1. Solar System Notes

2. Inner Planets Terrestrial Planets Dense & Rocky Smaller
Closer to the sun
Planets
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars

3. Outer Planets Gas Giants Large Planets Massive atmospheres
Further from the sun
Planets
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune

4. Rotation v. Revolution Rotation Revolution 1 Full Turn on Axis 1 Day
1 Full Circle
Around the Sun
1 Year

5. Mercury: Closest to the Sun
2nd Smallest
No True Atmosphere
Extreme Temperature changes
Hottest Planet
1 Day = 59 Earth Days
1 Year = 88 Days

6. Venus: Earths Twin? 2nd Planet from the Sun
Size and Mass similar to Earth
Retrograde Rotation
Rotates opposite from Earth
Densest Atmosphere
Mostly carbon dioxide = Toxic
Slowest period of rotation
1 day = 243 days
Takes more time to rotate around axis then to revolve once around the sun

7. Earth: An Oasis in Space
3rd from the Sun
Abundant water and life
Atmosphere causes meteors to burn up

8. Mars: Red Planet 4th planet from the sun Thinner atmosphere
Iron Oxide gives red color
Polar ice caps
Frozen carbon dioxide & water

9. Jupiter: Giant 5th planet from the sun Largest planet Atmosphere
Mostly hydrogen & helium
Many Moons
Great Red Spot
Rotates the fastest
1 day = 10 hours
High winds = Storms

10. Saturn 6th planet from the sun Thick outer atmosphere
Large Ring System
Icy particles
Many Moons

11. Uranus: Tilted Planet 7th planet from the Sun Thin, dark rings
Blue-Green Color
Methane in Atmosphere
Tipped on its side

12. Neptune: The Blue World
8th planet from the sun
Blue-Green Color
Dark Colored Storms
Layer of Liquid water under atmosphere
Very Narrow Rings
Strongest Winds

13. Pluto – Mystery “Planet”
Furthest “Planet”
Dwarf Planet
Smallest
Thin Atmosphere
Solid, Icy-Rock Surface