OUR SOLAR SYSTEMOUR SOLAR SYSTEMCONSISTS OF CONSISTS OF

The sun The sun Eight official planets Eight official planets At least three "dwarf planets" At least three "dwarf planets" Comets and asteroidsComets and asteroids

THE SUNTHE SUNTHE STAR AT THE CENTER THE STAR AT THE CENTER

OF THE SOLAR SYSTEMOF THE SOLAR SYSTEM The largest object in the solar The largest object in the solar

systemsystem One hundred and nine Earths would One hundred and nine Earths would

be required to fit across the Sun's be required to fit across the Sun's disk, and its interior could hold over disk, and its interior could hold over 1.3 million Earths1.3 million Earths

The Sun's outer visible layer is The Sun's outer visible layer is called the photosphere and has a called the photosphere and has a temperature of 6,000°C (11,000°F)temperature of 6,000°C (11,000°F)

MERCURYMERCURY About the same size as the Moon About the same size as the Moon Closest planet to the Sun, about 58 Closest planet to the Sun, about 58

million kilometers from the Sunmillion kilometers from the Sun Makes one complete orbit around the Makes one complete orbit around the

Sun every 87.97 daysSun every 87.97 days Rotates on its axis very slowly compared Rotates on its axis very slowly compared

to Earth. It completes one rotation in to Earth. It completes one rotation in about 58 days and 15 minutesabout 58 days and 15 minutes

Is covered with mountains, Is covered with mountains, craters, ridges and valleys.craters, ridges and valleys.

MERCURYMERCURYQ & AQ & A

What is Mercury’s What is Mercury’s average nightly average nightly temperature?temperature?

Temperature Temperature ranges from 425 ranges from 425 degrees in the day degrees in the day to -170 degrees at to -170 degrees at nightnight

VENUSVENUS The closest planet to the Earth, about the The closest planet to the Earth, about the

same size as the Earthsame size as the Earth 2nd planet in order from the Sun, about 108 2nd planet in order from the Sun, about 108

million kilometers from the Sunmillion kilometers from the Sun Makes one complete orbit around the Sun Makes one complete orbit around the Sun

every 224.7 daysevery 224.7 days Rotates on its axis more slowly than any Rotates on its axis more slowly than any

other planet, it completes one rotation in other planet, it completes one rotation in about 243 days and 24 minutesabout 243 days and 24 minutes

Is the brightest object in our sky, besides the Is the brightest object in our sky, besides the Sun and Moon.Sun and Moon.

VENUS VENUS Q & AQ & A

How did Venus get its How did Venus get its name?name?

The Romans named The Romans named the five planets they the five planets they could visible see after could visible see after their most important their most important gods. Venus, the gods. Venus, the brightest planet is brightest planet is named after the named after the Roman goddess of Roman goddess of love, beauty, and love, beauty, and fertilityfertility

EARTHEARTH 33rdrd planet in order from the Sun, It is planet in order from the Sun, It is

about 150 million kilometers from the Sunabout 150 million kilometers from the Sun Makes one complete orbit around the Sun Makes one complete orbit around the Sun

every 365.27 daysevery 365.27 days Rotates on its axis about the same speed Rotates on its axis about the same speed

as Mars (just a little slower). It completes as Mars (just a little slower). It completes one rotation in about 23 hours and 56 one rotation in about 23 hours and 56 minutes.minutes.

Is mostly covered by water (75%)Is mostly covered by water (75%) Has a total of 1 moonHas a total of 1 moon

EARTHEARTHQ & AQ & A

Why is Earth Why is Earth called the “Blue called the “Blue Planet”?Planet”?

Earth is around 70 Earth is around 70 % water and when % water and when viewed from space viewed from space it appears mostly it appears mostly blue.blue.

MARSMARSTHE RED PLANETTHE RED PLANET

Its mass (weight) is 1/10th of the Earth, its Its mass (weight) is 1/10th of the Earth, its diameter is 1/2 that of earthdiameter is 1/2 that of earth

4th planet from the Sun, it is about 228 4th planet from the Sun, it is about 228 million kilometers from the Sunmillion kilometers from the Sun

Makes one complete orbit around the Sun Makes one complete orbit around the Sun every 686.98 daysevery 686.98 days

Rotates on its axis about the same speed as Rotates on its axis about the same speed as the Earth. It completes one rotation in about the Earth. It completes one rotation in about 24 hours and 37 minutes. 24 hours and 37 minutes.

Has seasons similar to our planet, but they last Has seasons similar to our planet, but they last much longermuch longer

Has a total of 2 moonsHas a total of 2 moons

MARS MARS Q & AQ & A

What are the gases What are the gases in the atmosphere on in the atmosphere on Mars?Mars?

The atmosphere The atmosphere mostly consists of mostly consists of Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Dioxide, 95%, there is also 95%, there is also Argon and Nitrogen. Argon and Nitrogen. Mars has a very thin Mars has a very thin atmosphere. atmosphere.

JUPITERJUPITER The largest planet, its mass (weight) is over The largest planet, its mass (weight) is over

320 times that of the Earth, its diameter is 320 times that of the Earth, its diameter is over 10 times earthsover 10 times earths

55thth planet in order from the Sun, it is about planet in order from the Sun, it is about 780 million kilometers from the Sun780 million kilometers from the Sun

Makes one complete orbit around the Sun Makes one complete orbit around the Sun every 11.86 yearsevery 11.86 years

Rotates on its axis faster than any other Rotates on its axis faster than any other planet, it completes one rotation in about 9 planet, it completes one rotation in about 9 hours and 50 minutes hours and 50 minutes

Is one of the brightest planetsIs one of the brightest planets Has a total of 16 moons Has a total of 16 moons

JUPITERJUPITERQ & AQ & A

What is special What is special about Jupiter?about Jupiter?

The thing that is The thing that is special about Jupiter special about Jupiter is that it has a big is that it has a big red spot. The big red red spot. The big red spot is a storm. spot is a storm. Jupiter is cold and Jupiter is cold and rocky.rocky.

SATURNSATURN 22ndnd largest planets, its mass (weight) is over largest planets, its mass (weight) is over

95 times that of the Earth, its diameter is 95 times that of the Earth, its diameter is over 10 times that of our planetover 10 times that of our planet

6th planet in order from the Sun, It is about 6th planet in order from the Sun, It is about 1.4 billion kilometers from the Sun1.4 billion kilometers from the Sun

Makes one complete orbit around the Sun Makes one complete orbit around the Sun every 29.46 yearsevery 29.46 years

Rotates on its axis at a very fast speed, it Rotates on its axis at a very fast speed, it completes one rotation in about 10 hours and completes one rotation in about 10 hours and 39 minutes39 minutes

Is known for the many rings that go around Is known for the many rings that go around itit

Has a total of 21 moonsHas a total of 21 moons

SATURNSATURNQ & AQ & A

Does Saturn have Does Saturn have seasons?seasons?

Yes, Saturn has Yes, Saturn has seasons, like the seasons, like the planet Earth, buts planet Earth, buts Saturn’s season’s Saturn’s season’s last over 7 years. last over 7 years. There is also There is also hurricanes and very hurricanes and very cold air on Saturn.cold air on Saturn.

URANUSURANUS Composed mainly of hydrogen and helium Composed mainly of hydrogen and helium

gases, its mass (weight) is over 14 times that of gases, its mass (weight) is over 14 times that of the Earth, its diameter is 4 times that of Earththe Earth, its diameter is 4 times that of Earth

7th planet in order from the Sun, it is about 2.9 7th planet in order from the Sun, it is about 2.9 billion kilometers from the Sunbillion kilometers from the Sun

Makes one complete orbit around the Sun Makes one complete orbit around the Sun every 84 yearsevery 84 years

Rotates on its axis about the same speed as the Rotates on its axis about the same speed as the Neptune, it completes one rotation in about 17 Neptune, it completes one rotation in about 17 hours and 14 minuteshours and 14 minutes

Can sometimes be seen with the naked eyeCan sometimes be seen with the naked eye Has a 15 moonsHas a 15 moons

URANUSURANUSQ & AQ & A

What are the most interesting features of Uranus?What are the most interesting features of Uranus?

The planets is a blue-green color because of methane The planets is a blue-green color because of methane gas in the atmosphere. It may have lower %’s of light gas in the atmosphere. It may have lower %’s of light elements and a greater % of water. Also Uranus’s elements and a greater % of water. Also Uranus’s atmosphere is mainly hydrogen and methane. atmosphere is mainly hydrogen and methane.

NEPTUNENEPTUNE Very similar to Uranus in size, its mass Very similar to Uranus in size, its mass

(weight) is over 17 times that of the Earth, (weight) is over 17 times that of the Earth, its diameter is 4 times that of earthits diameter is 4 times that of earth

8th planet in order from the Sun, it is about 8th planet in order from the Sun, it is about 4.5 billion kilometers from the Sun4.5 billion kilometers from the Sun

Makes one complete orbit around the Sun Makes one complete orbit around the Sun every 164.79 yearsevery 164.79 years

Rotates on its axis about the same speed Rotates on its axis about the same speed as Uranus, it completes one rotation in as Uranus, it completes one rotation in about 18 hours and 26 minutesabout 18 hours and 26 minutes

Has a weather system that is very active, Has a weather system that is very active, some storms with winds of 400 miles per some storms with winds of 400 miles per hour have lasted for hundreds of years on hour have lasted for hundreds of years on its surfaceits surface

Has a total of 8 moons Has a total of 8 moons

NEPTUNE Q & ANEPTUNE Q & A

What are 3 facts about Neptune?What are 3 facts about Neptune?

Neptune is the farthest planet from the Sun Neptune is the farthest planet from the Sun Neptune is the coldest planet Neptune is the coldest planet Had a great dark spot on the same latitude Had a great dark spot on the same latitude

line as Jupiter's Great red storm line as Jupiter's Great red storm

PLUTOPLUTO Is known now as a dwarf planet, its mass Is known now as a dwarf planet, its mass

(weight) is 1/500th that of the Earth, its (weight) is 1/500th that of the Earth, its diameter is about 1/6 that of our planetdiameter is about 1/6 that of our planet

It is about 5.9 billion kilometers from the It is about 5.9 billion kilometers from the SunSun

Makes one complete orbit around the Sun Makes one complete orbit around the Sun every 248 yearsevery 248 years

Rotates on its axis slowly when compared to Rotates on its axis slowly when compared to Earth, it completes one rotation in about 6 Earth, it completes one rotation in about 6 days and 9 minutesdays and 9 minutes

Is sometimes known as a double-planet Is sometimes known as a double-planet because it has a moon (Charon) that orbits itbecause it has a moon (Charon) that orbits it

Has a total of 1 moonHas a total of 1 moon

PLUTOPLUTOQ & AQ & A

Why is Pluto now considered a dwarf planet?Why is Pluto now considered a dwarf planet?

It was declassified because of its strange It was declassified because of its strange elliptical orbit as opposed to all the other elliptical orbit as opposed to all the other planets’ orbits which are circular, Pluto’s orbit planets’ orbits which are circular, Pluto’s orbit is the only planet which is elliptical (like and is the only planet which is elliptical (like and oval) around the sunoval) around the sun