Girls in STEM Club Explores the Solar System

The exciting journey through space continued this week at the Discovery Science and Technology Planetarium, where members of the Girls in STEM Club explored the fascinating planets of our Solar System.

First the participants discussed the Big Bang Theory, which explains how the universe began approximately 13.8 billion years ago.  The girls learned that the planets formed from material surrounding the young Sun and continue to travel around it in elliptical orbits.

Then they discovered many interesting facts about each planet.  Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, completes an orbit in just 88 Earth days and is the densest planet due to its large metallic core.  Because it lacks a thick atmosphere, temperatures on Mercury vary dramatically, reaching 430°C during the day and dropping to -180°C at night.

Venus, often referred to as Earth’s twin because of its similar size and rocky structure, is the hottest planet in the Solar System.  Its thick atmosphere traps heat, creating extreme surface temperatures, while its landscape is covered with numerous volcanoes.

The girls also learned about Mars, a cold, rocky desert world that is about half the size of Earth.  They were fascinated to discover that a spacecraft journey to Mars takes approximately six months.  Mars is home to Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the Solar System, and vast canyon systems that are around ten times larger than those found on Earth.

Exploration continued with the giant planets.  Jupiter, the largest planet, is a massive ball of swirling gas known for its enormous storms and numerous moons.  Saturn, the second-largest planet, impressed participants with its spectacular rings made primarily of ice and rock and its more than 140 known moons.  The girls also learned about Uranus, an ice giant with a unique 98-degree tilt has decades-long periods of daylight and darkness, and Neptune, famous for its powerful winds and icy atmosphere.  The session concluded with a discussion about Pluto and its classification as a dwarf planet.

Following a short break and a treasure hunt activity, participants used iPads and Celestia astronomy software to virtually explore the planets.  Through these interactive investigations, the girls expanded their understanding of space science while building confidence in exploring astronomical concepts.