What are the inner planets? - Wag &...
Transcript of What are the inner planets? - Wag &...
What are the inner planets?
The four planets closest to the sun are known as the inner planets. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars
Mercury
This picture of Mercury was
made by joining many smaller
photos taken by Mariner 10. No
photos were taken of the area that looks smooth.
Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun.
It is a small planet, a little bigger than Earth’s moon.
Mercury is covered with thousands of dents. The dents are shaped like bowls and are called craters.
Craters were made when meteorites crashed into Mercury’s surface long ago.
Venus is the second planet from the Sun.
It is about the same size as Earth, but Venus turns in the opposite direction.
Like Mercury, Venus is very hot and dry.
Unlike Mercury, Venus has an atmosphere made of thick, swirling clouds.
Earth, our home, is the third planet from the Sun. It is also the solar system’s
largest rocky planet. Earth is the only planet that
has liquid water on its surface. In fact, most of Earth’s surface is covered with water. Earth is the only planet in the
solar system known to support life.
Moons are satellites of planets. A satellite is an object that
orbits another object in space. Just as planets revolve around
the Sun because of gravity, moons revolve around planets. Earth has one large moon. The diameter of the Moon is
about one-fourth the diameter of Earth.
The fourth planet from the Sun is Mars.
The rocks and soil that cover much of Mars contain the mineral iron oxide.
This mineral is reddish-brown in color. It is the same material that makes up rust.
This has given Mars its nickname, the "Red Planet."