A Family of Planets Carin Miranda Smyrna Middle School Winter 2014
Planets in order from the Sun Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune
Inner Solar System Terrestrial Planets- group of planets whose surfaces are hard and rocky. Contains the 4 planets located closest to the sun. Called terrestrial because they resemble Earth. (Rocky and Hard). The inner planets are spaced closely together.
Outer Solar System Outer Solar System-Contains the 4 planets farthest from the sun. Gas Giants-group of very large planets that are composed mainly of gases. All have rings and all have moons
Mercury Closest to the Sun No natural satellites (moons)
Venus Has the hottest surface temperature because it is surrounded by greenhouses gases. No natural satellites (moons).
Earth Only planet known to contain life as we know it. Liquid water on its surface makes life on Earth possible. Uh we live here.
Mars Once had liquid water on it we know that because it has features that resemble dry riverbeds.
Jupiter Largest planet in our solar system. Has a huge storm on it called the Great Red Spot.
Saturn Well known bright ring system.
Uranus Tipped on its side
Neptune Has a storm system called the Great Dark Spot.
Small Bodies in the Solar System Comets-dirty snowballs made of ice, rock, and dust. Asteroids-small rocky body that orbits the sun. Asteroid belt-between Mars and Jupiter Meteoroids-small rocky body that travels through space. (smaller than asteroids) Meteor-bright streak of light caused by small bodies burning up in the atmosphere Meteorite-rocky body that strikes the Earth’s surface.