Amazing Solar System Projects You Can Build Yourself (Build It Yourself series)

This kid-friendly handbook investigates the solar system’s inner workings,the tools used to gain information,andan arrayofastronomical phenomena. Through a time line of discoveries and important events, a comprehensive text, andnumerous projects readers can build from household items, this resource provides up-to-date information about the realmbeyond planet Earth. Starting with a discussion ofthe basic components—the sun, the planets, their moons and rings, meteors, asteroids, and comets—this handbookconsiders topics ranging from the demotion of Pluto to a space object tothe greenhouse effect on Venus and the astronomical unit. Along withthis exploration of the historical, contemporary, and future tools—such as the rockets and satellites used to gather data—and galaxies, nebulae, and pulsarsfound outside ofthe solar system,areinstructions for creating a rubber-band powered Mars rover, using dry ice to simulate the tail of a comet, and models of various phenomena. A resources section provides references for additionalinformation and projects about astronomy and the solar system.