This project isn't as complicated as the Earth-Moon-Sun System as far as animation is concerned, but there is still a lot of information. Thus, there is a need for even more of a strategy of breaking up the responsibilities. Some suggestions for this follow:

Again, what follows are only suggestions. I have complete confidence in every team to develop a plan for their own model. This project has a lot of information and many, many questions that can be asked of your model. This project usually produces a diverse set of models from the class as a whole. Enjoy the last project!

1. The planets to scale in size and distance.
2. NOTE: a good way to approach this is to create all the planets to relative size first on one screen and group them with a camera and then move them to where they should be according to your chosen scale.
3. Links to the atmospheres and interiors.
4. Elliptical orbits
5. Create a guide through your system, this means you could just attach a camera to a spacecraft like voyager and have tour of the planets.

1. This model does not have to be scale. In fact it is easier that it is not to scale.
2. Create your animations of the Planets going around the Sun and the Moon's going around the planets. Note: a very feasible alternative is to create the planets with their Moon's orbiting around them, but do not have the planets revolve around the Sun, but rather represent the planets orbit by using a ring or some other visualization device.
3. Be creative. If time permits add backgrounds, comets and asteroids.

Talk with the other teams. Other teams have already figured out much of what you will have do, so take advantage of their work and share your work with them.

Also in assigning roles it would be useful to assign team members responsibilities involving aspects of each planet. For example one team member could be responsible for gathering and modeling the inner planets. Another team member could develop and model Jupiter and Saturn and the third team member (if you have a third member) could be responsible for Uranus and Neptune and Pluto. Though what is most important is that each team member is involved in developing each part of the model.

Ch2 of Discovering the Universe by Kaufmann - Excellent discussion concerning elliptical orbits.

Pages 81 - 84. Help you to determine what color to make those interiors.

Pages 100- 109: Introduction to the Solar System

Ch 6. Good discussion about the other inner planets.

Ch 7. Good discussion about the outer planets.

Ch 8: Good discussion about comets and asteriods.

Ch 9. Good discussion about the Sun. Particularly pages 215 - 220 (interior of the Sun)

Plus any of the links on the astronomy links page are good for finding information concerning the planets.

1. What are the similitarities and differences between the Jovian and Terran planets?
2. Do the motions of the planets change during the course of the year as viewed from the Earth? From the distant stars?
3. Which planets have rings and what are those rings composed of?
4. As you read the relevant pages in your book or on the Web keep in mind how you can model other astronomy concepts that you and your team find interesting.