Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom Inner Planets: Mercury, Venus, and Mars. - Closest to the sun. - Called “TERRESTRIAL PLANETS” METAL CORE ROCK

Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom Mercury Mercury is closet to the sun. Same size as our moon. Orange in color with lots of craters caused by early impacts. Hard to explore because it’s so close to the sun.

Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom Mercury - Almost no atmosphere and no water - It is so small, it’s gravity can not hold the atmosphere around it. - It has the greatest temperature range of all planets. The side facing the sun = HOT The side away from sun = COLD The core has cooled causing the surface to shrink and crack. HOT COLD

Venus is Earth’s twin. Same size and shape as Earth Yellow in color with craters too! We often see Venus as one of the brightest objects in the sky. Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom Venus

Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom Venus It takes 8 months to rotate once = long days and nights! It takes 7.5 months to go around the sun = longer day than year. It rotates backwards “clockwise” after being hit long ago. Weather Report: CLOUDY… EVERY DAY !!! Runaway Greenhouse… The Atmosphere: -Thick - Mostly Carbon Dioxide - So much it would crush us. This thick atmosphere of greenhouse gasses trap so much heat it is 870° Rotation is Funky…

Mars is called the Red Planet. It is half the size of Earth. Red in color because it has “rusted.” (Iron Oxide) Has 2 moons. Has polar ice caps of frozen water and carbon dioxide Evidence of river channels and running water long ago? Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom Mars

Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom Olympus Mon Valles Marineris

Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom