320 likes | 454 Views
The Solar System. The Planets. The sun is at the center of our solar system and all planets orbit around it. The planets are subdivided into two categories: the inner planets and the outer planets. The Inner Planets. The inner planets are the four planets closest to the sun.
E N D
The Planets • The sun is at the center of our solar system and all planets orbit around it. • The planets are subdivided into two categories: the inner planets and the outer planets
The Inner Planets • The inner planets are the four planets closest to the sun. • They are also known as the terrestrial (earthlike) planets because they all have rocky crust, dense mantle layers, and very dense cores. • These planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
Mercury • The planet closest to the sun • Orbits the sun in just 88 days • Rotates on its axis once every 59 days • The smallest of the inner planets, it diameter is 38% that of earth. • Temperature: 790* F during the day - 274* F at night
Venus • The second planet from the sun. • Known as Earth’s sister planet because they are so similar in diameter, mass and gravity • Makes one rotation on its axis once every 243 days • Orbits the sun in 225 days. • Temperature: 860* F
Mars • The fourth planet from the sun. • It’s diameter is half that of Earth • Mars takes 687 days to orbit the sun. • It’s gravity is two fifths of Earth’s. • It’s atmosphere is 95% carbon dioxide • Temperature: 79* F to 215* F • Moons: 2 • Has a red appearance due to the iron oxide in it’s rocks
The Outer Planets • Separated from the inner planets by an asteroid belt • All four planets are gaseous, and are much less dense than Earth • All four are much larger than Earth • Each of them ring systems that surround them
Jupiter • The fifth planet from the sun. • It makes an orbit around the sun once every 11.9 years • It has the fastest rotation of all the planets at just under ten hours • Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system • Temperature: - 238* F • Moons: 63
Saturn • The sixth planet from the sun • Takes 30 years to make one orbit around the sun • Saturn has the lowest density of any planet. • It would actually float on water • Temperature: -290* F • Moons: 57
Uranus • The seventh planet from the sun. • It takes 84 years to make an orbit around the sun • Makes a rotation on its axis once every 17.2 hours • Temperature: -353* F • Moons: 27
Neptune • The farthest planet from the sun • It takes 165 years to orbit the sun • It makes a rotation on its once every 16.1 hours • Temperature: - 364* F • Moons: 13
Earth’s Statistics • Diameter: 7,926 miles at the equator • Circumference: 24, 900 miles at the equator • Rotation (day): 23 hours, 56 minutes, 4 seconds • Revolution (year): 365.25 days • Temperature: 59 F (average)
Earth’s Statistics • As the Earth revolves around the sun it travels at a speed of 67,000 miles per hour. • Earth is tilted on its magnetic axis at angle of 23.5 degrees • This tilt is responsible for Earth’s seasons.
Earth • Solstice – the two times each year that the earth’s tilt makes the sun reach it’s greatest angle north or south of the equator, marking the start of summer or winter • Summer solstice - June 21st (longest day of the year in Northern hemisphere) • Winter solstice – December 21st (shortest day of the year in Northern Hemisphere)
Earth • Equinox – the two times each year that the sun is directly over the equator and day and night are equal length all over the world: it’s also the start of spring and fall • Spring Equinox- March 20th • Fall equinox- September 22nd
Moon’s statistic’s • Diameter: 2,156 miles • Distance from Earth: 238,600 miles • Rotation: 27 days 8hrs • Revolution around Earth: 27 days 8hrs • Temperature: 225*F (day) -243* F (night)
Moon Phases • New moon- the side of the moon facing the earth is completely dark, because the moon is between the earth and the sun • Full moon- the side of the moon facing the earth is completely lighted; the earth is between the sun and moon
Moon phases • Waning- describes the moon after a full moon as its visible lighted area gets smaller during the lunar cycle • Waxing- describes the moon after a new moon as its visible lighted area gets larger during the lunar cycle