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.

Mercury Mercury is solid Mercury is solid Closest planet to the sun Closest planet to the sun Mercury is the smallest planet now. Mercury is the smallest planet now. No moons No moons

Venus Venus is about three- fourths the size of earth. Venus is about three- fourths the size of earth. The surface is rocky and very hot. The surface is rocky and very hot. The atmosphere completely hides the surface and traps the heat. Made of Sulfuric acid (Gives yellow Color) The atmosphere completely hides the surface and traps the heat. Made of Sulfuric acid (Gives yellow Color)

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.

Moon

Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the sun. We get the word “Martian” from it Called “Red Planet” Mars has two small moons Smaller then Earth

Moons of Mars PhobosDeimos

Asteroid Belt Found in between Mars and Jupiter Found in between Mars and Jupiter Thousands of Asteroids Thousands of Asteroids

Jupiter

Jupiter The Great Red Spot, a huge storm of swirling gas that has lasted for hundreds of years Largest Planet Made of Gas More than 60 moons

Io Io is the fifth moon of Jupiter. It’s the third largest of Jupiter’s moons. Io has hundreds of volcanic calderas. 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.

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 made of small rocks Saturn’s rings are not solid; they are made of small rocks

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. 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.

Neptune Neptune is the fourth largest planet and the eight from the sun. Neptune is the fourth largest planet and the eight from the sun. Because of the orbits, from 1979 to 1999, Neptune was further away from the sun then Pluto Because of the orbits, from 1979 to 1999, Neptune was further away from the sun then Pluto Like Uranus, the methane gives Neptune its color. Like Uranus, the methane gives Neptune its color.

Pluto Pluto is a dwarf planet and usually the farthest from the sun. Pluto is a dwarf planet and usually the farthest from the sun. Pluto has not been visited by a spacecraft. Pluto has not been visited by a spacecraft.