Exploring Our Vast Universe
When you step outside on a clear night and look up at the dark sky, what do you see? You might spot the bright, glowing Moon or thousands of twinkling stars. If you are very lucky, you might even see a faint stripe of glowing light stretching across the sky. What you are looking at is just a tiny piece of the universe.
The universe is everything that has ever existed, everything that exists right now, and everything that will exist in the future. It includes every speck of dust, every drop of water, every living creature on Earth, and every distant star. It also includes all of empty space and time itself. The universe is unimaginably huge, and scientists believe it is still growing bigger every second!
Our home planet, Earth, is part of a neighborhood called the solar system. At the center of our solar system is the Sun, a giant ball of burning gas that provides warmth and light. Earth and seven other planets travel in giant circular paths called orbits around the Sun. Some planets, like Mars, are rocky like Earth. Others, like Jupiter and Saturn, are giant balls of gas with beautiful rings and dozens of moons.
- universe:
- All of space, time, matter, and energy that exists anywhere.
- orbits:
- Curved paths that planets or objects travel around a star or larger body.
- galaxies:
- Huge collections of gas, dust, and billions of stars held together by gravity.
- gravity:
- A natural invisible force that pulls objects toward one another.
- telescopes:
- Instruments with lenses and mirrors that make distant objects appear closer and brighter.
- astronomers:
- Scientists who study stars, planets, and other objects in outer space.
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Main Idea
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Summarize
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Purpose
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Structure
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is the main idea of this passage?
- 2Based on the text, what does the universe include besides physical objects like stars and planets?
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About this informational passage for Upper Elementary
“Exploring Our Vast Universe” is a informational reading passage about The Universe, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 4 minutes to read (528 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.