At the time of its formation, a dwarf planet could not pull in all other objects near its orbit. So it is not considered a planet. Pluto, which was previously considered a planet, is now considered a dwarf planet. Ceres and Eris are two other dwarf planets.

Asteroids :

In a belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, millions of small, irregular, rocky bodies revolve around the sun. These are asteroids, and the belt is known as the asteroid belt. Asteroids are also called minor planets.

Scientists think that asteroids are pieces of material that failed to come together to form a planet when the solar system was being formed. Asteroids can measure a few metres to hundreds of kilometres in width. Some asteroids even have moons.

Meteoroids :

Asteroids were not the only pieces of rock left over from the formation of the solar system. Some others, called meteoroids, still orbit the sun. When they come very close to a planet such as the earth, gravitation pulls them in.

As they enter the earth’s atmosphere, they heat up because of friction with the air, and start burning. As these burning meteoroids fall towards the ground, we see them as streaks of light. The streak of light caused by a burning meteoroid is called a meteor or a shooting star.

Fortunately, the material of most meteoroids burns up completely before it can reach the surface of the earth. However, some large ones fail to burn up completely and strike the earth’s surface. Meteoroids that fall on a planet or a moon are called meteorites. A large meteorite can create a large crater and cause a lot of damage.

Scientists think that dinosaurs were wiped off the earth following a meteorite hit. Meteorite hits are more common on those planets and moons which have little or no atmosphere to burn off the falling rock. The craters on our moon have resulted from meteorite hits.

A comet is a small body of ice and dust that moves around the sun in an elongated orbit. As a comet approaches the sun, it heats up and leaves behind a stream of hot, glowing gases and dust particles. We see this as the ‘tail’ of the comet.

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