Planets and the Solar System

Mr McCormick

12/3/09

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Mercury• Mercury is the closest planet to the sun.• The temperature on Mercury is over

400oC in the day yet almost -200oC at night.

• This is because it has no atmosphere.• It is very small – slightly bigger than our

moon.

Venus• Venus has a very thick atmosphere

of carbon dioxide which traps all the heat from the sun.

• The temperature on Venus is usually about 450oC, enough to melt lead!

• Similar in size to earth.

Earth•The only planet in the solar

system were there is definite life.

•Has varied seasons and a rich supply of water and oxygen.

•Home to Humans!

Mars• Mars is the 4th planet from the sun and

is sometimes called the “red planet”• This is because of the iron oxide in the

soil which has a red colour.• In the news recently because scientists

think that their may be life there!

Jupiter

• Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system.

• Is made up mostly of gas.

• The red spot on Jupiter is a storm that has been going on for over 300 years!

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Jupiter•Jupiter is the largest planet in

the solar system.•Is made up mostly of gas.•The red spot on Jupiter is a

storm that has been going on for over 300 years!

Saturn• Saturn is most well known for its

beautiful ring system.• Quite similar to Jupiter, except smaller.• Saturn is very light, in fact if you could

find an ocean big enough to hold it then it would float on the water!

Uranus• Uranus is unusual, because it spins

on its side.• This means that the poles are the

warmest parts of the planet!• Scientists think that long ago a large

object collided with Uranus and changed the way it spun.

Neptune• Neptune is quite similar to Uranus

except it has a blue-ish colour.• Scientists do not know that much about

Neptune because it is so far away.• Perhaps one of you will be the

astronaut or the astronomer to find out!

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