Our Sun and eight planets with their moons make up what astronomers call the “Solar System”. Although our Solar System is not the only one in the galaxy, scientists have not yet found the one like it. Each planet in the Solar System is as unique as the system in which it orbits. As a matter of fact, eight planets have very few attributes in common. They similarly orbit around the Sun, and they have largely the same chemical compositions. Beyond those two properties, the planets contrast far more sharply than they neatly compare.

The Sun’s gravity and magnetic field, called the “heliosphere”, envelop the major planets and all the dwarf planets in the Solar System. Although we frequently represent the planets’ orbits as circular, the major planets actually trace cosmic ellipses as they rotate around the Sun.

The planets take their names from Roman gods and goddesses. Of course, “Jupiter”, by far the largest of the eight planets, is named for the King of the Roman gods. Saturn, frigid and ice-bound almost beyond measure and imagination, paradoxically carries the name of the Roman god of agriculture. Mars, relatively small and desolate, carries the name of the Romans’ war god.

Until 1977 scientists thought only Saturn had “rings” – vast planes of ice and rocks suspended in orbit around them. Further investigation has shown that Uranus and Neptune also have ring systems. Naturally, their ring systems are not so pronounced as Saturn’s, because they are proportional to the two much smaller planets.

Astronomers refer to the bodies we generally call “moons” as “satellites”, and our moon has generally the same characteristics and properties as the other 139 satellites in the Solar System: it orbits the Earth as the Earth orbits the Sun, held in its elliptical pattern around the third planet by gravity and magnetism much like the Sun holds the planets.

In the last several years debate has raged over Pluto’s status: does it qualify as a planet, or does it fall into some other category of celestial objects?

In the course of the debate over Pluto the International Astronomical Society (IAS) the governing body that sets standards for measurements, observations, and discoveries changed the definition of and criteria for a planet. In order to meet official planet standards, a celestial body must orbit the Sun, have sufficient gravity to maintain a uniformly spherical shape, and clear its own orbit. After the IAS established its current standards, Pluto no longer met the requirements. Astronomers, after changing their assessments several times, finally classified Pluto as a “dwarf planet”.

Pluto travels in a little cluster of celestial objects very much like it, and astronomers developed an official classification for the whole group, calling these objects “plutoids”. They have gravity and hold their shape as they orbit the Sun, but they have not cleared their orbits. Many astronomers have become fascinated with the plutoids, arguing that insight into their development and evolution will contribute to proving “The Big Bang Theory”.

Science should even be cool for girls. A lot of girls shy away from science without realizing that chemistry and technology is the basis for many of the products they use on a daily basis – like lip gloss, cosmetics, cell phones and texting. A good science kit can help girls (and boys) realize that a lot of the day to day products they take for granted were created by scientists.

If you’re looking to get your daughter interested in science, consider some of the science in box products by the Scientific Explorer. These kits are developed in cooperation with notable universities and scientists around the country and provide clear and easy instructions on how to use them – plus an explanation of the science behind them.

Best of all, the manufacturer has several great kits which are geared towards girls. If you have a daughter who longs for a spa day, then get her the Spa Science Kit – she’ll get to make her own spa treatments by mixing (safe) chemical and ingredients. There are even bottles and labels so she can make her own products to give (or sell) to friends and family. The Spa Science Kit is super hands on and super fun and will make your daughter think in a whole different way about what is in her bottle of shampoo.

Of course, just because she’s a girl, doesn’t mean your daughter would only be interested in spa science – and that’s what’s great about the variety of science kits for kids that are on the market today. Your child might be interested in disgusting science – like the Disgusting Anatomy Brain or Disgusting Anatomy Heart kit, also from Scientific Explorer. Or perhaps your kids are interested in things that go boom and might want to check out a rocket building kit.

If your child is computer savvy or a tinkerer there are other great kits – like electricity kits and robot building kits that combine building and computer skills. These kits are a lot of fun and their hands-on nature allows kids to figure out things and build something they can keep.

Of course if your kids are into nature, there are many science kits that will help stoke their excitement with the natural world, from rock and gem stone kits, to ant farms, to butterfly habitats.

The world really is the limit with all of the high quality science kits that are out on the market today. By incorporating fun science projects into your kids life you will spark intellectual curiosity and continual thirst for knowledge – as well as reinforce basic and advance science principles. RSFYJQ489U43