The Habitable Zone

Solar Systems and Goldilocks!

 INTRODUCTION

• What is a planet? Can you name any planets in our solar system? What is the
name of out star? Watch the video below to learn about our solar system:

What you will learn:

• Our solar system consists of

eight planets orbiting our
star, the Sun
• Earth orbits the Sun in the
habitable or Goldilocks
Zone
• Other solar systems exist in
space
• To interpret information 1. Group up and act out the orbits of the Earth and moon around the Sun
and scales and use
decimals to plot orbital
distances of planets 2. Combine your groups and act out the orbit of the solar system
 INTRODUCTION

• We need water to exist and life exists on our watery planet, but conditions
for life are not present on other planets in our solar system

What you will need: • Planets too close to the Sun are far too hot for water to exist as a liquid; it
would be turned to steam and evaporate; too far away from the Sun and
• 60 x 60 cm black water would freeze. Earth’s orbit is just right; neither too hot nor too cold.
paper We call this the Goldilocks or habitable zone

• Star system info • There are other planets orbiting different stars which may have favourable
conditions for life, without things living on them
• Ruler and coloured
pen/pencils • Astronomical Unit (AU) is the distance of the Earth from the Sun

• Calculator • A light year (ly) is the distance light can travel in one year
ACTIVITY ONE

Mars

Venus
Earth
Mercury

The Sun

Habitable Zone
ACTIVITY ONE
ACTIVITY ONE
INTRODUCTION
ACTIVITY TWO
ACTIVITY ONE
ACTIVITY ONE
ASSESSMENT

• Which groups discovered a planet orbiting within the Goldilocks zone of

their star system?

• Why would some not be habitable, even if they are in the goldilocks zone?

• Which exoplanets would be too hot/cold for life to exist?

• How does your star system compare to other groups?

FURTHER WORK

If it fits, add to the diagrams the orbit of Earth (1AU).

Consider what life would be like on Earth if we were orbiting a different star
(Would there be water? Could it support life?)

Have a student represent each star - using the fact sheets, can they arrange
themselves into the following sequences:

• Distance from Earth

• Brightness (luminosity)

• Size/mass