In the distant future, intergalactic space travel will be all the rage.  Earthlings will be traveling throughout the galaxy to other solar systems, exploring other planets and interacting with other advanced civilizations.  Some of these alien races want to visit our solar system, but they have very different requirements than humans on Earth.  However, there are planets within our solar system which have the conditions for them to survive.  What would an alien look like that could survive in these extreme conditions?  Your job is to imagine and create what these creatures would look like if they could thrive in a different place in our solar system.  You will be assigned a planet or moon to design your alien, based on the environmental factors of that world.   You need to consider the world's characteristics and how the alien would be able to survive these conditions. 

Description of your world.  Include the following:

• The location of your world in the solar system (i.e., how far from the sun and earth)

• What conditions might be like on the surface (temperature, seasons and weather, atmosphere, land, no land, length of day, etc.)

• Special features or other interesting facts, such as what you might weigh on the surface of the planet, moon, or other object.

• Other species coming to visit your world may need to take special precautions.  What do visitors need to do to enjoy their time in your world?

• Explain the “parts” and their functions that you have given your alien.  Some (but not all) of the requirements for surviving include:

  • A means of getting food

  • A way to move

  • A way to breathe

  • A means to maintain proper body temperature

  • A means of sensing the environment & making necessary adjustments

  • A way to control the gravitational pull of your planet

  • A way to camouflage itself in case of danger