PLANET EARTH
The Education Centre For Astronomy

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MOBILE STARS
Planetarium

The Nature Of The Planets Syllabus

There are ten lessons and each one reveals a different aspect of the nature of the planets. 

     1.      Discovering the Distance to the Planets

This was one of the greatest achievements in the history of astronomy. Just how do you measure something you can’t get to, that’s always on the move? Follow this fascinating story and make those discoveries again, for yourself.

 2.      The physical nature of the Planets

Today’s astronomers not only know what the surfaces of the planets are made of, they can even tell us what’s in the middle of some of them. This lesson investigates weighing and measuring planets in space, and analysing their atmospheres.

 3.      Mercury, Venus and Earth

Known to the ancients as the morning and evening stars, the inferior planets, Mercury and Venus, are intriguing. In this lesson we take a look through Galilleo’s telescope to see the phases which caused him to daringly rearrange the solar system.

 4.      Mars

The red planet Mars, known throughout the ages, is the first superior planet we meet. Whether it’s in opposition, totally eccentric or running round in loops, Mars trundles round the Sun. Nearer or farther, bigger or smaller, brighter or fainter, Mars never fails to enthral.

 5.      Jupiter and Saturn

Uncannily, the ancients gave names to these planets appropriate to their status as the heavyweights of the solar system. Again, following in the footsteps of Galilleo, this lesson reveals the awesome splendour of the Gas Giants, their satellites and rings systems.

 6.      Uranus and Neptune

Unknown to the ancients, these planets eluded our notice until recent times. The exciting stories of the ‘Hide-and-Seek’ discovery of Uranus and the ‘Search-and-Find’ discovery of Neptune are explored in this lesson.

 7.      Pluto and Charon

Discovered in living memory, and never visited by Earth’s spaceships, this ‘double-world’ is still shrouded in mystery. Follow this lesson to discover that these dark and distant bodies, locked together in unusual orbits, periodically eclipse each other.

8.      The Asteroids

These fascinating and sometimes threatening objects are much underrated. This lesson will probably make you into one of a legion of Asteroid fans. Learn about what they’re made of, Apollos and Trojans, and those asteroids which come perilously close to our Earth.

9.      Comets, Meteors and Moons

Comets abound in the solar system, leaving a trail of meteors in their wake. Are they inconsequential debris or dangerous neighbours? The nine planets have over a hundred satellites. Use this lesson to become more familiar with our own Moon

10.  Pioneer, Voyager, Visiting the Giant Planets

In the far and distant future it is possible that an alien craft will be captured in space. It will be studied by the scientists of the day, who will draw their own conclusions. Will the people who make the discovery be able to work out that the spacecraft came from Earth?

On completion of the course each student will receive a
Nature of the Stars Practical Astronomy Certificate.

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