SPACE! The first four planets… Unit 14/ Day 1

Terrestrial Planets The inner planets; highly dense and rocky planets nearest to the sun; Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars The inner planets; highly dense and rocky planets nearest to the sun; Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

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. 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 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.

Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the sun. Mars has a thin atmosphere that contains mostly carbon dioxide. Mars has two small moons.

Our Solar System Gas Giants Day 2

Gas Giants (Jovian Planets) The outer planets; planets with deep, massive atmospheres, such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune The outer planets; planets with deep, massive atmospheres, such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune

Jupiter The largest planet in the solar system The largest planet in the solar system Made mostly of hydrogen and helium Made mostly of hydrogen and helium Radiates more energy out into space than it receives from the sun. Radiates more energy out into space than it receives from the sun.

Jupiter’s Red Spot 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.

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 countless particles. Saturn’s rings are not solid; they are composed of small countless particles. 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.

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 the ninth planet. Because of the orbits, from 1979 to 1999, Neptune was the ninth planet. Like Uranus, the methane gives Neptune its color. Like Uranus, the methane gives Neptune its color.

Pluto Down-graded from a planet to a “dwarf planet” Down-graded from a planet to a “dwarf planet” See link See link See link See link