The Inner Planets

Mercury Diameter – 4,879 km Size relative to Earth: about the size of Earth’s moon Surface/Atmosphere: flat plains and craters; no atmosphere Rotation: 59 Earth days Revolution: .24 Earth years Distance: 58,000,000 km Moons: 0 Support Life: No

Not much larger than Earth’s moon. Mercury Not much larger than Earth’s moon. Its interior is made up of the dense metal iron. Mercury’s atmosphere is very thin. It has the largest range of temperature of any planet.

Venus Diameter: 12,104 km Size relative to Earth: about the same size Surface/Atmosphere: volcanoes and plains; very thick Rotation: 243 Earth days Revolution: .62 Earth years Distance: 108,000,000 km Moons: 0 Support Life: No

Venus Similar in size and mass to Earth, so it is called Earth’s twin. Venus rotates so slowly that its day is longer than its year. Venus rotates east to west – called retrograde rotation. Atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide. Average temperature is 460°degrees.

Earth Diameter: 12,756 km Size: Earth Surface/Atmosphere: land and liquid water; 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen Rotation: 24 hrs Revolution: 365 ¼ days Distance: 150,000,000 km or 93 million miles Moons: 1 Support Life: Yes

Earth 70 % covered with water. The only planet that supports life. Two other unique traits of Earth: Suitable temperature range for water to exist as solid, liquid, or gas Water shapes the Earth’s surface

Mars Diameter: 6,794 km Size relative to Earth: ½ the size of Earth Surface/Atmosphere: rocky surface; 95% carbon dioxide Rotation: 1.03 Earth days Revolution: 1.9 Earth years Distance: 228,000,000 km Moons: 2 Support Life: No

Atmosphere is 95% carbon dioxide. Mars Called the red planet. Atmosphere is 95% carbon dioxide. Has seasons like Earth because its’ axis is tilted. Surface covered with craters and volcanoes.