The Solar System The Planets: An Overview  The Terrestrial planets are planets that are small and rocky — Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.  The Jovian planets are the huge “Gas Giants” — Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.  Pluto does not fit into either the Jovian or the terrestrial category and is thus no longer considered a planet

The Solar System Planets of the Solar System  8 Planets in our Solar System • Mercury – Closest to the Sun • Venus • Earth • Mars • Jupiter • Saturn • Uranus • Neptune – Furthest from the Sun

The Solar System

Mercury Planet Closest to the Sun Smallest Planet Many surface craters make it appear like a large moon Highest surface temperatures of any planet

Venus -Similar to Earth in size, density and mass so it is called “Earth’s Twin” -Covered in thick clouds that visible light cannot penetrate -Atmosphere = 97% CO2 -80% of the surface is covered in active volcanic flow

Earth -Only known planet to support life, have water and have a diverse atmosphere -Everything you have learned so far this year in Earth Science applies to this planet only!

Mars -Known as “The Red Planet” because of its appearance -Has two permanent polar ice caps meaning water could have flowed on the planet at one time -Mars is the only planet other than Earth that has been extensively studied (Spirit and Opportunity) -Has constant wind storms -Atmosphere = 1% of Earth’s Atmosphere

Jupiter -Largest of all of the planets (2.5 times all of the other planets combined) -Jupiter has 63 moons, many of which are larger than Earth’s -Constantly stormy, very hostile environment that causes it’s banded appearance

Saturn -Saturn’s rings are mostly ice particles with small amounts of rocky debris and dust also included -Covered in storms similar to Jupiter but on a smaller scale -Has 60 moons, many larger than Earth’s

Uranus -Ringed structure similar to Saturn but less prominent -Called “The Sideways Planet” because it’s axis of rotation runs parallel to the planet instead of perpendicular (this means that it is tiled 90° from the way most planets orbit)

Neptune -Known as “The Windy Planet” because it is completely covered in a constant wind storm with wind speeds exceeding 600 mph -First planet found by mathematical prediction rather than observation

Asteroid Belt -An asteroid is a rocky body that can range in size from ½ a mile to several miles in diameter -Our Solar System has a large asteroid belt that runs between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter (the 4th and 5th planets)