This week we’re digging deeper into planets, especially their formation and habitability. Your kit this week is filled with materials to make your very own planet!
Before you make your planet, take a minute to check out these links and do the Habitable Conditions activity!
How do planets form?
What makes a planet livable?
Activity: Habitable Conditions
This activity lets you simulate planetary conditions! You use an interactive model to explore the zone of liquid water possibility around different star types. Experiment with the model to determine the characteristics of stars and planets that are most favorable for habitability!
Now you’re ready to plan your own planet!
Plan-a-Planet Video Demo!
Share your Planet Story!
Send Liz a picture of your planet and a few sentences about your planet:
- How did your planet form?
- What kind of star does it orbit? What is your planet’s orbit like?
- Does it support life? Why or why not?
You can send a video instead if you like!
Share your story: ehartman@carbondale.lib.il.us
Liz’s Planet Story: Plantet
This is the planet Plantet. At a quarter of the Earth’s mass, it’s small, but big enough to support life. Water doesn’t evaporate off the surface or freeze; however, it orbits much closer to its star, which is a K-type and thus colder than the Sun. There is a lot of plant life on Plantet! But, much like we think is happening on Mars, internal convection has caused massive tectonic shifts. A large mountain range formed from a convergent boundary early in its planetary history, and a recently-formed divergent boundary leaves a gaping lava chasm down the middle. Thankfully, the long lifespan of Plantet’s sun means the plants can come back if there is a mass extinction from these exogeologic threats!