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Educational Games, Worksheets, and More for Kids

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An Educational platform for parents and teachers of pre-k through 7th grade kids. Support your kids learning journey with games, worksheets and more that help children practice key skills. Download, print & watch your kids learn today!

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Pencils, a pencil sharpener and eraser

A marker and a pair of scissors

Welcome to The Earth and Beyond

Hello, my name is Tim O'Brien. I'm an astronomer working at The University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank Observatory. As an astronomer my job is to try and understand how the universe works and my main interest is why some stars explode - more about this later! I also get to visit lots of schools and share amazing facts with children and teachers about the Sun, Earth and Moon, the stars and planets, and the Universe as we know it! Now, in the Children's University, I can share the excitement with you. I hope you enjoy the journey!

Exploding stars

You may know the names of some patterns of stars (called constellations) such as Orion or the Great Bear. Every now and again a new star appears amongst these well-known patterns. Ancient people used to think these were stars being born. We now know they're old stars which are exploding!

This picture shows Orion the Hunter and Taurus the Bull with the position of an exploded star known as the Crab Nebula. This was first spotted by astronomers in China in the year 1054.

We're all made of stars

Understanding why stars explode is very important because most of the chemical elements (carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and so on) were made inside stars and are spread out into space when they explode.

Billions of years ago the Sun, Earth and the other planets formed out of the leftovers from one of these gigantic explosions. Amazingly we're all made of stuff that was created inside a star!

Learn about astronomy

Exploding stars is just one example of why astronomy is important and fun. I hope you enjoy using this website and find it helpful in understanding the Earth and Beyond section of your schoolwork.

There's also lots of other useful information, including what you can see in the sky each month, the size of the Universe and more about the work we do as astronomers at Jodrell Bank. There's even a chance to ask a question and get an answer from one of the astronomers at The University of Manchester.

Good luck with your studies!
Constellation picture from Stellarium by Fabien Chereau.

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Introduction - The Children's University of Manchester

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Welcome to The Earth and Beyond Hello, my name is Tim O'Brien. I'm an astronomer working at The University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank Observatory. As an astronomer my job is to try and understand how the universe works and my main interest is why some stars explode - more about this later!

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Online 3D simulation of the Solar System and night sky in real time - the Sun, planets, dwarf planets, comets, stars and constellations

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Our solar system can be divided into three regions: the inner solar system, the outer solar system, and the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud. The inner, rocky planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. These worlds also are known as terrestrial planets because they have solid surfaces. Mercury, Earth, a…

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Inner Planets: StudyJams! Science | Scholastic.com

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The sun is surrounded many things. It also has an asteroid belt, and inside it are the inner planets. This activity will teach students all about them.

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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ESA - Space for Kids - Our Universe - The planets

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Interactive Learning Sites for Education

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Interactive Learning Sites for Education

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What is the planet farthest from the sun?

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The Nine Planets is an encyclopedic overview with facts and information about the history, mythology and current scientific knowledge of the planets, moons and other objects in our solar system and beyond.

The Five Dwarf Planets

Other Objects in The Solar System

Earth Science course

Excel High School has an online high school Earth Science course. Learn more about the course details here.

Northgate Academy offers Earth science and astronomy as homeschooling courses.

TraintheBrain provides online tutoring aimed at the deep discovery of astronomy, earth science, and more subjects related to our solar system.

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The Nine Planets of The Solar System | Eight Planets Without Pluto

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The Nine Planets is an encyclopedic overview with facts and information about the history, mythology and current scientific knowledge of the planets, moons and other objects in our solar system and beyond. Excel High School has an online high school Earth Science course. Learn more about the course details here.

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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An awesome 3D model of our Solar system for you to discover the universe and explore outer space. Solar Walk Lite is a planetarium app 3D. It represents a time-sensitive solar system simulator allowing you to explore planets, stars, satellites, dwarfs, asteroids, comets and other celestial bodies in real time in outer space.

***BEST OF 2016***

The Lite version of the well-known solar system simulator Solar Walk is absolutely free, ad-supported and very small in size, but contains all the main features and celestial bodies of the Solar system and the universe we live in.

NO IN-APP PURCHASES
NO INTERNET CONNECTION IS REQUIRED

Our solar system app works perfectly without Internet connection (except for gallery and Wikipedia).
Main Features to try with Planetarium app 3D:
🌖 Solar system simulator 3D: realistic space view with real-time positions, order, size, inner structure of Solar system planets and moons, their orbits, stars, comets, satellites and other celestial bodies.
🌗 Astronomy encyclopedia: every planet and celestial body has an extensive information as well as interesting astronomy facts: size, mass, orbital velocity, exploratory missions, the thickness of structural layers, and photo gallery with real photos taken by telescopes or NASA spacecraft during the space missions.
🌘 Orrery 3D Mode on/off - discover the universe and see the schematic or realistic sizes and distances between the space objects and celestial bodies.
🌑 Anaglyph 3D on/off - if you have anaglyph 3D glasses you can choose this "Orrery" option to navigate through the universe and enjoy the beauty of outer space, planets, spacecraft, dwarf planets and other celestial objects.
🌒 Zoom-in to see objects in close up and Zoom-out to see the position of our Solar system in Galaxy.
🌓 Interactive encyclopedia of the Solar system is very easy to use. Solar Walk Lite is one of the best astronomical apps appropriate for both kids and adults and all astronomy lovers.
🌔 3D models of spacecraft in the application are based on scientific data collected by ESA and NASA spacecraft and ground-based telescopes. Learn about space exploration anytime with Solar Walk Lite.

Solar Walk Lite is a great planetarium 3D app for the space explorers. It is great for both kids and adults. Kids love learning new things about everything. With Solar Walk Lite they will find out a lot about space, and the amazing graphics in conjunction with the information provided in this universe simulator will make learning process engaging and captivating. Both kids and adults will enjoy traveling through space and getting an up-close view of the planets, and moons, spacecraft, stars and other space objects.

Our solar system simulator is an excellent educational tool for teachers to use during astronomy classes, as well as a great resource for students to explore planets, outer space and the universe. You don't need a telescope to see the planets for real. The Universe is closer than you may think with Solar Walk Lite Planetarium 3D.

This 3D model of the Solar system is a must-have for all space enthusiasts and astronomy lovers. Explore space with Solar Walk Lite right now!

Main objects to view with this universe explorer:

Planets of our Solar system in real time: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
Moons: Phobos, Deimos, Callisto, Ganymede, Europa, Io, Hyperion, Iapetus, Titan, Rhea, Dione, Tethys, Enceladus, Mimas, Oberon, Titania, Umbriel, Ariel, Miranda, Triton, Larissa, Proteus, Nereid, Charon.
Dwarf planets and asteroids: Pluto, Ceres, Makemake, Haumea, Sedna, Eris, Eros.
Comets: Hale-Bopp, Borrelly, Halley's Comet, Ikeya-Zhang
Satellites in space live: SEASAT, ERBS, Hubble Space Telescope, International Space Station (ISS), Aqua, Envisat, Suzaku, Daichi, CORONAS-Photon.
Stars: Sun, Sirius, Betelgeuse, Rigel Kentaurus.

Explore space and get a little closer to our wonderful universe with this awesome 3d model of the Solar system!

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Solar Walk Lite - Planetarium 3D: Planets System - Apps on Google Play

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An awesome 3D model of our Solar system for you to discover the universe and explore outer space. Solar Walk Lite is a planetarium app 3D. It represents a time-sensitive solar system simulator allowing you to explore planets, stars, satellites, dwarfs, asteroids, comets and other celestial bodies in real time in outer space.

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Solar System Scope is an incredibly accurate solar system tour, allowing you to explore the solar system, the night sky and outer space in real-time.

All of the objects on the tour are accurately positioned based on where they are right this very second, and the tour contains interesting facts and information about the many objects in space.

Every now and then, don't you wish you could just pack your bags and jet off on an exciting, awe-inspiring journey across our breathtaking solar system? Ever wondered what it'd be like to skim past the gas giants or marvel at the icy rings of Saturn up close? Well, while Elon Musk is still working on making that a reality, I'll be your virtual guide on a one-of-a-kind solar system tour - an enlightening adventure, without the risk of being lost in space!

Our journey starts right here, on our very own life-logged planet, Earth. As we embark on this space voyage, we'll traverse through the neighboring rocky planets, glide past the incredible asteroid belt, and sweep across the majestic giants, their icy rings and numerous satellites. Towards the end, we'll be gracefully riding the gravitational waves, leaving the outer edges of our solar system, where you'll get a rare glimpse of the enigmatic region populated by icy objects known as the Kuiper Belt.

But before we start our engines and head for the inky vastness of space, it's important to remember that although space explorations have given us a fair idea about these celestial bodies, there's still an ocean of mysteries waiting to be unfolded. The real beauty of our cosmic neighborhood lies in its sheer vastness, diversity and the endless scope of discovery that it harbors. From the scorching heat of Mercury to the frigid reaches Pluto and beyond, brace yourself for an out-of-this-world experience!

The Exciting Experience of a Solar System Tour

Imagine the prospect of a real-life solar system tour. It's akin to a child's joy on their first trip to a theme park. A hands-on space exploration that goes beyond the textbooks, casting a mesmerizing spell on minds open to the wonders of the universe.

Propelling past Earth's atmosphere, you'd first mark a date with our closest celestial neighbor-the Moon. The Apollo astronauts traversed its dusty plains more than five decades ago. Yet for us, it would still be a once-in-a-lifetime event. Next on the itinerary is our scorched twin, Venus. Here's a fun fact, Venus is the only planet in our solar system that spins opposite to Earth.

Then we arrive at the pièce de résistance: our bloodline, the Sun. During the visit, you could learn more about its billion-year lifespan and its constant solar storms. The solar system tour would not be complete without a stopover at Mars. Known as the Red Planet, it's been the subject of numerous space missions, most notably the Mars Rover mission seeking evidence of life.

Here's a quick tabular overview:

The Moon

Closest celestial neighbor, part of Apollo mission

Venus

Spins opposite to Earth, Earth's scorched twin

Sun

Billion-year lifespan, constant solar storms

Mars

Red Planet, subject of Mars Rover mission

From the asteroid belt to Jupiter's turbulent storms, every celestial body sits ready to unfold its story. With the tour continuing to the outer reaches of the universe, you'd experience the icy solitude of the outer planets like Neptune and Uranus.

However, we shouldn't forget about an often overlooked, yet significant part of our solar system. Those are the comets and asteroids, remnants from the formation of our system almost 4.6 billion years ago.

Being part of a solar system tour, you wouldn't just be observing the cosmos. Instead, you'd immerse yourself in a cosmic ocean, each wave presenting a new revelation about the universe. It's not merely an experience; it's the chance to physically connect with the vast expanse of space that usually only feels a speck away in the night sky. This would indeed be a ticket to the greatest show in the cosmos.

Traveling through the Solar System: What to Expect

Imagine blasting off into the cosmos on a spaceship designed for a thrilling expedition! As we set off on our solar system tour, the things we'll perceive are extraordinarily vast and stunningly diverse. This voyage will give us a newfound respect for the majesty of the cosmic neighborhood we inhabit.

Our first stop will be Mercury, the closest planet to the sun. It's a small, bare, and intensely heated planet. We shouldn't forget the sunscreen as daytime temperatures can soar up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit!

Next, we'll swing by Venus - the hot, hurricane-ridden planet awaits us with an unbelievably corrosive atmosphere. It's interesting to note that Venus rotates in the opposite direction to most planets, including Earth.

Continuing our journey, we'll visit Mars. Mars has the tallest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, three times the height of Mount Everest. And don't forget about the giant canyon, Valles Marineris, which would stretch from New York to Los Angeles if it was on Earth!

Yet, our extraordinary adventure won't be all about planets. We'll have a chance to marvel at the Asteroid Belt, a ring composed of millions of rocky bodies. This celestial obstacle course lies between Mars and Jupiter.

Of course, we'll also encounter the majestic giants of our solar system. The gas giants, Saturn and Jupiter, as well as the icy giants, Uranus and Neptune, will present captivating sights. We'll see Jupiter's Great Red Spot, an anticyclonic storm larger than Earth, and Saturn's intricate ring system. Uranus and Neptune, on the other hand, will dazzle us with their stunning cool-blue hues.

Admittedly, going further to behold the beauty of Pluto, once a planet, now a dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, caps off this unique expedition. The journey end will leave us with an understanding of the infinite yet harmonious chaos that forms our solar system.

So buckle up, folks. The adventure through our heavenly bodies is par for the cosmic course. Our solar system, with its varied and breathtaking celestial bodies, offers a journey like no other. It's going to be a wild ride! Just remember, despite the vastness of space, we're never too far away from our home planet, Earth.

Conclusion: Reflecting on Our Intergalactic Journey

Wraping up, we've journeyed past planets and stars, across cosmic fields, and brushed alongside cosmic neighbors throughout our solar system tour. Isn't it just incredible that we live in such an expansive universe that holds so many unseen wonders?

Throughout our intergalactic expedition, we'll forever remember the unique characteristics of each celestial body. Let's just take a quick review again:

Mercury, with its sweltering days and frigid nights,

Venus, stunningly bright yet shrouded in clouds,

Mars, our red neighbor that pique our curiosity about extraterrestrial life,

Jupiter's giant gas storms,

Saturn's enchanting rings,

Uranus and Neptune's icy allure,

And let's not forget about our little cosmic sibling, the dwarf planet Pluto.

Something important stood out during our journey, invoking a sense of interconnectivity. Each exists in symbiosis, drawing and relying upon the sun's energy. Just like how everything on Earth is connected, so are we connected to our cosmic counterparts.

So, what's the takeaway? Should we plan to pack our bags and ship off to Mars? I'll leave that up to you. What I will stress, though, is the importance of space exploration. It's not just a testament to human curiosity, it's a driver of scientific breakthroughs and a reminder of the vast unexplored universe that lies ahead of us.

It might seem frightening, or perhaps intriguing. Yet isn't that the essence of exploration? Stepping into the unknown, learning new things, using that newfound knowledge to improve and innovate. And in doing so, perhaps we'll find more about ourselves along the way.

To sum it up, our universe offers infinite mysteries and wonders for us to discover. As we move forward, let's keep looking up and fueling our curiosity. Remember, no question is a bad question and our solar system tour just has begun. As we continue to explore the stars, who knows what we'll uncover? The only thing for sure is that the stars await, ready to share their secrets with us.

Due to errors in the way the solar system model works embedded on this page, we now link directly to Solar System Scope.

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Interactive Solar System Tour | 3D Model of the Solar System

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Space Primary Teaching Resources and Printables - SparkleBox

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FREE primary teaching aids for your topic on Space and the Solar System.

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The Best app!

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Arts & Culture Expeditions - Google Arts & Culture

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Go on a virtual field trip with Google Arts & Culture

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Amazing app!

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Virtual tours (also for VR goggles) of landmarks from Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Morocco, Kuwait, Yemen, FYR Macedonia, Holland, Belgium and France. Examine the marvels of Islamic architecture, visit mosques, tombs, palaces of sultans, museums, inns, baths, castles, towers, old houses, squares, parks, nature, religious sites, ancient cities, space and other places with more than a thousand 360 degree panoramic images in high quality.