The Inner Planets

Mercury

Closest planet to the sun.Closest planet to the sun. 22ndnd smallest planet smallest planet Mercury looks like our moon- many Mercury looks like our moon- many

craters and cliffs.craters and cliffs.

Mercury Facts

Rev around the Sun-87 daysRev around the Sun-87 days Rotation 58 days, 15 hoursRotation 58 days, 15 hours Diameter- 4878 Kilometers, 3048 milesDiameter- 4878 Kilometers, 3048 miles No moonsNo moons No ringsNo rings Orbital Speed 47.89 km/sOrbital Speed 47.89 km/s .387AU from sun.387AU from sun

Atmosphere of Mercury

Most gases on Mercury escaped, because of its Most gases on Mercury escaped, because of its low gravitational pull.low gravitational pull.

However, the gases that remain form a very However, the gases that remain form a very thin atmosphere composed of: thin atmosphere composed of:

hydrogen and helium, which we probably hydrogen and helium, which we probably captured by Mercury from the sun’s solar captured by Mercury from the sun’s solar windswinds

two others: sodium and potassium, which two others: sodium and potassium, which came up from the crust.came up from the crust.

Temperature of Mercury

Because Mercury is so close to the Because Mercury is so close to the sun and has hardly any atmosphere, sun and has hardly any atmosphere, its temperatures are extreme.its temperatures are extreme.

Surface temperature during the day Surface temperature during the day reaches 450 C, 842 F and –170 C, -reaches 450 C, 842 F and –170 C, -274 F at night.274 F at night.

Venus

Second Planet from the SunSecond Planet from the Sun

Venus Facts

Revolution- 224.7 daysRevolution- 224.7 days Rotation- 243 daysRotation- 243 days Diameter- 12,104 Km, or 7565milesDiameter- 12,104 Km, or 7565miles Orbital Speed- 35.03 km/sOrbital Speed- 35.03 km/s No moonsNo moons No ringsNo rings .723 AU from sun.723 AU from sun

Earth’s Twin

Venus is called the Earth’s twin because it is Venus is called the Earth’s twin because it is very similar in mass and size.very similar in mass and size.

The major difference is the atmosphere- Venus The major difference is the atmosphere- Venus is covered by a thick, dense cloud of mostly is covered by a thick, dense cloud of mostly carbon dioxide. This atmosphere is 90 times carbon dioxide. This atmosphere is 90 times heavier than the Earth’s atmosphere which heavier than the Earth’s atmosphere which make the atmospheric pressure at sea level on make the atmospheric pressure at sea level on Venus 90 times that of Earth’s.Venus 90 times that of Earth’s.

Atmosphere

Since the atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide, Since the atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide, its atmosphere is highly toxic. This is because its atmosphere is highly toxic. This is because the carbon dioxide mixes with sulfur to create the carbon dioxide mixes with sulfur to create sulfur dioxide which is acid rain. This make sulfur dioxide which is acid rain. This make the atmosphere appear yellow.the atmosphere appear yellow.

Clouds on Venus are so thick that they only let Clouds on Venus are so thick that they only let in 2% of the sunlight that strikes Venus top in 2% of the sunlight that strikes Venus top clouds to reach its surface. However, the clouds to reach its surface. However, the atmosphere is so thick that all that heat is atmosphere is so thick that all that heat is trapped which leads to the planet having the trapped which leads to the planet having the greenhouse effect.greenhouse effect.

Temperature on Venus

Temperatures on Temperatures on Venus normally Venus normally remain around remain around 470 C which is 878 470 C which is 878 F.F.

Explorers of Venus

In 1970 the first In 1970 the first exploration on exploration on Venus occurred by Venus occurred by the Russians. Their the Russians. Their spacecraft called spacecraft called the Venera probe the Venera probe began to photo and began to photo and mapped Venus’s mapped Venus’s surfacesurface

Magellan

The US followed by sending the The US followed by sending the Magellan in 1990 which mapped the Magellan in 1990 which mapped the surface of Venus with intense radar. surface of Venus with intense radar. This showed the surface to have This showed the surface to have huge craters, faults, volcanoes with huge craters, faults, volcanoes with visible lava.visible lava.

Earth

The third planet from the sun is 150 million The third planet from the sun is 150 million km away from the star. That is km away from the star. That is approximately 1 astronomical unit or AU.approximately 1 astronomical unit or AU.

Temperatures allow for solids, liquids, and Temperatures allow for solids, liquids, and gases on the Home Planet.gases on the Home Planet.

Most Meteors burn up in the atmosphere Most Meteors burn up in the atmosphere before reaching the surface. before reaching the surface.

Earth Facts

Diameter 12756 km or 7952 milesDiameter 12756 km or 7952 miles Revolution 365.25 daysRevolution 365.25 days Rotation- 23 hours 56 minutesRotation- 23 hours 56 minutes Orbital speed- 29.79 km/sOrbital speed- 29.79 km/s 1 moon1 moon No ringsNo rings

                               

Mars

44thth Planet from the sun Planet from the sun

The Red Planet

Revolution: 686.98 daysRevolution: 686.98 days Rotation: 24 hours, 37 minutesRotation: 24 hours, 37 minutes Diameter: 6794 km, or 4246.25 milesDiameter: 6794 km, or 4246.25 miles Orbital Speed: 24 .13 km/sOrbital Speed: 24 .13 km/s 2 moons2 moons No ringsNo rings 1.525 AU from sun1.525 AU from sun

             

Why is it called the red planet?

Iron oxide in the weathered rocks on its surface Iron oxide in the weathered rocks on its surface give it’s a reddish appearance.give it’s a reddish appearance.

Mars also has polar ice caps that are visible Mars also has polar ice caps that are visible from other and get larger during the Martian from other and get larger during the Martian winter and shrink during the summer. Is it winter and shrink during the summer. Is it water? Yes and No- the southern polar ice cap water? Yes and No- the southern polar ice cap is made of frozen carbon dioxide, the northern is made of frozen carbon dioxide, the northern polar ice cap is made of water frozen into ice.polar ice cap is made of water frozen into ice.

Mariner 9

Orbited Mars in Orbited Mars in 1971-19721971-1972

Revealed long Revealed long channels that could channels that could have contained have contained flowing waterflowing water

Found largest Found largest volcano in the solar volcano in the solar system, Olympus system, Olympus MonsMons

Viking 1

1976 landed on Mars 1976 landed on Mars with 2 probes, and 2 with 2 probes, and 2 orbitersorbiters

The 2 orbiters The 2 orbiters Photographed the entire Photographed the entire surface of Marssurface of Mars

The 2 probes landed and The 2 probes landed and conducted experiments. conducted experiments. Found No Evidence of Found No Evidence of LIFE.LIFE.

                                                 

Atmosphere of Mars

Much thinner than Earth’sMuch thinner than Earth’s Composed of mostly carbon dioxide, Composed of mostly carbon dioxide,

some nitrogen, and argon.some nitrogen, and argon. This leads to temperature on the surface This leads to temperature on the surface

ranging from 35 C, 95 F to –170 C, -274 ranging from 35 C, 95 F to –170 C, -274 F.F.

There are also strong winds storms that There are also strong winds storms that can cover the entire planet at one time.can cover the entire planet at one time.

Moons of Mars

The moons of Mars The moons of Mars are heavily cratered are heavily cratered and very smalland very small

Phobos is 25 km in Phobos is 25 km in diameter. It’s orbit diameter. It’s orbit is expected to have it is expected to have it impact Mars in 50 impact Mars in 50 million years.million years.

Deimos is 13 km in Deimos is 13 km in diameter.diameter.

Phobos and Deimos

Named for the Greek war god AresNamed for the Greek war god Ares Phobos means “fear”Phobos means “fear” Deimos means “panic”Deimos means “panic”

Olympus Mons

Polar Ice Caps of Mars

Exploring Mars

In 2004 2 new probes landed on Mars. In 2004 2 new probes landed on Mars. Spirit and OpportunitySpirit and Opportunity

Looked at rocks and found evidence of past Looked at rocks and found evidence of past water.water.

The Outer Planets

23.423.4

Jupiter

In 1979, Voyager 1 flew past Jupiter.In 1979, Voyager 1 flew past Jupiter. It is the 5It is the 5thth planet from the sun, and the planet from the sun, and the

largest planet in the solar systemlargest planet in the solar system Contains more mass than all the other Contains more mass than all the other

planets combined.planets combined.

..

Facts about Jupiter

Diameter: 142, 796 kmDiameter: 142, 796 km Revolution: 11.86 yearsRevolution: 11.86 years Rotation: 9 hours, 55 minutesRotation: 9 hours, 55 minutes 60+ moons60+ moons 1 ring ( faint dust rings)1 ring ( faint dust rings) 5.203 AU from sun5.203 AU from sun

Atmosphere of Jupiter

The atmosphere is hydrogen and helium and The atmosphere is hydrogen and helium and gradually changes into a planet-wide ocean of gradually changes into a planet-wide ocean of liquid hydrogen and helium towards the middle of liquid hydrogen and helium towards the middle of the planet. Jupiter may even have a solid rocky the planet. Jupiter may even have a solid rocky core. However, if it did it would not be like core. However, if it did it would not be like Earth’s because of extreme pressure(30 times Earth’s because of extreme pressure(30 times Earth’s) and temperature. Earth’s) and temperature.

The atmosphere appears full of colorful clouds- The atmosphere appears full of colorful clouds- swirls of white,red, tan and brown.swirls of white,red, tan and brown.

Great Red Spot

In the atmosphere is also a continuous In the atmosphere is also a continuous storm, that appears very red. It is full of storm, that appears very red. It is full of swirling high pressure gases. This one swirling high pressure gases. This one storm is about 12000 km from top to storm is about 12000 km from top to bottom, and lightning has been observed in bottom, and lightning has been observed in it the winds blow hundreds of kilometers an it the winds blow hundreds of kilometers an hour.hour.

Rings and Moons

Jupiter has a faint dust ring around it.Jupiter has a faint dust ring around it. Jupiter has 60+ moons,the four largest were Jupiter has 60+ moons,the four largest were

discovered by Galileo in 1610. They are Io, discovered by Galileo in 1610. They are Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto.Europa, Ganymede, Callisto.

Io

Closest to JupiterClosest to Jupiter Gravity pulls on Io from Europa and Gravity pulls on Io from Europa and

Jupiter. This causes Io to be very hot. Io is Jupiter. This causes Io to be very hot. Io is the most volcanically active body in the the most volcanically active body in the entire solar system.entire solar system.

Io has no atmosphere- so you couldn’t hear Io has no atmosphere- so you couldn’t hear or feel the volcanic blasts.or feel the volcanic blasts.

Europa

22ndnd moon out from Jupiter. moon out from Jupiter.

Completely composed of rock with a thin crust of ice Completely composed of rock with a thin crust of ice 70 miles deep. Under that ice is an ocean of water70 miles deep. Under that ice is an ocean of water

Has a thin oxygen atmosphere.Has a thin oxygen atmosphere.

It is also smooth- no impact craters, no valleys, no It is also smooth- no impact craters, no valleys, no canyons, no mountains or volcanoes, no flood canyons, no mountains or volcanoes, no flood plains.plains.

Has right ingredients for primitive life.Has right ingredients for primitive life.

Ganymede

Largest moon in the solar system- larger Largest moon in the solar system- larger than Pluto and Mercury but not near the than Pluto and Mercury but not near the mass.mass.

Consists mostly of ice- may have had Consists mostly of ice- may have had oceans of water, but froze- if it were oceans of water, but froze- if it were warmer, people could possibly live there. warmer, people could possibly live there. It’s daytime temp now is –180FIt’s daytime temp now is –180F

Callisto

44thth moon out from Jupiter moon out from Jupiter Composed of ice and rockComposed of ice and rock Has impact craters that are 4 billion years Has impact craters that are 4 billion years

old, and its surface has stayed the same for old, and its surface has stayed the same for almost that long. It is considered to be the almost that long. It is considered to be the longest intact surface in the solar system.longest intact surface in the solar system.

Saturn

66thth Planet from the Sun Planet from the Sun

             

The Ringed Planet

Voyager probes saw Saturn in 1980-1981Voyager probes saw Saturn in 1980-1981 22ndnd largest planet in the solar system largest planet in the solar system Lowest density-could float on waterLowest density-could float on water Saturn is considered to be a gaseous planet, same Saturn is considered to be a gaseous planet, same

components as Jupiter- atmosphere hydrogen and components as Jupiter- atmosphere hydrogen and helium and the rest ammonia, methane, and water helium and the rest ammonia, methane, and water vapor.vapor.

The atmosphere gradually turns into liquid The atmosphere gradually turns into liquid Hydrogen and helium forming a ocean like Jupiter Hydrogen and helium forming a ocean like Jupiter as well.as well.

Saturn Facts

Diameter-120,660 KmDiameter-120,660 Km Revolution-29.46 yearsRevolution-29.46 years Rotation-10 hours, 39 minutesRotation-10 hours, 39 minutes Orbital Speed –9.64Km/SOrbital Speed –9.64Km/S Moons- 31 or moreMoons- 31 or more Rings- thousandsRings- thousands 9.529 AU from sun9.529 AU from sun

Rings and Moons

Saturn has several broad rings each composed of Saturn has several broad rings each composed of thousands of ringlets. Each ring is composed of thousands of ringlets. Each ring is composed of ice and rock particles from dust size to tens of ice and rock particles from dust size to tens of meters across.meters across.

Saturn has 31 or more moons, the most well Saturn has 31 or more moons, the most well known-Titan- the largest moon of Saturn which known-Titan- the largest moon of Saturn which has an atmosphere of Nitrogen, Argon, and has an atmosphere of Nitrogen, Argon, and Methane. This makes SMOG so thick we cannot Methane. This makes SMOG so thick we cannot see the surface.see the surface.

Uranus

77thth Planet from the Sun Planet from the Sun

Blue-Green Planet

Voyager 2 went past Uranus in 1986.Voyager 2 went past Uranus in 1986. Uranus wasn’t even discovered until 1781.Uranus wasn’t even discovered until 1781. Large, gaseous planet with a system of thin, Large, gaseous planet with a system of thin,

dark ringsdark rings The magnetic field is tilted 60 degrees from The magnetic field is tilted 60 degrees from

its rotational poles.its rotational poles.

Uranus Facts

Diameter: 51,158 kmDiameter: 51,158 km Revolution: 84.04 yearsRevolution: 84.04 years Rotation: 17 hours 14 minutesRotation: 17 hours 14 minutes Orbital Speed: 6.81km/sOrbital Speed: 6.81km/s Moons: 25Moons: 25 Rings: 11Rings: 11 19.191 AU from Sun19.191 AU from Sun

Atmosphere

The atmosphere is composed of hydrogen, The atmosphere is composed of hydrogen, helium , and some methane. The methane helium , and some methane. The methane is what causes it to look blue-green.is what causes it to look blue-green.

There are no cloud bands or storms.There are no cloud bands or storms. Underneath the atmosphere: mantle of Underneath the atmosphere: mantle of

liquid water, methane, and ammonia, then a liquid water, methane, and ammonia, then a solid rocky core.solid rocky core.

Rotation

Uranus rotates on its Uranus rotates on its sideside

Neptune

88thth planet from the Sun( most of the planet from the Sun( most of the Time)Time)

Neptune Facts

Diameter: 49,528 kmDiameter: 49,528 km Revolution: 164.79 yearsRevolution: 164.79 years Rotation:16 hours, 3 minutesRotation:16 hours, 3 minutes Orbital Speed: 5.43 km/sOrbital Speed: 5.43 km/s 13 moons13 moons 4 rings4 rings 30.061 AU from the sun30.061 AU from the sun

Neptune

A large, gaseous planet that Voyager 2 in A large, gaseous planet that Voyager 2 in 1989 visited.1989 visited.

Neptune and Pluto orbit crosses during part Neptune and Pluto orbit crosses during part of its voyage around the sun.of its voyage around the sun.

This makes it most of the time the 8This makes it most of the time the 8 thth planet planet out, but sometimes the furthest out.out, but sometimes the furthest out.

From 1979-1999 Pluto was closer than From 1979-1999 Pluto was closer than Neptune, now Neptune is closer again.Neptune, now Neptune is closer again.

Atmosphere

Atmosphere is composed of hydrogen, Atmosphere is composed of hydrogen, helium, and methane and its also appears helium, and methane and its also appears blue. It has more methane than Uranus, so blue. It has more methane than Uranus, so it appears a darker blue.it appears a darker blue.

It has areas on the planet that are very dark, It has areas on the planet that are very dark, which contain storms. The Great Dark which contain storms. The Great Dark Spot, act like the Great Red Spot on Jupiter.Spot, act like the Great Red Spot on Jupiter.

Moons of Neptune

There are 13There are 13 The largest is Triton- The largest is Triton-

which has a nitrogen which has a nitrogen atmosphere, and atmosphere, and methane geysers.methane geysers.

Pluto- tiniest planet

It is a solid, rocky planet with ice and a thin It is a solid, rocky planet with ice and a thin atmosphere. It is normally further out in its orbit atmosphere. It is normally further out in its orbit than Neptune. than Neptune.

The origin of Pluto is debated. There are icy The origin of Pluto is debated. There are icy comets near Neptune’s orbit, the question is: Are comets near Neptune’s orbit, the question is: Are Pluto and it’s moon Charon part of the comets?Pluto and it’s moon Charon part of the comets?

Another theory is they escaped the orbits of a Another theory is they escaped the orbits of a large gaseous planet.large gaseous planet.

Or did they just form out there?Or did they just form out there?

Pluto facts

Diameter: 2290 kmDiameter: 2290 km Revolution: 248.53 yearsRevolution: 248.53 years Rotation: 6 days, 9 hoursRotation: 6 days, 9 hours Orbital Speed: 4.74km/sOrbital Speed: 4.74km/s 1 moon1 moon No ringsNo rings 39.529 AU from Sun39.529 AU from Sun

             

             

Charon

Charon is composed Charon is composed of various ices such as of various ices such as water and ammoniawater and ammonia

728 miles wide728 miles wide