Planets & the Solar System
A pathfinder for grades 3-8
Good books to start with.
There are several excellent reference books about the Planets & the Solar System. Use the index of the book to find the words in the boxes below or ask your librarian to help you use the book. Most reference books cannot be checked out.
- J 031 World Book Encyclopedia, Chicago: World Book, 1999-2003. World Book Encyclopedia is arranged alphabetically. Also, check the index, for other possible related topics. Access is available from home for this resource using this link.
- R 503 World Book Encyclopedia of Science, Chicago: World Book, 1997. This specialized encyclopedia has two volumes of interest. Volume 1 deals with Astronomy, while volume 4 deals with the Planet Earth.
- R J500 New York Public Library Science Desk Reference, NY: Stonesong Press, Inc., 1995. Chapter 8 (pages 313-366) gives a brief overview of astronomy, including the solar system, major astronomers & scientists, significant discoveries, and terms.
How can I learn more about Planets & the Solar System?
To learn more about Planets and the Solar System you will need to use the following important words:
| Earth |
Jupiter |
Mars |
| Mercury |
Neptune |
Pluto |
| Saturn |
Uranus |
Venus |
| Asteroids |
Astronomy |
Comets |
| Constellations |
Galaxies |
Meteorites |
| Moon |
Outer Space |
Planets |
| Solar System |
Stars |
Sun |
You can use the keywords above to learn more about [topic]. Go to http://www.library.torrnet.com and click on NEW! Online Catalog of Books, Videos, CDs, DVDs & More
In the light blue search box, decide what you will search for:
Subject
Word or phrase
Author
Title
Series
Periodical title (Magazines and newspapers are periodicals)
Next, if you add the keywords juvenile literature to one of the keywords in the boxes above, you will find non-fiction items that the library has. If you add the keywords juvenile fiction to one of the keywords in the boxes above, you will find fiction items that the library has.
Call numbers to locate other books on this subject: Planets and the Solar System
520 Astronomy
523 Solar System
523.3 Moon
523.41 Mercury
523.42 Venus
523.43 Mars
523.45 Jupiter
523.46 Saturn
523.47 Uranus
523.481 Neptune
523.482 Pluto
523.6 Comets and Meteors
523.7 Sun
523.8 Stars
525 Earth
Where else can I learn more about Planets and the Solar System?
Go to http://www.library.torrnet.com and click on Magazines, Newspapers and other databases to get to the following databases where you can find information from magazines and newspapers:
- DIScovering Collection, This database designed with the student in mind is available to Torrance Public Library holders.
- World Book Online Reference Center From the publishers of The World Book Encyclopedia, it is your online route to reliable, authoritative, easy-to-understand information. Access is also available from home and work for this database by using this link. You will need your library card number to gain access.
Websites:
- Astronomy for Kids This site has facts about the solar system, including pictures and links to other sites.
- Exploring the Planets This website was created by the National Air and Space Museum. It has facts the planets in our solar system, the history of astronomy, and the ways in which scientists learn about planets.
- Nine Planets Nine Planets provides information about the planets, moons and sun in our solar system. There are pictures available. The site also has links to other helpful websites.
People & Places:
- Caltech Observatories Links to observatories in California (Palomar Observatory, the Owens Valley Radio Observatory & the Big Bear Solar Observatory) and the Keck Observatory in Hawaii.
- Griffith Observatory Homepage The Griffith Observatory is closed to the public for a three-year renovation, and it reopens at the end of 2005. The Observatory will continue to provide astronomical information uninterrupted through its web site.
