Earth Science An overview of the Solar System

The Sun The sun is the biggest, brightest, and hottest object in the solar system. The sun is the biggest, brightest, and hottest object in the solar system. The sun is an ordinary star. The sun is an ordinary star. The sun is made of about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium. The sun is made of about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium.

The Inner Planets Four planets Four planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars All are small with rocky surfaces All are small with rocky surfaces Sometimes called terrestrial planets Sometimes called terrestrial planets

Mercury Mercury is solid and is covered with craters. Mercury is solid and is covered with craters. Mercury has almost no atmosphere Mercury has almost no atmosphere Explains extreme temp differences. Explains extreme temp differences. Mercury is the eighth largest planet. Mercury is the eighth largest planet.

Venus Venus is the sixth largest planet. It’s about three- fourths the size of earth. Venus is the sixth largest planet. It’s about three- fourths the size of earth. The surface is rocky and very hot. The atmosphere completely hides the surface and traps the heat. The surface is rocky and very hot. The atmosphere completely hides the surface and traps the heat. Earth’s twin because very similar in size and density Earth’s twin because very similar in size and density Atmosphere is so heavy you would be crushed! Atmosphere is so heavy you would be crushed! Surface is so hot because of greenhouse effect. Surface is so hot because of greenhouse effect.

Earth Earth is the fifth largest planet and the third from the sun. Earth is the fifth largest planet and the third from the sun. Liquid covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface. Liquid covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface. The Earth has one moon. The Earth has one moon. Unique because of it’s oceans! Unique because of it’s oceans!

Moon

Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the sun. Called the “red planet” Axis tilted like earth = seasons!!! Mars has a thin atmosphere that contains mostly carbon dioxide. Mars has two small moons.

Moons of Mars PhobosDeimos

The Outer Planets These planets are called the gas giants These planets are called the gas giants Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are much larger than earth and do NOT have solid surfaces Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are much larger than earth and do NOT have solid surfaces Strong gravity keeps gases from escaping so they have deep atmospheres Strong gravity keeps gases from escaping so they have deep atmospheres May have a center or core but hard to explore because of the great pressure of the atmospheres May have a center or core but hard to explore because of the great pressure of the atmospheres

Jupiter

Jupiter’s Red Spot The largest planet Diameter is 11 times greater than the earth The Great Red Spot, a huge storm of swirling gas that has lasted for hundreds of years. Jupiter does not have a solid surface. The planet is a ball of liquid surrounded by gas.

Moons of Jupiter Jupiter has four large moons, twelve smaller named moons and twenty-three more recently discovered but not named moons. We’ll take a look at the four large Galilean moons which were first observed by Galileo in 1610.

Io Io is the fifth moon of Jupiter. It’s the third largest of Jupiter’s moons. Io has hundreds of volcanos. Some of the volcanoes are active.

Europa Europa is the sixth of Jupiter’s moons and is the fourth largest. Europa is the sixth of Jupiter’s moons and is the fourth largest. It is slightly smaller than the Earth’s moon. It is slightly smaller than the Earth’s moon. The surface strongly resembles images of sea ice on Earth. There may be a liquid water sea under the crust. The surface strongly resembles images of sea ice on Earth. There may be a liquid water sea under the crust. Europa is one of the five known moons in the solar system to have an atmosphere. Europa is one of the five known moons in the solar system to have an atmosphere.

Ganymede Ganymede is the seventh and largest of Jupiter’s known satellites. Ganymede is the seventh and largest of Jupiter’s known satellites. Ganymede has extensive cratering and an icy crust. Ganymede has extensive cratering and an icy crust.

Callisto Callisto is the eighth of Jupiter’s known satellites and the second largest. Callisto is the eighth of Jupiter’s known satellites and the second largest. Callisto has the oldest, most cratered surface of any body yet observed in the solar system. Callisto has the oldest, most cratered surface of any body yet observed in the solar system.

Saturn Saturn is the second largest planet and the sixth from the sun. Saturn is the second largest planet and the sixth from the sun. Saturn is made of materials that are lighter than water. If you could fit Saturn in a lake, it would float! Saturn is made of materials that are lighter than water. If you could fit Saturn in a lake, it would float!

Rings of Saturn Saturn’s rings are not solid; they are composed of small chunks of ice and rock. Saturn’s rings are not solid; they are composed of small chunks of ice and rock. The rings are very thin. Though they’re 250,000km or more in diameter, they’re less than one kilometer thick. The rings are very thin. Though they’re 250,000km or more in diameter, they’re less than one kilometer thick. Has a total of five moons: Titan,Tethys, Iapetus, Rhea, Dione Has a total of five moons: Titan,Tethys, Iapetus, Rhea, Dione

Uranus Uranus is the third largest planet and the seventh from the sun. Uranus is the third largest planet and the seventh from the sun. Four times the diameter of the earth Four times the diameter of the earth Uranus is one of the giant gas planets. Uranus is one of the giant gas planets. Uranus is blue-green because of the methane in its atmosphere. Uranus is blue-green because of the methane in its atmosphere. Tilted at 90 degree angle and rotates from top to bottom Tilted at 90 degree angle and rotates from top to bottom Has 18 total moons Has 18 total moons

Neptune Neptune is the fourth largest planet and the eighth from the sun. Neptune is the fourth largest planet and the eighth from the sun. Neptune is 30 times Earth’s distance from the sun. Neptune is 30 times Earth’s distance from the sun. Like Uranus, the methane gives Neptune its color. Like Uranus, the methane gives Neptune its color. Has 8 moons; largest being Triton Has 8 moons; largest being Triton

Pluto Pluto is the smallest planet and usually the farthest from the sun. Pluto is the smallest planet and usually the farthest from the sun. Pluto is the only planet that has not been visited by a spacecraft. Pluto is the only planet that has not been visited by a spacecraft. Is no longer considered a planet Is no longer considered a planet

Size of Planets What are things you notice about the planets? What are things you notice about the planets?