OUR SOLAR SYSTEM

INNER, ROCKY, TERRESTRIAL PLANETS

4 planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, & Mars.

Solid surfaces Similar in size All quite close to the sun and closer to

each other compared to the Outer Planets.

MERCURY Closest to the sun Smallest Surface has craters and cliffs, similar to

Earth’s moon No atmosphere Extreme temperatures 425⁰C - -179⁰C No moons Revolution around the Sun takes 88 earth

days Rotation takes 59 Earth days to complete one

turn.

VENUS Similar to Earth in size and mass Thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide Droplets of sulfuric acid gives it a yellow color.

If it rain there it would be an “acid rain” Surface has craters, cracks, and volcanoes Greenhouse effect cause hot temps of 475⁰ C

making it the hottest planet No moons Rotation is clockwise & takes 243 Earth days Revolution is 225 Earth days Sometimes referred to as “Earth’s Twin”

EARTH Sustains life Surface temps allow water to exist as

solid, liquid, & gas Has one moon Rotation is 24 hours Revolution is 365 1/4 days

MARS Red surface because of iron oxide in soil Ice caps made of frozen water and CO2 Large volcanoes and valleys indicating flow of

water at one time Thin atmosphere of CO₂ Temps range from -125⁰ C to 35⁰ C 2 small moons Revolution is 687 Earth days Rotation is 24 hrs. & 37 minutes Sometimes referred to as “The Red Planet”

OUTER PLANETS, GAS GIANTS, JOVIAN PLANETS Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, & Neptune All made of gases All have large number of moons orbiting

them All thought to also have rings, but

Saturn having the most visible.

JUPITER Mostly made of hydrogen and helium Largest of the 8 planets with a Band of Rings

and the Great Red Spot. The Great Red Spot is a strong storm 63 known moons: Io is the most volcanically

active object in the solar system. Ganymede is the largest moon in the solar system.

Rotation is 9 hrs. & 55 min. Revolution is 12 Earth years.

SATURN Made mostly of hydrogen and helium Density is so low that it would float on water Famous for Great Rings that are made of rock

and ice particles. Size ranges from microscopic to house size.

47 known moons. Titian being the largest and similar to earths atmosphere.

Rotation: 10 hrs. & 39 min. Revolution: 29.5 Earth yrs.

URANUS Composed of hydrogen, helium, and

methane Methane gives it it’s bluish green color Tipped on it’s side, possible from a

collision with a larger object similar to Earth in size

27 known moons Rotation: 16 hrs. & 7 minutes Revolution: 84 years

NEPTUNE Twin of Uranus Made of hydrogen, helium, and methane Methane gives it it’s bluish-green color Very active atmosphere with strong winds. Great Dark Spot (storm): appears and

disappears 13 known moons: Triton ( Little Mermaid) Rotation: 16 hrs. 7 min Revolution: 165 years

DWARF PLANET - PLUTO Renamed in 2006 by the International

Astronomical Union Shared many characteristics as Ceres and Eris Once Eris was discovered they decided to

redefine the meaning of planets.

COMETS -A SMALL BODY OF ICE, ROCK,& COSMIC DUST LOOSELY PACKED TOGETHER.

COMETS = DIRTY SNOWBALL

METEORSSHOOTING OR FALLING STARS A small rocky body that revolves around the

sun. Usually burn up before striking the ground Lots of meteors that burn at one time are

called “Meteor Showers”

METEORITEHITS RIGHT HERE ON EARTH A meteor that doesn’t burn up and hits the

surface of Earth or any other object becomes a Meteorite.

Probably pieces of an Asteroid Craters are left on the surface after the impact

Arizona

ASTEROIDS Asteroids are rocky and metallic objects that

orbit the Sun but are too small to be considered planets.

Asteroid Belt is located between Mars and

Jupiter