Instructions
Students will describe properties of planets in the Habitable Zone. Students will analyze data about the temperature of planets in our solar system. Students will investigate the temperature of a new planet and compare the temperature readings to that of other planets in our solar system to decide if it is located in a habitable zone.
3. Temperatures in Our Solar System
Examine the chart below of the average mean temperature (°C) of each planet in our solar system.
Generally, what happens to the average mean temperature of the planet as the distance from the sun increases? Why do you think that occurs?
What other factors could contribute to the average mean temperature of a planet?
Which data point is an outlier? (An outlier is a data point that is much bigger or smaller than most of the other data points in a set). Why? What do you think accounts for this difference?