1. Mercury Venus Earth Mars
The Inner Planets
Mercury Venus Earth Mars

2. Why they are called the “Inner Planets”
The inner planets are the four planets that lie between the Sun and the asteroid belt.
Mars
Earth
Venus
The planets that are located after the
Mercury
asteroid belt are called the outer planets.
That makes sense, doesn’t it?

3. Characteristics of the Inner Planets
Closest to the Sun
Composed mostly of solid rock
Each have a core, a mantle, and a crust
Many craters of varying sizes
Sometimes called the “terrestrial planets”, because of their similarities to Earth
Smaller than most of the outer planets

4. Mercury Distance from the sun: 57,909,175 km Origin of Name:
the Roman messenger of the gods
Size (in diameter):
4,880 km
Interesting Fact:
The temperature can range from -200 C to over 430 C!

5. Venus Distance from the Sun: 108,208,930 km Origin of Name:
The Roman goddess of love and beauty
Size (in diameter):
12,103.6 km
Interesting Fact:
It is sometimes known as Earth’s “sister planet” because of their similar size, mass, volume, and density!

6. Earth Distance from the Sun: 149,597,890 km Origin of Name:
Old English and Germanic
Size (in diameter):
12,756.3 km
Interesting Fact:
The Earth is not perfectly round, but actually pear-shaped!

7. Mars Distance from the Sun: 227,936,640 km Origin of Name:
the Roman god of war
Size (in diameter):
6,794 km
Interesting Fact:
The month of March got its name from Mars!