The Vast Scale of Space
Describe the scale of the universe in nested layers: Earth is one planet in our solar system, the Sun is one star among billions in the Milky Way galaxy, and the Milky Way is one galaxy among billions in the universe
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Can your child describe how our place in the universe works — that we’re on a planet in a solar system in a galaxy among billions of galaxies?
Describe the scale of the universe in nested layers: Earth is one planet in our solar system, the Sun is one star among billions in the Milky Way galaxy, and the Milky Way is one galaxy among billions in the universe
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Check understanding
- State that the Milky Way is our galaxy and it contains billions of stars
- Explain the hierarchy: planet → solar system → galaxy → universe
- Use a comparison to convey cosmic scale (e.g. if the Sun were a football, Earth would be a peppercorn 26 metres away)
“Can your child describe how our place in the universe works — that we’re on a planet in a solar system in a galaxy among billions of galaxies?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- Science
- Domain
- Space Exploration
- Age range
- Ages 9–11