Pre-reading questions:
- What is the biggest planet in the solar system?
- Would you like to see our planet from space?
Vocabulary:
- usually /YOO-zhoo-uh-lee/
- heavy /HEV-ee/
- close /klohz/
- star /stahr/
- almost /AWL-mohst/
[adverb] in the way that most often happens
I usually get up late.
[adjective] thick, strong, solid, or looking that way
I always eat heavy breakfast in the morning.
[adverb] near in position, time, or condition
Timmy is too close to fail.
[noun] a large ball of burning gas in space that is usually seen from earth as a point of light in the sky at night
The smallest star is the brightest.
[adverb] nearly but not quite
His ride had taken almost an hour.
Scientists discover a “heavy metal” planet shaped like a football that is 900 light-years away from Earth. The planet was named WASP-121b. It is 10 times hotter than any other planets and is classified as “hot-Jupiter”. Hot Jupiter-sized planets are usually cold enough to lighten heavy elements like magnesium and iron into clouds. However, WASP-121b is circling so dangerously close to its star that its upper atmosphere reaches a 4,600 degrees Fahrenheit. Hydrogen and helium are the basic elements of the atmosphere that can be found in the universe. David Sing, lead author of the study from Hopkins University says, “Heavy metals have been seen in other hot Jupiters before, but only in the lower atmosphere, so you don’t know if it’s leaking or not.” Sing also said, “The hydrogen and helium gas of WASP-121b is streaming, almost like a river, and is dragging these metals with them. It’s a very efficient mechanism for mass loss.”
True or False:
- The newly discovered planet is 1900 light-years away from Earth.
- WASP-121b is classified as “hot-Jupiter”.
- This planet is in danger because it’s close to its star.
- The basic elements that can be found in the universe are hydrogen and helium.
- The planet disappears when it is too close to its star.
Vocabulary Check:
Complete the sentences by using the words in the box.
usually | heavy | close | star | almost |
- I ________ go home at 6 PM.
- She ________ lost her chance to pass the exam.
- She was late because of the ________ traffic.
- The ________ is small but shiny.
- Your answer is so ________ to the correct answer.