Other
University of Leicester: The Solar System
Resource explores the solar system, with an in depth discussion of each of the planets and their properties.
Cosmos 4 kids
Cosmos4 Kids: Solar System: Mercury
Learn all the basic facts about the planet Mercury. The brief, to the point text makes this site most suitable for younger researchers.
Smithsonian Institution
National Air and Space Museum: Exploring the Planets: Ancient Times & the Greeks
In ancient times only five planets were known: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Learn about Greek astronomer Ptolemy's theory for the solar system that was to survive for fourteen centuries.
Johns Hopkins University
Applied Physics Laboratory: Messenger Home
Home page for NASA's Discovery Program Messenger to the planet Mercury. Site provides details of the planned mission, its experiments and the science and management teams. Linked Quicktime animation files are very large and detailed....
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Zoom Astronomy: All About Space
A fantastic collection of information about the solar system. Includes information on all of the planets, the moon, the sun, asteroids, comets, meteoroids, and stars. Also find puzzles, a dictionary, quizzes, classroom activities, and...
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Mercury
Discover interesting facts about the tiny planet Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun.
Encyclopedia Mythica
The Encyclopedia Mythica: Mercury
A brief description of Mercury, the Roman god of trade, profit, merchants, and travelers.
National Earth Science Teachers Association
Windows to the Universe: Structure of Mercury's Interior
Windows to the Universe briefly details the structure of the interior of the planet Mercury.
NASA
Nasa: Space Place: Messenger: Planet Mass Comparison
Compare the masses of planets in this interactive animation. Simply pile a number of Earths on one side of the scale, to balance with the mass of one Jupiter. Then try this with all the planets.
Nine Planets
The Nine Planets: An Overview of the Solar System
A detailed overview of the history, mythology, and current scientific knowledge of each of the planets and moons in the solar system.
Harvard University
Harvard University: The Solar System
These hands-on activities are a great way for students to gain perspective on the relative sizes and distances of each planet, the relationship between the sun and Earth, and much more.
NASA
Nasa: Image Science Center: Ask the Space Scientist
A NASA scientist, Dr. Sten Odenwald, answers many students' questions. Topics include planets, galaxies, black holes, the origin of the universe, and common misconceptions about space.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: The Sun Is the Center of the Solar System
See what you know about the solar system by taking this brief interactive quiz and learning module.
NASA
Nasa: Discovery Mission: Messenger
The MESSENGER (MErcury: Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging) mission is a scientific investigation of the planet Mercury. This site provides information about its mission objectives and management.
NASA
Nasa: Solar System Exploration
Enter our solar system to interact with the planets, moons, asteroids, meteors, and more. Investigate with NASA scientists and explore missions related to space exploration. Read facts, compare statistics, look through resources, and...
NASA
Nasa: Solar System Exploration
This stunning site on the solar system gives a great overview of the planets and our sun. Learn about each object's size, vital statistics, and moons. Then go on for a more in depth look at these objects in the column on the left.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Planets in Our Solar System Study Guide
A quick overview of the eight planets in our solar system.
Read Works
Read Works: What Is the Solar System?
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the solar system. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
NASA
Nasa Star Child: Mercury
Provides good information about Mercury and is a good starting point for information about the planet along with pictures and audio. Links to a simple fact table, puzzle, glossary, and more detailed information.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation: News in Science: Mercury's Core Secrets Exposed
From ABC News in Science, Irene Klotz's article explores the partially liquid core discovered inside the planet Mercury. The findings are evaluated through current scientific research.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Mercury and Venus
Students explore Mercury and Venus, the first and second planets nearest the Sun. They learn about the planets' characteristics, including their differences from Earth. Students also learn how engineers are involved in the study of...
Nine Planets
The Eight Planets: Just for Kids
Here is a clear, simple picture of the solar system. Click on the names of the planets to learn more about each. Clicking on underlined terms takes you to more and more detailed scientific information.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Our Solar System: Inner Planets
A slideshow and a short multiple-choice quiz on the four inner planets of our solar system, which include Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Earth.
NASA
Nasa: Planets in a Bottle
In this simple lesson, students grow yeast to learn how the climates on each of the nine planets would affect life.