One Big Feature for Each Planet

Science · Space Exploration · ages 7-9

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Mars looks reddish because of what in its rocks?
- Ice
- Rust (iron)
- Green plants
Which planet is famous for its wide rings?
- Saturn
- Jupiter
- Uranus
Mercury is the smallest planet, and it also orbits closest to the Sun.
Circle one: True False
A giant storm bigger than Earth swirls on one planet's surface. Which planet has this storm, called the Great Red Spot?
- Jupiter
- Saturn
- Mars
Which planet has thick clouds that trap heat, making it hotter than Mercury even though it is farther from the Sun?
- Mars
- Earth
- Venus
A space probe notices one planet seems to roll along its path like a ball, instead of spinning upright. Which planet is this?
- Neptune
- Uranus
- Saturn
Jupiter's width is about 11 times Earth's width. If you drew Earth as a small circle, how big should Jupiter look next to it?
- Much bigger, like a giant ball beside a tiny dot
- Only a little bigger than Earth
- About the same size as Earth
Ben says, 'Neptune must be close to the Sun because it is the coldest planet.' What is wrong with Ben's thinking?
- Neptune is close to the Sun, and closeness always makes a planet cold
- Neptune's color makes it cold, not its distance
- Neptune is actually the farthest planet, and being far from the Sun is what makes it so cold

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Rust (iron) · Tiny bits of iron in Mars's dust and rocks rust, just like an old bike left in the rain. That gives Mars its red color.
Saturn · Saturn's rings, made of ice and rock chunks, are the widest and easiest to see with a telescope.
True · Mercury takes both titles: the smallest planet and the one nearest to the Sun.
Jupiter · Jupiter, the largest planet, has a giant storm called the Great Red Spot that has been swirling for hundreds of years.
Venus · Venus's thick clouds work like a blanket, trapping heat. That makes Venus the hottest planet, hotter even than Mercury which sits closer to the Sun.
Uranus · Uranus tips over almost completely on its side, so it seems to roll as it circles the Sun instead of spinning like a top.
Much bigger, like a giant ball beside a tiny dot · Since Jupiter is about 11 times wider than Earth, it would tower over Earth like a beach ball next to a marble.
Neptune is actually the farthest planet, and being far from the Sun is what makes it so cold · Neptune is the farthest planet from the Sun. Being so far away is exactly why it gets so little heat and stays so cold.