Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byEdward Hampton Modified over 8 years ago
1
The Solar System The Planets
2
The Inner Planets Solar System = a group of objects in space that move around a central star Planet = a large object that moves around a star Inner Planets –Mercury (1 st planet from the sun) Size of the Earth’s moon Covered with craters like the moon Gases present but not enough for an atmosphere –Venus (2 nd planet from the sun) Size of the Earth Dry with an atmosphere that traps heat (887°F) Atmosphere weighs 100 times Earth’s Spins on its axis in the opposite direction of Earth
3
The Inner Planets The Inner Planets –Earth (3 rd planet from the sun) Largest of the inner planets and has a moon The only planet with liquid water and can support life Reflects and absorbs just the right amount of sunlight to sustain life –Mars (4 th planet from the sun) Has two moons and the largest volcano in the solar system Red planet because the soil is dark reddish brown Has dust storms that last months There is no liquid water now but scientists suspect there may have been once because of the valleys and sedimentary rock.
4
The Outer Planets Outer planets –Jupiter (largest planet – size of 3 Earths) Surrounded by a thin ring and at least 16 moons Atmosphere is active and has caused a 300 year hurricane (circular storm) –Saturn (known for its rings) Its rings are the widest and brightest Has at least 18 moons –Uranus (7 th planet from the sun) Has rings and at least 15 moons It is a giant blue-green ball of gas and liquid) –Neptune (8 th planet from the sun) Gas ball with circular storms like Jupiter –Pluto (downgraded to a planetoid) Smallest and has a rocky surface
5
The Outer Planets The Outer Planets Asteroids Asteroids = orbits around the sun and are small and rocky. – –Most asteroids travel between Mars and Jupiter in an area known as the asteroid belt. – –Might be parts of planets that never formed Comets Comets = small mass of dust and ice and orbits and sun – –As it gets close to the sun, some ice melts and changes to water vapor. It streams out in a long, glowing tail
6
Moons and Rings Moons –All planets except Mercury and Venus have a moon –Moons are round and rocky –One of Jupiter’s moons has an active volcano –One of Saturn’s moons has a dense atmosphere that causes it to glow red Rings –Each gas planet (Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune) has rings –Rings are tiny bits of dust, ice crystals, and small pieces of rock
Similar presentations
© 2024 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.